On the tip of the Cotentin Peninsula, Cherbourg-Octeville is a major economic force: the town boasts a variety of industrial activities which include its busy sea port, a range of commercial and administrative businesses, as well as its own university and hospital.

In a coastal environment under conservation, the originality of the economic structure in the Cotentin, and in particular in Cherbourg-Octeville, lies in having linked the world leaders in the naval construction industry (DCNS and CMN) together with service providers to the nuclear industry.

Alongside this widely reputed expertise, new industrial centres of excellence can be seen to be developing: the marina and its services, the processing of fish and seafood, engineering and much more.

The historical town centre is also a popular commercial area with 1,400 shops and 5 outdoor markets every week.