When the sun is shining and the sea is calm, spending time on the decks outside is a real treat. On board, you will find a pleasant cafeteria, a lovely bar with panoramic views, lounges to relax in and a small childrens' play-area. The crossing usually takes under four hours. Taxis sometimes operate but they are very rare at night in Dieppe, as the service usually begins at 6am. If you travel from Newhaven at night, please note that upon arrival in Dieppe towards 4am local time, you will find no bus to meet you. As the timetable is often amended due to tidal changes, always check before turning up at the ferry terminal without a ticket. The timetable isn't always very convenient (the ship leaving Newhaven at 11pm arrives in Dieppe at 4am for instance), but bear in mind that the ferry times were set to suit both tourists and lorry drivers.
Whether leaving from Newhaven or Dieppe there are two crossings a day, one in the morning and one in the evening. Its sister ship (the Seven Sisters) left the port a year ago and is currently running between Le Havre and Portsmouth. Now run by the Danish company DFDS Seaways, on behalf of the Seine-Maritime council, which helped save the line in 2005, the service is operated by a single ferry, the Côte d’Albâtre. I am sure you will enjoy your stay here since I know that Dieppe rarely fails to disappoint those who explore its treasures.ĭespite incessant rumours to the contrary, the ferry route linking Newhaven to Dieppe is still well alive and going strong, as it has been for centuries. Throughout the following pages, you will discover all that Dieppe has to offer, from seaside activities to cultural visits and, of course, including the delightful and ever-tempting culinary specialities. Just like Oscar Wilde, Joseph Mallord William Turner, Camille Pissarro or Guy De Maupassant in their days, they know that Dieppe is special and want it to retain its unique character. The Dieppois are very much attached to their town, and even quite proud of it. The town boasts four ports, has a varied economy and combines the charm of its small scale with a large panoply of tourist facilities along with excellent infrastructure and amenities for its inhabitants.
Unlike many seaside towns, Dieppe has managed to stay remarkably simple and delightfully unpretentious. It is a town for exploration, where you will discover beautifully-restored inner courtyards behind heavy wooden doors, or picturesque streets and cottages in the old fisherman’s quarter. With over one hundred cafés, bars and restaurants, you will inevitably find a spot to suit your tastes. Whether you are looking for the classic or for the modern, for historical monuments or new swimming complexes, Dieppe will be able to offer something to please you. It is a town to be enjoyed every month of the year and for all of its different aspects. Sébastien Jumel, Dieppe’s Mayor, recently said that Dieppe was the country’s most talked about middle-sized town, and I can only agree with him. Although its heart beats more strongly in the summer, Dieppe can be visited in February and provide a host of interesting things to do. It is above all a working port, is neither snobby nor shabby, and certainly doesn’t shut up shop in the winter. In fact, the town cannot quite be classified as a seaside resort, despite being the country’s oldest. If numerous writers spent time in Dieppe, it is because of the special atmosphere that characterises the seaside resort.
If countless painters have fallen under Dieppe’s spell over the centuries, it is because of the unique light that typifies the town and its coastline. With a population of around 35000 (the whole surrounding conurbation has a population of over 80000), Dieppe is relatively small and compact, meaning it is easy to visit on foot to see the sights. With its heart nestled in between two cliffs, its castle overlooking the rooftops, its wide seafront lawns and its ever-changing skies and seascapes, it is a town unlike any other. “Spread the word: if there’s a town in Normandy whose reputation doesn’t measure up to what it really deserves, it’s certainly Dieppe!” Lonely Planetĭieppe is a real gem of a town.