Car Hire in Cherbourg - Getting to Cherbourg

Cherbourg has its own airport, as does nearby Caen. However, many international flights use Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris. Travellers landing here have the option of catching a connecting flight to Cherbourg or continuing their journey by road or rail.

Cherbourg is a relatively short and easy three-hour drive from Paris. From the capital, follow the A13 for approximately 240kms until you reach Caen, and then follow the RN13 for a further 120kms to reach Cherbourg. If coming by car from the UK, the most obvious route would involve using one of the cross-Channel ferry services that arrive at Cherbourg’s port.

Getting to Cherbourg by train from the UK via the Channel Tunnel takes approximately three hours. It is possible to reach Cherbourg from other parts of France using the comfortable, efficient and reasonably priced French train system, which is also well-connected to other cities in Europe.

Reaching Cherbourg by bus from other parts of France and Europe is simple, as the European bus systems are, on the whole, well-organised, cost-effective and efficient. If coming from destinations outside France, you may need to catch several buses to reach your final location.

Cherbourg is a major port, and ferries arrive regularly from the UK and run several times a day, all year round. From Portsmouth in Britain, P&O operates standard ferries and the Superstar Express, which makes the journey in less than three hours. From Poole, ferry trips take about four hours. Ferries also run between Cherbourg and Rosslare in Ireland.