Category Archive for: France

Home / Category: France

Best things to do in Mont-Saint-Michel
Top 10 travel activities, visits and attractions

The best activities, attractions, visits and excursions in Mont-Saint-Michel

You’re looking for the best things to do at the Mont-Saint-Michel? What to see in the South Channel region? The best travel activities, visits and attractions? You’re in the right place! To help you organize your trip and not miss anything, our TOP 10 gathers the best things to do and see : points of interest, tourist attractions, excursions, sightseeing tours, monuments, museums, etc.
To save time and money, we advise your to book in advance your hotel rooms, activities and touristic services (insurance, transport…). In order to help you, we’ve selected the best offers available on the Internet. You will find all links in this article, with a listing of our favorite travel websites. Have a nice trip . – By Flo, Caro & The Team

In this article, you will find :

TOP 10 tours and activities - 1st part: Best things to do at the Mont-Saint-Michel

This first part of our TOP 10 is dedicated to the activities at the Mont-Saint-Michel. This one being ideally located at the south of the Channel, we’ll then list the best activities of the region.

1. Visit the Abbey at the top of the Mont-Saint-Michel

  • Recommended duration : 1-2 hours
  • Admission fee ($) – reservation required (see more information below)

The Abbey is the reason for living of the Mont-Saint-Michel. It was built in the 10th century, when the cult of the archangel Saint Michael had already been introduced on the rock in 708 (the history is a bit complicated but you will learn everything when you visit the place). A small town was then built little by little around this Abbey, becoming the site we know today. We therefore invite you to visit this absolutely unique historical monument to discover its history and architecture. From there, you’ll also have an amazing view of the bay.

Tips & Useful traveller information

The abbey is actually the highest point of the Mont-Saint-Michel, so you have to visit it if you want to discover the entire monument. It recovers a large surface only accessible during the visit. The ticket gives you access to the different rooms, the cloister, the living rooms where were held medieval receptions, and many other different places. You’ll also access a large panoramic terrace, offering one of the best views on the bay. Last, you’ll stroll in the beautiful gardens which also offer a nice view on the ocean and the bay. For all those reasons, the abbey is definitely a must-see!

Price & Online Booking : Mont Saint Michel e-ticket
 Where to stay ? Price for accomodation & Online booking : Vacation rentals around the Mont-Saint-Michel / Find all hotels Our selection : Best hotels on a budget (1, 2 or 3 stars)Best luxurious hotels (4 or 5 stars)

2. Walk down the narrow streets and fortifications of the Mont-Saint-Michel

  • Recommended duration : 1 day
  • Free

To get to the top of the Mont-Saint-Michel, you can either take the main street or the ramparts. We recommend you to start your visit with the fortifications. You’ll enjoy the views on the bay and avoid the crowd. There are two different paths that follow the ramparts, we advise you to take them both (even if you have to go back and forth) because both routes offer different views! You can also walk along the main street to discover the restaurants and tourist shops.

Tips & Useful traveller information

If you’re on a budget, we recommend that you pack a sandwich and eat in one of the nice parks of the Mont-Saint-Michel. You’ll save time and money as many of the restaurants are quite expensive, and often very crowded!

3. Cross the bay of the Mont-Saint-Michel by foot (with a guide!)

  • Recommended duration : 1:30hrs to 6hrs depending on the tour
  • Admission fee ($) – reservation required (see below for more information)

This is also an unmissable activity at the Mont-Saint-Michel! Be careful though, you are not to cross the bay on your own, you need to follow a guide! With its quicksand and rapidly rising tides, the bay is dangerous. Many guides offer this activity, with more or less long routes. We’ve indicated in the links below an ideal route of 7~8 km starting directly from Mont-Saint-Michel. It includes the discovery of the quicksand and the rock of Tombelaine (similar to Mont-Saint-Michel, but without the monument)! These tours offer beautiful views of the rock and allow you to discover the whole eco-system of the bay.

Tips & Useful traveller information

There are about a dozen of tours which allow you to walk around in the bay. For us, the most convenient ones are the ones departing from the entrance of the Mont-Saint-Michel and come back to the departing point, taking a different path for the return. With the shuttle system, the access to the main entrance takes a bit of time (you have to leave your car at a big parking lot, then take the shuttle to get to the Mont). By choosing a walking tour departing from the entrance, it’ll be easier for you to organize your day because everything will take place at the same location.You’ll just need to count half-day for the walk in the bay, and the other half to discover the fort and the abbey, with a lunch break in the middle. This way, you won’t need to go back to the parking lot and use the shuttle several times. You’ll save precious time!

Concerning the guides, we recommend Ludo (see link below). He’s very friendly, expert in his subject, and takes you down a beautiful path. Just make sure you bring along a backpack with you to put your shoes inside (you walk bare foot in the water and the sand). We assure you’ll have a good time!

4. Fly over the Mont-Saint-Michel and its bay: ultralight flights, paragliding, hot-air balloon or skydive

  • Recommended duration : 30mns – 2hrs
  • Admission fee ($$) or ($$$) – see links below

If you’ve never flown on a ULM before, this is your chance! Microlight flights allow you to fly over the beautiful bay AND the Mont-Saint-Michel! It’s a unique experience for those who are lucky enough to participate. Paragliding and hot-air balloon flights are also offered in the region, but they don’t actually fly over the monument. For thrill-seekers, you can also skydive from Avranches, where you’ll get a distant view of the Mont-Saint-Michel. For its unique view, we still recommend the ultralight flight in priority!

Tips & Useful traveller information

5. Other activities at the Mont-Saint-Michel: tides, sheep, museums, “La Mère Poularde” (Mother Poularde)...

  • Recommended duration : 1hr or more
  • Free : tide and sheep observation
  • Admission fee : Mère Poularde and museums ($)

There are plenty of other things to do at Mont-Saint-Michel! You can observe the impressive tides that cover the bay. They are said to rise at the speed of a galloping horse! To see them, you have to plan your visit during a period of high tide (see link below). The Mount will then be totally isolated and form an island in the bay. Don’t miss the salt-meadow sheep grazing in front of the monument either. On the tourist attractions side, you can also visit the Mère Poularde. It’s the most famous site in the Mont-Saint-Michel. It is famous for its omelettes. Finally, you can visit the small museums located in the village. They are mainly devoted to the ecosystem of the bay and the history of the Mont.

Tips & Useful traveller information

Price & Online Booking : Mont Saint Michel Museum Pass  (cheaper than buying each ticket seperately)

TOP 10 tours and activities - 2nd part: Best things to do in South-Channel

We invite you to take advantage of your trip to the Mont-Saint-Michel to explore its surroundings and the South-Channel region. Although not very famous, it’s beautiful! 

6. Explore the south-west coast of the Channel: Granville, Chausey, beaches, hiking…

  • Recommended duration : 2-3 days
  • Free : strolls along the coast and into the cities
  • Admission fee : boat tour to Chausey ($$)

From Mont-Saint-Michel, we invite you to follow the Channel coast. You will discover many gems: Granville (the “Monaco of the North”) with its ramparts and cliffs, the Chausey islands for a day trip (definitely a must-see!), the seaside resort of Agon-Coutainville, Carolles and its beach cabins. It is also an amazing place to hike, with in particular a path nicknamed “the most beautiful kilometer in France”. It offers a view over the whole bay and is located on the GR 223 at the level of the cliffs of Champeaux. Finally, don’t miss out on a unique experience: if you are travelling at high tide, go to the Havre de la Vanlée to see the road submerged by the sea!

