28 top things to do in and around Dieppe: your guide to Dieppe's best sights, food, and history
- teamthomastravels
- Sep 12
- 8 min read
If you're heading to Dieppe next week to see its famous Kite Festival, you might be wondering what else there is to do in this historic port town in Normandy. The good news is: lots! From wonderful art museums to outstanding seafood restaurants, two stunning churches, and some key historic sites relating to the Normandy Campaign in WWII, whatever your interests, you'll have a wonderful time on a Dieppe mini break.
Disclosure: Our trip to Normandy was made possible with support from the tourism boards of Normandy and Dieppe but all opinions remain our own.
Top things to do in Dieppe itself:
With DFDS Ferries running 4-hour long Newhaven-Dieppe crossings, it’s such an easy destination for a city break or as the first stop on a longer trip exploring Normandy. If you've travelled over as a foot passenger, there are so many things to do right in the heart of Dieppe, no public transport necessary!
Dieppe Kite Festival 2025: From the 13th-21st September this year, the skies above Dieppe will come alive with a kaleidoscope of color and movement as the town hosts its internationally renowned kite festival - the largest gathering of kites in the world! Watch in awe as giant kites of all shapes and sizes dance and twirl against the backdrop of the Normandy coast. And it's free!
Saturday market: Often touted as one of the best markets in France, if you're visiting on a weekend, Dieppe's Saturday market is the perfect place to find local produce, cheeses, and crafts. You'll find it on Place Nationale and spilling onto the surrounding streets.
Take a walking tour: Contact the City of Dieppe to arrange a guided walking tour with a local guide. We spend a fantastic two hours with Bertrand who was an absolute fountain of knowledge about DIeppe's maritime history and its connections with Canada.
Dieppe beachfront: The long promenade with its benches and play areas is perfect for a stroll, with the famous pebble beach and white cliffs providing a beautiful backdrop.
Stroll the Marina: Take a walk around Quay Henri IV along the marina's historic arcades, watch the boats bobbing and clinking and stop by the tourist information centre. If you're up early enough, you might see the fishermen unloading and even the odd fish stall selling the catch of the day!
Seafood restaurants: Dieppe has been famous for its fresh seafood since the days of William
the Conqueror! If you're visiting on November 15th-16th tis year, you'll be able to experience Dieppe's celebrated Herring and Scallops Festival! Our top recommendations for restaurants would be:
L'O2 Mer - on the seafront, their beautifully prepared seafood is unbelievably colourful. Try the catch of the day or L'O2 Mer salad, packed with salmon, and huge king prawns.
Le Bas Blanc Fort - right at end of the promenade with nothing between you and the white cliffs and sea views, Le Bas Blanc Fort is beautiful. The interior is a pleasingly oceanic palette of blue and turquoise with lights shaped like jellyfish and an octopus. They have a great 3 course set menu (we very much enjoyed the tuna steak) and the dessert trolley is spectacular!
Le Jehan Ango - situated on the opposite side of the marina to the seafront, we had the best oysters we've ever tried here. You can choose from a huge range of different shellfish, alongside indulgent sides like dauphinoise potatoes.
Castle Museum: Recognised as a ‘town of art and history’ since 1985, Dieppe is home to a fabulous hidden gem - an outstanding art gallery and museum tucked away in its castle overlooking the city. You can see a substantial collection of paintings of Dieppe by impressionists like Pissarro, prints by Georges Braque, the largest collection of ivories in Europe (carved in Dieppe between the 16th and 20th centuries) and souvenirs from the city's glory days as a chic 19th entry seaside resort, from kitsch ornaments made of shells to a stripey Victorian bathing suit!
St Jacques' Church & St Remy's Churches: Dieppe has two magnificent churches, both worth visiting: St Jacques traces Dieppe's centuries long relationship with Canada through stained glass and commemorative plaques dedicated to families who travelled to Quebec and the Filles du Roy: To solve a severe gender imbalance in 17th-century New France, King Louis XIV sent nearly 800 young, single women to the colony between 1663 and 1673, paying their dowries and passage, in return for their marrying the men overseas. Other intriguing details include the stone carved "Savages" frieze, depicting the indigenous people encountered around the world by 16th century French explorers (their journeys funded by wealthy Dieppe ship owner, trader and privateer, Jehan Ango, who is buried in a side chapel on the other side of the church), and a beautifully detailed carved graffiti boat.
St Remy's construction began in 1522 but was interrupted for decades due to the Wars of Religion, which explains its unique blend of architectural styles. Inside it has a magnificent 17th century gilded altarpiece and impressive 18th century organ.
Café des Tribunaux: Stop for a coffee or glass of wine in Dieppe's most famous historic brasserie, once a favourite haunt for the city's fabulous arty set, including artists and writers like Oscar Wilde, Walter Sickert (who also painted it), George Moore, and Jacques-Émile Blanche. With a stunning velvet and wood interior complete with chandelier, you'll feel like you've been transported straight back to the Belle Époque!
Le Pollet: Discover this historic fisherman's quarter located across the harbour from the main town center. Characterized by its mismatched cobblestone and brick houses, you can follow the narrow, winding streets and staircases all the way up to Chappelle Notre-Dame-de-Bonsecours for amazing views back down over the port.
Take a scenic cruise along the cliffs: Dieppe is on Normandy's Alabaster Coast, so beloved by the impressionists. To get a different perspective of the white cliffs, beaches and Dieppe Castle, join Navigation Normande for relaxing scenic boat trip along the coast.
Dry Dock port: For a totally unique sight, head to Rue Édouard Lavoine - here, an old dry dock has been converted into a four storey parking garage for motorboats!
