Normandy guide · Updated September 2026
Normandy Travel Guide: D-Day Beaches, Mont-Saint-Michel and the Best Towns
The D-Day landing beaches, Mont-Saint-Michel, the cliffs of Étretat and harbour towns like Honfleur: where to go in Normandy, how to get there from Paris and how many days you need.
Normandy travel guide: the essentials at a glance
Normandy is the region of northern France that runs along the Channel coast west of Paris. It is where the Allied landings of 6 June 1944 began the liberation of Western Europe, and it is home to some of France's most famous sights: Mont-Saint-Michel, the chalk cliffs of Étretat, Monet's garden at Giverny and the half-timbered villages of the Pays d'Auge. It is close enough to Paris for a day trip, but you will see far more with two or three nights. Starting in Paris? See our Paris travel guide.
Normandy essentials
Train from Paris Saint-Lazare: about 1h15 to 1h30 to Rouen, 2h to Caen and 2h15 to 2h30 to Bayeux
By car from Paris: about 3 hours to the D-Day beaches and 4 hours to Mont-Saint-Michel
Best bases: Bayeux for the D-Day beaches, Honfleur for the coast, Rouen for a city break
Getting around: trains reach the main towns; you need a car or a tour for the beaches and the countryside
Best time: May, June and September; early June for the D-Day commemorations
Must-try: cider, calvados, camembert and moules à la crème
The best places to visit in Normandy
Normandy is a big region, so group your visits: the D-Day beaches and Bayeux in the west, Honfleur and the Côte Fleurie in the middle, and Étretat, Rouen and Giverny closer to Paris.
The D-Day beaches
Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword: the five landing beaches, with Pointe du Hoc, the American Cemetery and excellent museums. Base yourself in Bayeux. Read our guide to visiting the D-Day beaches.
Mont-Saint-Michel
The abbey on a tidal island is one of the most visited sights in France. Arrive early or stay the night to see it without the day-trip crowds. Read our Mont-Saint-Michel guide.
Honfleur
A postcard harbour of tall, slate-fronted houses around the Vieux Bassin, loved by the Impressionists. Perfect for a night or two, with seafood by the water.
Étretat
Chalk cliffs, natural arches and the Aiguille needle rock. Walk the clifftop paths on both sides of the beach for the famous views. See our Étretat and Honfleur day trip.
Bayeux
A medieval town with a Gothic cathedral and the best base for the D-Day beaches. Its famous tapestry is on loan to the British Museum until July 2027.
Rouen
Joan of Arc's city, with half-timbered streets, the Gros-Horloge clock and the cathedral Monet painted more than 30 times.
Giverny
Monet's house and water-lily garden, an easy day trip from Paris from spring to autumn.
Deauville and Trouville
Twin seaside resorts with a boardwalk, a racecourse and a lively fish market, about two hours from Paris.
Top 10 things to do in Normandy
- Walk Omaha Beach and visit the Normandy American Cemetery on the bluff above it.
- Stand on the cratered clifftop at Pointe du Hoc, stormed by US Rangers on D-Day.
- See the Mulberry harbour remains off the beach at Arromanches.
- Visit Mont-Saint-Michel early in the morning or at sunset, when the crowds thin out.
- Walk the clifftops of Étretat to the Manneporte arch.
- Eat seafood by the harbour in Honfleur.
- Explore Rouen's old town, its cathedral and the Gros-Horloge.
- See Monet's garden at Giverny and its water-lily pond.
- Follow the Route du Cidre through the Pays d'Auge and taste cider and calvados at the farms.
- Learn the full story at the Mémorial de Caen or the Juno Beach Centre.
Where to stay in Normandy
Stay in Bayeux for the D-Day beaches: it is on the train line from Paris and most local tours start there. Honfleur is the most charming base for the coast and Étretat. Rouen suits a city break and is only about 1h15 from Paris. For Mont-Saint-Michel, sleep on the island or in the hotels on the mainland near the shuttle stop to see it after the crowds leave. Compare options on our hotel search.