Tips & Useful traveller information

Price & Online Booking : Return cruise to Chausey (from Granville) (possible stopover of 1 or 2 nights, an unmissable!)
 Where to stay on the south coast of the Channel? Price for accomodation & Online booking :  Granville – Find all hotels / Chausey – Hôtel du Fort (only hotel of the island) Our selection in Granville: Best hotels on a budget (1, 2 or 3 stars)Best luxurious hotels (4 or 5 stars)

7. Visit Avranches and it Scriptorial, the museum of the manuscripts of the mount

  • Recommended duration : half day
  • Free : walks in the city
  • Admission fee : the Scriptoral visit ($)

The visit of Avranches is very complementary to the Mont-Saint-Michel. Their stories are indeed intimately linked. It is the bishop of Avranches who initiated the construction of this incredible monument. It is also in this city that the Scriptorial is located. This beautiful museum presents the historical manuscripts collected at Mont-Saint-Michel. It’s a real gold mine for history lovers! You can observe manuscripts that are several centuries old. At that time, writing and bookbinding were an art as well as the main source of transmission of knowledge.

Tips & Useful traveller information

Where to stay in Avranches? Price for accomodation & Online booking :  Find all hotels in Avranches Our selection : Best hotels on a budget (1, 2 or 3 stars)Best luxurious hotels (4 or 5 stars)

8. Visit inland sites: Coutances, Villedieu, Champrepus

  • Recommended duration : half-day or more
  • Free : strolls in the city
  • Admission fee : Champrepus Zoo ($)

Although our top favorites in the Channel area are on the coast, some sites in the center of the region are worth a little detour. This is the case of Coutances and its impressive Cathedral of Notre-Dame, in Gothic style. You can also go to Villedieu-les-Pôeles, a small town famous for its foundry and copper work. If you’re looking for something to do in the Manche with children, the pretty animal park of Champrepus is a perfect getaway. Finally, you may enjoy the beautiful historic abbeys of Hambye and Lucerne.

Tips & Useful traveller information

Price & Online Booking : Champrepus Zoo e-ticket
Where to stay in the center part of the Channel region? Price for accomodation & Online booking :  Hotels in Coutances / Hotels in Villedieu-Les-Poêles / Hotels in Champrepus

9. Enjoy some time in the water in the South-Channel and go for a nautical activity: kayak, sailboat, sand yacht

  • Recommended duration : 1hr or more
  • Admission fee ($$)

The Channel region is perfect for the practice of water sports. For example, you can take a kayak tour in the bay of Mont-Saint-Michel, where you’ll have beautiful views of the monument from the sea! Sailboat trips are also available from the ports along the coast. For a different type of fun experience, you could also try out sand yachting on the beaches. We highly recommend it!

Tips & Useful traveller information

Price & Online Booking : Sand yachting in the Mont Saint Michel bay (ideally located between the Mont Saint Michel and Saint-Malo)

10. Go to Brittany to visit Saint-Malo and the Grouin Point

  • Recommended duration : 1-2 days
  • Free : walks in Saint-Malo and Pointe du Grouin
  • Admission fee : Saint-Malo Aquarium ($)

We’re cheating a little on this one by suggesting you one last activity… in Brittany! We wouldn’t advise you to combine a trip to the Channel region/ Normandy with a trip to Brittany, there are way too many things to see in each region! However, if you’re going to the Mont-Saint-Michel and you have a car, you should definitely take the opportunity to visit Saint-Malo. This beautiful fortified city is only 1 hour drive from the mount! There is also one of the most beautiful aquariums in France. On the way, you can stop at the Pointe du Grouin, a beautiful natural site with amazing views of the coast.

Tips & Useful traveller information

Price & Online Booking : Grand Aquarium of Saint Malo e-ticket
 Where to stay in Saint-Malo? Price for accomodation & Online booking : Vacation rentals / Find all hotels in Saint Malo Our selection : Best hotels on a budget (1, 2 or 3 stars)Best luxurious hotels (4 or 5 stars)

Other things to do and see in Mont-Saint-Michel / South Channel (activities, excursions, attractions, visits...)

In addition to the activities listed in our TOP 10 you’re looking for other ideas of what to do in Mont-Saint-Michel / South Channel ? Here is a selection of other things to do and see during your stay :

  • Other activities and places of interest at Mont-Saint-Michel :
    • Saint Peter’s Church
    • Horseback riding
    • Bike rides
  • Other places of interest on the south-west coast of the Channel:
    • Christian Dior Museum in Granville (the creator is a native of the town)
    • Richard Anacréon Museum of Modern Art in Granville
    • Villages of Saint-Pair-sur-Mer and Regnéville-sur-Mer
    • Restaurant la Cale in Blainville-sur-Mer (unique setting and very nice)
  • Other places of interest in Avranches and in the Channel area :
    • Garden and Basilica of Avranches
    • Plant Garden and Quesnel-Morinière Museum in Coutances
    • Saint-James Military Cemetery – American Cemetery of World War II
    • Mausoleum of Mont d’Huisnes – German Cemetery of World War II
    • Undergrounds of the Py Park in Folligny – Remains of the World War II
    • Les Tricots Saint-James – Workshops and factory outlets of the famous sailor brand
  • Great Hiking Trails :
    • GR 223: this path follows the entire Normandy coast. You can take different portions of it during your stay in the Channel region (indicated in this article and in our article on the Cotentin). We strongly recommend it!
    • GR 34 (Brittany): this path follows the Brittany coasts. You can take a portion on the road between Mont-Saint-Michel and Saint-Malo.
  • Channel Islands (Jersey, Guernsey and Alderney): these English islands are located west of the Channel coast. You will need a passport to go there. Three islands are accessible from the Channel ports. You can reach Jersey from Granville (in the south of the Channel) or Barneville-Carteret (in the middle of the Channel, in the Cotentin peninsula), while Guernsey and Alderney are accessible from Dielette (in the north of the Channel). Each trip takes approximately one hour. On the islands, you will discover beautiful landscapes and a change of scenery. You can make do with a (quick) day trip or spend a night in one of the hotels on the island of your choice. If you have a little time, don’t hesitate to discover them!

Travel tips to visit Mont-Saint-Michel / South Channel and organize your trip (hotels, sightseeing tours...)

