France · Normandy

Normandy travel guide

D-Day beaches, white cliffs and an abbey rising from the sea

The cliffs at Étretat. Photo: Jörg Braukmann, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

0h 45mflight from London

CDGnearest main airport

18° in Augwarmest month

7° in Febcoolest month

Normandy is the closest corner of France for a road trip from the UK: the ferry from Portsmouth or Newhaven lands you right on its coast. It's a region of apple orchards, half-timbered villages and creamy cheeses.

For many British visitors the D-Day landing beaches are the heart of the trip. Add Mont-Saint-Michel, the Bayeux Tapestry and the chalk cliffs of Étretat and you have a week of sights.

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Top things to do in Normandy

1
The D-Day beaches
Omaha, Juno and Gold beaches, the cemeteries and the Caen Memorial museum.
2
Mont-Saint-Michel
A medieval abbey on a tidal island. Stay late, when the day-trippers leave.
3
The Bayeux Tapestry
The 70-metre embroidered story of the Norman conquest of England in 1066.
4
Étretat
Chalk arches and needles along the cliffs, with walking paths on top.
5
Honfleur
A picture-perfect harbour lined with tall, slate-fronted houses.
6
Cider and Calvados
Follow the Route du Cidre through the Pays d'Auge for tastings at farms.

Tours and tickets in Normandy

Where to stay in Normandy

Bayeux
A charming town, central for the beaches and the Tapestry.
Honfleur
Beautiful and lively, with lots of restaurants.
Near Mont-Saint-Michel
Stay overnight to see the abbey at sunset and early morning.

Find a hotel in Normandy

Best time to visit Normandy

Best value: Apr–Jun, Sep. May, June and September: mild and green, with fewer crowds than the summer holidays. Early June is busy around the D-Day anniversary.

Best valueBusy and pricierQuietAverage temperature in Normandy, °C, 2001–2025 (NASA POWER).

Getting there and around

About 0h 45m from London to CDG, and flights from most UK airports.

Car is best. Ferries from Portsmouth sail to Caen and Le Havre, and from Newhaven to Dieppe. By train, Paris to Caen or Bayeux takes about 2 to 2½ hours. Flights are limited, so most people drive.

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Day trips from Normandy

Rouen
A Gothic cathedral painted by Monet, and where Joan of Arc was burned.
Giverny
Monet's house and the water lily garden.
Deauville
A chic seaside resort with a famous boardwalk.

Good to know

Check the tide times at Mont-Saint-Michel. The bay floods fast, so never cross the sands without a guide.
Book D-Day guided tours ahead for the anniversary in early June.
Try the local cheeses: Camembert, Pont-l'Évêque and Livarot.

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