Why visit Houlgate?
What is there to do in Houlgate and how can you get there without a car? Here are the essentials, according to our drivers who make the journey every week.
Houlgate is a small, unspoiled resort, famous for its 19th-century villas and the Vaches Noires cliffs. Ideal for a peaceful family getaway, offering a mix of beaches, coastal paths, and seaside architecture.
Located in Calvados, about 215 km from Paris and 120 km from Rouen, Houlgate is perfect for either a day trip or a weekend. The town is easy to explore once you arrive: it’s the journey there and back in the evening that requires some planning.
Houlgate highlights
- 1. The Anglo-Norman villas
- 2. The beach and the Vaches Noires cliffs
- 3. The Sunday market
The best time to visit: During high tides, when the cliffs reveal their fossils.
A day in Houlgate, hour by hour
| 9:00 AM | Pick-up at your address by private car, coffee on board, arrival expected 2 hours and 15 minutes later. |
|---|---|
| 11:00 AM | First visit: the Anglo-Norman villas. |
| 1:00 PM | Lunch in the town centre, Norman specialities and regional products. |
| 3:00 PM | The beach and the Vaches Noires cliffs. |
| 5:00 PM | The Sunday market. |
| 7:00 PM | Return journey to your address, Paris or the airport, with your driver at the agreed meeting point. |
Train, coach or private chauffeur to Houlgate?
Houlgate is served by Houlgate station (seasonal service), on the Trouville-Deauville – Dives-Cabourg line, with very limited traffic. Normally, allow 2h 45m to 3h from Paris Saint-Lazare. It’s a good solution when everything is running smoothly. The stop is only served part of the year: the rest of the time, you have to take the coach or a car.
| Solution | Door-to-door time | Drawbacks |
|---|---|---|
| Train Paris Saint-Lazare → Houlgate station (seasonal service) | 2h 45m to 3h + transfers | Fixed schedules, luggage to carry, early last departure |
| Regional coach | Often 3h or more | Few departures, no evening service |
| Private car with chauffeur | 2h 15m without transfers | Road traffic during peak hours |
Our shuttle service steps in when the railway doesn’t: strikes, engineering work, cancelled trains, missed connections, night flights, or simply when you are travelling with children, professional equipment, or too many suitcases for a train platform. We pick you up at your address at the time we agree on, and drop you off in Houlgate without any changes.
How to get to and from Houlgate
Houlgate is about 215 km from Paris and 120 km from Rouen, which is a 2h 15m drive from the capital. In a private car with a chauffeur, the journey is direct, from your address to your hotel, starting from €265 in a saloon and €325 in a 7-seater van, prices for the whole vehicle.
To airports from Houlgate, allow €290 for Roissy-Charles-de-Gaulle and €285 for Orly. On your return, the driver will meet you in the arrivals hall with a sign and track your flight in real time.
Good to know before you go
- Bring good shoes: the promenade and beach are best explored on foot.
- Book your tours and tables in advance during high season.
- Parking is often busy on weekends: getting dropped off avoids driving around for half an hour.
- The Norman climate changes quickly: a windbreaker is warmer than an umbrella when facing the sea breeze.
- The last trains depart early: check your return time before booking a dinner.
Areas served around Houlgate
We don’t just stop in the centre of Houlgate: hotels, gîtes, reception venues, businesses and surrounding villages are served at the same mileage rate. Here are the most popular nearby destinations, each with its own dedicated page.
- Cabourg → Paris Shuttle — Calvados, approx. 5 km from Houlgate. What to see in Cabourg
- Villers-sur-Mer → Paris Shuttle — Calvados, approx. 5 km from Houlgate. What to see in Villers-sur-Mer
- Trouville-sur-Mer → Paris Shuttle — Calvados, approx. 10 km from Houlgate. What to see in Trouville-sur-Mer
- Caen → Paris Shuttle — Calvados, approx. 5 km from Houlgate. What to see in Caen
- Falaise → Paris Shuttle — Calvados, approx. 20 km from Houlgate. What to see in Falaise
- Deauville → Paris Shuttle — Calvados, approx. 15 km from Houlgate. What to see in Deauville
Taxi, private hire or private shuttle in Houlgate?
Many travellers look for a “Houlgate taxi” when what they really need is a price known in advance. The difference is simple: a taxi starts the meter and the amount depends on traffic; a private hire service like Navette Privée announces the rate at the time of booking and does not change it, even in the event of traffic jams or a delayed flight.
- Houlgate Taxi: convenient for short trips in town, variable price, advance booking rarely guaranteed.
- Houlgate Private Hire (VTC): booked for a specific time, known driver, confirmed vehicle, fixed price.
- Houlgate Airport Shuttle: €290 to Roissy-Charles-de-Gaulle, €285 to Orly, €265 to central Paris in a saloon, tolls and luggage included.
For an early morning departure, a late-night return or a Houlgate – Paris journey with suitcases, a private shuttle is often cheaper than a metered taxi, and always less stressful than a train with connections. Call 06 88 14 67 82 or request your quote online: we will reply within minutes.
Book your trip to Houlgate
We drive to Houlgate all year round, including Sundays and public holidays. A 4:00 AM departure or a return after midnight is no problem: just let us know the time.
- Flight and train tracking, waiting time included
- Baby seats and boosters at no extra charge
- Fixed price provided before booking
- Booking by phone in under two minutes