 Book accomodation at the Mont Saint-Michel & South Channel region: you’ll find the greatest choice on Booking (for hotel rooms) or Airbnb ( for appartments).
 Book travel activities at the Mont Saint-Michel & South Channel region: you can book all the best activities online on Viator (american website – many offers and sightseeing tours), Get Your guide (european website – our favorite choice with lots of good offers), Tiqets (european website – great one to book tickets for museums or attractions) or Ceetiz (european website with a large offer of activities worldwide and many promotions)
 Book a flight to the South Channel region: you will generally find best prices on Skyscanner.
 Book and airport transfer to the Mont-Saint-Michel: save time by using the usefull Airport Shuttle
  Rent a car in the South Channel region: it is important to make a booking before departure, as prices on site are much higher than those displayed online. We advise you to use Rentalcars
  Book an organized trip or tailor-made travel to visit the Mont-Saint-Michel and the South Channel region: if you don’t want to organize everything on your own, we recommend the website Evaneos. It puts you in direct contact with a top selection of the local agencies (high quality of the service).You’ll then be able to choose among the different customized programs following the recommendations of the agency. Feel free to ask for a quote, it’s free!
  Book a travel insurance (can be important) 

Continue Reading

Visit the D-Day Landing sites of Normandy
Top 10 activities and places of interest

The best activities, visits and excursions in Normandy Landing Sites

You’re looking for the best things to do at the D-day landing sites of Normandy? The best travel activities, visits and attractions? You’re in the right place! To help you organize your trip and not miss anything, our TOP 10 gathers the best things to do and see : points of interest, tourist attractions, excursions, sightseeing tours, monuments, museums, etc.
To save time and money, we advise your to book in advance your hotel rooms, activities and touristic services (insurance, transport…). In order to help you, we’ve selected the best offers available on the net. You will find all links in this article, together with a listing of our favorite travel websites. Have a nice trip . – By Flo, Caro & The Team

In this article, you will find :

Short introduction to Normandy D-Day landings and our TOP 10

The landing of 6 June 1944 was a vast and complex event, with sites spread along the Normandy coast. It took place on 5 beaches which were given code names: Omaha Beach and Utah Beach (American troops), Juno Beach (Canadian and British troops), Gold Beach (British troops) and Sword Beach (British and French troops). Other sites were impacted by bombing or airdrop operations. Despite heavy losses (more than 10,000 dead on the evening of the landing – exact figures unknown), the operation was a success and led to the Battle of Normandy. This name was given to the fighting that followed and led to the liberation of Normandy. This battle lasted nearly 3 months and cost the lives of more than 140,000 people (civilians, Allied soldiers and German soldiers).

→ How to use this article properly? To help you discover this historical event, we have established the top 10 of the most important sites to visit. There are a lot of places and museums to discover in Normandy. So only history lovers will absolutely want to visit them all! Therefore, we advise you to make a selection among the places presented in our TOP 10. Some sites or museums are not necessarily better than others, they simply deal with different themes. We suggest you to inform yourself in advance and then choose the attractions according to your interests.

→ We recommend you to visit at least one of the landing beaches, one or more museums, a military cemetery and a site with bunkers. You will then have a good representation of this great military operation. You will find all the details in the article. Enjoy your visit and have a good stay in Normandy!

What to do and see at Normandy's D-day landing sites - TOP 10 activities and visits

1. Remembering at Omaha Beach and the American Cemetery in Colleville-sur-mer

  • Recommended duration : 1-4 hours
  • Free : Omaha Beach, American cemetary
  • Admission fee : museums, activities on the beach ($)

Omaha Beach and its huge cemetery are true symbols of the Normandy landings. The heaviest losses occurred in this beach nicknamed “Bloody Omaha”. It is a place steeped in memory, overhung by cliffs where the American Cemetery of Colleville-sur-Mer was built. More than 9,387 graves of soldiers who fell during the Battle of Normandy can be seen here. Today, the beach itself has few vestiges, but it remains a place steeped in history. You can also visit several important museums (including the Overlord Museum and Omaha Beach Memorial Museum).

Tips & Useful traveller information

The main sites to discover in Omaha Beach are the following:

  • Omaha Beach: As you walk along Omaha Beach, you will understand how its layout made landing there particularly difficult. This beach is indeed huge and flat, with a clear view for the German gunners housed in large bunkers. The bombardment was not very effective, and the American soldiers had to fight their way through the bullets and came very close to giving up. It was not until they tried so hard that they finally made it to the beach, at the cost of the lives of many young soldiers. It is estimated that 1,000 to 3,000 Americans died in Omaha and thousands more were wounded (exact figures are unknown).
    Price & Online Booking for activities in Omaha Beach: Tandem paragliding / Land sailing session / Sea Kayaking / Catamaran sailing / Stand-up paddle / Fatbike
  • American Cemetery of Colleville-sur-Mer: this territory officially belongs to the United States. This land was indeed symbolically ceded by France to the Americans. It is a place with a heavy yet peaceful atmosphere, with a great view of the sea and Omaha Beach. Thousands of soldiers who died during the Battle of Normandy rest here in peace. Many people come here to pay their respects, as can be seen at the beginning of the film We Must Save Soldier Ryan. It is a strong and moving visit, where the lined up graves draw an almost endless path, witnessing the absurdity of such a war.
  • Overlord Museum in Colleville-sur-Mer – Theme: the Battle of Normandy + Beautiful collection of vehicles: this great museum retraces the history of the Battle of Normandy. The staging is made very carefully close to reality. You will be able to see many period pieces including more than 40 vehicles, tanks and guns.
    Price: Overload Museum
  • Memorial Museum of Omaha Beach in Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer – Theme: the landing at Omaha and Pointe du Hoc: this museum near the beach has large collections of uniforms, weapons, archival photos… It is mainly interested in the events that took place at Omaha Beach.
    Price: Omaha Beach Memorial Museum

Price & Online Booking : see links above
 Guided tours & excursions including Omaha Beach : Departing from Caen // Departing from Bayeux: Normandy Beaches Half-Day Trip from Bayeux or Normandy American D-Day Beaches Full Day Tour from Bayeux
 Where to stay in Omaha Beach? Price for accomodation & Online booking: Vacation rentalsFind all hotels Our selection : Best hotels on a budget (1, 2 or 3 stars)Best luxurious hotels (4 or 5 stars)

Best deals to book your activities in Normandy D-Day Landing sites

Coming soon

2. Explore the devastated area of Pointe du Hoc: cliffs, bunkers and shell holes

  • Recommended duration : 1-2 hours
  • Free

The Pointe du Hoc is undoubtedly the place that best represents the violence of the fightings. Located at the top of a hundred-feet cliff, this site was attacked by American troops. The soldiers climbed up using huge ropes, a scene immortalized in the film The Longest Day. The site was subjected to intense bombing, which can still be seen today through the huge shell holes. Trails allow you to discover them, as well as the various bunkers destroyed on this occasion. With its amazing view of the ocean, the Pointe du Hoc is both a peaceful and pleasant place for a walk, but terrible for its history and its historical remains.

Tips & Useful traveller information

The Pointe du Hoc site is located between Omaha Beach and Utah Beach. It was attacked because it possessed large pieces of heavy artillery, which could reach the allied troops landing on these two beaches.

It is probably one of the best preserved landing sites today. It is indeed mainly a natural area where the blockhaus (= bunkers) and shell holes are still visible. You can either follow paths or walk freely inside the holes and some bunkers. However, most of them are in ruins, destroyed by the impact of the shells. In fact, blocks of concrete weighing several tons can be found over 50 feet from their original bunker!

