Getting to La Manche

By boat, train or car, La Manche is never far away!
Photo
Photo, © Captain Yvon

Wherever you’re coming from, La Manche is waiting to welcome you! Whether you want to travel by train, car or boat, the territory is well served by different means of public transport. When you get here, regular bus services are available so you can travel without using your car. Here’s how to get to La Manche and how to get around for great holidays in Normandy.

How to get to La Manche

By road

Situated in western Normandy, La Manche is served by two motorways:

  • the A13 from Paris
  • the A84 that serves the whole of western France
1 hour from Caen
3 hours from Paris
1 hour from Rennes

By train

 By boat: ferry from the UK

  • Portsmouth - Cherbourg
    Two night crossings are available every week.
    Crossing time: 8 hours.
    With Brittany Ferries

  • Poole - Cherbourg
    With crossings available all year, this shorter route offers an alternative to the Portsmouth-Cherbourg crossing.
    Crossing time: around 4.5 hours.
    With Brittany Ferries

By boat: ferry from the Channel Islands

From April onwards, lots of crossings are available from the Channel Islands to the ports of La Manche. From St Helier, set sail for Granville or Barneville-Carteret. From St Peter Port or Alderney, sail to Diélette, or change in Jersey for crossings to Granville or Barneville-Carteret. As for Sark, you’ll need to change in Jersey.
With Manche Iles Express

By boat: ferry from Ireland

  • Dublin - Cherbourg
    The Dublin - Cherbourg ferry crossing connects Ireland to France. The boat sails overnight, arriving in Cherbourg late morning. Crossing time: 19 hours.
    With Irish Ferries

  • Rosslare - Cherbourg
    Another option for getting to La Manche: a night crossing from Rosslare, situated around two hours from Dublin. Crossing time: 18 hours
    With Brittany Ferries
    With Stena Line

  • Photo
    Photo, © Xavier Lachenaud
  • Photo
    Photo, © David Daguier - CD50

Getting around in La Manche

Getting around in La Manche without your car is possible! There are lots of daily bus services all over the department, with additional services along the coasts of La Manche in summer.

TRANSPORTS NOMAD: THE MOBILITY NETWORK IN NORMANDY

Since 1 January 2020, the Normandy Region has developed the Nomad mobility network across the whole of Normandy. Transports Nomad includes trains, buses, carpooling, school buses and dial-a-ride services. For your travel needs in La Manche, choose the Nomad mobility network. Several daily services enable you to get around easily within La Manche.

DIAL-A-RIDE SERVICES

“Dial-a-ride” services are available, with one return journey per day from Monday to Friday. These lines cover several towns and their surrounding areas across the department: La Haye Pesnel, Valognes, Coutances, Granville, Bréhal, Montmartin-sur-Mer, Saint-Lô, Lison, Avranches, La Haye, Lessay, Périers and Villedieu.

To use these services, you need to book ahead, at the latest by 4 p.m. the day before travel. Subscriptions are available. For more information, call 02 22 55 00 10.

Nomad Network