Cherbourg Shopping Guide : where to shop and buy wine ?
Cherbourg is more than just a ferry port, it is a vibrant city in Normandy where shopping, culture, and gastronomy meet. A favourite stop for UK travellers, it offers an inviting mix of modern malls, artisan boutiques, and wine shops.
Let’s explore the best shops and explore how you can get VAT refunds with Zapptax.
Planning a Normandy getaway ? Don’t miss our guide to shopping in Ouistreham.
Key points
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Cherbourg is a perfect getaway for UK travelers : easy to reach, full of charming shops, and even better with tax-free savings
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For wine lovers, Normandie Wine and Wine Beer Supermarket offer top French bottles, cider, and spirits at great prices.
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With Zapptax, you can reclaim up to 90% of VAT on most purchases made in France, in just a few taps.
8 best addresses for shopping in Cherbourg
Cherbourg-en-Cotentin offers a shopping experience that blends charming local boutiques, concept stores and excellent wine shops.
Good to know : with Zapptax, you can claim back the VAT on (almost) all your purchases in these shops, making your Cherbourg trip even more rewarding.
Here are our 11 top addresses to shop :
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Shopping center Les Eléis
The main retail hub in Cherbourg is Les Eléis Shopping Center, located just steps from the port. It brings together popular French and international brands in fashion, beauty, tech, and food. It is a great starting point for your shopping.
📍Quai de l'Entrepôt, 50100 Cherbourg-en-Cotentin
A colourful and creative antique shop offering fashion, decoration, accessories and original gift items. All with a fresh and seaside-inspired vibe.
📍45 Rue Maréchal Foch, 50100 Cherbourg-en-Cotentin
An iconic local brand producing luxury umbrellas handcrafted in Normandy. Visit the boutique for elegant gifts, or book a tour to discover their savoir-faire.
📍Store : 30 Rue des Portes, 50100 Cherbourg-en-Cotentin
📍 Workshop/Museum : 22 Quai Alexandre III, 50100 Cherbourg-en-Cotentin
Trendy and high-quality children’s shop with clothes, toys, and nursery items, perfect for gifting.
📍12 Rue Maréchal Foch, 50100 Cherbourg-en-Cotentin
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Librairie Ryst
The Librairie Ryst is an historic independent bookstore with a wide selection of novels, games, comics and regional titles.
📍7 Rue au Blé, 50100 Cherbourg-en-Cotentin
A fashionable women's clothing boutique featuring trendy pieces, chic accessories and seasonal collections with a Parisian touch.
📍27 Rue du Commerce, 50100 Cherbourg-en-Cotentin
The iconic Breton brand's boutique in Cherbourg offers timeless striped shirts (marinières), quality knitwear and nautical-inspired fashion made in Normandy.
📍3 Rue Maréchal Foch, 50100 Cherbourg-en-Cotentin
A collective boutique uniting five Cotentin artisans : stationery, Murano-glass jewelry, photography, ceramics, macramé & sewing. Perfect for one-of-a-kind gifts.
📍55 Rue au Blé, 50100 Cherbourg-en-Cotentin
3 Best Wine Shops in Cherbourg
Cherbourg is the perfect stop for travellers looking to fill their bags with excellent wine or Normandy cider.
Here are the best wine shops in Cherbourg :
One of the most popular stops for tourists and locals alike. This shop offers a wide range of French wines, spirits, beers and ciders, with competitive prices and friendly staff.
📍71 Avenue Carnot, 50100 Cherbourg-en-Cotentin
A large retail outlet located in La Glacerie. This place has over 1,500 products including wine, champagne, whisky, gin and craft beers from around the world.
📍ZAC Les Rouges Terres, La Glacerie, 50470 Cherbourg-en-Cotentin
While best known for its clothing and food items, this shop also carries a fine selection of whiskies, rums, and beers from Ireland, Scotland, and France. A great stop for unique finds.
📍18 Quai de Caligny, 50100 Cherbourg-en-Cotentin
How to shop tax-free in Cherbourg ?
If you're a non-EU resident (including UK travelers), you're entitled to VAT refund on almost all your purchases in France, like wine, fashion, perfumes, electronics, etc.
And thanks to Zapptax, you can enjoy tax-free shopping in France without the usual paperwork headaches.
- Ask for an invoice in the name of Zapptax (details in the app),
- Upload it to the app,
- Validate your tax-free form at Customs before leaving the UE,
- Receive your refund, up to 90% of the VAT paid.
All you need is to spend at least €100 during your trip, stay in the EU for less than 6 months, and take the goods back home with you.
Conclusion
Just a short trip from the UK, Cherbourg offers a perfect mix of modern shopping, local boutiques, and some of the best wine shops in Normandy. All with the bonus of tax-free shopping with Zapptax.
So next time you visit Cherbourg, you better save some room in your suitcase !
FAQ
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What is Cherbourg best known for ?
Cherbourg is famous for its historic port, one of the largest artificial harbours in the world, and for La Cité de la Mer, a world-class maritime museum featuring the submarine Le Redoutable.
The city also gained cultural fame through Jacques Demy’s classic film The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, which still shapes its romantic image today.
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What souvenir should I bring back from Cherbourg ?
You’ll find plenty of authentic Normandy gifts to take home : local cider or Calvados, Normandy sea salt caramels, and sablés biscuits. For something unique, pick up a bottle of wine or spirits from Normandie Wine, or grab a striped sailor shirt (marinière).
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What is the difference between Cherbourg-Octeville and Cherbourg-en-Cotentin ?
Since 2016, Cherbourg-en-Cotentin has brought together five former communes : Cherbourg-Octeville, Équeurdreville-Hainneville, Tourlaville, La Glacerie, and Querqueville. The name “Cherbourg” remains widely used, but Cherbourg-en-Cotentin is now the city’s official designation.
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Can I find good wine in Normandy ?
Cherbourg has become a prime destination for buying good French wines, especially for UK travellers. Shops like Normandie Wine and Wine Beer Supermarket offer bottles from Bordeaux, Burgundy, Loire, and Champagne, alongside Normandy’s signature ciders and Calvados.