Getting around Normandy
Train: direct trains from Paris Saint-Lazare reach Rouen, Caen, Bayeux, Deauville-Trouville and Le Havre.
Car: the best way to see the D-Day beaches, the coast and cider country. Rent one in Caen or Bayeux rather than driving out of Paris.
Tours: small-group D-Day tours from Bayeux and Caen are the easiest way to see the beaches without a car.
Mont-Saint-Michel: take the TGV from Paris to Rennes, then the direct bus.
When to visit Normandy
The best time to visit Normandy is May, June and September: long days, mild weather and fewer crowds than in July and August. Around 6 June, the D-Day anniversary brings commemorations, parades and heavy traffic near the beaches, so book early if you want to be there. The weather is changeable all year, so pack a raincoat whatever the month. See our best time to visit France guide for more.
Can you visit Normandy as a day trip from Paris?
Yes, if you pick one area. Giverny, Rouen and Étretat all work as day trips. The D-Day beaches and Mont-Saint-Michel are each 3 to 4 hours from Paris, so a day trip means a 12 to 14-hour day. If you can, stay at least one night. Our D-Day beaches guide compares tours, trains and driving.
What to eat in Normandy
Normandy is dairy and apple country. Try camembert, livarot and pont-l'évêque cheeses, moules à la crème (mussels in cream), fresh oysters and scallops on the coast, and tarte normande, an apple tart. Drink cider or poiré (pear cider), and finish with a calvados, the local apple brandy.
5 days in Normandy: a sample itinerary
Take the train from Paris to Rouen, pick up a hire car and loop west, finishing at Mont-Saint-Michel.
Day 1: Giverny and Rouen
Monet's garden in the morning, then Rouen's old town, the Gros-Horloge and the cathedral in the afternoon.
Day 2: Étretat and Honfleur
A clifftop walk at Étretat, then the coast road to Honfleur for dinner by the harbour (see our Étretat and Honfleur day trip).
Day 3: Caen and the British and Canadian beaches
The Mémorial de Caen, Pegasus Bridge and the Juno Beach Centre, then sleep in Bayeux.
Day 4: The American beaches
Arromanches, the Longues-sur-Mer battery, Omaha Beach, the American Cemetery and Pointe du Hoc.
Day 5: Mont-Saint-Michel
About 1h30 from Bayeux. Visit the abbey, then drop the car in Rennes and take the TGV back to Paris.
Normandy travel guide: FAQ
Where is the best place to stay in Normandy?
Bayeux for the D-Day beaches, Honfleur for the coast and Étretat, and Rouen for a city break close to Paris. With a car, a farmhouse in the Pays d'Auge is a lovely middle ground.
How many days do you need in Normandy?
Two or three days for the D-Day beaches and one other area. Five days covers the highlights, including Mont-Saint-Michel, Étretat and Honfleur.
Can you visit the D-Day beaches without a car?
Yes. Small-group tours from Bayeux and Caen visit all the main sites, and full-day tours run from Paris. Public buses along the coast are limited, so they are not practical for a short visit.
Is Mont-Saint-Michel in Normandy?
Yes, just. It sits on the border with Brittany (see our Mont-Saint-Michel guide), at the western edge of Normandy, about 1h30 by car from Bayeux.
Ready to plan your Normandy trip?
Take the train from Paris or fly into Paris and rent a car, then book a hotel in Bayeux or Honfleur early for summer and early June.
Visiting the D-Day beaches? Read our D-Day beaches guide, or plan the rest of your trip with the France travel guide.
Photos from Wikimedia Commons: Étretat by Tobi 87 (CC BY-SA 4.0); Omaha Beach by Jebulon (CC0); Mont-Saint-Michel by Benh Lieu Song (CC BY 2.5); Honfleur by Zairon (CC BY-SA 4.0).