France · 2026 itinerary
Rouen 3-Day Itinerary
A day-by-day plan for Rouen: the best attractions in order, where to eat, how to get around — with free hotel briefings for your stay.
Arrive & Explore the Highlights
The cobbled square where Joan of Arc was burned in 1431. Now a lively market square with a striking modern church (Église Jeanne d'Arc) and half-timbered buildings.
🕐 Square open 24/7. Market: Wed & Sat 07:00-13:30.
Free entry💡 Free outdoor market Wednesdays and Saturdays till 13:00. Buy local apples and fromage frais; the 'Les Maraîchers' stall has best produce.
Hotels near Place du Vieux-Marché →One of France's major fine-arts museums. Strong collection of Impressionists, including several Monets, plus an enormous painting by Caravaggio's school.
🕐 Wed-Mon: 10:00-18:00, closed Tuesdays.
Free entry💡 Free entry first Sunday of each month (and every day for under-26s EU residents). Go 10:00 sharp to avoid queues.
Hotels near Musée des Beaux-Arts (free days) →O'Kallaghan's · ££
Yu Yuan · ££
Deeper Into Rouen
Monet's famous subject. The towering Gothic facade shifts colour by the hour. Inside, the medieval nave and tombs are free to enter.
🕐 Daily: 07:30 till about 19:00, later in summer.
💡 Visit at sunset for the warm light Monet painted. Pick up a free 'cathedral trail' leaflet from the tourist office nearby.
A formal public garden with big lawns, herbaceous borders, a small zoo and tropical greenhouses. Quiet and well-maintained.
🕐 Park: daily 07:30 till dusk. Greenhouses: 14:00-17:00, closed Mondays.
💡 The zoo is free and tiny — fine for a 20-minute stop. Bring a picnic; benches face the rose garden.
L orbe
La Buvette
Final Favourites & Departure
The massive 14th-century astronomical clock straddles a cobbled street. You see it perfectly from the pavement; the museum on site costs a few euros.
💡 Free to photograph from street level. The best angle is looking east along Rue du Gros-Horloge, early morning when crowds thin.
Le Tarmac
Dolce Vita Restaurant
Getting Around Rouen
Book a fixed-price transfer with a Rouen-based firm like Taxis de Rouen to avoid surge pricing. Ask for a Renault Espace if you have luggage—boot space is tight in saloons.
Buy a 'Ticket +' from the machine at the station—it works on trams and buses for 1 hour. Validate it onboard. The tram is smooth but can get busy around 08:00 with students. If the Thérèse des Arts stop is packed, get off one stop earlier at Boulingrin and walk down Rue Beauvoisine.
Don't take the tram from the station if your hotel is in the old town—it's a pleasant 10-min walk across the bridge. The TEOR bus lines T1, T2 and T3 run along the quays if you're carrying bags.
Book on BlaBlaCar Bus at least a week ahead for the €5 deals. The bus drops you at the train station, not the centre—it's a 20-min walk to Un nid en ville, or grab the T1 bus two stops towards Boulingrin.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 3 days enough for Rouen?
Three days covers the main highlights well. You can see the key attractions like Place du Vieux-Marché and get a genuine feel for the city. For a more leisurely pace or to explore neighbourhoods in depth, a 5-day trip is better.
What is the best time to visit Rouen?
See our full best time to visit Rouen guide — it covers weather month by month, peak vs. shoulder seasons and how to avoid the crowds.
Where should I stay for this itinerary?
A central location saves transit time between sites. Top options include Novotel, Hôtel Notre-Dame, Brit Hotel Rouen Centre. See the full ranked list with free briefings for each.