Should I spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Rouen?

Q: Is one day enough time in Rouen?

One day is usually not enough time to experience the compact city of Rouen, so you may find yourself somewhat rushed. You don't want to miss the chance to enjoy a meal at a restaurant, admire the wonderful scenery, tour the famous sights and museums, and learn about the history of the town. So, you'll likely want more than one day, as many tourists set aside one to two days for their visit. However, if your schedule is tight, we have a handful of recommendations to make the most of your journey.

Should you spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Rouen?

Not sure how much time you'll need in Rouen, France? Most people spend one to two days in Rouen during their visit. After all, the compact city will let you enjoy a meal at a restaurant, admire the wonderful scenery, tour the famous sights and museums, and learn about the history of the town.

Rouen is the capital city of the northern region of Normandy. It sits along the Seine River and is a historical and beautiful city that is fun to explore. There are many Gothic churches as well as pedestrian streets and half-timbered houses.

Do you have one or two days to visit Rouen? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.

Is one day enough time in Rouen?

One day is usually not enough time to experience the compact city of Rouen, so you may find yourself somewhat rushed. You don't want to miss the chance to enjoy a meal at a restaurant, admire the wonderful scenery, tour the famous sights and museums, and learn about the history of the town. So, you'll likely want more than one day, as many tourists set aside one to two days for their visit. However, if your schedule is tight, we have a handful of recommendations to make the most of your journey.

How to spend a day in Rouen

Don't miss the Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Rouen during your trip to Rouen, as it's one of this destination's most well-known attractions. You should make sure to set aside enough time to see it.

You'll absolutely want to spend some time enjoying the food scene in this city, so make sure you spend time at one of the local restaurants where you can taste the delicious cuisine for a meal or two. There are many local specialties found in town. Make sure you try the Passe Crassane, which is a French pear. The town is also known for its cheese, chocolate, and pastries.

Rouen is a very walkable city. With only a day in the city, you'll have no trouble exploring the local sights. There are many parts of town that can easily be explored on foot.

Is a weekend (two to three days) enough time in Rouen?

Two days or a full weekend in Rouen is often considered the right amount of time to spend here, as many tourists take around one to two days for their trip in the area. A 2-day trip would usually give you enough time to check out the cuisine, the beautiful scenery, the museums and landmarks, and the historic old town. Further down, you'll find our recommendations to kick off your adventure.

Rouen, France

How to spend 2 days in Rouen

Having a weekend (two to three days) in Rouen will provide you with more time to take in the best activities in the city.

This city offers some good museums and historic landmarks, so it's worth your time to spend a day exploring a few of them. Pick the ones that appeal to you the most and get started. You'll find the highest concentration of sights in the city's pedestrian zone. Highlights that you should check out include Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Rouen, Musée des Beaux-Arts, Abbatiale Saint-Ouen, and Aître Saint-Maclou.

Rouen is known to be such a beautiful destination, so just exploring and taking it all in should be one of the top things to do on your list. It's a strikingly beautiful city with Gothic cathedrals, cobblestone streets, and half-timbered houses.

A few tour suggestions include:

Rouen: Private Walking Tour with a Licensed Tour Guide ($203)

Public transit in Rouen is easy and efficient. In just a few days, you should be able to get around the city quite easily. The city has two agencies that offer public transportation. Métro du Rouen is a tramway that runs 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 are also buses and rail connections to town.

More Info

If you're looking for more information about Rouen, we have even more advice to help you plan your journey.