No modern construction has replaced these vestiges of history, so it’s without a doubt an unmissable visit during your discovery of the landing sites. Ideally, try to visit the Pointe du Hoc when the weather is nice because the whole walk takes place in the open air. You will also be able to better enjoy the sea view.

Guided tours & excursions including La Pointe du Hoc: Excursions from Caen / Departing from Bayeux: Normandy Beaches Half-Day Trip from Bayeux or Normandy American D-Day Beaches Full Day Tour from Bayeux
 Where to stay in Pointe du Hoc? see links of Omaha Beach above, both are located close to one another

3. Visit the Memorial of Caen and enjoy its guided excursions

  • Recommended duration : 2-4 hours (without the excursions)
  • Admission fee ($) – Advanced booking recommended

With over 340,000 visitors a year, the Caen Memorial is one of the most visited museums in France outside Paris. It focuses on the history of the 20th century and its wars, with particular attention paid to the World War II and the Cold War. Through its exhibitions and the presentation of events, it is above all a wonderful space dedicated to peace. It is an essential visit during your discovery of the D-Day landing sites. The Caen Memorial also organizes exciting guided excursions in the surrounding area (obviously dedicated to the Normandy landings).

Tips & Useful traveller information

Here are a few more details to learn more about the Memorial and its excursions:

  • Caen Memorial – Theme: the history of war and peace in the 20th century: a visit to the Caen Memorial is one of the must-see activities in Normandy. The museum focuses mainly on World War II and the Cold War. It has entire sections dedicated to the Landing and the Battle of Normandy. The exhibitions are as complete as they are moving. The museum is huge, but thanks to its good signage, the visit remains easy to comprehend. Through videos, beautiful collections and explanatory panels, the events are presented in an instructive and interesting way. In particular, the chronology of WW2 stands out. From the rise of fascism to the extermination of the Jews, it is displayed on a long spiral path that symbolically forces us to sink into horror. Despite this, the museum distills notes of hope and advocates peace for the years to come.
    wp-svg-icons icon=”ticket” wrap=”i”] Price & Online Booking : Caen Memorial Museum e-ticket
  • Guided excursions offered by the Memorial: the institution offers excursions in the company of excellent guides. They allow you to visit the Caen Memorial (your choice: self-guided or guided tour) before taking you to discover Omaha Beach, the American cemetery of Colleville, the Pointe du Hoc and the artificial harbor of Arromanches (with an entrance ticket for the exciting Cinéma 360). These are the sites ranked in the top 4 of our TOP 10! If you don’t have a lot of time or if you wish to be accompanied, this is a very interesting option.
    wp-svg-icons icon=”ticket” wrap=”i”] Price & Online Booking : Excursions from Caen

Price & Online Bookingsee links above; online booking and e-tickets available
Where to stay in Caen? Price for accomodation & Online booking : Vacation rentalsFind all hotels Our selection : Best hotels on a budget (1, 2 or 3 stars)Best luxurious hotels (4 or 5 stars)

4. Visit Arromanches: 360 Cinema, artificial harbor, Gold Beach, D-Day Museum

  • Recommended duration : 2-4 hours
  • Free : Gold Beach, remains of the harbor
  • Admission fee : 360 cinema, museum ($)

You have to stop by Arromanches during your trip to the landing sites, it’s a must-see. This town was chosen by the allies to build an artificial harbor (called Mulberry Harbor) while waiting for the capture of the port of Cherbourg. A deep-water port was indeed essential to land the equipment necessary for the liberation of Normandy. Exciting attractions such as the 360 Cinema and the D-Day Museum are located in Arromanches. You can also see the remains of the artificial harbour and visit Gold Beach.

Tips & Useful traveller information

Here’s a short presentation of the main attractions and sites to see in Arromanches:

  • 360 Cinema – Ideal for an introduction to the D-Day landings and the Battle of Normandy: this site cleverly presents unpublished archive images on 9 giant circular screens. It focuses on the landing of June 6, 1944 and the days that followed until the liberation of Normandy. It receives close to 250,000 visitors a year, which isn’t surprising given the clear, concise and poignant presentation 360 Cinema offers. If possible, we recommend you to do this activity at the beginning of your itinerary in order to better understand the events.
    Price & Online Booking : 360 Cinema e-ticket
  • D-Day Museum – Theme: The Landing and its logistics + Amazing model of the artificial harbor: this museum is the oldest dedicated to the Normandy Landings. It presents various period pieces (uniforms, weapons) and archive videos. The most interesting part of the museum is its huge model of the artificial harbor. It allows you to understand the incredible logistics set up in 1944 to land tons of equipment on the Normandy coast.
    Price : Arromanches D-Day Museum
  • Remains of the artificial harbor: large concrete blocks, remains of the former artificial harbor, can be seen a few hundred feet away from the shore.
  • Gold Beach: Gold Beach now looks like any other urbanized beach on the Calvados coast. However, there are a few monuments and commemorative plaques that remind its historical importance.

Price & Online Booking : see links above: online booking available for 360 Cinema, tickets only available onsite for the museum
Guided tours & excursions including Arromanches: Excursions from Caen
Where to stay in Arromanches? Price for accomodation & Online booking :  Find all hotels Our selection : Best hotels on a budget (1, 2 or 3 stars)Best luxurious hotels (4 or 5 stars)

5. Discover Utah Beach and the Museum of the Landings of Utah Beach

  • Recommended duration : 1-3 hours
  • Free : Utah Beach
  • Admission fee : museum ($)

Utah Beach is the only landing beach in the Channel Sea. Due to a navigational error, it is located about 1.2 miles from the place initially planned. This error actually had a happy outcome, since the place where the soldiers landed was poorly protected. As a result, it is on this beach that the losses were the lowest. There is an excellent museum in Utah Beach that details in 10 steps the chronological sequence of the landing.

Tips & Useful traveller information

There are many museums dedicated to D-Day and the landings in Normandy. Here are some additional information on Utah Beach museum for you to get a clear idea:

  • Utah Beach Landing Museum – Theme: the chronological stages of the landing + Authentic B-26 Bomber: this museum is one of the must-see! It presents the 10 key stages of the landing in an intelligent way, from its preparation to its final outcome. It is an exciting visit to better understand how the largest military operation in history was organized. It is also one of the few places in the world where you can see an authentic B-26 bomber plane.
    Price & Online Booking : Utah Beach Landing Museum e-ticket
  • Utah Beach: Utah Beach has remained quite wild. You can still see some traces of the landing with bunkers and some Czech hedgehogs (steel anti-tank obstacles).

Price & Online Booking for the museum: see link above, online booking available
 Guided excursion including this stop : Normandy American D-Day Beaches Full Day Tour from Bayeux
 Where to stay near Utah Beach ? Price for accomodation & Online booking : Find all hotels Our selection : Best hotels on a budget (1, 2 or 3 stars)Best luxurious hotels (4 or 5 stars)

6. Visit the Sainte-Mère-Eglise and the Airborne Museum

  • Recommended duration : 1-3 hours
  • Free : strolls in Sainte-Mère-Eglise
  • Admission fee : Airborne Museum ($)

Sainte-Mère-Eglise (Holy Mother Church in French) was the first town officially liberated by the allied troops. On the night before the landing, large parachute drops were made over the town and its surroundings. Today, several sites in the town bear witness to this event, including the famous bell tower, where an American parachutist remained suspended all night! A great museum also pays tribute to this unprecedented operation: the Airborne Museum.

