ROUEN FAQ`S
Rouen is easy to get to within France. The nearest airport is Paris, where you can travel from all over Europe and from overseas. The city is situated 80 miles northwest of Paris and can be reached by train, bus or ferry.
From Paris by train: There are several trains that depart from the St Lazare Station in Paris for Rouen on a daily basis. Tickets cost around €21 and can be purchased at the train station. The journey takes about 90 minutes.
By Bus: Ouibus has buses from Rouen to Paris and Beauvais for around €5 to €10 one way. Eurolines also operates buses to Paris and Le Havre for around €5 to €12. From Paris, connections can be made with buses throughout France and Europe.
By Ferry: Ferries from the UK run to three Normandy ports all close to Rouen: Dieppe, Caen and Le Havre.
The city center is compact and all sights can easily be seen on foot, however, there is public transport throughout the town.
The Métro du Rouen is a tramway operating in Rouen, running north to south from Boulingrin in the north to Saint-Sever, where it branches off into two lines (one to Technopôle and one to Georges Braque).
There is a normal bus line that runs 29 lines throughout the town.
There is also a "bus rapid transit" system, which is very similar to a normal bus system, in Rouen, called the Transport est-ouest rouennais (TEOR). This system has three lines in the town, T1, T2 and T3, all of which run on the north of the river.
Tickets can be purchased in many places throughout town (Gare-Rue Verte tram station on Place Bernard-Tissot, the Théâtre des Arts tram station on rue Jeanne d'Arc), from conductors on buses, as well as from automatic ticket machines at metro and TEOR stations. Tickets cost about €1.60 and are valid for one hour.
For information on getting around Normandy, refer to Getting Around.
Rouen is the historic capital of the ancient Duchy of Normandy and remains the chief city of the new region of Normandy (Normandie). In the Middle-Ages, Rouen was one of France's largest and most prosperous towns and the seat of the Exchequer of Normandy.
What is Rouen known for?Rouen boasts a number of beautiful churches, mostly constructed in Gothic style. Its best-known and most visited, the Notre-Dame Cathedral, was made famous by the paintings of Claude Monet. This Cathedral is by far the most intricate and captivating and holds the title of the tallest cathedral in all of France.
What is the food Rouen is famous for?Gros Horloge chocolate clock faces, Pavé du Vieux Marché pralines, Cent Clochers apple-flavored chocolates, Sucre de Pomme apple sweets and shortbread biscuits are all sweet Rouen specialties of Normandy, which will be able to satisfy your taste buds during your stay.
What is the food like in Normandy?
Cuisine in Normandy celebrates the 3 main products of the region: dairy, seafood and apples, which are produced in the region’s rich pastures and farmlands.
Specialties from the sea include Dieppe sole and Normandy oysters, along with lobsters, scallops and shrimp on many menus of the region. Don’t miss the opportunity to sample Normandy’s world-famous cheeses: Camembert, Livarot, Pont l’Eveque and the heart-shaped Neufchatel. There is even a Route des Fromages that highlights the four cheeses through stops at museums, farms, towns and restaurants. The cheeses are often served as dessert and pair well with the ever-present apple-based beverages from the region, such as cider, perry, Calvados and Pommeau, made from local apples and pears.
Normandy is renowned for its variety of meats, from the delicate flavor of saltmarsh lamb to creamy chicken "à la Vallée d'Auge" and duck "à la Rouennaise".
Local desserts include "bourdelots" or "teurgoule", or such sweets as Isigny toffees or apple sugars from Rouen.
The best time to visit Normandy is June to August. This is also when French families take their holidays, which also makes it the most crowded time of year. If you are driving, be prepared for heavy traffic. Though this is the height of the peak tourist season – which can last from May to mid-October – this period also promises the most pleasant weather. Fall and spring can be great shoulder seasons if you're hoping for fewer crowds and better accommodation rates, but a visit during this time will likely be a bit chilly and may require coats. Winter is a great time to visit if you are looking for cheaper hotel rates, but some of the businesses in the region's small towns and cities will likely close up shop for the season. Also note, some of the region's top museums close for the month of January.
What is the currency in France? Can I pay/tip in US dollars?The currency of France is the Euro. US dollars are not accepted. Please be sure to have the correct currency on hand or be prepared to exchange your dollars for euros upon arrival. Currency exchange desks can be found at the airports and train stations. For more detailed information, consult our guide to tipping in France by clicking here.
I don`t speak French. Will many people speak English?English may be spoken at your hotel and in the tourist areas, but not everywhere. We suggest you get a good English-French guidebook or app and familiarize yourself with common phrases such as hello, goodbye, excuse me and numbers 1-10.
What should I do if I need medical assistance?In an emergency dial 112 is the general emergency services number or 114 for hearing assistance.