Dieppe, France

Squeezed between high cliff headlands, DIEPPE is an enjoyably small-scale port that used to be more of a resort. During the nineteenth century, Parisians came here by train to take the sea air, promenading along the front while the English indulged in the peculiar pastime of swimming. These days, it may not be a place many travellers go out of their way to visit, but it's certainly one of the nicer ferry ports in northern France, and makes a pleasant spot for a relaxing break or a last night stop over prior to crossing the Channel. Saturday's bustling market on the Grand Rue is a definite attraction, but those visiting on other days won't be disappointed by Dieppe's compact town centre, filled with pretty old buildings, or its strip of pebble beach flanked by extravagant seafront lawns. The business of the port goes on as ever, with Dieppe's commercial docks unloading half the bananas of the Antilles and forty percent of all shellfish destined to slither down French throats. The markets sell fish right off the boats, displayed with the usual Gallic flair, and the sole, scallops and turbot available in profusion at the restaurants lining the harbour may well tempt you to linger.