normandy landings self drive tours

D-Day beaches self drive tour (2023): a 3 day itinerary in Normandy, France

With the echoes of the past whistling around every beach, town and bunker, Normandy is the place to go to reflect on world war 2 and the pivotal events that happened there. It can be a hard hitting place for sure so having the ability to explore at your own pace, or have an afternoon off if needed, is a good idea. That’s where a self drive tour comes in.

When we self drove the coastline of Normandy we really appreciated being able to take in what we needed, explore different kinds of sights (not just museums) and take more than just the war stories too. We traveled with our kids so it made it even more essential we could pick and choose our destinations.

If you’re looking to explore the Normandy World War 2 sites then read on for our guide to a D-Day beaches self drive tour. It really is a perfect way to see the area!  Since it’s a fairly compact region with plenty to see and do whether you’re a complete history addict or just want to pay respects to the troops who lost their lives so many years ago.

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I’ve based this self drive itinerary on our own experiences driving the route and also for it to be perfect for someone going to Normandy from the UK on a ferry to Cherbourg.  If you find yourself coming from the opposite end of the country, perhaps arriving in Dieppe or Calais, or if you’re travelling internationally and starting from Paris, feel free to reverse the route.

Essentials for your D-Day explorations:

• Guide book with background info on the D-Day Sites
• Normandy Road map

Guided tour from Bayeux

• Half Day Small group tour to Omaha Beach

Accommodation for your self drive D-Day tour

It is possible to just base yourself in one town for the duration of the trip and if you’re going to do that then I recommend staying in Bayeaux as it’s fairly central to all the beaches and D-Day sites.  This is a great idea if you don’t want to be changing hotels every day and want to be able to relax on an evening in familiar surroundings.  

• Grande Hotel Du Luxembourg : A 4 star hotel with pool, comfortable rooms and a restaurant on site. Parking is available but paid.
• Château de Bellefontaine : A hotel close by to the town but with the feel of the countryside. Free parking available.
• Villa Des Ursulines : Vacation rental apartments in Bayeaux. Free street parking nearby

If you want to maximise your time in the area and also want to see some new towns then I’ve given some ideas below on where to stay that is near to the days sites.

You might also like to check the map below for some other accommodation ideas in Normandy:

3 day D-Day beaches itinerary – quick look

Why do a d-day beaches self drive tour.

Normandy, and specifically the D-Day beaches , are such important places that are inspiring, sad and unbelievable all at the same time. To me it’s vitally important that we remember what happened in world war two and remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice for freedom and their country.

Many people have relatives who served at the time and want to retrace their steps, see what difficulties they faced and pay respects to them and their fallen friends. Other people want to know what happened and for them seeing the place in real life can bring the time to life.

I include myself in this last one – I knew of D-Day but not a great deal really, but seeing the sites for myself really brought home the loss of life, the commitment our countries had to winning the war and the huge scale of the operation. Visiting inspired me to learn a lot more about the time period and as we went on our trip with our kids, means they learned a lot too!   As living veterans who served there are getting less and less each year, passing on the knowledge of these times is extremely important I feel.  

Why self drive rather than doing a tour?  

I’m personally someone who likes to do it myself when travelling so I’m always keen to see places with my own timescale.  When we visited Utah beach it was terrible weather and we just couldn’t stay there so we were free to move on.  If we were on a tour we’d have had a very wet day!

I find self guided tours to be great for those who aren’t just there for the war history and want to just incorporate it in to a road trip and exploration of an area.  We travelled with kids, one of whom loves anything to do with war history and one who can tolerate it but it’s not her idea of a fun day out – if this is you, whether you have kids or just another travelling companion who isn’t quite as keen as you are on the sites you can tailor the days to suit you.  If spending time at a cemetery is going to be too upsetting or a museum is boring then you can wrap it up and move on.

Tours can be good if you’re really interested in getting all the information that you need from experienced tour guides and also if you don’t want to navigate the roads.  

If you’re coming from the UK you might find some coach tours like this one good and if you’re based in Paris there’s quite a few from there too.  

The best place to base yourself if you want to have just a day tour is Bayeaux as many go from there.   I’ll not be talking too much about the history of what happened in this Normandy itinerary – if you want to know a little more about the places mentioned here and what happened do take a look at my guide to the Normandy beaches and WW2 sites .

A note about museums – there are a number of museums in the area, loads in fact and probably more than you can ever fit in to a small trip.  Feel free to pick and choose as to what appeals to you and your interests – it’s unlikely you’ll want to do them all and I’d probably suggest not trying to do too many since it will likely lead to museum fatigue!  I’ve added links to the websites so you can figure out which ones to spend your time in.  

Notes for visiting around D-Day (June 6th)

This itinerary works really well at any time of the year but if you’re planning to visit Normandy for the anniversary of the landings you might need to consider some other things:

• From the end of May to the middle of June The D-Day Festival takes place

Fairs, reenactments, special museum displays and parades take place in the days around the 6th of June. Way too many to mention but plenty to take your pick from. Here’s a look at the 2022 programme so you can see the kinds of things happening.

• Accommodation will be in much higher demand

It’s highly recommended to book well in advance if you’re set on visiting at this time of year. Booking is my suggested place to look, and they have the best cancellation policies I find as well as often the best prices.

• It’ll be a much different experience than you’d get any other time

With sombre remembrance and also celebrations of the feat of the Allies it’s one of those unique times to visit that will be much different to coming at other times of the year

3-day Normandy Road Trip Itinerary

Optional – spend the night before your driving tour just by Utah beach at Le Grand Hard for a small French countryside hotel experience or Relais de la Liberte which is a small guest house – both have excellent reviews and have plenty of free parking.  

Morning: Utah beach

55km from Cherbourg or 60km from Bayeux

We start our Normandy D-Day itinerary at the most western of the landing beaches – Utah.  Landed by the Americans, this was one of the more successful operations.  If you’re coming from the ferry or starting in Bayeaux it should be less than an hour to get here.

You can spend your time walking on the beach, taking in some of the monuments around to the various companies involved or you can also start off your D-Day trip in the Musée du Débarquement and learn about the landings.  

I suggest allowing for a couple of hours here, depending on if you decide to do the museum or not.  Its a nice beach and a really nice place to walk along.

Be sure to look out for the monument to the the liberation of France.  This is called Milestone 00 and commemorates the United States involvement in the liberation of France along this road.

Parking – there is plenty of parking available at Utah beach and also picnic benches if you want to bring some food too for lunch.  

Afternoon: Sainte-Mère-Église

Driving time- 20 mins.  17km from Utah beach

It’s easy to assume Normandy is just the beaches and the landings there – as I found when I visited there’s so much more that went on!  

One well known story is that of the airborne forces who landed troops just prior to the beach landings and who played a part in securing towns and strategic points. Sainte-Mère-Église received some of these forces who actually landed there by accident, and who planned to land further out.  This wasn’t great for the Allies and many died and one man even got his parachute caught on the church steeple and he had to pretend to be dead to avoid being shot at.

Sainte-Mère-Église is a lovely town to walk around and explore.  There’s one thing I love in France and it’s the feeling of the villages with cafes and bakeries just waiting to be enjoyed!  You can see the church where the paratrooper got himself caught, there’s a dummy still on the steeple as a monument to him.  

We also enjoyed the museum which talks about the role of the airborne troops in D-Day and what planes and gliders they used.  

Parking – plenty of parking in the village itself.    

If you have time: On the way to Carenten from Sainte-Mère-Église is the D-Day experience museum  just outside the village of Saint-Côme-du-Mont

Overnight : You could choose to spend the evening in Sainte-Mère-Église itself – Logis Le Sainte Mere is a recommended hotel. Alternatively spend the evening in Carentan at the Hôtel Le Vauban   and be a little bit closer to the next day’s sights.  

Morning – Maisy Battery

Driving time – 20 mins.  20km from Carentan

Our second day starts at Maisy Battery which is a little known site near to Pointe du Hoc and which played a big role in what went on there.  It’s basically a myriad of tunnels that the Germans used to attack the Allied forces from but the interesting part is that the whole story and site was lost to historians until just recently and when it was discovered it changed a lot of the perceptions of what actually happened on the day.  

It’s only open in summer months but if you can add it in to your itinerary then it would be a great addition.  Check their website here .  

Pointe du Hoc

Driving time – 10 mins.  7 km from Maisy Battery

A short drive from Maisy Battery is Pointe Du Hoc itself.  There’s a lot to look at here with many paths taking you around the site showing shelters and gun placements as well as a moving memorial right by the cliff’s edge.  I found this site really moving myself and would definitely recommend a trip here – there’s a small visitor centre with a movie playing to help you get your head around what went on here.  

Afternoon – Omaha beach

Driving time – 15 mins.  9km from Pointe Du Hoc

Omaha beach is another of the landing beaches that the American troops landed on and this one was not as successful as the Utah landing.  As such there was a great number of lives lost here and many people come to pay their respects from all countries.

At the centre of the beach itself is a very moving memorial and the Memorial Museum of Omaha Beach and towards the eastern end (as you drive from Pointe Du Hoc) there is also another museum about D-Day at Omaha beach .  

Parking – there is parking at either end of the beach or by the memorial in the middle but bear in mind how much walking you want to do before you decide where to park!  It’s a lovely long beach with houses dotted along the beach front – plenty of time for walking and reflection.    

American Cemetery

Driving time – 10 mins.  5km from Omaha Beach

Just up from the beach is the resting place for many of the Americans who lost their lives not just at Omaha but on the whole Normandy landing campaign.  It’s a sombre and moving place but one that I feel should be seen if you’re going to the effort of visiting the WW2 sites.  

There is no pathway from the beach at present – check their site out here for more information.    

If you have time: just by the American Cemetery is the Overlord Museum with more artefacts and exhibitions about the Omaha landings  

Overnight in Bayeux – The Hotel Du Luxembourg is a highly recommended 4 star hotel which would be a good option in the town.  

Morning – Arromanches-les-Bains (Gold Beach)

Driving time – 20 mins.  12km from Bayeaux

Arromanches was one my favourite sites to visit myself, coming from someone who knew very little about the landings.  You can see remnants of the artificial harbour that was created once the beaches were secured and when the tide is out actually walk up to them.

This is part of Gold beach which was one of the beaches that the British soldiers were charged with.  There’s a museum here all about the landings and also the building of the harbour and how they used it to bring supplies to Europe.  

Courselles-sur-Mer (Juno beach)

Driving time – 20 mins.  13km from Arromanches

Juno beach is just a small drive from Arromanches and you can see where the Canadian troops landed and fought.  Again there’s a museum here dedicated to that story called the Juno Beach Centre . The town by Juno beach is called Courselles-sur-Mer and it’s a pleasant place to walk around and have lunch with a marina and cafes.  

Afternoon – Ouistreham (Sword Beach)

Driving time – 30 mins.  20km from Courselles-sur-Mer  

Finally our trip concludes with the British landing beach of Sword which is a wide open beach at the town of Ouistreham.  This was the first beach we ever saw and it was very weird to see such a ‘normal’ looking beach with such history – wasn’t what I was expecting!  

The town is big and perfect for supplies and to enjoy restaurants and other amenities. While in the town make sure to head to the Pegasus bridge memorial for another slightly different story – this is where British Commando troops were parachuted in the day before D-Day to secure the bridge.  A museum tells the story and you can walk around outside to learn about what went on that day.  

If you have time:   Longues Sur Mer just east of Arromanches might be worth checking out at the beginning of your day – it’s a battery placement site which is free to enter with some tours also taking place that are good value. Ouistreham has a number of museums in the town too including one about Commandos and one about Hitler’s Sea wall.

Overnight :  For your final night enjoy the small seaside town of Ouistreham, an evening walk on the beach and perhaps a French Pastry or two.  There are number of good hotel options in the town like Hôtel le phare or La Villa Andry

Ouistreham is the port that Brittany Ferries uses (but actually calls Caen) so if you’re using them to get home this is the perfect stop for you.  

More days in Normandy?

If you have more time to spend in Normandy then I suggest adding in some time in the towns of Caen, Bayeaux and really just slowing down and exploring the area.  There’s so much more to Normandy than just the World War 2 sites and if you’re visiting with people who don’t have as much of an interest then it’s worth taking some days out from that.  

We also really enjoyed the beaches on the west coast of Normandy on the Cotentin peninsula and of course there’s also Mont St Michel over that way too which is a must see!  

Planning your trip

Useful links for planning your trip:

Brittany Ferries   (Poole – Cherbourg. Portsmouth – Caen or Le Havre)  DFDS Ferries  (Newhaven – Dieppe)  P&O Ferries  (Dover – Calais)   

Booking.com  (Hotels and Apartments)  Hotels.com  (Hotels and Apartments)  VRBO  (Apartments and Rooms)   

Skyscanner  (flights – best airports are Caen from the UK or Paris for international flights)  Discover Cars  (car rentals)

Recommended books

I highly recommend the Liberation Route Europe book by Rough Guide that has recently come out.  It tells a lot about the background of what was going on in the war prior to DDay and the eventual liberation.  Will also inspire you to go to many more sites around Europe – just warning you!

The D-Day Visitors handbook also comes highly recommended although I haven’t seen it first hand. I’ll be sneaking a peak soon as planning to get one as a gift for someone!

A guide book to Normandy like this Rough Guide is also a good idea for the planning phases so you can see what else is around the area – vital if you want to enjoy more than just the WW2 history.

Finally a map is essential for your self drive tour – there are many available like this one  – we ended up getting a ring bound France map since we were doing lots of driving in the country.  

What to take to Normandy

If you’re coming from out of the country and renting a car then make sure to add in a sat nav system to your hire car.  If sticking with a phone system then it’s really important to have a car charging kit so it doesn’t die while driving!