Fish Market Stalls: If you're up early enough, you can watch the shellfish stalls at Quai Trudaine selling the freshest catch directly from the boats. You'll notice that the stalls have nets built in to protect the produce from marauding seagulls!
Dieppe's WWII History
Dieppe is the last (or first, depending on which way you're travelling) stop on Normandy's commemorative Canadian Remembrance Route, an official memorial trail that traces Canada's contributions to D-Day and the Normandy Campaign (We've written a four day itinerary detailing all the key stops). Dieppe's history in WWII is defined by the catastrophic Operation Jubilee on 19th August 1942 and the city's liberation in 1944. If this is something that interests you, there area few key sites worth visiting:
Promenade Memorials: Walk along the promenade to visit the memorials for the different Canadian regiments (and the US Rangers) involved in Operation Jubilee: the 1942 Dieppe Raid. On this pebble beach, Canadian soldiers and tanks alike struggled to gain traction under heavy enemy fire. Of the nearly 5,000 Canadian troops involved, 916 were killed or died of their wounds, and 1,946 were taken as prisoners of war.
Square du Canada: A beautiful and peaceful garden beneath Chateau de Dieppe that honours the enduring connection between Dieppe and Canada. Originally created in 1924, long before the war, to celebrate Dieppe and Canada's four centuries of shared history, it now also serves as a memorial garden to honour those who fell in the Dieppe Raid and the liberation of the city two years later. The flower beds are all red and white, the colours of the Canadian flag, including two in the shape of red maple leaves.
19 Aout Memorial Museum: Housed in a former theatre, this museum provides a detailed look at the Dieppe Raid with personal stories and artefacts. N.B. The dates of your visit will determine whether you can visit the museum or not—it's currently only open from 2:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, 5th September to 2nd November. You can check the opening hours for your trip here.
Vertus Cemetery - Dieppe's Canadian War Cemetery: The final resting place for many of the Canadians who lost their lives during the 1942 raid, 5km out of town in the village of Hautot-sur-Mer. The cemetery was initially created by the occupying Germans and its headstones are placed back-to-back in long double rows, typical of German burials. When Dieppe was liberated in 1944, the Allies elected not to disturb the graves, so this unusual arrangement, unique in Commonwealth War Cemeteries, remains.
Dieppe with Kids
If you're on a family holiday, there are lots of things for the children to do in Dieppe! As well as the kite festival and a boat trip along the coast, here are a few more ideas:
Petit Train: Leaving from the marina close by the tourist information centre, this bright yellow little tourist train is fun way to see the city for little ones and big kids alike.
Vintage Carousel: Also on Quai Henri IV, right beside the Petit Train, kids will love this classic wooden merry-go-round.
Pirate Ship sandpit: Head to the western end of the grassy lawns of Boulevard de Verdun to find this fun play area for children right by the beachfront: a huge pirate ship climbing frame in the middle of an ocean of sand.
Castle/Cannon views: Even if you're not visiting the museum (or your holiday is on a day when it is closed), you can still walk up to the castle to see the old cannon and views over the city.
Parc Canadien: You'll need a car for this one - drive 20 minutes to Muchedent to visit this wildlife reserve. You can join morning guided walks to visit the resident wolf packs, and in the afternoons board an old army truck to go on a bison safari. Open every day in July and August, other months vary (see here).
Exploring Beyond Dieppe
If you've brought your car on the ferry, here are some fascinating side trips that are all within a 30 minute drive of Dieppe:
Michel Ciry Museum: in the village of Varengeville-sur-Mer, a 20 minute drive from Dieppe,
This museum is dedicated to the work of French artist, composer, and writer Michel Ciry (1919-2018), who made the village his home from 1964. Musee Michel Ciry showcases a permanent collection of his paintings, drawings, and engravings, all chosen by Michel himself, as well as temporary exhibitions (currently Grandeur, Nature by Stephane Erouane Dumas).
St Valery's Church: Located in the same village as the Musée Michel Ciry, this beautiful cliff-top church offers spectacular views along the Alabaster Coastline towards Dieppe. It is the final resting place of both Michel Ciry and fellow artist Georges Braque, who is buried beneath a mosaic of one of his famous bird designs. Inside, visitors can admire numerous stained-glass windows designed by Braque, as well as three of Ciry's paintings.
Jardin Shamrock: If you're planning a trip to Dieppe for next summer, you can visit another Varengeville-sur-Mer gem! Nothing to do with the Irish plants, this 2 hectare botanical garden contains over 1,400 different hydrangea plants, with many collected from expeditions to Japan. Officially recognized as a National Collection and considered a living museum, Jardin Shamrock is open to the public from mid June to September 30th. N.B. Cash only!
Ango Manor: Located right beside Jardin Shamrock, this beautiful manor was built around 1530 for the wealthy shipowner Jehan Ango. A stunning blend of Italian Renaissance and traditional Norman architecture, it features local materials like pink brick, sandstone and flint. Designed to host prestigious guests, including King François I, it is also famous for its distinctive onion-domed dovecote, inspired by Ango's travels. The manor was designated as one of France's first listed Historic Monuments in 1862 and later became a renowned meeting place for early 20th-century surrealists like André Breton, along with other creatives such as Jacques Prévert and Georges Braque.
Veules-les-Roses: Just 30 minutes west of Dieppe, you can visit one of Normandy's seven official "most beautiful villages in France." Follow the path beside the shortest river in France, the Veules, past picturesque historic water wheels, until it gushes onto the village's pebble beach and into the sea, only about a kilometre from its source. Beloved by writer Victor Hugo, who holidayed here, many of the houses are made with exposed flint and brick, very different to the more typical half-timbered houses found in many of Normandy's other Plus Beaux Villages de France. In summer months you can swim in the sea beneath the white cliffs.
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