Family Holiday in Normandy: 5 Days in Deauville, Cerza Safari Park and Étretat

Day 1: Crabs, Little Boats and Beach Life in Deauville and Trouville-sur-Mer

From Brussels, Deauville is about a five-hour drive, expect to arrive around midday. The bags are barely unpacked before the children head straight for the vintage carousel and the Mini-Club on the beach. While they run free, there is time for a first coffee at the beach cabins.

Next, take the Bac de Trouville: a tiny ferry that gets you to the other side in two minutes. For children, this feels like a real voyage, not just a crossing. On the other side, the Marché aux Poissons awaits, where live crabs and lobsters sit in the trays, a free and fascinating little zoo right on the quayside.

Spend the rest of the afternoon on the Lais de Mer, the wide stretch of beach with room to fly a kite or climb on the large wooden play structures.

Day 2: Fossil Hunting and Bunker Exploring in Villers-sur-Mer

The morning is spent at Paléospace, the interactive prehistoric museum in Villers-sur-Mer. Few families know it, yet it is one of Normandy’s best outings with children: hands-on fossils, a planetarium and plenty to discover.

In the afternoon, head to the Vaches Noires cliffs just outside the village. At low tide, the beach reveals genuine fossils among the stones. A bucket and spade are worth more than any guide here.

The day ends at Mont Canisy, where a network of German WWII bunkers invites exploration. Trenches, narrow corridors and dark rooms turn history into adventure. Bring a torch.

Day 3: Safari Day at Cerza Safari Park

Today is all about wildlife. Just thirty minutes away, Cerza Safari Park ranks among France’s finest wildlife parks: spacious grounds, a train ride through the enclosures and a farm area where dwarf goats welcome gentle pats. Plan for a full day. In the evening, children can unwind in the indoor pool at Le Normandy.

Day 4: Ponies, apples and Pont-l’Évêque

Calvados Expérience may be a production centre, yet its 4D presentation (scents, vibrating floors, changing lights) surprises every visitor. Children taste fresh apple juice from the Pays d’Auge at the end.

Later, drive to Lac de Pont-l’Évêque, a leisure lake with pedal boats, a summer inflatable water course and a large playground. End the day with a pony ride on the beach or at Deauville’s riding centre. Horses are part of daily life here.

Day 5: Butterflies in Honfleur and the Cliffs of Étretat

Honfleur is beautiful, but for the children, Naturospace is the real highlight: a tropical greenhouse where hundreds of butterflies fly freely and occasionally land on a hand or shoulder.

Next, cross the Pont de Normandie towards Étretat, one of the longest cable-stayed bridges in Europe, and impressively high. Once there, there is no need to climb to the top if legs are tired. On the pebble beach, point out the famous rock that looks like a drinking elephant, the natural arch that put the silhouette of Étretat on the map. The children collect white stones along the water and dutifully put them back, as the beach is a protected area.

Round off the trip with a large crêpe with Nutella on the boulevard. After that, it is time to head home, or, for those who wish, reason enough to stay one more night.