If you’re coming from the UK by car you’ll also need to have a European driving kit – this has the required items that you need by law over in France (each country has different rules and they do change but if I’m honest, having some hi vis vests and warning triangles in the car is not going to hurt – get them!).

You definitely need to have the GB sticker and some headlight deflectors as well as soon as you arrive – you can normally get them on the ferries but at a much higher price so worth getting in advance  

France is a really easy country to navigate especially by car but I’d definitely recommend taking a really good road map with you just in case mobile or sat nav signals go down.   This is like the one that we used .

As for a sat nav system I suggest that you make sure you either have some capability on your phone like we did or get a dedicated system with European maps like this one .  

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Kirsty Bartholomew

6 thoughts on “D-Day beaches self drive tour (2023): a 3 day itinerary in Normandy, France”

Hi His blog was added to Best Travel Blogs 2020 to the WWII Travel Blogs & Tours list Kate Best Regards

Do you have any suggestions how to incorporate this itinerary with festivities on/around June 6? We are planning to go in June of 2024. Thanks

Hi Judy (apologies for the delay in replying – I only just came across this!)

so each year there’s A LOT of events going on around that time, although obviously COVID slowed it down, here was the 2022 programme of events . Quite a lot goes on.

I’d suggest to keep an eye on the Normandy Tourist Board website for when the years timetable gets updated and plan your trip around that.

You could base yourself fairly central to give yourself plenty of wiggle room to attend any events you want.

I’m an experienced guide for the Normandy battlefields and have some great tips for anyone travelling there. 1. If you want to attend for the D-Day anniversary book EARLY as anything within reasonable driving distance will be sold out. I guarantee it. 2. Do yourself a favor and don’t try to do a day trip from Paris. You will miss just way too much. It’s a three hour drive from Paris. 3. Don’t even waste your time with a 3-Day trip. On these itineraries you will drive right past A LOT of extremely historical locations and you won’t even know it. 4. I NEVER stay in hotels there. B&B’s are definitely the way to go. Many speak English and are a fantastic experience. I highly recommend Richard (Dick) Coopers place called Blazing Sky. He can hook you up with info, recommend tours, and his place played a part in the Airborne battles. BOOK EARLY!! 5. I HIGHLY suggest you book a tour. If you are going to do just 3 days, You can take a one day tour with many assorted guys. 5. Do yourself a favour and do at least 5 days. A week is HIGHLY recommended. Book three to four different tours. One to cover the British/Canadian battles. One to do the American Beaches etc. Then one or two days to cover the US Airborne battle locations. For instance, you will drive past 25-35 important locations just from St. Come du Mont to Ravenoville. They can get you access to very important places that you won’t get on your own. 6. If visiting for the DDay celebrations, be prepared to spend a lot of time in gridlock. It’s cool to see all the vehicles and jump demonstrations but you will miss out on seeing many important battle locations. April-September is a great time to visit and with the exception of the DDay dates, it will be easy to hit the important sites AND get a place to stay.

With the extra days you can hit Mont St. Michelle, Cherbourg, German Cemeteries, St. Lo, The Bayeau Tapestry and many other places.

I cannot recommend enough not doing it on your own!! You will miss SO much, even with a guide book.

I haven’t been guiding tours for several years, but I would consider doing fully arranged tours that will encompass lodging, tours, transportation (if need be), food, etc. Basically everything.

Thanks for the tips Mark!

Hi Mark You have provided great information. I can assume you have only scratched the surface! I have a group of 5-6 people who are retired US military interested in WE2 sites. We would like a guide – as you suggest to maximize our time. We intend to get a cruise 1 June 2024 , Le Havre to Paris as we finish Normandy area. What would you estimate the costs for such a group for say 5 days?

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La Basse Cour: B&B near Alencon, Normandy

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A brief description of the D-Day Landings

The french resistance, airborne landings, sword beach, omaha beach, pointe du hoc.

Travelffeine

Sipping coffee & chasing dreams, a self-guided tour of historic d-day sites in normandy.

Visiting the historic D-Day sites is an unforgettable way to spend the day.  It is one of those bucket list trips that leave you better for having made them. June 6, 1944, is one of the most historic dates in world history. The victory achieved on D-Day changed the course of the world.  

The freedoms I have today are in large part due to the battles fought on the shores of Normandy. If you have an opportunity to travel to France, take some time to visit the D-Day sites in Normandy. You’ll never forget it.

In this post, I share my one-day self-guided itinerary to some of the D-Day sites in Normandy, France.  You’ll get a chance to learn about my experience and also see how easy it is to plan your own trip to this historic region. Although I would have preferred a minimum of 2 days for my visit, even with only one day to see the D-Day sites, you can cover a lot of ground and still have an unforgettable trip.

Overview of Our One-Day Itinerary to D-Day Sites in Normandy

Click on the map below to view trip details and driving directions for this route., what we saw on our one day self-guided tour:.

• Church of Sainte-Mere-Eglise
• Airborne Museum at Sainte-Mere-Eglise
• La Cambe German war cemetery
• Pointe du Hoc
• National Guard Association Monument at Omaha Beach
• Omaha Beach Memorial
• Lunch at D-Day House at Omaha Beach
• Normandy American Cemetery

Where We Started Our Road Trip

We took a direct train from Paris to Caen, where we’d booked our hotel and rental car.  In addition to spending one day seeing the D-Day sites, we also spent one day driving to Mont-Saint-Michel . For our one-day D-Day itinerary, we drove from our hotel in Caen to our first stop, the Airborne Museum in Sainte-Mere-Eglise. Then we worked our way back in the direction of Caen for the remainder of the itinerary.

Tip: You could easily make this trip in reverse, and depending on what time of year you go, you may want to.  We discovered during our visit here in October, that places open later and close earlier in the fall and winter.  

So in the case of our route, we arrived at the Airborne Museum, thinking it opened at 9:00 a.m. (according to Google) only to discover it did not open until 10:00. Thus, we could have started at the Normandy American Cemetery, which opened at 9:00 and closed at 5:00 and then saved the Airborne Museum for last, which closed at 6:00 p.m.  Live and learn!

Benefits of a Self-Guided Road Trip to See D-Day Sites

By driving yourself to the D-Day sites, you have more flexibility and choices in which places you see and how long you spend there. Driving in France was easy for me since they drive on the same side of the road as we do in the U.S. As long as you can drive a car with a manual transmission, it is pretty much the same as driving in the States. The road signs may look a little different, but all in all, it’s a very similar experience.

However, if you’re not comfortable with driving on your own in France, there are a lot of tour companies that will drive you around to the historic D-Day sites. You can take 12-hour day trips from Paris, or local tours starting at Caen and Bayeux. So decide on whichever option works best for you and your itinerary.

A Little Background About This Trip

My visit to Normandy, France, was a part of a 2 1/2 month backpacking trip I took with my friend through Europe.  As I planned our route and the “must-see” stops along the way, I knew that visiting Normandy, France, and the historic D-Day sites was a must for me.  Our visit to Normandy was during the final three weeks of our trip through Europe.  

Before arriving in Normandy, we toured the house where Anne Frank hid in the attic before being captured by the Nazis. We visited Berlin and walked over what was once Hitler’s underground bunker and wandered through the Memorial to the Murdered Jews.  Then we traveled to Krakow, Poland, where we took a day trip to the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camps. Finally, we went to Normandy, France, and visited some of the historic D-Day sites.  

It was a journey through World War II history, starting with the atrocities that forced people into hiding and ultimately led to the death of millions of people. Our travels brought us full circle to Normandy, and the history surrounding D-Day, the battles leading up to it, and the battles fought afterward. 

Although the history surrounding D-Day was one of tragedy, it was also one of triumph and hope. I saw the bleakness of death at Auschwitz, which only made my visit to the D-Day sites all the more impactful. The price was high, the sacrifice great, but freedom demands we risk everything or end up with nothing. I am so grateful for those who gave their lives so I could live in freedom.

Site 1: Church of Sainte-Mere-Eglise

We started our day of sightseeing in the town of Sainte-Mère-Église. We arrived a little after 9 a.m. and found that the Airborne Museum didn’t open until 10 a.m. So we wandered over to the Church of Sainte-Mère-Église, where a mannequin of a paratrooper’s body hangs from the church steeple.

John M. Steele

We learned more about the paratrooper represented on the church steeple during our visit to the Airborne Museum. His name was John Steele, and he was a paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne Division. During the drop into  Sainte-Mère-Église,  one of the houses caught fire, which unfortunately illuminated the night sky, and thus the paratroopers dropping in. 

John Steele was hit in the foot on his way down and lost control of his parachute. His parachute caught on the church steeple. He hung there for around 2 hours, pretending to be dead before German soldiers came up and brought his body down. They took him as a prisoner, but three days later, he escaped and returned to his division. He survived WWII and returned home after the war was over. 

A beautiful stained glass window in the Church at Sainte-Mere-Eglise.

There is so much more to John Steele’s story and to the paratroopers that dropped that night. For any of you who have watched “The Longest Day,” you might remember seeing the scene of the paratroopers dropping in.

The real story is full of heroism, as one of his fellow troopers on the ground gave his life to save John’s.  The chaos was compounded by the house fire, which lit up the sky and made them glowing targets.

Go inside the church and take a look around. There is a beautiful stained glass window created in memory of the paratroopers that lost their lives here. There is also another one portraying the angel Michael surrounded by the symbols of the various Allied forces who fought to free  Sainte-Mère-Église.

Time Spent Here: (~ 30 minutes) Location: Church of Sainte-Mère-Église, Rue Koenig, 50480 Sainte-Mère-Église, France Commute Time to Next Site: ~ 1-minute walk across the parking lot.

Site 2: The Airborne Museum at Sainte-Mere-Eglise

The Airborne Museum  is a thoughtfully designed museum made up of multiple buildings as well as an outdoor area. At the ticket desk, you receive a tablet to carry with you as you make your way through the different areas.  The tablet provides additional information about the exhibits and includes interactive features, which if you have kids, they will especially enjoy this feature. For the most part, you won’t need the tablet. However, it guides you in a particular order throughout the museum complex.

The first building we entered after purchasing our tickets was the building designed like the inside of a big parachute.  Inside there are numerous displays of paratrooper’s gear, mementos, and stories of some of those involved in the liberation of  Sainte-Mère-Église . The museum does a beautiful job portraying the details of what these paratroopers must have gone through to prepare for their mission.

In the next building is a large display of an airplane, and on one side is a mannequin of President Eisenhower and a printed copy of his D-Day order.  Many of these guys were barely out of high school. They didn’t have much training, and yet they were going into one of the biggest and most important battles in US history. They would be some of the first boots on the ground for the US military in Normandy, France.

“You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade, toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you. The hope and prayers of liberty-loving people everywhere march with you.” ~ General Dwight D. Eisenhower

One of the Airborne Museum’s life-sized displays.

In another room, audio speakers play the sounds of battle along with a display of an aerial view of  Sainte-Mère-Église . I also learned during my visit here, that the paratroopers had to carry packs that weighed anywhere from 90 lbs to 180 lbs!  Can you imagine jumping from a plane with a pack the size of a human strapped to your back?

The Soldier’s Stories Helped to Connect on a Personal Level

It was incredible to hear their stories and to take a glimpse into what those men went through. It was heroic yes, but also scary. Real courage isn’t without fear. It’s acknowledging the fear and moving forward in spite of it. Courage understands what’s at stake.

We watched a touching film that showed the images of Holocaust survivors and also the piles of dead bodies. Tears sprang to my eyes as it put in perspective what was being fought for.  All of our future freedoms were at stake if Hitler, and the other countries fighting against democracy, had not been stopped.

I highly recommend making the Airborne Museum a part of your itinerary when visiting D-Day sites in Normandy. They took excellent care to make it a moving and thoughtful museum and memorial to 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions.

Time Spent Here:  (~ 1.5 hours) Location: Airborne Museum, 14 Rue Eisenhower, 50480 Sainte-Mère-Église, France Commute Time to Next Site: ~ 30-minute drive

The entryway in the German war cemetery at La Cambe.

Site 3: La Cambe German War Cemetery

Our next stop is the La Cambe German war cemetery . It is a simple and somber graveyard, and it is also the largest war cemetery in Normandy. There are over 21,000 bodies buried here as compared with the less than 10,000 buried at the American cemetery in Colleville-Sur-Mer.

As you walk through the entrance to the cemetery, you notice straight in front of you, a mound of raised earth (also known as a tumulus). Sitting on top is a giant dark stone cross with a man and a woman on either side. I assume this represents the mother and father of the dead. I recommend you walk to the top and get a bird’s eye view of the enormous size of this cemetery.  

Most of the graves are marked with simple bronze-colored stones set in the ground. There are also rows of dark stone crosses spaced here and there across the cemetery. As I pass by the markers, I notice that most of the soldiers buried here were only 18 or 19 years old.  According to the cemetery , most of the soldiers buried here died between June 6, 1944, and August 20, 1944.

The German soldiers buried here were teenagers sent off to war by the command of their country. A surviving German soldier said that some of the soldiers enlisted in WWII were only 16 years old, forced to go to war, scared to death, wanting to run, but told they’d be shot if they did.  They had families who loved them and mourned their loss.  War is ugly no matter which side you’re on.

A view of the German cemetery at La Cambe from atop the tumulus.

A Comparison of Two Cemeteries

My visit to the German war cemetery at La Cambe provided a thoughtful comparison with my visit to the Normandy American Cemetery at Colleville-Sur-Mer. I left the La Cambe cemetery feeling sorrow at the tragic loss as a result of this war.  Although there is still certainly a sense of loss at the American cemetery, I left it feeling a sense of pride and gratefulness. It was a cemetery that celebrated and thanked those buried within, rather than only mourning their loss.

Time Spent Here:  (~ 30 minutes) Location:  La Cambe German war cemetery, Les Noires Terres, 14230 La Cambe, France Commute Time to Next Site: ~ 20-minute drive

Looking down the path to the memorial for the fallen Rangers at Pointe du Hoc.

