Normandy Day Trip from Paris
Do you want to take a Normandy day trip from Paris, France?
Here’s everything you need to know about visiting Normandy on a day trip! Normandy is a region in northern France that is a popular destination for many reasons. One of the biggest draws for many travelers is the World War II history in Normandy, especially visiting the D-Day landing beaches.
There are several incredible museums and monuments in Normandy dedicated to World War II. I highly recommend spending several days in Normandy if you can — three full days is the minimum I’d suggest. There’s so much to do and see in Normandy that you could even spend a full week or more there.
However, I recognize that many travelers don’t have the luxury of being able to spend that much time in Normandy. In fact, you might only have one day to spend on a day trip from Paris.
Luckily, it’s possible to visit Normandy on a day trip, although you do need to be prepared that it will be a long day of driving. Most of the D-Day sites in Normandy are 3.5 to 4.5 hours from Paris.
Getting to Normandy from Paris
How do you get to Normandy from Paris?
If you’re interested in visiting the D-Day sites, which are mainly along the beaches of the Normandy coast, your only option is driving. Most of these places are inaccessible by public transportation.
While you can take the train directly from Paris to larger cities in Normandy like Caen and Bayeux in 2.5 to 3 hours, you won’t be able to get to any of the beaches and D-Day sites without driving.
You can rent a car to drive to Normandy from Paris (and I would actually recommend this if you’re going for at least several days) but for just a day trip, I really don’t recommend getting a rental car.
Why? Because picking it up will eat into the already limited time you have, getting out of central Paris can be challenging due to traffic, and you’ll have to deal with navigation on your own.
If you want to visit Normandy on a day trip from Paris, my top recommendation would be a tour.
A tour will allow you to maximize your limited time and see some of Normandy’s highlights in just one day from Paris. You don’t have to worry about the logistics and transportation yourself, and you can also get a lot more out of the experience because you’ll have a knowledgeable guide with you.
Best Normandy Tours from Paris
How do you know which tour to book to visit Normandy on a day trip from Paris?
I’ve done tons of research on all of the tours out there and highlighted the top three for you below. I took into consideration the price, value, itinerary, and ratings of the tour. Based on my own experience traveling in Normandy, these are the tours that I think are the best choices for a day trip.
All of these tours can be booked through GetYouGuide which is a website I use all the time when I travel. I like GetYourGuide, because unlike with many other tour booking websites, you can book now and pay later, and you also have the ability to cancel your tour for a full refund up to 24 hours in advance.
Option 1: Normandy D-Day Beaches Guided Day Trip with Lunch
My number one pick would be this full-day tour of Normandy from Paris. It’s the best value out of the three tours and offers a well-balanced itinerary that will appeal to many travelers.
Here’s what this tour includes:
- Round-trip transportation from Paris on a comfortable coach bus
- English-speaking expert guide to accompany you
- Admission to the Utah Beach Museum
- Guided tour of Pointe du Hoc
- Visit to the American Cemetery at Omaha Beach
- Included lunch at a local restaurant
- Included tastings of local cider and spirits
The first stop, Utah Beach, is where US Allied forces landed on D-Day. The Utah Beach Museum is one of the best in Normandy. Pointe du Hoc, the next stop, is an important site where US Army Rangers took control of a German battery. The American Cemetery, which is located at Omaha Beach and the final stop on this tour, is a moving site with white crosses on the graves of nearly 9,400 fallen American soldiers.
I think this tour offers a great mixture of stops at important D-Day sites. The included lunch and tastings of local cider and spirits is an additional perk to this tour, which is a really good value overall.
Click here to book this tour on GetYourGuide
Option 2: Normandy D-Day Landing Beaches Full-Day Tour
This next tour is definitely the priciest of the bunch, but I’m recommending it if you’re looking for a small-group experience. On this tour, you won’t be traveling with a large group by coach bus — the tour is limited to just eight people, which can make it a more relaxing and personalized experience.
Here’s what this tour includes:
- Round-trip transportation by mini-bus from a central location in Paris
- Small group capped at eight people
- Knowledgeable English-speaking guide
- Stop at Longues-sur-Mer Battery
- Visit to Omaha Beach
- Admission to the Overlord Museum
- Stop at Pointe du Hoc
- Visit to the American Cemetery
- Stop for lunch (food and drinks not included)
This tour packs in a couple of additional stops — you actually get to visit Omaha Beach, unlike the previous tour where you only get to visit the cemetery. You also have a stop at Longues-sur-Mer Battery, part of the German coastal defense. This tour also visits the Overlord Museum instead of the Utah Beach Museum. While I did not personally visit this museum, it receives good reviews from visitors.
It’s important to note that lunch is not included in the cost of this tour, unlike the previous tour. However, if you’re looking for a small-group experience, this tour comes highly rated.
Click here to book this tour on GetYourGuide
Option 3: Normandy D-Day Beaches Day Trip
Finally, this full-day Normandy day trip from Paris is a good option. It’s a good value and makes the most of your time with an itinerary that shows you some of the D-Day highlights in Normandy.
Here’s what this tour includes:
- Round-trip transportation from central Paris on a coach bus
- English-speaking guide to provide commentary
- Visit the American Cemetery
- Have free time at Omaha Beach
- Stop in Arromanches-les-Bains for lunch (not included)
- Visit the Juno Beach Memorial
As you can see, this tour offers you the chance to visit Juno Beach and Gold Beach (Arromanches-les-Bain) which is where Canadian and British troops landed respectively during the D-Day operation.
Lunch is not included on this tour either, but you’ll have a stop with free time to get lunch on your own. This tour is a good option if you’re looking to visit these other D-Day beaches specifically.
Click here to book this tour on GetYourGuide
Day Trip to Normandy from Paris
If you want to take a Normandy day trip from Paris, a tour is your best option.
These are the best full-day tours from Paris to Normandy if you want to experience the highlights of this region and visit some of the most important D-Day sites. Normandy is an incredible destination for history lovers, and it’s also a naturally beautiful part of France. Even if you’re short on time, it’s worth a visit.
If I had to recommend just one tour, it would be this full-day tour from Paris to Normandy that offers the best value. It includes stops at the Utah Beach Museum, Pointe du Hoc, and the American Cemetery overlooking Omaha Beach. You also get an included lunch and a tasting of local cider and spirits.
Enjoy your trip to Normandy!
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