Essentials
- City
- Le Havre, Normandy, France
- Population
- Approximately 166,000
- Internet Speed
- High-speed fiber widely available, average 400 Mbps (Orange/Free)
- Currency & Banking
- 1 EUR ≈ 1.09 USD. Major banks include BNP Paribas and Société Générale at Place de l'Hôtel de Ville
- Tap Water
- Drinkable and high quality
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type C/E sockets
- SIM Card
- Free Mobile (5G Plan €19.99/mo at Espace Coty), Orange, SFR
- Banking for Expats
- Revolut, Lydia, or Nickel (available at Tabacs for quick setup)
- Accommodation
- Airbnb, Leboncoin, and Seloger; average studio rent €550 - €750/month
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, contactless payment (Sans Contact) accepted almost everywhere
- Short Term Rentals
- Appart'City Le Havre (approx. €80/night) or Airbnb in Quartier Saint-François
- Budget Accommodation
- The People - Le Havre (Hostel, approx. €35/night for a dorm)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Inner Harbour (Saint-François) and the reconstructed Perret City Center
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Sainte-Cécile for quiet vibes or Quartier de l'Eure for industrial loft styles near the docks
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Le Container (76600 Le Havre) - Approx. €200/month for a dedicated desk
- Best Cafe for Work
- Wallaby Coffee (Rue Victor Hugo) - Excellent Wi-Fi and power outlets
- Networking Events
- French Tech Le Havre meetups at Cité Numérique
- Social Events for Expats
- Internations Le Havre group and 'Le Havre Expats' Facebook community
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Uber is active; also Taxis Le Havre (+33 2 35 25 81 81)
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- LiA Vélos (Municipal bike share) - €30 for a monthly subscription
- Best Beach Nearby
- Le Havre Beach (Stone/Sand mix) - Located right in the city center
- Top Regional Airline
- Air France (via Paris-CDG, 2 hours by train)
- Top International Airline
- Transavia (flying from Deauville-Normandie Airport nearby)
- Highway Access
- A13 to Paris and A29 to Amiens/Belgium
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Gare du Havre (SNCF Nomad trains to Paris Saint-Lazare in 2h 10m)
- Public Transport Passes
- LiA Pass - €42.50 per month for unlimited bus and tram
- Regional Travel
- FlixBus or Nomad trains to Rouen (€12) and Caen (€18)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Groupe Hospitalier du Havre (Hôpital Jacques Monod)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Yogi'in Le Havre (Rue Jean-Baptiste Eyriès) - €15 per drop-in
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Basic-Fit (Quai des Antilles) - €24.99/4 weeks
- Laundry Services
- Laverie Speed Queen (Rue Aristide Briand) - €5 per 8kg load
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- UberEats and Deliveroo
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Marmite Dieppoise (Fish stew) or Norman Apple Tart
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Casablanca (Vegetarian Couscous) and Le Chat Bleu
- Best Dessert Spots
- Mazzoni (Italian Gelato on the beach) and Pâtisserie Portier
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- E.Leclerc (Docks Vauban) and Halles Centrales (Fresh local produce)
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Amazon.fr, Cdiscount
- Grocery Delivery
- Carrefour Livré chez vous or Monoprix Online
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Quartier Saint-François and along the Beach Promenade in summer
- Local Brewery
- Brasserie de l'Apocalypse (Artisanal beers made in Havre)
- Wine Bars
- Le Wine Bar (Rue de Bretagne) - Extensive Norman and French selection
- Street Food Stalls
- Friterie Le Havre (near the Port) - Classic Moules-Frites to-go
- Popular International Cuisine
- Le Shahi (Indian) near the city hall
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- St. Joseph's Church (Concrete skyscraper church) and the Perret Showflat
- Museums & Art Venues
- MuMa (Musée d'art moderne André Malraux) - Impressionist collection
- Historical Sites
- UNESCO World Heritage Perret Architecture (entire city center)
- Religious Sites
- Le Havre Cathedral (Notre-Dame)
- Annual Events
- Un Été Au Havre (Summer art festival June-September)
- Cultural Districts
- Saint-Roch district (Art galleries and gardens)
- Theater Venues
- Le Volcan (Scène Nationale) designed by Oscar Niemeyer
- Local Markets
- Sunday morning market at Place de l'Hôtel de Ville
- Music Scene
- Le Tetris (Modern concert venue in Fort de Tourneville)
- Street Art
- Giant storage container arches (Catène de Containers by Vincent Ganivet)
- Cooking Classes
- L'Atelier des Chefs (Occasionally held at Docks Vauban)
- Art Galleries
- Galerie Corinne Le Monnier
- Historic Buildings
- Graville Abbey (11th Century)
- Local Heritage
- Maritime history embodied in the Port of Le Havre (France's 2nd largest)
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Forêt de Montgeon (Lake, woods, and playgrounds)
- National Parks Nearby
- Boucles de la Seine Normande Regional Natural Park
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- The Vélomaritime (EuroVelo 4) route passing through the city
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Les Jardins Suspendus (The Hanging Gardens) overlooking the bay
- Birdwatching Locations
- Estuaire de la Seine nature reserve (20 mins away)
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Strictly prohibited on city beaches; use designated BBQ pits in Forêt de Montgeon
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- La Poste (Main branch at Rue Jules Siegfried), Mondial Relay
- Tech Repair Services
- WeFix (Docks Vauban Mall)
- Table Tennis Spots
- ASPTT Le Havre Table Tennis Club
- Language Classes
- Alliance Française Normandie
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Bibliothèque Oscar Niemeyer (Inside 'Le Volcan')
- Community Centers
- Maison Municipale de Quartier (various locations)
- Gaming Lounges
- Check local cafe/bars near the University Le Havre Normandie
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Pasino du Havre (Place Jules Ferry)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €2,800/m² (€112,000 for 40m²)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €1,900/m² (€76,000 for 40m²)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €2,600/m² (€156,000 for 60m²)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €1,800/m² (€108,000 for 60m²)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €2,500/m² (€200,000 for 80m²)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €1,700/m² (€136,000 for 80m²)
- Corporate Tax
- 25% standard corporate tax rate in France
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 30% Flat Tax (Prélèvement Forfaitaire Unique)
- Tax System
- Worldwide income for tax residents (183+ days)
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 45% for income over €177,106
- VAT
- 20% (Standard rate)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, applicable under French tax code Art. 209 B
- Property Tax
- Taxe Foncière (varies by exact location, approx. €1,200/year for a studio)
- Property Transaction Tax
- Approx. 7-8% (Notary Fees/Droits d'enregistrement)
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- Auto-entrepreneur status offers simplified tax calculation for freelancers