Site 4: Pointe du Hoc

Next, we drive to the parking area for Pointe Du Hoc . Near the parking area is a memorial to the Army Rangers who gave their lives during the bloody battle fought here.  It is a moving tribute to their courage and sacrifice. It tells the story of the Ranger’s persistence to scale the cliffs soaking wet in the middle of a storm while being gunned down by Germans from above.

What courage and commitment it took for them to continue scaling the almost 100-foot cliffs! Their fellow soldiers were dying one after another, and yet they continued to climb until at last some of them reached the top and claimed Pointe du Hoc as an Allied stronghold.

The same cliffs at Pointe du Hoc the Rangers once scaled.

This, of course, is the short version.  The entire story of what occurred at Pointe Du Hoc on June 6, 1944, is an incredible tale of heroism. It is almost unbelievable, like something out of a Hollywood movie, and yet it’s true. These men defied unbelievable odds. 

The craters from the aerial bombings dot the landscape.

Lunar Landscape

F rom the memorial near the parking lot, you continue down a trail leading to the very cliffs these Rangers climbed on that dark and stormy night. You walk past large craters from aerial bombings and get a chance to step inside the bunkers the Germans built to house their 155mm arterial guns. These guns could target ships up to 12 miles offshore! You can understand why it was so crucial for Allied forces to overtake these strongholds to win the fight on D-Day.

The walk to the stone memorial overlooking the water is memorable in itself. It gives you a scope of the type of battle fought here.  Kids will enjoy exploring the craters and empty bunkers. The walk from the parking lot takes about 10 minutes.  Make sure to wear sturdy walking shoes and give yourself enough time to explore the grounds before heading on to your next stop.

Time Spent Here:  (~ 1 hour) Location:  Pointe du Hoc, 14450 Cricqueville-en-Bessin, France Commute Time to Next Site: ~ 15-minute drive

The National Guard Association Monument built atop a former German pillbox.

Site 5: National Guard Association Monument at Omaha Beach

The  National Guard monument  located along Omaha Beach is an inspiring monument dedicated to the soldiers of the National Guard who fought not only in World War I but also in World War II.  That was one of the things written on the monument that stuck out to me. It mentioned how the sons of the National Guardsmen would fight for freedom in WWII just as their fathers had fought for freedom during WWI. What a powerful legacy.

Take time to read the words and quotes engraved on each side of the monument. Close to the monument is another memorial of a National Guardsmen carrying his fellow soldier out of battle. This memorial is in tribute to the National Guardsmen of the 29th Division’s 116th Infantry Regimental Combat Team. 

They were some of the first to land on the area that is now referred to as “bloody Omaha.” They came with brothers, and boyhood friends, never to return home to their families or to live out their lives.  They were so young and so courageous. The soldiers who fought in WWII are true superheroes. 

The tribute to the National Guard titled “Ever Forward.”

Walk along the beach while you’re here and look up at the cliffs. Imagine what it was like for the soldiers who landed on these shores, wet, cold and disoriented, being gunned down in the water before they even had a chance to fight. No matter what, they wouldn’t be stopped.  They knew what they had to do, no matter the cost!

Time Spent Here:  (~ 15 minutes) Location:  National Guard Monument (Secteur Charlie), 12 Boulevard de Cauvigny, 14710 Vierville-sur-Mer, France Commute Time to Next Site:  ~ 5-minute drive

Site 6: Omaha Beach Memorial

We drove along the waterfront for another 5 minutes before reaching the parking area for the Omaha Beach Memorial.  The wind was blowing and the cold air bit into our skin. The skies were blue and clouds dotted the horizon. It made me think of the weather conditions the soldiers dealt with during the early morning hours on June 6, 1944. 

I tried to imagine a much darker and stormier scene.  The first wave of soldiers arriving soaking wet, many drowned before they ever made it to shore. Gunfire raining down from German soldiers perched on the cliffs and the beach. This was war, ugly and chaotic with freedom on the line.  

I live in the light of victory, but on D-Day, victory was still being fought for. It was a scene of tragedy, and decades later, many survivors would continue to have a hard time talking about it. I’ll never truly understand the full cost, but I’ll do my best to live gratefully.

A stone memorial at Omaha beach commemorating D-Day.

Next to the parking lot, there is a large stone marker, which is a memorial to the Allied forces landing here on Omaha Beach on June 6, 1944.  On one side of the stone memorial is the inscription: —No mission too difficult —No sacrifice too great. Duty First. Forced Omaha Beach at dawn 6 June. The other is etched with the images of soldiers and reads:  Erected in memory of those —The 116th RCT 29th Infantry Division AUS landed here June 6, 1944.

Just behind it is a beautiful metal sculpture rising out of the sand just off the shore. The sculpture created by French sculptor Anilore Banon is titled “Les Braves.” According to Banon, the sculpture consists of the following three elements:

The Wings of Hope –  So that the spirit which carried these men on June 6, 1944, continues to inspire us, reminding us that together it is always possible to change the future. 

Rise Freedom! –  So that the example of those who rose against barbarity, helps us remain standing strong against all forms of inhumanity. 

Wings of Fraternity –  So that this surge of brotherhood always reminds us of our responsibility towards others as well as ourselves. On June 6th, 1944, these men were more than soldiers, they were our brothers.

“Les Braves” sculpture on Omaha Beach.

The people of Normandy are still very grateful to the American and Allied forces for freeing them from the Germans.

If you have extra time and want to stop, there is the  Omaha Beach Museum  about a 5-minute walk from the Omaha Beach Memorial.

Time Spent Here:  (~ 1 hour) Location:  Omaha Beach Memorial, Avenue de la Libération, 14710 Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer, France Commute Time to Next Site:  ~ 15 minute drive

Lunch Break

We ate lunch at the D-Day restaurant across from the Omaha Beach Memorial parking lot. It was a choice of convenience. However, it was warm and cozy inside the restaurant. My lunch consisted of some toast topped with ham and cheese. It was a warm break from the chilly weather outside.

I recommend packing snacks and water in your car, and possibly a picnic lunch if you’re able to. I didn’t see too many dining choices along this route.  However, that may be due in part to the time of year when we visited. In the summer, you might find more options available.

Location: D-Day House, 1 Rue Désiré Lemière, 14710 Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer, France

This beautiful cemetery dotted with white crosses is a serene resting place for the heroes buried here.

Site 7: Normandy American Cemetery & Memorial

Next, we drove to  the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial in Colleville-sur-Mer. Due to the delay at the Airborne Museum, we only had about an hour to spend at the cemetery before it closed at 5:00. So we quickly parked and headed down the long path.  We bypassed the visitor’s center, knowing what little time we had and instead continued to follow the path towards the ocean, along the infinity pool, and then curving around to the cemetery.

The beautiful mosaic on the chapel ceiling.

The rows and rows of white crosses stretched out almost endlessly in front of us.  People were milling about through the rows of crosses, searching perhaps for the grave of a loved one.  As you walk throughout the Normandy American cemetery, you feel almost as though you are in a park and not a cemetery. The setting is so lush and green. It is very peaceful.

Sculptures & Artistic Tributes to the Fallen

Make sure to stop in the cemetery’s chapel.  It is the rotund building at the center of the cemetery. Step inside the small chapel and admire the beauty and thoughtfulness put into the gorgeous mosaic on the chapel’s ceiling. American painter Leon Kroll created this beautiful portrait symbolizing American on one side, sending out her son to battle and France on the other side, taking our fallen soldier in her arms.  It is such a beautiful image.  

After you finish your walk around the cemetery, make your way to the large reflection pool where you’ll see a tall bronze statue rising above from the far end.  This beautiful sculpture created by  Donald Harcourt De Lueis titled “Spirit of American Youth Rising from the Waves.” It bears an inscription at the bottom that reads “Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord.” On the walls close to it, you’ll find huge maps displaying all of the various forces along the shore and their routes.  It is awe-inspiring!

“The Spirit of American Youth Rising.”

If you have time, walk along the shores of Omaha Beach below the cemetery. Make sure to stop in at the visitor’s center for more helpful information regarding those buried here and to view the beautiful infinity pool.  They have volunteers on staff who can also help you locate any loved ones who are buried here.  

Normandy American Cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer is a beautiful park-like setting, very peaceful.  A wonderful resting place and memorial to these soldiers.

Time Spent Here:  (~ 1 hour) Location:  Normandy American Cemetery, 14710 Colleville-sur-Mer, France Commute Time to Next Site: This was the final stop, and it was about a 45-minute drive back to Caen.

The reflection pool at Normandy American Cemetery.

Tips & Recommendations for a Self-Guided Tour of D-Day Sites

Planning tips.

• Always check the hours for each museum directly on the museum’s website. Google is not always up to date on its listing for hours and operations.
• Pack snacks and drinks in the car to keep your energy up in between stops.
• Make sure you can drive a manual transmission before renting a car in Europe.
• Organize your day, so you have the most time at the sites you want to see. Then if you can’t make it to all the stops on the list, you will at least have seen the ones most important to you first.
• Wear layers and sturdy walking shoes.

How Much Time To Spend Here

There is so much to see that you could spend days or possibly weeks here, depending on your interests.  However, with only one day, you’ll need to pick the top sights you want to see and save the rest for your next trip. One site I would have liked to have fit into our day was Utah Beach. I guess I’ll save that for my next trip!

Getting Here:

You can take a direct train from Paris’ Saint-Lazare station to Caen. This takes approximately 2 hours, 15 minutes. You can also take a train from Caen to Bayeux if you prefer to stay there.  In Bayeux, bus #70 takes you to many of the D-Day sites if you prefer not to drive.  You can also, of course, book a tour of the sites. Caen also has an airport so if you’re coming from somewhere other than Paris, you might check to see if they have flights that go through it.

Recommended Apps to Download Before Your Trip

Google Maps:   This invaluable tool will help you get to each destination along your journey. If you plan to do a self-guided driving itinerary, then you will want to install Google Maps on your phone ahead of time and also download it for offline use.

Normandy D-Day 1944 (by Spot on Locations Ltd):  This  Normandy D-Day app  provides the names and locations for all the various D-Day sites in Normandy. It gives historical details associated with each area and includes over 500 photos and 100 locations. If you like learning more about the history, then consider downloading this app before your trip and looking through the areas you’ll visit and read up on the history associated with each.

Rick Steves Audio Europe:  Consider downloading this app before any trip you take to Europe.  If you enjoy self-guided tours, then you will appreciate this app. Just put your earbuds in, and Rick Steves will guide you on your walking tour to whichever destination you’ve chosen on the app. 

 So say you choose France, you will then see a list of all the audio guides the app has for France.  Look for the one titled “Normandy: D-Day Sites” and listen to this before your trip to D-Day to get an idea about what there is to see and learn more about the history of the region. The app has not only audio walking guides, but also interviews with local experts on a variety of subjects relating to each location.

Roses and flowers left by crosses. Reminders that they are not forgotten.

Closing Thoughts on D-Day

Visiting the D-Day sites in Normandy was like walking through the history books. It is one thing to read about this incredible date in history, but it is something else to see the area firsthand. To see the graves of the thousands of soldiers who lost their lives here, and to read about their individual stories is an incredible and moving way to spend the day.  

Visiting sites like D-Day or even Auschwitz remind me of the beauty of the human spirit. Yes, there is an ugly side to humanity. However, there is also resilience and a determination to overcome even the worst odds for the good of mankind.

I hope you plan a trip to visit Normandy, France, and the historic D-Day sites. However, if you can’t do that right now, why not visit a local Veteran’s Cemetery or museum near you, dedicated to those who gave so we could have freedom.  Say thank you the next time you see a veteran, and let’s use our freedom to show compassion and grace to everyone we meet.

Thank You to All Who Served and Continue to Serve

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10 comments.

I enjoyed your article, very informative and clear. Great tip about a packed lunch. Gives that bit more freedom to go at your own pace and wander away from the bigger sites. Also big thanks for mentioning my app Normandy DDay 1944. It’s not exhaustive on locations but gives a taste for smaller cemeteries and locations off the beaten track. All the best, Evelyn

Hi Evelyn, thank you so much for responding! I think your app is a wonderful way to learn more about the history of the area that I would not have known otherwise. Thank you so much for creating such a valuable tool!

What a wonderful article and very well written. We’re going to Normandy in September. I and excited to visit the area my dad fought in! Thank you for all this information.

Thank you Robin! I am so excited for you to get to visit that area, especially since your dad fought there. I know it will be a special trip!

Excellent overview on visiting normandy sites in a day

Thank you! I hope you enjoy your visit there!

I just got back to my hotel room in Caen. I followed your day, nearly identically, down to the restaurant. I did add Utah Beach to my itinerary, and the finished at the Overlord Museum. What a full and awe-inspiring day. I was so grateful I found your blog. It was the perfect guide to the perfect day.

That’s wonderful! Thank you so much for sharing, it made me smile. I am happy to know you had an inspiring visit. The Normandy area is so beautiful and rich in history.

We followed your itinerary closely and had a magnificent day with lots of things to think about. Thanks you so much Charity for sharing this.

Hi Paul, thank you so much for letting me know how your trip went! I am happy to hear my post helped. It is such a beautiful and historically rich area, you are right in saying it gives one lots to think about.

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NORMANDY BATTLEFIELDS – SELF-DRIVE TOURS

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Normandy Self-Drive Tours

To be used in conjunction with the book “Stand Where They Fought” Available to order, in three versions, on this website.

All tours should be preceded by a visit to the Caen Memorial Museum principally to see the Allied and German films pre D-day and the Normandy Campaign which will serve as a needed introduction and educational background to tourists not familiar with this climatic event.

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Normandy and the D Day Landings

The Second World War D Day landings on the coast of Normandy on 6 June 1944 were the largest and most complex military undertaking in history. To be successful, the Normandy D Day invasion force would have to be overwhelming. The problems involved in planning and undertaking the D Day landings were massive.

