Étretat is a commune located in the Seine-Maritime department within the Normandy region of northwestern France. Situated on the coast of the Pays de Caux area, it lies approximately 32 kilometers northeast of Le Havre at the junction of the D 940, D 11, and D 139 roads. This small coastal village is nestled between towering cliffs along the Alabaster Coast, serving as a distinct administrative unit in Upper Normandy.

The town's history includes periods where the economy was supplemented by kelp-burning on the beaches during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. A significant historical event occurred in 1927 when the biplane The White Bird was last seen departing from Étretat during an attempt to fly from Paris to New York City. Although a monument to this flight was destroyed during World War II, a new monument and museum were constructed in 1963 to commemorate the aviation mystery.

Étretat is best known for its chalk cliffs, which include three natural arches and a pointed formation called L'Aiguille or the Needle rising 70 meters above the sea. Two of these arches, Porte d'Aval and Porte d'Amont, are visible from the town, while the larger Manneporte cannot be seen from there. The GR 21 long-distance hiking path passes through the town, offering trails to the cliff tops for commanding views of the channel.

The area attracted artists such as Eugène Boudin, Charles Daubigny, Gustave Courbet, and Claude Monet, who painted the natural arches and stacks. The cliffs were featured in Maurice Leblanc's 1909 novel The Hollow Needle and the 2014 film Lucy. The Clos Lupin Museum now occupies the home where Leblanc lived and wrote. Les Jardins d'Étretat, a neo-futuristic garden on the cliffs, combines topiary with contemporary art installations inspired by Monet's work.

The population of Étretat was 1,102 as of 2023. The economy rests mainly on tourism, positioning it as a number one tourist attraction in Normandy alongside sites like Fécamp and Giverny. Access is difficult by train, with no direct line to the town; visitors typically take buses from Le Havre or Fecamp or use taxis. The compact town is easily navigated on foot, with limited parking available in the center.