Which campsite to choose in Houlgate?
Whether you're travelling in a tent, caravan or mobile home, Houlgate offers several campsite options to make the most of its natural setting and proximity to the sea. From family-run establishments to campsites with swimming pools or more intimate addresses, there's something for everyone. Here is a selection of campsites carefully chosen for their location, facilities and atmosphere.
Camping La Vallée, 5 stars - Rentals with sea view in Normandy
La Vallée campsite ***** located in Houlgate, it is open from April to November and covers 12 hectares. Just 900 metres from the beach, it offers 391 pitches, including 12 for motorhomes, and 150 rental accommodations. Just 900 metres from the beach, it offers a green and flowery setting, ideal for family holidays. Facilities include a vast water park with indoor and outdoor heated pools, an aqua playground, slides and solarium. Leisure activities include sports pitches, a playground, tournaments, themed evenings and supervised activities for children aged 7 and over. The campsite also has a grocery shop, a bar-restaurant, a snack bar in high season, a launderette, bike hire and a charging point for electric vehicles. Its privileged location makes it easy to explore the Normandy coast and the emblematic sites in the surrounding area.
Camping Les Chevaliers in Normandy by the sea
Camping Les Chevaliers **** in Houlgate is open from April to November and is located 900 metres from the beach. It offers 126 comfortable mobile homes, sleeping from 4 to 10 people. The campsite has an aquatic area with a heated indoor pool, a heated outdoor pool, a paddling pool for children, as well as slides such as the Spacebowl and the Double Slide. Holidaymakers can also enjoy a petanque area, a children's playground, bouncy castles, table tennis and children's clubs during the school holidays. The campsite offers services such as bike hire, a launderette, a bar/refreshment room, fast food, free Wi-Fi at the bar or reception, as well as sports activities and themed evening meals. Pets are welcomed under certain conditions. An idyllic setting for an ideal stay.
4-star campsite Capfun Les Falaises - Calvados and water park
Campsite Les Falaises **** in Gonneville-sur-Mer, 3 km from Houlgate and open from April to November, offers 384 mobile homes spread over 8.5 hectares. Just 2 km from the beaches, it offers a remarkable view of the Vaches Noires cliffs. The campsite has an aquatic area with a heated outdoor swimming pool, water slides including the Twister and Double Slide, and a children's play area. A variety of activities are organised in high season, including children's clubs, tournaments and evening entertainment. There is also a bar, snack bar, mini-market, launderette, free Wi-Fi at the bar and reception, and rental services. Pets are accepted under certain conditions, and open-air cinema sessions are also available in the high season. This is an ideal place for a family holiday between the sea and countryside.
Camping La Plage in Houlgate (lower prices)
Camping La Plage *** in Houlgate is open from April to November and has 58 pitches, including 11 bare pitches and 47 rental pitches (mobile homes, chalets, caravans, tipis, gîtes). The campsite has direct access to the beach, making it easy for holidaymakers to enjoy the 5 km of fine sand. The accommodation is laid out on terraces, offering uninterrupted views of the sea. Facilities include a children's play area, petanque pitch, table tennis, laundry, bread shop and Wi-Fi access at an additional cost. Entertainment is organised in season, including children's activities, daytime and evening entertainment. The campsite is 200 metres from Houlgate town centre, 4 km from Cabourg and less than 30 minutes from Honfleur and Deauville. Houlgate railway station is 500 metres away, making it easy to get to the site. Ideal for low-cost camping holidays in Calvados.
If you would like to extend your stay to see more, click here to discover all the campsites in Calvados
What makes Houlgate so charming?
An elegant architectural heritage
One of Houlgate's most striking charms is its remarkable architectural heritage. As you stroll through the town's streets, you'll be immediately captivated by the superb Belle Époque villas that bear witness to this seaside resort's prestigious past. Built between the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th centuries, these mansions with their ornate facades, colourful half-timbering and picturesque roofs illustrate the lifestyle of the holiday resorts of yesteryear. Some have now been converted into hotels or holiday homes but still retain all their original splendour. There are a few routes you can take to appreciate their diversity, including the heritage trail offered by the tourist office, a great opportunity to learn while strolling through a postcard setting.
A lively beach where you can relax and enjoy water sports
Nearly two kilometres long, Houlgate's fine sandy beach is the ideal place to relax facing the English Channel or to take part in a wide range of water sports. At low tide, children can fish for seashells or build sandcastles, while the sportier can take advantage of the kitekitesurfing, yachting, windsurfing and paddle boarding spots. Beach clubs are also available for supervised summer activities, making Houlgate an excellent family destination for relaxing moments with your children. In summer, beach volleyball tournaments, yoga sessions and introductory water sports courses complete the offer, creating a friendly and dynamic atmosphere by the sea.
Walks between land and sea
Houlgate can also be explored on foot, with walks winding between the sea, the cliffs and the Normandy countryside. The customs path (GR223) offers magnificent panoramic views of the coast, particularly from the heights of the cliffs overlooking the beach. The hinterland offers peaceful walks through orchards, hedged farmland and small hamlets typical of the Pays d'Auge. Among the not-to-be-missed walks, the one leading to the Notre-Dame-de-Vie chapel offers a breathtaking view of the town, the sea and even the nearby cliffs. Easily accessible, this route is ideal for families with children, combining gentle exercise with the discovery of the local heritage.
Discovering the Vaches Noires cliffs
Between Houlgate and Villers-sur-Mer, the Vaches Noires cliffs are an exceptional geological site, famous for its Jurassic marine fossils. These impressive formations, which plunge steeply into the sea, are a favorite spot for geology enthusiasts and curious walkers. At low tide, you can walk there from the beach, following the coastline on a 2-to-3-kilometre round trip. The excursion is accessible to families, including those with children, if you respect the tide times to ensure safety. It's an original outing that combines scientific discovery, nature observation and the pleasure of walking, often punctuated by the discovery of fossilised shells or even the teeth of marine reptiles, not to mention the magnificent scenery.
Events that set the pace for life in the resort
Throughout the year, Houlgate plays host to several cultural and festive events that attract large audiences. In spring, Houlgate Plein Vent celebrates the wind, the sea and kites on the main beach, in a joyful and colorful atmosphere: giant kites, children's workshops and spectacular demonstrations transform the seafront into an aerial stage. In autumn, the European Film Festival shows independent cinema from across the continent, with screenings, meetings with directors and debates open to all. And every summer, the Festijazz festival gets the resort swinging with open-air concerts combining traditional jazz and more modern sounds in some of the town's most emblematic venues. These events give Houlgate a rich and accessible cultural life, perfectly complementing the natural charms of the resort.