Tips & Useful traveller information

The main sites to see in Sainte-Mère-Eglise are the following:

  • Airborne Museum – Theme: the parachutings in Normandy on the day before the landing: this museum is very interesting because it presents another facet of the landing. During the night of 5 to 6 June 1944, more than 6,000 men parachuted into the centre of the Channel. Their role was to clear the roads in anticipation of the arrival of the troops landing on the beaches. Unfortunately, the drops were not very accurate and resulted in the deaths of more than 1,500 soldiers. The Airborne Museum pays tribute to them and helps us understand this very complex operation. You will discover many historical objects and aircrafts. You will also be able to board a glider and an authentic C-47 aircraft. You will then relive the events of that night thanks to a realistic staging.
    Price & Online Booking : Airborne Museum e-ticket
  • Bell tower of Saint-Mère-Eglise: the main place to see in connection to the landing is the town church of course. American John Steel’s parachute got stuck to the church’s bell tower! The unfortunate man then remained suspended all night long and at the mercy of fire. This scene is also included in the film The Longest Day. After several hours, a German soldier unhooked him and took him prisoner, but he finally managed to escape a few days later.

Price & Online Booking for the museum: see link above, online booking available
 Guided excursion including this stop : Normandy American D-Day Beaches Full Day Tour from Bayeux
Where to stay in Sainte-Mère-Eglise? Price for accomodation & Online booking : Find all hotels Our selection : Best hotels on a budget (1, 2 or 3 stars)Best luxurious hotels (4 or 5 stars)

7. Discover Sword beach : Pegasus bridge, Grand Bunker, Commando Museum N°4…

  • Recommended duration : 1-4 hours
  • Free : Sword Beach
  • Admission fee : museums, Grand Bunker ($)

Sword Beach is the only beach where French soldiers landed. A group of 177 fusiliers (nicknamed the Commando Kiefer) joined the British troops. In the surroundings, you can’t miss out on the Pegasus Bridge, the first bridge liberated after the landings. The Atlantic Wall Museum is also an interesting site because it was built in a huge bunker of several floors! Finally, the N°4 Commando Museum is one of the only ones dedicated to the French troops who took part in the operations.

Tips & Useful traveller information

Additional information on the main tourist sites and attractions there are to visit around Sword Beach:

  • Pegasus Memorial Museum – Theme: the first hours of the landings + The historic Pegasus Bridge: the Benouville Weighbridge, nicknamed Pegasus Bridge, was the first bridge liberated after the landings. It has a unique architecture, which can be seen in the movie The Longest Day. The original bridge is no longer in use today but you can see it by visiting the Pegasus Memorial Museum in Ranville. The museum presents the battle led by the English soldiers in a very instructive way. You will also see some heavy vehicles, guns, uniforms and a life-size model of a glider of the time.
    Price: Pegasus Memorial Museum
  • Grand Bunker: Atlantic Wall Museum – Theme: the organization of the Atlantic Wall and life in a giant bunker: located in Ouistreham, this original museum is located in a former command post of the Atlantic Wall (see explanations in TOP N°8 below). In this huge 5-storey bunker, important decisions were taken concerning its organization and the coordination of defence fire. The rooms of the bunker have been entirely reconstructed and give a precise idea of life in this building (command room, armory, infirmary, radio transmission room, observation post…).
    Price: Grand Bunker: Atlantic World Museum
  • Commando Museum N°4 – Theme: the 177 Frenchmen of the Kiefer Commando: this museum focuses on the landing on Sword Beach. It is also the only museum which devotes part of its exhibitions to the French combatants who took part in the landings. François’ brother-in-law’s grandfother, Joseph Hourçourigaray, was one of them!
    Price: Commando Museum #4
  • Sword Beach: attached to Ouistreham, the closest beach to Caen, Sword Beach is now bordered by many houses. We can still see some traces of the landing, with memorials, blockhouses and “dragon teeth” (concrete obstacles designed to block tanks going forward).

Price & Online Booking : see links above, no online reservation, tickets sold only onsite
 Guided excursion including this stop : Normandy American D-Day Beaches Full Day Tour from Bayeux
Where to stay in Ouistreham/Sword Beach? Price for accomodation & Online booking : 
Find all hotels Our selection : Best hotels on a budget (1, 2 or 3 stars)Best luxurious hotels (4 or 5 stars)

8. See the impressive German battery of Longues-sur-Mer

  • Recommended duration : 1 hour
  • Free

The battery at Longue-sur-Mer was a major component of the Atlantic Wall. This name was given to all the fortifications built by the Germans along the western coasts of Europe (from Norway to the south of France). The purpose of this defense system was to prevent a military landing. It was made up of bunkers, machine guns, batteries, etc. In military jargon, a battery is a set of artillery pieces (guns, mortars, howitzers, etc.). The Longue-sur-Mer battery consisted of 4 heavily protected long-range guns. Its guns and bunkers are still in good condition today and can be observed during a very interesting visit.

Tips & Useful traveller information

The Longues-sur-Mer battery stands out from the other landing sites mentioned in our article. It is indeed an extremely well-preserved place and still very close to its state at the time of World War II. Its discovery takes place in the open air and allows a better understanding of what the Atlantic Wall was. It is a fairly quick walk (there are “only” 4 bunkers and cannons) but highly recommended.

Guided tours/excursions including this stop : Departing from Bayeux: Omaha and Band Of Brothers Full Day Tour
 Where to stay in Longues sur Mer? Price for accomodation & Online booking : Find all hotels Our selection : Best hotels on a budget (1, 2 or 3 stars)Best luxurious hotels (4 or 5 stars)

9. Visit the Juno Beach Center, the beach and the Canadian Military Cemetery

  • Recommended duration : 1-3 hours
  • Free : Juno Beach, Canadian cemetery
  • Admission fee : Juno Beach Center ($)

Juno Beach was taken by Canadian and British troops. These armies suffered very heavy losses (more than 1,000 dead or missing – exact figures unknown). However, it was on the evening of June 6, 1944 that the most significant breakthrough occurred! The Juno Beach Center was built to pay tribute to the courage and success of Canadian soldiers. Nearby, the Canadian Military Cemetery also provides a place to remember these young men who came to deliver a country that was not their own.

Tips & Useful traveller information

Here is some additional information to visit the main sites around Juno Beach:

  • Juno Beach Center – Theme: Canada’s Role in the War and the D-Day Landings: this is the only Norman museum dedicated to Canada’s investment in World War II. Canada’s pivotal role is often overlooked and underestimated. Juno Beach Center pays tribute to the 45,000 Canadians who lost their lives during the war. It presents relatively few objects and is mainly interested in maps, archival images and audio documentaries. In this way, it serves as a true cultural centre. The museum is located across the street from Juno Beach and its bunkers.
    Price: Juno Beach Center
  • Bény-sur-Mer Canadian Military Cemetery: this place of meditation is home to the graves of more than 2,000 Canadian soldiers who fell in battle.
  • Juno Beach: Juno Beach is located across from Courseulles-sur-Mer. There are few remains of the fighting, but some bunkers and monuments can still be seen. Part of the beach has remained quite wild and enjoys an atmosphere now calm and peaceful (facing the cultural center).