The story of the Normandy landings from the coast of Britain was an event that powerfully evokes the courage and sacrifice of those who took part in the D Day battles. Our WW2 Normandy independent self drive tour pack will take you to the sites of some of the most dramatic events of D Day from both the British and American sectors.

These are just some examples of sites which can be included in a D Day tour; however, there are many more:

Pegasus Bridge

This is the site of one of the most famous and remarkable events from D Day. Just after midnight, ninety men of the British 6th Airborne Division landed in three gliders within 50 yards of the bridge, which was captured within ten minutes. Despite numerous counter-attacks, the bridge was held until the early afternoon, when the airborne troops were relieved by forces which had landed on the beaches. The whole site is highly atmospheric and a visit to the museum, where the original bridge is located, is a highlight of any tour.

Arromanches

Once ashore it was essential to rapidly build up the strength of Allied forces and to bring ashore enormous quantities of stores. To achieve this, two harbours were built in Britain and towed across the Channel to Normandy. Constructing these harbours and bringing them to Normandy was a colossal task. 2.5 million men and 500,000 vehicles were eventually landed at the harbour at Arromanches and its remains are still quite visible today.

This beach was the landing site of the British 50th Northumbrian Division. A number of the German concrete defences still remain. From the beach, the visitor can follow the advance inland of the Green Howards, to the village of Crépon  where Company Sergeant Major Stan Hollis was awarded the only Victoria Cross of D Day. Today, the village is the site of the Green Howards memorial, one of the finest of the many memorials in the area.

Omaha Beach and the American Cemetery

The Allies suffered the highest D Day casualties on Omaha Beach. Although the beach where American troops landed has changed significantly, many features of the German defences remain and it still has a powerful impact on any visitor.  The cemetery is probably the most visited of the D Day sites and has featured in numerous films and documentaries. 9,000 American service personnel are buried here and the story on many of them is told in the extensive visitors’ centre.

Pointe du Hoc

This is one of the most striking of the German gun battery sites. Although covered in bomb craters, large sections of the German defences remain, some of which can be entered by visitors. This was the site of the famous cliff assault by American Rangers, who captured the site, only to find that the guns had been removed from the emplacements. Completely surrounded, the Rangers fought off German attacks for two days, until the survivors were relieved by troops from the beaches.

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Utah Beach C.S Frères - CRT Normandy

World War II History Tour

If you are interested in WWII history and/or have a family member who fought in the Battle of Normandy, this tour is just for you.

We can plan a general itinerary based on what we think you would be most interested in, or you can tell us. For example, North Americans may like to visit the American and Canadian beaches of Omaha , Utah and Juno , and the American and Canadian war cemeteries.

If you have a family connection, we will plan an itinerary that follows the route your family member took with their battalion during the Battle of Normandy.

WWII Family History Tour

What is truly unique about this tour is that if you have an ancestor who fought in the war , we can carry out some research on your behalf and plan a tour of the exact places they would have been during their time in Normandy .

These soldiers played a crucial role in the liberation of France, so it is an immense honor for us to help travelers walk in their ancestors’ footsteps. We charge no extra fee for personalizing the tour in this way.

Just tell us everything you can about your ancestor, and we will take care of the research and the planning.  

We found France Just For You on Trip Advisor as we were beginning our plans to visit France. All of the TA reviews raved about quality of service and planning by Emilie so we …

We found France Just For You on Trip Advisor as we were beginning our plans to visit France. All of the TA reviews raved about quality of service and planning by Emilie so we decided to have Emilie plan our 3 week trip to France. Now we know why all the reviews of France Just For You are "excellent". We spent time in Paris, Dijon area, Loire Valley and Normandy. From the start, Emilie was extremely helpful in arranging our itinerary so that we got to do/see all that we wanted to. All of the B&Bs, Restaurants, Activities and Tour Guides Emilie recommended were excellent. The Tour Books were customized for our itinerary and were full of very useful information. The pre-trip information Emilie gives you makes sure you arrive in France well prepared to handle all of the unique differences when one visits France. Emilie responded promptly to any of our email enquiries before and during our trip. When we had to change the dates of our entire trip, she handled that quickly with no fuss. The entire trip was fantastic and much of the credit for that must go to Emilie and her careful planning etc.

Your accommodations

Step by step

Private tour of the wwii battle sites and places of interest.

Our preferred private guides in Normandy know the region very well and are experts in WWII history.  One day is normally enough to visit the landing beaches.

Then you’ll need a day to visit the places of interest that are further inland, and a day for Bayeux and Caen (key cities in the region).

We also include a day in Paris so that you can enjoy a walking tour of key places in the city during the Liberation of Paris and a visit to the war museum. This tour gives travelers an excellent overview of the great military operation of Operation Overlord.

Day 1: Bayeux - Caen area

• From Paris or a Paris airport, we will organize the car rental pick up at the most convenient location.
• You will begin your tour in the lovely town of Bayeux , which was not damaged by the WWII bombing. You will visit the Battle of Normandy Museum to gain some insight into the events of the war and learn about the places you will be visiting on your private tour.
• Your Bayeux itinerary will include a self-guided walking tour through the town so you will learn more about what happened during the liberation of Bayeux. We’ll also recommend some very nice shops and restaurants. Even if not part of the WWII history, you will also enjoy visiting Bayeux Cathedral and famous Tapestry. 
• In the afternoon, you will visit Caen, a city that suffered serious damage during the bombing of WWII. You will see the Caen Memorial and experience the 360° movie theater, where you will feel how it was to be in Caen during the bombing.

Accommodation near Bayeux

• Your  fi rst B&B for 3 nig hts is  a peaceful countryside house, conveniently loc ated between Bayeux's old town and the Landing Beaches .  From here, you are within reach of all   the D-Day sites   and museums: between Sainte Mère Eglise and Ouistreham, Isigny, Pointe du Hoc, the   artificial port of   Arromanches or the Caen Memorial.  

Day 2: Landing Beaches & War Cemeteries

• The second day will be entirely on the Landing beaches of Normandy . 
• Your expert private guide will meet you at your accommodation, and together you will drive to the Normandy landings beaches. If we have researched your WWII family history, this is where the most personalized part of your tour begins. If not, you will visit beaches where your nation’s troops landed, or those that are of greatest interest to you.
• On the family history tour, you will travel to the beach where your relative landed with his battalion on June 6 th 1944 (or later) – Gold Beach, Sword Beach, Utah Beach or Omaha Beach. Your guide will explain everything you see, leaving you with a clear understanding of exactly what happened on the day of the Allied operation.
• You will also visit Arromanches-sur-Mer, where there is another 360° circular movie theater located on the remains of one of the two artificial Mulberry harbors set up by the Allies during the war. This short movie shows footage from around the world telling the story of the 100-day Battle of Normandy, and is a very moving experience.
• After the beaches, you’ll visit the military cemeteries , either to visit a relative’s grave if he died in battle, or to see where those who gave their lives now rest.

There will also be time to visit other places of interest along the coast. For example, Dieppe in Upper Normandy will be of particular interest to Canadian travellers due to the failed landing there, during which many Canadian troops lost their lives. Many soldiers were buried in the military cemeteries in Dieppe and Rouen. As some of these places are a few hours’ drive from the main landings beaches, we may suggest adding an extra day to your itinerary. This way you can enjoy visiting each place as a comfortable pace. 

Day 3: Battle of Normandy - inland

• The third day takes you inland to follow the progession of the Allied forces. You will following the route that your ancestor or a selected battalion took following their entry via the beaches of Normandy.
• If you are exploring your own family history, we will prepare an itinerary that includes visits to places your relative would have passed through, such as the Pegasus Bridge or the town of Sainte-Mère-Église, which was taken during the first days of the Allied invasion. Your ancestor might have told you some stories about places they remembered from their time in Normandy, such as farms or manors where they stayed with their battalions . In this case, we will also try to include these in your itinerary.
• Many of the buildings in these rural villages have changed very little since the war. You will move on to inland areas that were in key strategic positions as the Allied troops continued to push the German forces back. These may include Saint-Lô , where American bombardments destroyed 95% of the town during the Battle of Normandy, or Falaise , where two thirds of the town was destroyed, 10,000 German soldiers were killed and 50,000 taken as prisoners of war as the town was taken by Canadian and Polish troops in August 1944.

Last Day in Paris 

• Y ou will finish your WWII history tour in Paris, which was liberated from the German occupiers on 25 August 1944. We include a privately guided walking tour for a half-day in Paris.
• This will include a walk along the Champs-Élysées avenue from the Arc de Triomphe to the Place de la Concorde, following in the footsteps of the French 2nd Armored Division during their victory parade on 26 August 1944.
• You will then visit the Musée de l'Armée - Invalides, which has an interesting section about World War II. This concludes your WWII history tour of France.
• Spend you last night  in a  charming 4* boutique-hotel in the Latin Quarter , by the Luxembourg gardens & Sorbonne university, perfectly located to discover the French capital city.

This tour can also be incorporated into any of our itineraries that include Normandy and Northern France.

Activities included

Private Guide on the WWII sites

Spend a full day with a private guide who will customize the itinerary to your wishes and interests. A must do to better understand what happened on D-Day. 

Paris Liberation Private Tour

For a half-day, follow a private guide in the heart of Paris to learn about how the city was liberated in August 1944. From the Arc de Triomphe to the Army Museum, follow on the footsteps of the 2nd Armored Division.

Booking process

• Share your wishes with us
• We will interact with you to finalize the itinerary
• Get a detailed Travel Plan & Quote
• Book your trip
• Enjoy the real France!

Let us craft your perfect Travel Plan

Get your Free Quote

Customize this tour

We are glad to customize this itinerary to include additionnal night stays, extra activities or any specific request you have.

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100% customized to your itinerary, it is the perfect tool before, during & after your trip.

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3 perfect weeks in Paris, Brittany and Normandy Our 3 week journey to Paris, Normandy, and Brittany was the most stress free travel in Europe we have ever experienced. It was also the first time we drove a car in France. France Just For You had done all the deeply significant leg work required for us to enjoy all of our time traveling. We will …

3 perfect weeks in Paris, Brittany and Normandy Our 3 week journey to Paris, Normandy, and Brittany was the most stress free travel in Europe we have ever experienced. It was also the first time we drove a car in France. France Just For You had done all the deeply significant leg work required for us to enjoy all of our time traveling. We will certainly be requesting help from France-Just-For-You for our next extensive road trip in France as this one was about as near perfect as it is possible to be.

My friend and I decided to do a trip to Paris and then drive down to Nice. I was initially going to plan it however I got busy with work and did not have the time. This is when I found, France Just for You, and read the amazing reviews on Trip Advisor and decided to book. Emilie was great! She was thoughtful and paid great attention to detail. We …

My friend and I decided to do a trip to Paris and then drive down to Nice. I was initially going to plan it however I got busy with work and did not have the time. This is when I found, France Just for You, and read the amazing reviews on Trip Advisor and decided to book. Emilie was great! She was thoughtful and paid great attention to detail. We thought everything was well organized, and easy to follow. This was from making the initial payment, to working together to make our itinerary and budget work. The guidebook was great for a little history lesson, and great attractions. Overall the trip was well planned and all we literally had to do was pack our bags and follow our guidebook. Emilie had our tour maps dated and it was beyond easy to follow. We also knew that Emilie was available had we any questions. There was a personal touch to every place we visited. Emilie's warm and friendly personality seemed to be felt even in the hotels/BnB's we stayed at. There was a lot of thought, consideration and attentiveness that was put into the planning that made the trip extremely special. We truly enjoyed our time in France, and we want to thank you again for such a great trip!

Thank you so much Emilie for all your hard work on our anniversary trip to St. Emilion and the Loire Valley! We had such a great time and everything you planned for us was just perfect. Having traveled to Paris and Nice many times, this was our first time exploring the countryside and we had a blast. We cannot thank you enough for everything! Kris …

Thank you so much Emilie for all your hard work on our anniversary trip to St. Emilion and the Loire Valley! We had such a great time and everything you planned for us was just perfect. Having traveled to Paris and Nice many times, this was our first time exploring the countryside and we had a blast. We cannot thank you enough for everything! Kris and Kristina

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D-Day Landings In Normandy

• Duration: 5 days
• Board Basis: Bed & Breakfast
• Tour Ref: D2TLEGFDN

Holiday Summary

• Travel Type: Coach

PLEASE NOTE: Price is per person and based on two people sharing a twin/double room. Single room supplements and upgrades are not included.

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Local departure by coach, then to Caen in Normandy for a three-night stay.

Day 2 - Britain’s D-Day: Pegasus Bridge & British Beaches

Today is spent looking at the British and Canadian involvement on 6 June 1944. We will visit key D-Day sites including Pegasus Bridge and the Pegasus Memorial Museum to look at the glider landings and first actions on D-Day, and then see the graves in Ranville War Cemetery. We later move on to Sword, Juno and Gold beaches, visiting the scenes of the British and Canadian landings, also seeing the new British Normandy Memorial. We end the day at Arromanches to look at the story of the Mulberry Harbour, the artificial port that was key to Allied success.

Meals - Breakfast

Day 3 - America’s D-Day: Bloody Omaha & American Airborne

We begin at the moving Normandy American Cemetery overlooking Omaha Beach, and then visit the Overlord Museum, one of the best in Normandy. Later we go along the Omaha Beach area itself seeing memorials and bunkers, uncovering the real story of Saving Private Ryan and the reality of ‘Bloody Omaha’. With lunchtime in Sainte-Mère-Église, we then look at the Airborne operations around the town including the story of the ‘Band of Brothers’ and visit our final D-Day beach – Utah Beach. Here we see where some of the most successful landings on D-Day took place. We then visit the German Cemetery at La Cambe and finish our day at Bayeux War Cemetery.

