A trip to Tatihou: our suggestions for a stay on the island

Crossing, accommodation, eating, the ideal season: follow the guide!

Do you want to explore Tatihou Island and its unspoilt environment? For a day trip or a longer stay, prepare for a magical experience. Board the amphibious boat or cross on foot at low tide to get to this island paradise. When you arrive, you’ll find cosy accommodation as well as a restaurant or picnic tables for your lunch on the island.

How and when to go, where to eat, where to stay: see all our suggestions to plan your trip to Tatihou Island.

How to get to Tatihou Island?

To get to the island, you have two options: either take the amphibious boat or cross on foot at low tide. Or you can combine both experiences to get the best of both worlds!

Getting to the island by amphibious boat

Discover the original amphibious vehicle, one of the only boats in France that has wheels! This vessel sails at high tide and drives across the sand at low tide. Hop on board for a 10 minute crossing to Tatihou Island.

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Walking to Tatihou Island

If you love walking, you can get to Tatihou on foot at low tide when the coefficient is low enough. From Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue, it takes about 20 to 30 minutes to cross to this island paradise. Enjoy a lovely walk in the salty sea air and take in the unique landscapes of the Val de Saire before discovering the treasures of Tatihou.

All aboard !

To board the boat to Tatihou in the best conditions, be sure to arrive 20 minutes before the departure time indicated on your ticket. You’ll find free car parks at the harbour in Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue. You can take any boat back, and they leave on the hour between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., except at 1 p.m.

Staying on Tatihou Island: where to eat and sleep

Do you fancy getting away from it all in the middle of the sea? There are several accommodation options on Tatihou Island. Les Maisons de Tatihou hotel has 26 rooms available in three different buildings: Les Gabiers, Les Équipages and Les Amiraux. Settle in and enjoy this lovely 4-star accommodation. For bigger groups, why not try the youth hostel with its 18 rooms in two buildings, the Tribordais and the Babordais?

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Where to eat on Tatihou Island?

In the heart of the maritime gardens, the restaurant Le Carré invites you in to enjoy a delicious meal, with a traditional cuisine based on local, seasonal products. You can sit on the terrace to enjoy the peaceful atmosphere of the gardens, with their colourful flowers and chirping birds.

Restaurant Le Carré

Picnic with unique view

If you want to make the most of Tatihou Island and its unique landscapes, take your own picnic and enjoy a relaxing break in the gardens, with a sea view or at the foot of the Vauban tower. You’ll find several picnic tables for the perfect al fresco lunch on Tatihou. Sit down and enjoy the simple life with a good dose of fresh sea air!

Note: there are no dustbins on Tatihou Island, so make sure you take any rubbish back with you to protect this unspoilt island.

When to go to Tatihou Island?

Tatihou Island is open to the public every day from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., from 1 April to 13 November. You can either enjoy Tatihou in the warmer weather in summer, or in the low season when the superb landscapes fill with the island’s birds.

Our favorite seasons to visit Tatihou :

Photo, © Jérôme Houyvet

The gardens return to life after the winter. Nature wakes up again in a festival of colours, with warmer temperatures: a great season to enjoy the island and its peaceful setting. Between April and July, you can watch the nesting birds that settle on Tatihou. If you look carefully, you might spot some chicks hiding behind the leaves!
Photo, © Xavier Lachenaud

Tatihou Island has a different atmosphere, but the same timeless charm. The sun peeks out from the autumn skies and shines a special light on the unique landscapes of the island. The sea is more changeable, and contrasts with the old stones of the lazaretto and the Vauban tower. During your walk, you’ll spot different bird species passing through before the winter