Price & Online Booking for the center: see link above, no online booking, tickets only sold directly onsite
 Excursion including this stop: Departing from Bayeux: Normandy Battlefields Tour – Canadian World War II Sites
 Where to stay in Courseulles / Juno Beach? Price for accomodation & Online booking :  Find all hotels Our selection : Best hotels on a budget (1, 2 or 3 stars)Best luxurious hotels (4 or 5 stars)

10. Visit Bayeux: Battle of Normandy Museum, British Cemetery, excursions/ guided tours

  • Recommended duration : 1-3 hours (without the excursions)
  • Free : British cemetery
  • Admission fee : museum ($), guided excursions ($$)

The town of Bayeux was spared by the bombings, so it still has many historic buildings. It is an ideal starting point to visit the landing sites. It is in Bayeux that some of the best guided tours dedicated to D-Day are offered. On site, you can also visit the Battle of Normandy Museum, ideal for understanding the fighting that followed the landings. Finally, you can visit the British Military Cemetery, the largest dedicated to the soldiers of the United Kingdom.

Tips & Useful traveller information

Here are the main activities to do in Bayeux in link with D-day and the landings:

  • Battle of Normandy Memorial Museum: this museum presents the events of the Battle of Normandy in chronological order. It is also interested in different subjects (De Gaulle’s resistance, civilian life…) and presents many historical objects (including some vehicles and tanks).  
  • Bayeux British Military Cemetery: with more than 4,600 graves of soldiers who fell during the fighting, this is the largest British cemetery in France. There are also graves of French, Canadian, Italian, South African and German soldiers.
  • Guided sightseeing tours & excursions to the landing sites: many guided excursions are offered from Bayeux. The town is indeed ideally located close to the most visited places (and with a direct train from Paris). The excursions are of good quality and allow you to efficiently discover the main sites. It is therefore an ideal solution if you have little time, you don’t have a car or you want to benefit from the knowledge and company of an expert guide. There are dozens of different excursions (with different sites visited, a large or small group, an English-speaking guide or not…).
    Price: Battle of Normandy Memorial Museum

This has nothing to do with the landings, but if you visit Bayeux, make sure you don’t miss out on its famous 12th century Tapestry! It’s dedicated to the conquest of England by William the Conqueror and is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Price & Online Bookingsee links above
Where to stay Bayeux? Price for accomodation & Online booking :  Find all hotels Our selection : Best hotels on a budget (1, 2 or 3 stars)Best luxurious hotels (4 or 5 stars)

Other things to do and see at the D-day landing sites of Normandy (activities, excursions, attractions, visits...)

In addition to the activities listed in our TOP 10 you’re looking for other ideas of what to do in the landing sites of Normandy ? Here is a selection of other things to do and see during your stay 

We’ve just presented the main sites related to the landings in Normandy. There are also many secondary sites which you could be interested in (see below). Also note that as you wander around the towns and along the Normandy coast, you will be able to see other symbols and relics of the landings (memorials, bunkers, artillery pieces). These hundreds of sites, from the most anonymous to the most famous, all have their own history and so they participate in the duty of remembrance.

  • Other sites to see around Omaha Beach and Pointe du Hoc:
    • German military cemetery at La Cambe (the largest military cemetery in Normandy with more than 21,000 graves of German soldiers)
    • D-Day Omaha Museum in Vierville-sur-Mer
    • Big Red One Assault Museum in Colleville-sur-Mer
    • Maisy Battery at Grancamp-Maisy
    • Ranger Museum at Grandcamp-Maisy
  • Other sites to see around Caen:
    • Many British military cemeteries : Saint-Manvieu-Norrey, Banneville-la-Campagne…
    • Musée de la Percée du Bocage in Saint-Martin-des-Besaces
    • Memorial of Falaise – The Civil War
  • Other sites to see around Bayeux, Arromanches and Gold Beach:
    • America Gold Beach Museum in Ver-sur-Mer
    • Liberator Museum – Normandy 1944 at Arromanches
    • Museum of the underwater wrecks of the landing at Commes
  • Other sites to see around Utah Beach and Sainte-Mère-Eglise
    • Battery of Azeville
    • Crisbecq Battery
  • Other sites to see around Sword Beach
    • Museum and site of the Merville Battery at Merville-Franceville-Plage
    • British Military Cemeteries of Ranville, Dover la Délivrande and Hermanville-sur-mer
    • Hillman Fortified Site at Colleville-Montgomery
    • Radar Museum 1944 in Dover-la-Délivrande
    • La Flamme – Memorial to the 177 Frenchmen who took part in the landings
  • Other sites to see around Juno Beach
    • Cross of Lorraine at Graye-Courseulles: this monument symbolizes the exact place where General de Gaulle landed on his return to France, a few days after the landing.
  • Other sites to see in The Channel:
    • Liberation Museum in Cherbourg-en-Cotentin
    • Mausoleum of the Mont d’Huisnes – German Military Cemetery in Huisnes-sur-Mer
    • American Military Cemetery in St. James
    • Undergrounds of the Py Park at Folligny
    • Normandy Victory Museum in Carentan-les-Marais
    • D-Day Experience Museum (Dead Man’s Corner Museum) in Carentan-les-Marais

This article is ONLY dedicated to the things to do and see at Normandy’s D-Day Landing sites & beaches. However there are many other activities and attractions in the region, close to the sites we mentioned din this article.To find out all there is to visit in Normandy, check out our other articles:

Travel tips to visit Normandy's D-day landing sites and organize your trip (hotels, sightseeing tours...)

 Book accomodation in Normandy: you’ll find the greatest choice on Booking (for hotel rooms) or Airbnb ( for appartments).
 Book travel activities in Normandy: you can book all the best activities online on Viator (american website – many offers and sightseeing tours), Get Your guide (european website – our favorite choice with lots of good offers), Tiqets (european website – great one to book tickets for museums or attractions) or Ceetiz (european website with a large offer of activities worldwide and many promotions)
 Book a flight to Normandy: you will generally find best prices on Skyscanner.
 Book and airport transfer in Normandy: save time by using the usefull Airport Shuttle
  Rent a car in Normandy: it is important to make a booking before departure, as prices on site are much higher than those displayed online. We advise you to use Rentalcars
  Book an organized trip or tailor-made travel to visit Normandy: if you don’t want to organize everything on your own, we recommend the website Evaneos. It puts you in direct contact with a top selection of the local agencies (high quality of the service).You’ll then be able to choose among the different customized programs following the recommendations of the agency. Feel free to ask for a quote, it’s free!
  Book a travel insurance (can be important) 