Return home.

Local departure by coach, then to Caen in Normandy for a four-night stay.

Day 4 - Battle of the Bocage: Falaise Gap

We move beyond D-Day and look at the fighting in the Bocage countryside following a route via Tilly-sur-Seulles and Fontenay le Pesnel. Going along the ‘Scottish Corridor’, we visit Hill 112 with its Churchill Tank and Memorial Park. After lunchtime in Falaise, we see the ‘Corridor of Death’, used by the Germans to make their retreat in August 1944. At Mont Ormel we remember the Polish troops who fought here and end at Vimoutiers seeing a rare example of an original German Tiger Tank, abandoned nearby in 1944.

Return home

Accommodation

You will stay for three or four nights at the 2-star Carline Caen Nord, 3-star Ibis Caen Port d'Angleterre or 3-star Brit Hotel Caen Nord Memorial Hotel.

Due to demand, we may also use the  Ace Hotel Caen Nord Memorial Hotel,  Balladins Caen Memorial Saint Contest,  Ibis Falaise - Coeur de Normandie,  or Ibis Styles Ouistreham. 

Upgrade to the 4-star Novotel Caen Cote de Nacre (Tour Ref 4FDNH, 4FDNHV & 5FDNHV).

The hotel is situated close to the heart of the historic town and the Memorial. Facilities include a relaxing bar and restaurant.

Finding the Universe

Travel tales, photography and a dash of humor

2 Days in Normandy: The D-Day Landing Beaches & Mont St. Michel

Last updated: April 19, 2024 . Written by Laurence Norah - 35 Comments

Despite living in France for three years, I didn’t do much sight seeing. So when the opportunity arose to spend 2 days in Normandy, visiting Mont St. Michel and the D-Day Landing beaches in the north-west of the country, we leapt at it.

We didn’t have a great deal of time to play with as we were visiting my parents further south in France, but we gave ourselves a couple of days in Normandy, basing ourselves near Mont St. Michel, with the aim of exploring both that and the Normandy D-Day Landing Beaches.

Which was what we did. In this post, we’re going to share everything you need to know to spend two days in Normandy, including some tips on where to stay.

We’ve also put some tour options together in case you don’t want to do this all yourself. The closest tour to the itinerary we have described is this one , which departs from Paris, but we have a number of options including tours departing from Bayeux.

Now though, let’s get started with our guide to exploring the Normandy Landing beaches and Mont St. Michel over two days.

2 Days in Normandy

Day 1: visit mont st. michel.

When we visited Mont St. Michel and the D-Day beaches we were travelling from the UK. We took the overnight ferry with Brittany Ferries from Portsmouth to St. Malo. This meant that we had a good night’s sleep, arriving into France at around 9am local time.

Our guest house was an hour’s drive from St. Malo, and they were fine with us arriving early, so we did just that. After dropping our belongings off and parking the car, our first day was largely spent exploring Mont St. Michel.

This was, very conveniently, within walking distance of our guest house . This is a handy tip – if you’re going to stay near Mont St. Michel, stay within walking distance.

There’s no way to drive to the island on your own, and if you park there’s a daily fee for doing so (unless you park in the evening when it becomes free). And I’m sure you’d prefer to spend that money on a nice bottle of local cider, or a few glasses of wine, like we did.

There is a causeway to the island, and a free shuttle bus runs from the car park to the island. However, I’d suggest that for your first visit, you walk all the way to the island. The views are gorgeous all the way, and you can really appreciate the magnificence of the island as you get closer to it. Then, you can get the shuttle bus on the way home!

The island itself had more on it than I was expecting. There’s a whole village, with shops, two ATM’s, a number of restaurants and of course, plenty of places to buy souvenirs from your visit. There are even hotels on the island, so you can stay over and enjoy Mont St. Michel when the crowds dissipate for the night.

Speaking of crowds, the streets are narrow, so it can get crowded. We visited on a less busy than average day, and it still got tight in places, so I imagine that in summer it must be very busy!

After stopping for lunch (many places do a menu of the day option for €17 – €20), we followed the street up to the Abbey which crowns the hill. This is the key point of pilgrimage for visitors, and the focal point of the island.

It’s not free to visit the Abbey, with opening hours varying depending on the season. Check the latest opening hours and prices here .

We suggest buying your ticket in advance online here to skip the queues. The online price is the same as buying it in person.

The good news is that entry includes an hour-long guided tour. Tours depart somewhat regularly and are offered in both French and English.

Obviously, we went for the English language option, and had a wonderful tour that taught us about the history of the abbey, the key events that led to its construction and look today, as well as the function of many of the rooms.

If you visit, I’d very much recommend taking the tour to learn a bit about the place. But if there is not a tour going during your visit, you can also purchase an audioguide or just do a self-guided tour with the free leaflet included.

Finally, once the tour was over, we headed out of the abbey and took the bus back to the mainland, where we had a spot of dinner accompanied by some excellent Normandy cider.

I then spent the evening capturing the sunset over the Mont, which was just gorgeous. So good in fact that I went the next night as well!

Day 2: Visit the D-Day Normandy Landing Beaches

Our second day in Normandy was a busy one. Having had a full day to explore Mont St. Michel at our leisure, we set ourselves the challenge of visiting some of the D-Day landing beaches in France.

There are quite a variety of sights, museums, memorials and attractions to visit, but we only had a day, so put together an itinerary that we felt was going to give us a good overview of the area and history. Here’s what we did, which we think makes for a good day of exploring the D-Day landing beaches and museums.

1. Utah Beach & Utah Beach D-Day Museum

We started by visiting Utah beach, where there is an excellent D-Day museum dedicated to the landings at Utah Beach.

From our research, this was indicated to be one of the best D-Day landing museums, and even though time meant we didn’t visit any of the others, it was certainly an excellent way to start our journey.

With a focus on the events at Utah Beach specifically, one of the US landing beaches, the museum went over the key highlights of 6th June 1944, including the planning leading up to it, and the story of the day itself.

There was an excellent video about the day, oral histories as well as objects and vehicles that were used.

Most impressive of these is an original B-26 bomber, one of six surviving in the world, and of the same type as those used during the bombing runs that happened in the moments before the men landed on the beach.

We then spent some time on the actual beach, and viewing the various memorials. It’s hard to really visualise what it must have been like here all those years ago, and I have to say that visiting the museum was a really worthwhile way to get a really good overview of how it was.

We then had a break for lunch in the wonderful Le Roosevelt Cafe, built around a bunker which housed a German communications center. Then, we headed on to:

2. Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial

Found in Coleville-Sur-Mer, and managed by the American Battle Monuments Commission, the Normandy American Cemetry and Memorial is the final resting place of over 9,000 US military personnel, the majority of whom lost their lives either during the D-Day landings, or in the days and weeks following the landings.

It was the first US WW2 cemetery on European soil, and was established as a temporary location on the 8th of June – two days after the landings started – a necessity given the high casualty rates, particularly at nearby Omaha Beach, which was the most heavily defended of all the landing locations.

Today, there is a visitor center, a memorial, chapel, and of course, the cemetery itself, all of which are free to visitors.

The visitor center is excellent, telling the story of the landings with a focus on the personal stories and losses of the people involved, particularly at Omaha beach.

It’s very worth taking some time to fully explore this. Then, of course, the cemetery is a sombre reminder of quite how many people died in this conflict.

3. Omaha Beach Monument

From the War Cemetery we headed back down to Omaha Beach itself, and the monument to the D-Day landings.

There are actually two installations here – the huge monument itself, and a huge stainless steel art installation known as “The Braves”, which commemorates the 60th anniversary of the landings.

Both are worth looking at, and of course, you’ll want to spend some time here on the beach as we did, casting your mind back across the decades, and just trying to get a tiny idea of the horrors that were witnessed here.

4. Pointe Du Hoc

Our last stop on our D-Day Landings Day was Pointe Du Hoc. This is a rocky cliff top area, the highest point of land between Utah and Omaha beaches, and during WW2, was a heavily defended German installation and lookout point.

It was thought that the destruction of this stronghold was going to be critical to the success of the D-Day landings, as the six 155mm guns that were believed to be installed here could have wreaked devastation on forces landing at both Omaha and Utah beaches.

To accomplish this mission, a 225 strong force of US Rangers was dispatched in the early hours of June 6th, with the mission of scaling the 100ft cliffs and destroying the 155mm guns.

As it turned out, the guns had all been moved to a nearby orchard to protect them from Allied bombardments, so whilst the rangers did find them and destroy them, the risk was not as great as first thought. The battle for Pointe Du Hoc was also costly, with 70 percent casualties, so even though deemed a success, it was with a brutal loss of life.

Today, Pointe Du Hoc serves as a monument to the Rangers who fought here. Other than the encroachment of nature, the site is not much different today to how it was when the Rangers landed.

Many of the original concrete bunkers, bomb craters and installations are still in place, and you can freely wander the area, and marvel at the challenges that must have faced the men landing here, from the rough seas to the 100ft cliffs to the barbed wire.

There is also a visitor centre, although it had just closed when we arrived. If it is something that interests you though, you can check the opening hours here to be sure that you schedule your day appropriately.

Pointe Du Hoc was the last stop on our tour of the Normandy D-Day beaches. It wasn’t the sort of day that fills you with joy, but I certainly learnt a great deal, and left with a heightened sense of admiration and respect for the many people who gave their lives so Europe and the world could be free.

Now, on to answering some questions you might have, as well as some practicalities.

Where we stayed in Normandy

There are lots of options for accommodation at Mont St. Michel. We found ourselves a little chambre d’hote , which is the French equivalent of a B&B.

This was excellent value, and within walking a half hour’s walk of Mont St. Michel – and more importantly, a ten-minute walk to where I was able to get photos like this:

We actually found that there are lots of these in the Mont St. Michel area, you can see Mont St Michel listings here on booking.com

There were three Chambres D’Hotes near each other, including the one we stayed at , with a price for two people, including breakfast, usually in the region of €70 – €120. Definitely an option worth investigating.

How To Get Around Normandy

Since we took the ferry, we were able to take our own car to France. This was very handy, and definitely meant we got to see everything we wanted to see at our pace.

I’d definitely recommend a car as the best option to get as much in as you can for your trip. If you’re coming from the UK, Brittany Ferries operates to a number of destinations in France, with Cherbourg, St. Malo and Caen likely to be your best options for a trip like the one we did.

If you’re looking to hire a car in France, we recommend searching for your car rental on Discover Cars here . They compare a range of providers so you can find the best deal for your trip.

Tours of Normandy and the D-Day Beaches

If you would rather not have the hassle of planning your car hire or hotels, it’s also possible to visit the D-Day beaches and Mont St. Michel on a guided tour. This will also carry the benefit that you will have someone on hand to explain the significance of what you are seeing.

It is possible to do this as a day trip from Paris, however the day trips will focus on either Mont St. Michel or the D-Day Beaches, as doing both would be challenging in a day from Paris. There are however two day (and longer) tours like this which cover both sights. Here are some options:

• A 1 day tour from Paris of Mont. St Michel , which includes transport and your entry ticket
• A 1 day tour from Paris of the Normandy D-Day landing beaches , which includes transport, museum entry and guide
• A 2-day tour of Normandy, Saint Malo and Mont St Michel from Paris , which includes transport, overnight 4* accommodation, some meals, a guide, and entrance fees. This would be our recommended option from Paris if you have the time as it covers many of the locations in our guide.

There are many more tours to choose from, you can see a selection on Viator here , and GetYourGuide here

These tours all run from Paris as this is the most popular departure point. However, there are also tours from Bayeux in Normandy, which you can reach by a 2.5 hour train from Paris. In this case, we’d suggest booking a 1 day tour of the D-Day beaches, and a 1 day tour of Mont. St Michel. Here are some options:

• A 1 day tour of Mont St. Michel , including transport and guide
• A private 1 day tour of Mont St. Michel , also including transport and guide. This is a similar tour with departure from either Caen or Bayeux.
• A 1 day small group tour of the D-Day beaches , with a particular focus on the beaches used by the American forces.

Getting To Normandy from the UK

As mentioned above, we took the ferry from Portsmouth to St. Malo (and back again!) with Brittany Ferries .

We had a four berth cabin on both crossings, which was particularly handy for the night crossing to France as it meant we could have a good night’s sleep. Each cabin also includes a sink, toilet, and shower so you can arrive feeling refreshed.

The boat was also well equipped, and we enjoyed an excellent dinner on board on our way to France, and a lovely lunch on the day crossing back. In the evening, after our dinner, we went and watched the cabaret show (and partook of the excellent bar!), with Jess having a huge cocktail and me going for a slightly simpler beer option.

Jess also got involved in the magic show (this seems to happen to her a lot!), as a man rather worryingly stuck a sword through her throat. This was a lot of fun, and overall, we’re happy to recommend the Brittany Ferries experience to anyone looking to travel to and from the UK by ferry with a car.

Further Reading for your Visit

We’ve written more about France to help you plan your visit to this lovely country. Here are some resources we think you’ll find useful:

• We have a 2 Day Paris Itinerary as well as a 3 Day Paris Itinerary
• We also have a guide to spending a day in Paris , if you’re on a really tight schedule and just want to focus on the highlights
• Our guide to the Best Photography Locations in Paris
• A full review of the Paris Pass , to help you save money on your visit, as well as a review of the Paris Museum Pass
• A guide to the best afternoon tea in Paris
• A guide to choosing the best Seine Boat River tour
• A guide to recognising and avoiding common Paris scams

And that pretty much wraps up our two days experience in Normandy! Have you ever visited the sights in the article? Have any tips or experiences to share? Let us know about them in the comments below!

So you know, we received complimentary tickets from Brittany Ferries to and from the UK for two people and a car. All other expenses, including meals and drinks on the boat, as well as our accommodation and activities in France, we covered ourselves. As always, you can read our code of ethics to find out how we choose to work with!

