Rouen Travel Guide

Tourist Guide

Gros Horloge as well as a large group of people
Rouen
Rouen Cathedral featuring interior views and a church or cathedral
Rouen
Rouen featuring signage

Discover the historic medieval city where Joan of Arc was executed. Walk along quaint cobblestone streets in this Normandy city.

Rouen is famous as the location where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake. It is the former home of one of the country’s greatest writers, Gustave Flaubert. The city’s cathedral attracts travelers and sightseers just as it once inspired works of art by Monet. Rouen has many museums and historic landmarks created during its important role in Anglo-Norman rule.

Admire the gothic design of the 13th-century Rouen Cathedral. See stained-glass windows dating back more than 800 years as well as the tomb of Richard the Lionheart, a former king of England. The church’s majestic façade inspired impressionist artist Monet to create works now worth millions of dollars.

Find one of Monet’s cathedral paintings in the city’s Musée des Beaux-Arts, which was founded by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1801. Browse paintings, sculptures and other artworks around the halls of the 19th-century building. Many genres are included, such as impressionist and renaissance art.

Make your way to the Gros Horloge (Big Clock), one of the world’s oldest and largest surviving mechanical clocks. Made in 1389, it has an 8.2-foot (2.5-meter) diameter. Admire the clock’s design with a sun at its center and 24 rays of sunlight pointing to the hours. At the nearby Saint-Ouen Church, appreciate its grand gothic design and famous 19th-century organ.

Stroll along the charming cobblestone street of Rue Eau de Robec to browse its shops and cafés and enjoy interesting architecture. Water flowing down one side of the road offers a tranquil ambiance. Turn down Rue Saint-Romain, near the cathedral, to see gothic and renaissance architectural styles. Some houses have thatched roofs and wooden façades.

The city has warm summers and cold winters with a fair chance of rain. Local people are known as “ Rouennais.”

Take a look around the Tour Jeanne d’Arc in Rouen Castle, where it is said the famous heroine was shown instruments of torture designed for her. In contrast, modern Rouen will show you a very pleasurable experience.

Where to stay in Rouen

Rouen featuring a small town or village and heritage architecture

Rouen City Centre

4/5(35 area reviews)

Historical sites, museums and art galleries are just a few things travellers like about Rouen City Centre. Sights like Saint-Ouen Church and Rouen Cathedral are spots to explore, and you can get around the greater Rouen area at Palais de Justice Tram Station.

Rouen City Centre
Gros Horloge showing street scenes

Quartier Vieux Marché-Cathédrale

Historical sites, museums and art galleries are just a few things travellers like about Quartier Vieux Marché-Cathédrale. Sights like Palais de Justice and Gros Horloge are spots to explore, and you can get around the greater Rouen area at Palais de Justice Tram Station.

Quartier Vieux Marché-Cathédrale

Centre Ville Rive Gauche

4/5(3 area reviews)

Shopping, restaurants and historical sites highlight some of the notable features of Centre Ville Rive Gauche. Make a stop by Saint Sever while you're exploring.

Centre Ville Rive Gauche
Rouen featuring signage

Quartier Saint-Marc - Croix de Pierre - Saint-Nicaise

Historical sites, bars and river views are just a few things travellers enjoy about Quartier Saint-Marc - Croix de Pierre - Saint-Nicaise. Check out Saint-Ouen Church or Rue Eau de Robec while you're exploring the area.

Quartier Saint-Marc - Croix de Pierre - Saint-Nicaise
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Gare-Jouvenet

5/5(1 area review)

You'll appreciate the restaurants during your time in Gare-Jouvenet and you might want to plan a stop by Tour Jeanne d'Arc and Hotel de Ville while you're in the area.

Gare-Jouvenet
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Quartier Pasteur

3.5/5(11 area reviews)

River views, historical sites and coffee shops are just a few things travellers enjoy about Quartier Pasteur. Check out Kindarena or Flaubert Museum and the History of Medicine while you're exploring the area.

