Cabourg is a seaside resort on the Côte Fleurie in Normandy, set where the River Dives reaches the English Channel. Its long sandy beach, broad promenade, and orderly streets give the town a distinctive coastal character, while Belle Époque villas and landscaped gardens reflect its development as a fashionable resort. The central Grand Hôtel stands beside the beach and casino, forming one of Cabourg's most recognisable landmarks. Beyond the resort centre, the surrounding landscape includes dunes, marshes, farmland, and the estuary of the Dives, creating a varied setting along the Normandy coast.

Cabourg is strongly associated with Marcel Proust, who regularly visited the resort and drew inspiration from its seaside atmosphere and surroundings. In his writings, Cabourg appears in fictional form as Balbec, while the Grand Hôtel is closely connected with memories of the novelist's stays. The town also preserves the architecture and social traditions of the Belle Époque seaside resort, with villas decorated with turrets, balconies, coloured façades, and ornamental details. The Promenade Marcel Proust follows the seafront and provides a direct link between the town's literary heritage and its coastal setting.

The beach and promenade are central to Cabourg, with the shoreline stretching along the broad bay toward neighbouring resorts. The Dives estuary provides wetlands and open landscapes that contrast with the built-up resort area, while the nearby Marais de la Dives contains meadows, waterways, and habitats for birds. Within the town, the Jardins du Casino and other landscaped spaces preserve the formal character of the resort. Cabourg also provides access to the wider Côte Fleurie, including Houlgate, Dives-sur-Mer, and Villers-sur-Mer, while the D-Day beaches and historic sites of Normandy are within reach by road.

Cabourg's food reflects its position between Normandy's agricultural interior and the coast. Seafood, mussels, oysters, and fish feature prominently in local restaurants, while Normandy specialities such as butter, cream, apples, cider, and Calvados are widely used. The town is also associated with the Cabourg Festival, a film event held in the resort, and with the Grand Hôtel's long tradition of hospitality. A distinctive local detail is the Promenade Marcel Proust, whose name reflects the writer's connection with the town. Its wide seafront path provides a setting where Cabourg's literary and seaside identities meet.