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There are 35 comments on this post

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Michael Giblin says

11th January 2024 at 5:18 am

Hi Jessica Thanks for the interesting article, especially the links to other information. We plan to go to France in Septembers, spend 6 nights in Paris then take the train to Bayeux rent a car and spend 3 days visiting the Normandy sites then spend 3 nights in Tours visiting the Loire Valley. Then take the train To Paris and head home. Your travel log is really helpful because after reading yours and many travel logs, we realize we can rent a car and do self-guided tours and go at our own pace. My wife speaks French so that will be a big help. Thank you.

Laurence Norah says

13th January 2024 at 2:00 pm

It’s our pleasure Michael, have a wonderful trip to France and do let us know if you have any questions!

Eileen Cowley says

9th September 2023 at 2:08 am

I love all this wonderful and insiteful information about a 2 day Normandy visit. We will visit Mont St. Michel on the 1st day, and the beaches you recommended on the second. Should we stay 2 nights in the hotel close to St. Michel. or check out, visit the beaches and choose another location close to Point de Hoc? Thank you!

10th September 2023 at 3:05 pm

Thanks very much! So I would probably recommend checking out and moving on so you don’t have to drive backwards and forward so much. Of course, it will depend a bit on your overall itinerary, but personally I’d find somewhere closer to where you’ll be visiting on your second day.

Have a lovely time in France, let me know if you have any more questions!

Linda Karol says

16th July 2022 at 8:07 pm

Hello! My so is in the Air Force and was recently involved in the DDay Reinactment. I will go onto your Facebook site and post some of his pictures for you.

21st July 2022 at 7:54 pm

Thank you very much Linda 🙂

26th June 2022 at 8:49 pm

we are staying in Dol De Bretagne for a week ( arriving in st Malo) then driving up to normandy on the Friday so we can see the D Day beaches etc before getting the ferry on the Sunday from Caen back to the UK. we will have 2 days and your itinerary has been big help , where do you think the best place to stay is please ? Caen ? Bayeux , or somewhere else. we need to be at Caen for 7.30 on the Sunday morning for the ferry so don’t want to have to travel too far to get there. we are leaving Dol early fri morning so will have 2 full days . thanks for your help

27th June 2022 at 9:50 am

I think either Caen or Bayeux would work. Caen would obviously be easier for your early morning ferry, so I might opt for that, and it’s not too far to the majority of beaches. There are also lots of accommodation options in Caen as you can see here .

Have a great trip and let me know if you have any more questions!

Nicolas Mata says

14th June 2022 at 2:31 pm

Very educational. By the way, how did you create your own blog?

14th June 2022 at 4:19 pm

Thanks Nicolas! I created it initially back in 2010 using Google’s free Blogger service. Then I migrated to a paid service using WordPress. We actually have a complete guide to starting a blog , which you might find interesting 🙂

Patricia says

6th June 2022 at 5:15 pm

Fantastic comments and beautiful photos. Thank you

6th June 2022 at 5:50 pm

Thanks very much Patricia!

Stuart Robertson says

20th April 2022 at 6:55 pm

As the majority of troops to land on D-Day were British, it’s a shame you visited exclusively American sites. For information, Omaha was not the most heavily defended beach, Sword was.

20th April 2022 at 7:55 pm

Thanks for your comment! As my wife is American and had family members who took part in the landings, those were the beaches we chose to visit as they had the most personal connection to us. My grandfather was British, but I believe his war was primarily in Italy. Of course we are grateful for all their service, but don’t feel they would think any the less of us for which beach we visited. Hopefully we will be able to return soon and see more of the landing locations.

In terms of Omaha vs Sword, do you have a citation for that? The Imperial War Museum website here state that Omaha was the most heavily defended of the beaches, but I would add I am happy to change the information if there’s a more authoritative source.

Thanks again for your comment!

Linda Hyers says

4th March 2020 at 9:43 pm

We are going to Paris mid July and want to go to Normandy & St Michel. Looks like most of the tours leave on Thurs. we need to tour on Tues-Friday. Any ideas?

5th March 2020 at 2:05 pm

Hmm, that is a bit of a conundrum. I have a few options for you, depending on your budget.

First, there are a number of private tours you can take, where the day is less relevant. However, these are definitely more pricey. There are quite a few options listed on Viator, such as this one .

You might also try reaching out to Context Travel who do custom private tours of Normandy here . You get a 10% discount with our link too.

If the above options are out of budget, I have another idea.

You could take a 1 day tour of the Normandy Beach locations, like this one .

The advantage of the above tour is that is actually starts in Caen train station, not Paris, so you are not paying for a return trip to Paris as part of the tour. Instead, you would need to book your own train ticket to Caen. The fastest train takes around 2h – 2h30, so if you get an early train you can be in Caen by 9am.

You would then take the full day tour of the D-Day beaches and sights, which are harder to see without a tour or if you don’t have your own transport. You can then overnight in Caen, or head on to Mont St. Michel.

There’s a direct bus from Caen to Mont St. Michel, which takes around 3 hours. You can book this online. You can then spend the day exploring Mont St. Michel before heading back to Paris.

I appreciate this would be a bit more work on your end, but it would be much more cost effective than a private tour, and you would only need to book your train / coach tickets. You can book both of those in advance here .

Let me know if you need any further advice, I’m happy to help!

22nd February 2020 at 2:47 pm

Hi !!! Love the way you write and off course your photografy! My soon to be 15 year old son wants a trip to the D day beaches. We will be in London for 6 days then Paris for two days then we plan to be in Normandy for two days and we want to make sure we see Mt St Michel and the D day beaches! (Great suggestions from you on the aviator tours for 1 day only on those- we most probably book that) Is any way we can go from there back to London (to depart to the US) with out going back to Paris? Somebody suggested the ferry but then is there a train to London ? We obviously won’t have a car.

22nd February 2020 at 2:54 pm

Thanks very much Maria!

So yes, you can definitely take a ferry from Normandy or Brittany to the UK. Ferries depart from Caen, Cherbourg, Le Havre or Saint Malo and go to Portsmouth, and then it’s easy to take a train from Portsmouth directly to London, it takes around 2 hours. There’s also plenty to see in Portsmouth!

A couple of guides you might find useful:

This guide to getting from Paris to London, which actually has ferry information for all the major ports you should find helpful: https://independenttravelcats.com/how-to-get-from-london-to-paris/

This guide to things to do in Portsmouth: https://www.findingtheuniverse.com/things-to-do-in-portsmouth-uk/

Let me know if I can help any more, and have a great trip!

Kristi says

12th February 2020 at 1:07 am

This info is fantastic. We’re planning a trip in June from London into Paris, then Normandy. Frankly, Normandy is to be our highlight, as its my husband’s 50th and its a bucket list item. We are taking our three kids (8,12, 14) and all love history. I’m doing my homework and came across your site. Thank you for this info. I’m still trying to figure out the best way to see both MSM and the American beaches/cemetery/museum. should we have a hub in Caen? We do want to take our time in the Normandy region and not be too rushed. Thank you!!

12th February 2020 at 1:35 pm

Thanks very much! I would definitely recommend having a base somewhere so you can have at least two days to explore. You’ll need at least a full day for the D-Day sites, and at least half a day for MSM. We based ourselves near MSM, but that was purely because I love photography, so I wanted to be within walking distance of the Mount at sunset and sunrise! Caen would make a great base for both, easy for the beaches and other D-Day sites, and within easy driving distance of MSM. It’s also accessible by direct train from Paris in 2 hours, which is going to be the fastest way to get there, and then you can hire a car in Caen.

Let me know if you have any more questions, I hope you have a wonderful trip and happy birthday to your husband 😀

Michelle says

21st October 2019 at 9:49 pm

We are traveling from Paris to Rennes by train. Renting a car and driving to Mont St Michel. I would love to see Dinan but it may possibly be to far “out of the way” and I don’t want to rush MSM but a few hours should be plenty there…? I would like to stay somewhere near MSM for one night. Then the next morning drive to Bayeux and DDay beaches staying in Caen to return car and hop on the train back to Paris. Any suggestions of towns to visit or see along the route from MSM to Bayeux? Also any suggestions of towns to stay in near MSM.

25th October 2019 at 4:51 pm

Hi Michelle!

Sorry for the slow response! We’ve been moving house, which has been a bit time consuming, and left us without internet for a while.

Anyway, you are correct, a few hours at Mont St Michel would be more than enough. It’s around an hour from Mont St. Michel to Dinan, so that would be theoretically doable in the same day.

From MSM to Bayeux is only 1h 38 minutes. So I would suggest just heading up that way and straight to the coast and the beaches, which run for a fair distance along the coast north of Bayeux.

For accommodation near MSM, well, you can either stay on the Mont itself, or one of the nearby villages. If you look at the map on this page , you should get an idea of nearby accommodation options 🙂

Have a great trip!

Susan Haydon says

29th May 2019 at 7:42 am

Hi Laurence,

We are off to Normandy this coming weekend. Do you have an approximate cost of entry fees to museums etc. or can you point me in the right direction to find these? Also, I would love to print this article to take with us. Is there a way to print it without all the ads?

Thank you to you and Jess for the excellent coverage of this wonderful location.

29th May 2019 at 10:59 am

So we don’t have a print feature like that – the best option would be to temporarily install an ad blocking extension I think. Alternatively you could copy the text into a word document and delete the ads / images.

For the museums, the prices are quite well hidden, if you can even find the website 😉 They vary, but i would estimate between €8 and €12 euros on average. For example, here are the Utah Museum prices: https://www.utah-beach.com/information/?lang=en

Have a wonderful trip, do let us know how you get on 🙂

29th May 2019 at 12:48 pm

Many thank, will do ????

17th October 2019 at 6:42 pm

I hope you had a great trip. This is too late for your Normandy trip, but in case you use our site in the future, I just wanted to let you know that we finally figured out how to implement a print feature, so you can now print ad and image free versions of all our pages from the print button on the site.

stephane yao says

29th April 2019 at 3:49 am

Hi Laurence, we plan to take on 1 day trip from the mont st michelle to the destination deauville. During this day, is it possible to follow your 3 landing location in 1 day by a rented car?

sincerly Stéphane

30th April 2019 at 5:41 pm

Hi Stéphane,

This is definitely possible as Jess and I did exactly this 🙂 So you shouldn’t have any problems,

8th April 2019 at 11:34 am

Hi there im heading to st.malo at the end of this month with hubbie is there a tour bus r train that culd take us to utah beach and the ww11 memorial that u mentioned thankyou

8th April 2019 at 11:43 am

It’s around a 2.5 hour drive to the D-Day beaches from St. Malo, so most tour companies instead operate from nearer locations like Cherbourg. From St. Malo, most tours are focused instead on Mont St. Michel. So the best option is likely to rent a car and drive yourself as I have not been able to find a tour from St. Malo. It is of course possible that they exist, but you might have to contact the local tourism office in St. Malo for information.

8th April 2019 at 12:03 pm

Thankyou Laurence

betseysheprow says

2nd February 2019 at 7:54 pm

is it possible to get a group guided tour of normandy and is it worth it?

3rd February 2019 at 11:49 am

It is certainly possible, here are two options, this one from Caen, and this one from Paris .

We have never done a tour like this so I can’t comment if it is worth it, but the reviews are positive, and we think that having a guide to help walk you through some of the history can only be a good thing 🙂

Have a great trip

20th April 2022 at 7:13 pm

Do bear in mind its a 9 hour round trip drive from central Paris to Utah Beach. A day trip from Paris is doable but it’s much better to get an early train from St Laxare to Carentan (depart 7am & 2.5 hrs) and then get a tour commencing there (look up Allan Bryson – a great guide).

20th April 2022 at 7:57 pm

This is absolutely true. We definitely feel the train is a better option and ideally folks should spend at least one night as well in the area if possible, if not more!

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Eric TURNBULL

D-day landing tours.

Battlefield tour guide

American D-Day & Battlefield tours

British d-day & battlefield tours.

Canadian D-Day & Battlefield tours

Bespoke and multi-day d-day & battlefield tours.

Some photographs from tour sites

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Ranville cemetery

Sword Beach

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Breville ridge

Arromanches

Mongomery statue

Pointe du hoc

News from Eric Le Doux-Turnbull

30th Infantry Division Tours

The German cemetery La Cambe

Falaise Pocket Tours

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Normandy D-Day Tours Explore D-Day and Operation Overlord sites with us!

We are rememberddaytours.com, private guided d-day tours to the landing beaches and battlefields in normandy, ______________________________________________________________.

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Normandy Beaches

On D-Day, 6 June 1944, Allied forces launched a combined naval, air and land assault on Nazi-occupied France. Codenamed Operation 'Overlord', the Allied landings on the Normandy beaches marked the start of a long and costly campaign to liberate north-west Europe from German occupation.

This self drive tour will take you to the important sites along the Normandy coastline.

• Pegasus Bridge LISTEN
• Grand Bunker, Ouistreham LISTEN
• German Battery, Merville Sur Mere LISTEN
• Canadian Memorial Centre, Juno Beach LISTEN
• Arromanches LISTEN
• German Gun Battery, Longues LISTEN
• American Cemetery, Omaha Beach LISTEN
• Point Du Hoc LISTEN
• Utah Beach Museum LISTEN
• U.S. Airborne Museum LISTEN
• Dead Man's Corner LISTEN
• German Cemetery, La Cambe LISTEN
• British Cemetery, Bayeaux LISTEN
• Caen Memorial LISTEN
• Canadian Military Cemetery LISTEN
• Falaise Pocket LISTEN

We’re open and available for tours all year round. 

Read our tripadvisor reviews.

Read some TripAdvisor reviews from past clients. We work hard to make sure every tour is successful and we’re proud of all these great reviews and of our Certificate of Excellence.

