An Aparthotel with a Pool in Cherbourg

DOMITYS LES SALINES is the only aparthotel listed in Cherbourg, rated 8.8 from more than 110 reviews. Its apartments have a private bathroom, a kitchenette and a balcony, so you can prepare breakfast or dinner and still have a little outdoor space. The residence goes beyond the basic aparthotel with an indoor swimming pool, a sauna, a fitness centre and a sun terrace. A restaurant, a bar and a coffee shop on site give options on evenings when you do not want to cook. Free WiFi and free private parking complete a package that suits longer stays and travellers with a car.

The facilities make the difference on the Cotentin, where wind and rain are part of the experience. On a grey day, the indoor pool and sauna are a welcome way to warm up after a walk on the cliffs or a visit to the harbour, and the fitness centre keeps routines going on a work trip. The kitchenette suits families and couples who want to buy fish and shellfish at the market and cook them in the apartment. With balconies and a sun terrace, the residence is also pleasant in summer, when the long evenings at this latitude invite you to stay outside late.

Free private parking is a real advantage here. The Cotentin is best explored by car: Cap de la Hague and its wild coastline lie to the west, the fishing port of Barfleur and the lighthouse of Gatteville to the east, and the D-Day beach of Utah Beach further south. Ferry passengers bound for or arriving from Britain and Ireland can leave the car at the residence before or after their crossing. For a single night or a week, the combination of kitchen, pool and parking makes this a practical, comfortable choice, and with only one aparthotel listed, it is the clear pick.

Cherbourg has plenty to see. The Cité de la Mer, in the former transatlantic terminal, houses the nuclear submarine Le Redoutable, a large aquarium and an exhibition on the Titanic, which called here on its maiden voyage. The Fort du Roule, on the hill above the town, holds a museum of the Liberation and offers a view over the harbour. The Emmanuel Liais park has exotic plants thanks to the mild climate, and the shops of the old town sell the famous Cherbourg umbrellas. Beyond the city, the coastal paths of La Hague are among the most dramatic in Normandy.