Quartier Pasteur
Hyatt Place Rouen
Hyatt Place Rouen
4 out of 5
77 Route De Neufchatel, Rouen
The price is Rp1.574.334 per night from 18 May to 19 May
Rp1.574.334
Rp1.802.149 total
18 May - 19 May
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star spa hotel in Rouen. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, a full-service spa and breakfast (surcharge). Popular attractions Musée des Antiquites and Museum de ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (102 reviews)
"It would have been nice to have a refrigerator."

Reviewed on 12 May 2025

Hyatt Place Rouen
Mercure Rouen Centre Cathedrale
Mercure Rouen Centre Cathedrale
4 out of 5
7 rue Croix de Fer, Accès Parking via Rue des Arsins, Rouen, Seine-Maritime
The price is Rp1.652.967 per night from 1 Jun to 2 Jun
Rp1.652.967
Rp1.888.645 total
1 Jun - 2 Jun
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star hotel in Rouen. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, breakfast (surcharge) and room service. Our guests praise the helpful staff in their reviews. Popular attractions ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (970 reviews)
"The women who checked us in was extremely helpful and friendly. Appreciated the complimentary beverages in the room and the 2 sizes of bed pillows. Bed was very comfortable"

Reviewed on 13 May 2025

Mercure Rouen Centre Cathedrale
ibis budget Rouen Centre Rive Gauche
ibis budget Rouen Centre Rive Gauche
2 out of 5
55 AVENUE DE LA LIBERATION, Rouen
The price is Rp887.857 per night from 1 Jun to 2 Jun
Rp887.857
Rp1.009.981 total
1 Jun - 2 Jun
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this eco-certified hotel in Rouen. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, breakfast (surcharge) and parking (surcharge). Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (416 reviews)
"Staff were helpful aiding us to find somewhere to eat. Secure parking is very resonably priced, bed was very comfortable and shower fab. The only improvement would be a slightly better pillow."

Reviewed on 7 May 2025

ibis budget Rouen Centre Rive Gauche
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Les Boréales Résidence et Spa
Les Boréales Résidence et Spa
52 Rue Meridienne, Rouen
Stay at this aparthotel in Rouen. Enjoy breakfast (surcharge), a sauna and on-site spa services. Popular attractions Jardin des Plantes and Saint Sever are located ...
Les Boréales Résidence et Spa
Club Wyndham Normandy
Club Wyndham Normandy
Departementale 19 40 Bis, Route d'Amfreville-Sous-les-Monts, Connelles, Eure
Stay at this residence in Connelles. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and a fitness centre. Popular attractions Golf du Vaudreuil and Biotropica Zoological Conservatory ...
"We stayed for 3 nights as part of our Normandy trip this April. This hotel is a great base for exploring the region if you are travelling by a car. We ventured out to all the local gems including Honfleur, Étretat, Deauville - all within 1.5 hour drive. The city of Rouen is 30-40 minutes away. The ..."

Reviewed on 22 Apr 2025

Club Wyndham Normandy
Séjours & Affaires Rouen Normandie
Séjours & Affaires Rouen Normandie
187, rue Leon Blum, Sotteville-les-Rouen
Stay at this residence in Sotteville-les-Rouen. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, breakfast (surcharge) and parking (surcharge). Popular attractions Jardin des Plantes and Saint ...
7.8/10 Good! (68 reviews)
"The environment was superb and excellent for transport connection."

Reviewed on 4 Jan 2025

Séjours & Affaires Rouen Normandie
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Popular places to visit

Things to do

Reviews of Rouen

4.5
Top destination
5 - Excellent
20
5 - Excellent 59%
4 - Good
11
4 - Good 32%
3 - Okay
2
3 - Okay 6%
2 - Disappointing
1
2 - Disappointing 3%
1 - Terrible
0
1 - Terrible 0%

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

Got amazingly surprised by this city! Will go back for sure

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

Walk the street and use the transport system; soak up the atmosphere of the place (unless there has been a chemical fire!)

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

Lovely vibrant city

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

Lovely, ideal stop for a night after holiday further south, on Atlantic coast. Kyriad was a good base; had car park which was needed, not a long walk to town either. Bit noisy but to be expected really for a city location. Would visit again

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

The Cathedral Light Show was incredible.

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller

Pleasant medieval centre to walk around. River bank provided easy dog walking