A SHORT VIDEO FROM MAY 2022

In May 2022, one of our clients was kind enough to send us this lovely video, shot during their tour, and they gave us their permission to post it on our site. Turn the sound on to hear Malcolm’s commentary.

ONE DAY TOURS

One-day guided tours of the landing beaches and battlefields. Choose from U.S., British or Canadian Sector tours. The very best experience.

FOLLOW A SPECIFIC UNIT

Follow in the footsteps of a specific regiment, company or unit, from the landing beaches to the battles for Normandy.

THREE DAY TOURS

More detail, more knowledge and more impact. Experience the sights and sites that shorter tours can’t cover. Get off the beaten track.

CUSTOM PRIVATE TOURS

Custom designed tours are a specialty. Let us know in advance what you want to see and Malcolm will design a specific tour just for you.

D-Day Tours. The Normandy invasion brought to life. 

Check availability here.

Please note we have NO availability from 3 – 10 June 2024, during the 80th anniversary commemorations.

RELAXED, FRIENDLY, EXPERT APPROACH

The best D-Day tour guides, the best locations, the most detail. We cover the ground but you’ll never feel rushed, hurried or short changed. Bringing history to life.

BATTLE OF NORMANDY TOURS

Battles raged through Normandy until Sept. 1944. We go beyond the beaches and show you the locations of the key engagements in the campaign to push further into France, away from the landing beaches..

D-DAY TOURS ON FACEBOOK

Find more on facebook. More pictures, more updates, more info from Malcolm and Alison.

GUARANTEED QUALITY TOURS

Quality, value for money and total customer satisfaction are at the centre of everything we do.

D-DAY CEMETERY TOURS

Pay tribute to fallen heroes in the moving atmosphere of the D-Day cemeteries

I just thought I would drop you a little note to thank Malcolm for the fabulous day we had with him on Saturday, the one day tour he took us on was perfect in every way and his enthusiasm for the subject is portrayed in the way he delivers the lectures/talks at the various locations he took us to, we ended up feeling that we were actually there on D Day so much is his passion for the subject, bearing in mind he has most probably delivered the same talks numerous times, but you could not tell. The numerous locations he took us to where perfect and I know we would never have found most of them and as such we would have missed some important locations/events that happened in the areas on D day. I would like to thank yourself for the lovely picnic lunches that you provided, they were just the right amount of food and a perfect mix of foods, and the location Malcolm took us to have our food was excellent. So I would like to thank you both for making the day absolutely perfect in every way and it totally exceeded our expectations.

Engrossing, informative, and intimate D-Day tour with a true expert on the subject! If you are looking for an engrossing, informative, and intimate D-Day tour that you will remember for years to come, look no further. Working out scheduling and meeting arrangements with Allison and Malcom was a breeze. When the day came, it was everything my partner and I could have wanted in an eight-hour tour. Malcolm’s understanding of the scope of the Day of Days (and the days beyond), is astonishing, and he is able to present his knowledge in a way that is wholly digestible and easy to understand. He expertly relays the macro and the micro of the European Theater of War through interweaving facts, statistics, and data, with amazing personal stories of individual persons or groups. This gave my partner and I an appreciation of both the broader global consequences of WWII, as well as the most important side – the war at the human level. Malcolm’s tours are a gem, and I would happily go back to schedule a week long sojourn with Malcolm across Normandy. If you are looking for a fantastic Normandy tour, this is it. He was even nice enough to stop at a local store so my partner and I could grab more power outlet adapters! Thanks for the lovely day, Malcolm!

It’s barely a week since we returned home to the states from a wonderfully memorable trip, of which you and Malcolm were such a big part. I think that by now, Malcolm might have mentioned to you what I had revealed to him in the last few moments of our tour – I am a Private Tour Guide in New York. Of course I did not want to reveal that info prior to or during our tour with Malcolm, because I knew it could make a fellow guide just a wee bit uncomfortable about being judged. Malcolm was a masterful tour guide and mad our tour of the D-Day Beaches and the Normandy area so much more remarkable, revealing, but most importantly – moving. The best tour guides, have a real knack for relating stories that bring history alive and Malcolm has the passion and the interest in the subject that make the D-day experience with him something very special. …I wanted to thank you for being so accommodating at the last minute (twice)… Thanks for offering to put us up at your property and then eventually changing our private tour date that allowed us to catch a ride to Mont St. Michel. Also, your lunch box you prepared for our tour day was delicious – in particular the ham and cheese baguette, and the wonderful homemade apple cake dessert – loved it. Good job ! Malcolm, like me, has found later in life, what he is truly built to do – relate incredibly important history that changed the world (in a very positive way) and show where it all happened.

Absolutely mezmerizing! From first contact to after the trip concluded Malcolm and his wife Allison treated us like family. Arriving in Bayeaux and seeing massive tour buses and large vans loading dozens of tourists it was refreshing seeing Malcolm standing alone and escorting us to his SUV. He prepares a folder for each tour and provides visual aides to reproduce the soldiers first hand accounts. Books and Hollywood do nothing to bring out the TRUTH and personal visceral feelings one encounters as you step in the footsteps of history. See and feel the bombed out bunkers, craters and turn off your phone/camera, place yourself upon those sites and just close your eyes. Malcolm is not just a guide but a story teller. He is so passionate about this subject. We talked the entire time. He took the time for personal interaction with both my 30 yo and 16 yo son along with my wife and myself. No one felt excluded. Halfway through the tours, his wife Allison provided a nice homemade picnic (optional and recommended) included sandwiches, quiche, fruit, wine and waters in a nice farming area away from the tour groups. Luckily we arrived with very low crowds and never saw more than 10-20 people at any of the sites. He truly is private and allows you to customize the tour, but follow his recommendations. You won’t be disappointed. If you want to see gift shops, this isn’t the guy for you! We just got home to the US and I can not stop watching war documentaries. I feel I have a much better understanding and can honestly say, “Hey, I saw that”! Thank you Malcolm and Allison.

Came to France to do the Normandy tour. Learned more from Malcolm in two days than I did in ten years at school. The accommodation was excellent and we recommend the old railway cycling track as an outdoor activity. We were privileged to avail of Alison’s cooking – and it is to be highly recommended. Both Alison and Malcolm were the perfect hosts and we can’t forget little Archie & Hendley (the dog and cat!).

Thank you so much for the excellent 2 day tour. It was a great experience. I had expected to see bunkers, guns, tanks, and so forth, as we did. But I had no idea that we would be treated to the many anecdotes and stories you tell so well, like that of the extraordinary bravery and skill of the glider pilots that made it possible to seize Pegasus Bridge. Or the stories of John Steele at Sainte-Mere-Eglise, of Lt. Richard Winters and Easy Company at Brecourt, of Lt. Col. Robert Cole, and others. Your extensive knowledge of the heroic exploits of the men that made D-Day a success is remarkable. That fund of knowledge combined with your passion to tell their stories made for extraordinary experience for Matt and for me, an experience that surpassed even our greatest expectations. So thank you. And a hearty thank you to Alison too for the delightful lunches. I feel very fortunate to have had you as a guide and would recommend you to anyone who wants to understand the events of D-Day.

Thank you for such an incredible day. This was the part of our trip that we were looking forward to the most, and it turned out to be the absolute highlight of our entire week. We truly felt like we were in a graduate level history course going to the various battlefield sights, churches, monuments, and beach landing sites with you. Having the opportunity to learn more about our great-uncle’s experience once he was dropped behind enemy lines was truly incredible, and it was absolutely awe-inspiring to visit the American cemetery where he is buried. The personal touch that you and Alison, with her fantastic picnic lunch, added to our day was so unique. We’re looking forward to sharing our experience with the rest of our family, especially our grandfather.

In Sept. 2014 my husband and I spent three wonderful days staying with the Cloughs and touring the Normandy Battlefields. The cottage, the meals, the extensive tour – all were wonderful ! Malcolm has such an extensive knowledge of the war and presents it in a professional, knowledgable, entertaining manner. We saw so many sites that wouldn’t be included on shorter tours. This was a Christmas gift to my husband and I thought I might be bored touring so many war sites, this was never the case. Malcolm’s wife, Alison, provided delicious breakfasts every morning, lovely lunches to be eaten while on the tour, and grand dinners. We ate in their dining room and they made us feel like old friends rather than guests. The cottage we had was spotless and decorated with care, plus, after Malcolm picked us up at the airport Alison had a basket with bread, cheese and other treats waiting for us. We have traveled to many places and this tour and the wonderful accommodations/meals are at the top of our list of 5-Star experiences.

What a wonderful day we had with you! Your knowledge was incredible and your enthusiasm was contagious. And your willingness to go at our pace displayed a level of customer service from which others could well learn. We all agreed that the day was extremely informative and enjoyable, and that we would gladly do it again with you as our guide. As Glenna (aka Grandma) said yesterday as we were re-living our day with you, “anyone who is doing a D-Day tour needs to use Malcolm”. I don’t think there is any higher praise than from an 89-yr old woman whose husband served in the war and who lived it herself. Thanks you so very much for you knowledge, enthusiasm and kindness. If you and your wife ever come to the States and decide to pass through St. Louis, Missouri, we would be happy to host you. Best wishes in your endeavors and thanks again!

Although we were pretty ignorant about the D-Day Invasion and had no personal connection to that part of WW2, it was a subject that interested us. So we did a detour from Cape Town, South Africa, via Normandy en route to see our family. We spent three nights with Alison and Malcolm Clough in their lovely home in the country and Malcolm was our personal guide for 2 full days. Malcolm’s incredible knowledge of the Invasion and his passion for the subject brought history alive for us. We stood at inland battle sites, had the drama of capturing bridges played out, visited all five beaches heard amazing stories of heroes – some of whom survived and some of whom sadly died in active service during the Invasion. At the end of each day we visited a war cemetery which was emotional and very sobering. Our days were long but relaxed and totally absorbing. Alison provided a delicious picnic each day and Malcolm always found the perfect place to enjoy it. We found this so much nicer that sitting in a restaurant and ‘wasting time’. There was so much to hear and see. I “found” Malcolm on the website and we reckon we hit Number One. Thank you Malcolm for imparting your knowledge in such a relaxed manner and so patiently. We were enthralled and give you a 5 Star rating. Alison, thank for our lovely studio accommodation, all the goodies in the fridge and your delicious meals. We loved it all and felt very much at home with you.

Of all the things we saw and did during our adventures, two stand out. One was kayaking in the Shetlands and the other was the time we spent with you in Normandy. I looked forward to every day we were in your care, and you two and Peter did a marvelous job. The accommodations were first class, the food was great, and most of all your companionship was the key to a truly wonderful experience. Such good care you took with us to insure we had a good time. Malcolm meeting us at the ferry. Alison’s cooking. Peter being Peter. What fun we had! I couldn’t help but feel, as I looked at the other tour groups being herded along, that no one was getting the quality experience that we were having. Malcolm and Peter’s knowledge of the events and locations was superb (I like to think I know a little about them myself), and brought to life so vividly with their narrative and stories that it stirred up emotions and feelings that surprised me with their intensity. And how many of those other people got to retire to such a nice bit of France, and have dinner and conversation with their hosts in their home at the end of the day, and even get to see their wedding pictures? You made us feel special, but I suppose you make everyone that crosses your threshold feel that way. To get to walk along the beaches, stand on the bluffs, walk through the shell craters and look down from the cliffs at Pointe du Hoc! I will never forget my moments at the American Cemetery. We thank you so much!

“My wife and I have been stationed in Europe with the United States Army for the past three years, and we recently took a vacation to visit Paris and the Normandy Coast. We planned for a single day to visit Normandy and scheduled a tour with D-Day Tours of Normandy, which is owned and operated by Malcolm Clough. Malcolm was waiting for us at the train station and immediately after showing us to his SUV, the tour began. He was more than willing to modify our trip based on our timeline and interests, and his extreme knowledge and personal excitement regarding all aspects of the D-Day invasion made the trip so much more fulfilling for my wife and I. Malcolm was able to take us to every major site on each of the battlefields, to include the American cemetery, all the while supplementing the experience with his extensive historical knowledge. The tour lasted the entire day and included a lunch packed and prepared by his wife Alison, who operates their catering and B&B business. I highly recommend Malcolm and his tours, he was extremely helpful and willing to work with us based on our schedule. He was a fantastic guide, and the only person I would hire to take my family and friends to the D-Day battlefields.”

‘Thanks so much for the fantastic day. Your tour of the D-Day sights was the highlight of trip for my aunt and I. Your narrative at Omaha beach made D-Day tangible for me. The tour you gave us of the American cemetery was poignant. The visit to Pont du Hoc was spectacular. We truly appreciate the bespoke approach you took with us- accommodating all of our requests, adjusting on the fly, and giving us a full day that we will always remember and treasure’… Kate Downes, Phoenix, Arizona, USA. “Our tour … had a definite impact on each of us. We appreciated your style, and the personal nature of the tour. I think when you told us that we were taking the same steps as the soldiers, it really made us think. Also, that the entire world might be a very different place if not for the brave soldiers on D-Day. …Thanks again, you were an important part of our holiday this year”

Stephanie and I are finally back from our French trip and write to express our profound appreciation for your company/services last week. Not only did you enlighten us as to the events on the D Day beaches and beyond, but you made us feel we were touring with a kindred spirit. We have much more of an understanding for the role Steph’s father played in the war, which whilst emotional, especially for Steph, only increases our pride of him – especially having seen the exact places where he fought and some of his friends fell. It was frighteningly easy to picture him defending the troops with his machine gun in the various woods, fields and ridges on our trip. This was his story. Having now visited Normandy and the battlegrounds, I can understand why he chose not to tell it. But it was important to Steph and I that it was told, and that his children and grandchildren know what he did. You bought that story to life for us with both facts and understanding, and we thank you. … It looked like it was a great deal of work for you, but rest assured every second of it was absorbed by us with great gratitude….

