Would you recommend 2 or 3 full days in Normandy in order to visit the major D-Day sites as well Mt. St. Michel? Not avid WWII historians but want to get an appreciative overview of the events. My understanding is that an evening/morning in Mt. St. Michel is sufficient (avoiding the crowds, arriving after 4pm and leaving mid-morning). We're a family of 4, with two children (ages 11 & 10). I'm thinking of making Bayeux a home base - any other recommendations? Thanks!
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA ☔️
6790 posts
I'd give it 3 (at a minimum) for MSM + major D-Day sites. Of course include Bayeux (and don't mis Rouen on the way). 3 days is actually not quite enough, if you can squeeze in a little more time you will enjoy it.
Your plan for MSM is good (sleep on the Mont itself). You'll need an absolute minimum of a full day to see the D-Day landing sites. Allow some time for getting around, too.
Even without MSM and the D-Day history, Normandy is a lovely region to spend time. Great food, lovely countryside, full of history.
Posted by
Washington DC
28096 posts
I am not much of a day-tour person, but I highly, highly recommend taking a one-day tour of the D-Day sites. Truly, if you try the do-it-yourself approach you will be shortchanging yourselves. There are several companies offering small-group (van) tours of the invasion area. Folks on this forum generally have nothing but good things to say about the tours they've taken. I used Overlord, but I am not saying there aren't other fine options. Overlord has a variety of tours.
Most of the tours originate from Bayeux, so it is a convenient place to stay for that reason. In addition, it has sights of its own: picturesque historic district, cathedral, Bayeux tapestry, quite good WW II museum.
Normandy has many other worthwhile stops, including Rouen (large, really gorgeous historic district, beautifully rebuilt after the war) and some very attractive towns on the coast east of Caen. But you have to fit Normandy in with the rest of your trip, so you may not have time to see it in full on this trip. Brittany's great, too. You just have to go back sometime!
Posted by
Middletown, RI
1229 posts
What David says. Lots of people on this forum will tel you you won't appreciate the D-day sights without a tour guide, and I disagree. Spending just a little bit of time beforehand to learn the overview of the battle and the lay of the land, will allow you to see and appreciate a lot on your own. And learning ahead of time doesn't eat into you precious vacation days.
If you are going to include MSM, I highly recommend at least three days. And your plan for a late arrival and early departure is good thinking. Bayeux is a good home base.