Continue Reading

Best things to do in Normandy
Top 10 travel activities, visits and attractions

The best activities, attractions, visits and excursions in Normandy

You’re looking for the best things to do in Normandy? The best travel activities, visits and attractions ? You’re in the right place! To help you organize your stay and not miss anything, our TOP 10 gathers the best things to do and see : points of interest, tourist attractions, excursions, sightseeing tours, monuments, museums, etc.
To save time and money, we advise your to book in advance your hotel rooms, activities and touristic services (insurance, transport…). In order to help you, we’ve selected the best offers available on the net. You will find all links in this article, together with a listing of our favorite travel websites. Have a nice trip . – By Flo, Caro & The Team

In this article, you will find :

What to do and see in Normandy - TOP 10 activities and visits

1. Visit the Mont-Saint-Michel and explore its bay

  • Recommended duration : 1-2 days
  • Free : strolls in the village
  • Admission fee : abbey, crossing of the bay ($), ULM ($$) – Reservation required

The Mont-Saint-Michel is Normandy’s most famous attraction, without a doubt! It’s even the most visited site in France! Some travelers come from across the world to discover this small town and abbey built on a huge rock. The visit will take you on an unforgettable walk along the great ramparts. There are also many activities to do around this unique monument. You will be able to cross the bay by foot (you need to follow a guide) or fly over the site by ULM airplane!

>> Check out our TOP 10 activities in Mont-Saint-Michel & the South Channel for more information !

Tips & Useful traveller information

Price & Online Booking : Mont Saint Michel Entry e-ticket / Guided crossing of the bay / Microlight/ULM flight over the Mont Saint Michel / Paragliding Sand yachting due to high demand of those activities, we strongly advise you to book in advance
 Where to stay at the Mont Saint Michel? Price for accomodation & Online booking : Vacation rentals / Find all hotels

2020 Good deal: leisure and fun activities in Normandy

This article presents the main tourist sites of Normandy. But if you have a bit of free time to have fun, know that there are many leisure activities in the region! Here is a small listing of offers to book online.

→ Prices & Booking:

2. Visit the landing beaches and D-Day landing sites of Normandy

  • Recommended duration : 1-3 days
  • Free : beaches & military cemeteries
  • Admission fee : museums ($), guided tours & excursions ($$)

On June 6, 1944, American troops landed on the beaches of Normandy with their Canadian, British and French allies. Intense fighting took place against the German soldiers in order to liberate the region and then the country. Many sites still bear witness to this event today. By visiting them, you will dive into the heart of History and pay tribute to the missing. You will be able to discover the beaches where the landing took place, various thematic museums and military cemeteries.

>> Check out our TOP 10 activities in the D-Day Landing sites for more information!

Tips & Useful traveller information

To know how to visit the landing sites, beaches and D-Day museums, we invite you to have a look at our TOP 10 of the landing sites of Normandy. The main sites are spread along the Calvados coast and the south-east of the Manche. We suggest that you at least discover Omaha Beach, the American Cemetery of Colleville, the Pointe du Hoc and a museum of your choice. You’ll find all the details and our dedicated article.

When you visit Omaha Beach, you should know that many activities are offered on this huge beach. You can try sand yachting, catamaran, fat-bike (a bicycle with huge tires adapted to the sand) or sea kayaking. Impressive paragliding flights are also offered and are very popular. We have listed the links to these activities below (booking is recommended as space is limited).

If you want to follow a guide or if you don’t have a car, you can book a guided tour. These excursions are offered from Caen and Bayeux. The routes are optimized and are accompanied by French or English-speaking guides. There are dozens of different programs… We have therefore selected below the most interesting excursions at the best prices.

Price & Online Booking for the Caen Memorial Museum and tours : see links above
Price & Online Booking for the activities in Omaha Beach: ParaglidingLand sailingFatbike tourKayakingCatamaran sailing
 Where to stay to visit the Landing sites and beaches? Price for accomodation & Online booking : you can stay in Caen or Bayeux if you choose to book an excursion from one of those cities. If you have a car and wish to visit the Landing sites on your own, you’ll find the hotels located closest to the main sites here: Find all hotels – D-Day Landing Sites

3. See the cliffs of Etretat and have a walk in the gardens

  • Recommended duration : 1-2 days
  • Free : access to the cliffs
  • Admission fee : gardens, boat tour ($), ULM flight ($$)

You’ll be amazed by Etretat’s limestone cliffs! You can enjoy the view from the waterfront or follow the trails that lead to their peaks. You can even fly over them in a ULM airplane flight or see them on a sea trip! On site, you will also enjoy good restaurants and interesting visits. Les Jardins d’Etretat are very well known and will offer you beautiful walks to discover the plants environment.

Tips & Useful traveller information

Price & Online Booking : Etretat Gardens e-tickets / Microlight/ULM flight over Etretat / Boat tour around Etretat
 Where to stay in Etretat? Price for accomodation & Online booking : Vacation rentalsFind all hotels

4. Relax in Honfleur and on the Côte Fleurie (Cabourg, Deauville...)

  • Recommended duration : 1-3 days
  • Free : strolls in the villages
  • Admission fee : biking, kayaking, side-cars… ($ or $$)

The most touristic part of Normandy is located on the coast, between the small towns of Deauville and Honfleur. Thousands of visitors come to Honfleur every year. With its cobbled streets, half-timbered facades and old basin, this city is incredibly charming! If you go west along the coast, you will find the towns and villages of the Côte Fleurie (flowery coast in French). We particularly recommend you to visit the seaside resorts of Trouville, Cabourg or Villerville. Finally, be sure to visit the unmissable Deauville (also accessible by train from Paris). With its famous seaside boards and villas, it has a very chic image.

Tips & Useful traveller information

Price & Online Booking for activities in Deauville-Trouville : Sea kayaking / Bike tour / Side-car tour
 Where to stay in la Côte Fleurie ? Price for accomodation & Online booking : Vacation rentalsFind all hotels 

5. Discover the Cotentin region: Cité de la Mer (aquarium and marine museum) in Cherbourg, La Hague, beaches, fishing towns…

  • Recommended duration : 2-4 days
  • Free : beaches, strolls, towns
  • Admission fee : Cité de la Mer (aquarium) ($)

The Cotentin is located in the extreme north-west of Normandy. This peninsula has many sites of interest. There is the city of Cherbourg with its main attraction, the Cité de la Mer. You will see the largest aquarium in Europe and can visit a former nuclear submarine, the Redoutable. On the east coast, you’ll come across charming fishing villages, such as Barfleur (classified as one of the most beautiful villages in France) or Saint-Vast-la-Hougue (elected favorite village of the French in 2019). On the west coast, you will find great beaches on the coast of Barneville and in La Hague, with also great walks and natural sites (Nez de Jobourg, Cap de la Hague…). 

Tips & Useful traveller information

Price & Online Booking : Cité de la Mer e-ticket
Where to stay in le Cotentin? Price for accomodation & Online booking : Vacation rentalsFind all hotels

6. Visit the house of Claude Monet in Giverny and its gardens

  • Recommended duration : 1/2 day
  • Admission fee ($)

The Claude Monet Foundation is definitely one of the must-sees in Normandy! It will delight art, history and nature lovers. It includes the gardens and the house where Claude Monet lived for more than 40 years. You will be able to visit the different rooms of his residence, such as the workshop, the reading room or the private apartments. You will also be able to walk in the amazing gardens. The artist planted thousands of flowers to create real living paintings. They then inspired some of his greatest paintings! Who knows, maybe this enchanting atmosphere will awaken the artist in you?