Malcolm and Alison provide an unparalleled experience for a visit to the beaches. His depth of knowledge is extremely impressive. Alison’s culinary skills will cause you to want to return solely for her delicacies. If a competitor offered a free guiding service I would turn them down, and still pay for another visit with Malcolm and Alison.

I’ve been on a number of battlefield tours over the years but none have been as informative or as interesting as yours. It was truly a memorable day and the highlight of my holiday. Your flexibility in accommodating the changing itinerary meant I came away feeling as though I had seen the key sites. You really made the whole experience come alive with your stories and expert knowledge.

Contact Malcolm or Alison today. We look forward to hearing from you.  .fusion-button.button-1 {border-radius:2px;} Click here to email

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GUIDED TOURS ON THE LANDING BEACHES

We are Flavie and Thomas, two tour guides passionate about the History of our native region: Normandy. Based in Sainte-Mère-Eglise and Carentan, we propose you to discover the History of the Normandy Landing, in the villages, country roads, along the beaches which saw our liberators coming in 1944.

We offer tours in a WWII Jeep for VIP visits, but also in a van for larger VIP groups.

Whether you go back to the era of the Vikings, William the Conqueror, or D-Day, Normandy’s historical heritage is one of the most important in France. Operation Overlord was the biggest military operation of all time and left many traces on the coasts and in the Norman lands from Cotentin to the Pays d’Auge.

Between land, sea and marsh, we dive into the past. Our team of Norman guides will lead you to the historical sites of D-Day. Through personal and human anecdotes, you will go back in time to live a unique experience on the tracks of our liberators.

Jeep experience in the Normandy hedges

There is nothing like the sound of a jeep engine to take you back in time and understand the battles that took place in the Normandy countryside. Drive along the steep roads on board an authentic WWII Jeep. Immerse yourself in the Normandy of 1944. Travel back in time through many historical anecdotes. Discover our various jeep tour offers right here .

D-Day Van Tour

Choosing the van tour is to combine well-being and discovery. Come aboard our 1 to 8 seaters van to discover the D-Day landing beaches with comfort. This unique experience allows you to go for a half-day or a full day, and to visit many major historical sites of the D-Day, sometimes far away. Discover our various van tour offers right here .

Premium D-Day Experience Tour

This offer combines the comfort of a 9-seater van for the day, with a one-hour jeep experience in the heart of the Normandy bocage and the airborne zones of the 101st Division. It’s the perfect package for a day exploring the American landing beaches.

Vous ne savez pas quelle visite est faite pour vous ? Voici nos offres les plus demandées :

2h VIP Jeep Tour 3 per Jeep Up to 9 people  From Sainte-Mère-Eglise or Carentan

170 € per Jeep

Premium D-Day Experience From Utah to Omaha 1 hour jeep tour Up to 8 people Pick up around Bayeux to Sainte-Mère-Eglise

Private Tour Up to 8 people 9:00 am to 5:00pm Pick-up /Drop-off : Around Carentan or Bayeux From Utah to Omaha Beach

VIP Half-Day Van Tour Morning or Afternoon Up to 8 people Pick-up /Drop-off : Around Carentan or Bayeux Utah or Omaha Beach sector

Ils ont aimé ...

Exciting and moving visit, with Thomas, a very competent guide who knows how to transmit his emotions.

Nicole Kidman

Juillet 2022

Visit of the Normandy countryside on board a Willys Jeep. 2 hours of happiness thanks to our guide Thomas, passionate and fascinating! From Sainte-Mère-Église to the landing beaches (Utah) ….. just a way to go back to our History in an original and very nice way. Visit to be made and to be made again with closed eyes.

Thank you very much to Flavie and Thomas for sharing their passion with us. We had a great time in the bocage on board a wonderful vintage Jeep. It is very important to keep the memory alive. We are from the region, nevertheless, we have learned beautiful anecdotes. Long live your adventure. To do absolutely

A great visit with Flavie who shared with us her passion for her region and the History of the D-Day landings; the anecdotes are fascinating and the tour in the Normandy bocage allows a real immersion! Thanks to her, I recommend her 100% !

If there is one thing not to be missed at Sainte Mère Eglise it is this wonderful jeep tour with Thomas to Utah Beach. We learned a lot about the landing! It is definitely recommended and to be made and made again indeed! Many thanks Thomas.

Great guided tour about the memories of June 6, 44. Thomas is a passionate person who makes you travel in the past with surprising anecdotes! We had a great time on the Jeep. I highly recommend it!

How to choose and book our schedules?

You can contact us directly via the reservation tab to reserve your slot.

It is not necessary to pay a deposit to make a reservation.

Payment can be made at the end of the visit, by check or cash.

According to our availabilities, it will be possible for you to choose a time, from 8:30 am to 7:00 pm.

How do the visits take place?

Jeep tour :

We will meet you either in the town of Sainte-Mère-Eglise, at the Domaine Utah Beach or at the D-Day Experience in Saint-Côme-du-Mont, depending on the tour you have chosen previously.

The 8 hour jeep tour can include a visit of a museum, however it is not included in the price. However, you will benefit from a preferential rate if you are accompanied by a guide. Please inform the guide well in advance of your desire to visit a museum. The jeep tour of 8 hours will require a lunch stop, in the village of Sainte-Mère-Eglise. The meal is not included in the price.

Van tour : 

The meeting place can be in Bayeux or Carentan, this is to be defined by mail with the guides.

The discovery day may include a visit to a museum, however it is not included in the price. However, you will benefit from a preferential rate if you are accompanied by a guide. Please inform the guide well in advance of your desire to visit a museum.

The lunch will take place in the village of Sainte-Mère-Eglise. The meal is not included in the price of the day visit.

Are the tours accessible to everyone?

The tours are suitable for all ages, and children really enjoy this immersive experience.

We may take some steep roads during the jeep tour, so the ride may be a bit bumpy! However, we will take other paths if we have pregnant women on board.

People with physical disabilities can also participate in this experience, but will need the help of a third person to get into the jeep.

It is necessary to be well-shod and equipped, especially depending on the weather, to participate in the tours.

How many people can go on board the jeeps/vans?

Jeep tour: 

3 people can ride in the jeep. If you are a group, it is possible to combine several jeeps in order to discover the landing beaches together.

8 people can ride in the van.

Contact us :  [email protected]

Phone :  00 33 (0)2 31 92 10 70

Normandy tours

Normandy landing beaches

Guided tours by minibus

Normandy Tours offers half-day excursions departing from the hotel de la Gare in Bayeux.

Take advantage of your “all inclusive” “All inclusive” Hotel + excursions offers

For more than 30 years, Normandy Tours has been supporting you on visits to the D Day NORMANDY landing beaches

DISCOVER NORMANDY Its historical sites and specialties all year long a personalized service for excursions from 1 to 8 people “When peace is alive, freedom is there” Jean Marc Bacon

We will answer all your questions

[email protected]

Our Address

26, place de la gare

14400 Bayeux

00 33 (0)2 31 92 10 70 

D-Day Normandy landing tours - DAY 1

We pick you up from Bayeux train station in Normandy France to start your D-Day Normandy landing tours and travel to the British Military Cemetery in Bayeux. Alternatively group travel can be made from London, either coach or V Class Mercedes. Through the channel port of Portsmouth, where we sail to Cherbourg, Normandy, France. 

From here we head to the Merville Gun Battery. The assault on the Merville Battery is a story of perseverance, bad luck and extraordinary courage that took place on D-day.

Next on our itinerary is a visit to Ranville Cemetery seeing the war graves. Here we locate the youngest and oldest graves including Den Brotheridge the first allied casualty of D-day

We then take a drive Pegasus Bridge visiting the museum that has a replica horse glider and the original bridge which is a superb photo opportunity. We take a short walk to the Orne River and discover the events of the 6th June 1944.

Next we travel to Villers-Bocge where Britsh tanks attempted to break out of the Normandy beachhead but were destroyed by German pranzer tanks under the command of ace Michael Wittman.

Our final stop is Tilly-Sur-Seulles. At this scene the town conquered and lost 23 times by the British Army to the German Panzer. The village was completely destroyed.

DAY 2 - Battle of Normandy Tours

and we head to the Grand Bunker on Sword Beach. This is a fascinating museum, devoted entirely to the Atlantic Wall. From here we travel the short distance to Queen, Red, White and Green beaches where the allies assaulted a two mile stretch of Sword Beach

At Juno Beach we follow the Canadian troop landings.  After lunch we travel to Gold beach and museum and see the Mulberry Harbour.

Our last stop of the day is the German  cemetery at La Cambe where we visit the grave of Panzer ace Michael Witteman.

This concludes your Battle of Normandy tours. If you would like to learn more about what happened at the Battle of Normandy during WW2 you can read more here at Wikipedia.

Terms and Conditions

Private tour bookings:.

By booking your tour with TET Battlefield Tours (TET) you agree the following:

Tour payment Our full tour price can be paid immediately on booking.  A 20% deposit is payable to confirm and reserve your booking with full tour price paid at least 30 days before the tour date.  Payment either made into our bank account via invoice or via our Paypal link.  Please note, we do not store credit card details nor do we share customer financial details with any 3rd parties.

Refund policy 20% deposit is non-refundable, remaining tour price refundable if cancelled with 30+ days notice.  If you are unable to undertake the tour on the date booked, we will endeavor to rearrange to an alternative date, but if this is not possible your tour fee is non-refundable if less than 30 days notice is provided.

Confirmation process On receipt of deposit TET Battlefield tours. endeavor to confirm its receipt and will then provide an itinerary of the tour booked.

Food Food is not included in the price of your tour.

Attraction fees Entrance fees to the attraction are not included in the cost of the tour and you will need to purchase these on the day. Please note that some attractions require advance booking – eg Stonehenge. Please contact us for your approximate time of arrival at venue to pre-book your time slot. We can book tickets for you if requested and pay upfront.

Pickup/drop off TET Battlefield Tours. will confirm your bespoke pick up time according to your selected tour. Please ensure you are punctual as this can affect your itinerary which may have to be shortened accordingly. Your drop off time will also be advised on your itinerary.

Additional driver time Should you wish to extend your tour into the evening to include dinner out or visit a London West End show, our driver services are available for hire for £50 per hour. Please provide reasonable notice.

Travel England Tours have public liability insurance in the event of any fault claim.  Travel England Tours accept no responsibility for damage or loss to passengers’ goods or self and recommend all passengers have their own travel insurance.  Passengers are expected to have their own personal travel insurance policy if they are unable to travel on the day of the booked tour.

Damage/Liability Every effort is taken to ensure passengers see the booked tour location(s), however there may be situations beyond Travel England Tour’s control, ie unforeseen accidents, emergencies or natural disasters which we will not be held responsible for.

It is a condition of booking that all travellers are covered by comprehensive travel insurance and do not travel against medical advice. Most claims against travel insurance are for cancellation owing to illness etc. Details of the insurance arranged must be provided to TET prior to the journey departure.

Group tour bookings:.

Correct at time of writing, subject to reasonable change and will be dealt with on an individual basis.

Booking dates All prices quoted are valid from 1st January 2020 – 31st December 2020.  Bookings also taken for 2021.

Contact details Bookings: Telephone: 0208 434 3549  email:   admin@ travelenglandtours.com    Website: media.sunrisegrowwebsolution.com

Booking confirmation Your booking is not confirmed until we send you a confirmation of booking.  Full payment is required at time of booking. The tour is not booked until the full tour cost is paid.  Payment to be paid in GBP.

Cancellation conditions When booking via a third party booking platform the third party’s cancellation conditions apply.  Otherwise, if cancelled with 30 days or less notice, payment is non-refundable.  If cancelled with more than 30 days notice, 20% is retained for administration costs.  This does not relate to third party costs (ie accommodation) which will have their own cancellation conditions which passengers must adhere to.

Amendments Administration amendments to bookings will be accommodated free of charge up to 7 days prior to tour.  Amendments after this date will be charged at £5 per amendment.

Inclusions/Excursions Please refer to your individual tour template for specific details of what is included within each tour.

Missed Departure TET cannot be held responsible if you do not have the necessary travel documents, or fail to get to the correct departure point by the correct time.

Refusal to Travel TET reserve the right to refuse to carry any passenger whose conduct or manner is likely to cause offence or upset another passenger.  TET reserve the right to refuse to carry any passenger with medical symptoms that could affect other passengers.  In these cases a full refund will be given to the passenger with no further liability due to them.

Luggage Limited luggage space is available.  Each passenger is restricted to 1 x medium sized suitcase/bag similar to carry on size on an aircraft – approx. size: 55cm x 45cm x 25cm, weight: 14kgs.  Passengers are also permitted to one small lightweight bag to keep with them.  TET reserves the right to not carry excess or overweight luggage.  TET carry luggage free of charge but at the owners risk.  Passengers need to be able to lift their own luggage.

Children Our tours are not suitable for children under 5.  Children aged 5-15 must be accompanied by at least 1 adult.  Depending on demand, some children prices may be available – please ask.

Block Bookings Block booking tour series are available all year.  Please contact to arrange.  No operating Christmas Day.

Departure Point Please see individual tour template for specific details of departure point.

Disability, Medical and Health Problems TET will try to accommodate any disabilities or medical problems.  The passenger is responsible for informing TET at the time of booking.

Accessibility and fitness considerations Please refer to the individual tour template.

Damages and  responsibilities TET accept no responsibility for damage or loss to passengers’ goods or self and recommend all passengers have their own travel insurance.  Every effort is taken to ensure passengers see the booked tour location(s), however there may be situations beyond Travel England Tour’s control, ie unforeseen accidents, emergencies or natural disasters which we will not be held responsible for.

Data Protection We take your privacy seriously and endeavor to process personal information in accordance with applicable data protection laws.  We may pass your personal details to third parties (ie accommodation providers relevant to your booking).