Tips & Useful traveller information

Price & Online Booking : Fondation Monet e-ticket
Where to stay in Giverny? Price for accomodation & Online booking : Vacation rentalsFind all hotels 

7. Admire Bayeux’s Cathedral and Tapestry, a unique work of art from the 11th century

  • Recommended duration : 1 day
  • Free :
  • Admission fee : ($)

This small town in Calvados was spared by the bombing, so it’s very interesting to walk around there. You can see medieval architecture, small streets and beautiful buildings. Of course, you shouldn’t miss the amazing Notre-Dame Cathedral, one of the most beautiful buildings in Normandy. But the main reason for a stopover in Bayeux is discovering its Tapestry. This huge 11th century embroidery is a unique work of art. 220 feet long, it tells the story of the conquest of England by William the Conqueror. It has been classified “Memory of the World” by UNESCO.

Tips & Useful traveller information

Price & Online Booking : Bayeux Tapestry Museum
Where to stay in Bayeux? Price for accomodation & Online booking : Vacation rentalsFind all hotels

8. Visit Rouen and its monuments: Notre-Dame Cathedral, Big Clock…

  • Recommended duration : 1-2 days
  • Free: Cathedral, Fine Arts Museum…

Rouen has all the assets of a big city and the charm of a small town! It has a medieval architecture and many monuments. You can admire its churches (Saint-Ouen abbey, Saint-Maclou church…) and the Notre-Dame Cathedral, one of the largest and most beautiful in the country. In the narrow streets of the town center, you will also see the Big Clock, the half-timbered buildings and the site where Joan of Arc was put to death. You can also walk along the Seine river. Finally, don’t miss the free visit of the Fine Arts Museum of Rouen if you like impressionist art.

Tips & Useful traveller information

Price & Online Booking : Guided tour of Rouen
Where to stay in Rouen? Price for accomodation & Online booking : Vacation rentalsFind all hotels

9. Visit Caen and its Memorial in Normandy

  • Recommended duration : 1-2 days
  • Free : Castle, gardens, strolls
  • Admission fee : Memorial ($)

The city of Caen suffered significant damage following the bombing of 1944. Despite the destruction of many historic buildings, it is still worth visiting. Its main attraction is its fabulous Memorial, a huge museum dedicated to peace. This visit perfectly completes the discovery of the landing beaches in Normandy! In the city center, you can walk through the former Castle of William the Conqueror, one of the largest fortresses in Europe. You will also see beautiful abbeys, many churches and large green spaces.

Tips & Useful traveller information

Price & Online Booking : Caen Memorial Museum e-ticketGuided tour of Caen
Where to stay in Caen? Price for accomodation & Online booking : Vacation rentalsFind all hotels

10. Discover the Chausey Islands or the Channel Islands from Granville

  • Recommended duration : 2-3 days
  • Admission fee: access by boat ($)

If you’re looking for something original to do in Normandy, why not check out one of the islands west from the region? From the beach city of Granville, you’ll be able to hop on a boat to reach the Chausey islands. You’ll love the wild environment and crystal blue water that you’ll discover. You can also go to Jersey, one of the Channel Islands (passport required). You could also be interested in The islands of Guernsey and Alderney, but departures are from Barneville or Dielette, further north. Finally, when you visit Granville, don’t miss the ramparts, the Christian Dior museum and the hiking trails along the coast!

Tips & Useful traveller information

Other things to do and see in Normandy (activities, excursions, attractions, visits...)

In addition to the tourist sites and travel activities listed in our TOP 10, you’re looking for other ideas of things to do and see in Normandy? We’ve selected other cities and attractions which you could be interested in:

  • Le Havre: the largest city in Normandy was almost entirely destroyed during the bombings of 1944. The architect Auguste Perret then imagined its reconstruction by adopting a very avant-garde architecture. The port of Le Havre has been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site! We invite you to stroll there to discover astonishing buildings. Among the sites to be seen on the port and in the city, we recommend the church of Saint-Joseph, the Ocean Gate, the library, the Volcan (theatre) or the Bains des Docks (outdoor swimming pool). Also make sure you don’t miss the beautiful Hanging Gardens.
  • Pays d’Auge: this great natural region of Normandy is located all around the town of Lisieux, between the coast and the Calvados / Orne border.  It corresponds to the typical image of Normandy, with its half-timbered houses, cows and calvados. There are beautiful villages such as Pont l’Evêque, Cambremer or Beaumont en Auge.
  • Haras du Pin: this is one of the most prestigious national stud farms! Equestrian breeding has been practised there since 1715, when it was founded at the request of the king. There, you can discover the world of horses and the secrets of breeding.
  • Castles of Normandy: in addition to the Castle of Caen we mentioned above, you can visit many fortresses or palaces in Normandy. We particularly recommend the impressive Château Gaillard, the charming Château de Crèvecoeur-en-Auge, the Château Guillaume-le-Conquérant in Falaises, the Château de Balleroy or the Château de Pirou.
  • Cerza Zoo: this pretty animal park offers either a walking tour a in a small train. You can see thousands of animals living in large spaces.
  • Dieppe: this pretty seaside resort is located east of the Etretat Cliffs. The walks on the port are very pleasant. It is also one of the best places to taste delicious scallops.
  • Suisse Normande: this beautiful natural area is located on the border between the departments of Orne and Calvados, in the vicinity of Clecy. The landscape is made up of the banks of the river Orne, hills and dense vegetation, typical of the Norman bocage. The town of Clecy is also an ideal place to practice sports activities such as zip lines, paragliding or Via Ferrata (see our tab “Looking for fun activities in Normandy” at the beginning of this article)

Travel tips to visit Normandy and organize your trip (hotels, sightseeing tours...)

 Book accomodation in Normandy: you’ll find the greatest choice on Booking (for hotel rooms) or Airbnb ( for appartments).
 Book travel activities in Normandy: you can book all the best activities online on Viator (american website – many offers and sightseeing tours), Get Your guide (european website – our favorite choice with lots of good offers), Tiqets (european website – great one to book tickets for museums or attractions) or Ceetiz (european website with a large offer of activities worldwide and many promotions)
 Book a flight to Normandy: you will generally find best prices on Skyscanner.
 Book and airport transfer in Normandy: save time by using the usefull Airport Shuttle
  Rent a car in Normandy: it is important to make a booking before departure, as prices on site are much higher than those displayed online. We advise you to use Rentalcars
  Book an organized trip or tailor-made travel to visit Normandy: if you don’t want to organize everything on your own, we recommend the website Evaneos. It puts you in direct contact with a top selection of the local agencies (high quality of the service).You’ll then be able to choose among the different customized programs following the recommendations of the agency. Feel free to ask for a quote, it’s free!
  Book a travel insurance (can be important) 

Continue Reading