6 Days for Normandy and Paris

We are doing the same thing. Coming from the west coast there is no way we would fly to Paris then immediately jump on a train. Too many things could happen, with delays, long immigration lines, etc. and then who wants to be that exhausted? We are spending three nights in Paris, then taking the train to Bayeax and picking up a rental car.

I would head back to Paris the night before departure. Don't leave that to chance either. If your departure for the US is in the morning, I'd stay at the airport the night prior. If you have a later flight, then enjoy one more night in Paris.

I agree with KD. Unwise to drive right after an overnight flight, and the train means going into Paris and then getting a train from Gare St-Lazare. There's no direct train service between CDG and Normandy, despite all the posters here who would love it. Spend your first days in Paris where you can make the time adjustment more easily, then take the train to Caen or Rouen, then rent a car for other towns, beaches, etc. You can return the car to CDG rather than going back into Paris. But try to be at the airport the night before a morning flight, or in Paris the night before a later flight.

How many days to spend in Normandy vs. Paris depends on your interests. Lots of info under "Explore Europe" on this website. If this were my first trip to either place, limited to six days, I'd spend it all in Paris and save Normandy for later.

Agree that 6 days in Paris with small days trips is wonderful too. This is our third trip to Paris, and we are finally getting out to Normandy for 5 days after Paris.

I agree that for a first trip to that part of France (but I have a feeling it's not your first), I wouldn't split the time between Paris and Normandy. That said, if you want to take a tour of the D Day sites, that's a full day; I wouldn't do a half-day tour because too much of the time would be spent driving away from and back to Bayeux (the best town to stay in). Many visitors with a strong interest in WWII want to have at least a day on their own to visit some of the museums not covered on a tour and perhaps to revisit places where they wished for more time. Then there are the things to see in Bayeux itself: Bayeux Tapestry, Cathedral, old town, Invasion Museum, maybe the walking tour offered by the tourist office.

Normandy is a lot more than Bayeux and the invasion sites. Rouen, Honfleur and Monet's Garden in Giverny are often mentioned here, and there are cider and dairy-product producers to visit, I think.

Thank you all SO MUCH. These responses have made the biggest difference of any advice I've received since planning this trip!
FWIW - I changed our flight this morning to return May 1, so that gives us 8 total days now. Do you think we have enough time to do Normandy and Paris now? If so, how would you do it?

Thank you!

Yes, you have time to do both. One thing to consider is that when you arrive, you don't have the option of "hopping on a train from the airport and heading straight to Normandy." The trains to Normandy leave from Gare Saint-Lazare, and it takes some time to get there from the airport. I travel to Normandy fairly regularly and usually do one of two things:

1. Take the RoissyBus from CDG to the Opera Garnier, which is a seven minute walk to Gare Saint-Lazare.

2. Take the same bus and stay in a hotel overnight near the train station in the 8th or 9th arr., and then leave the next day.

Last year I rented a car in Paris and drove to Normandy after a night's sleep in the 8th.

The RoissyBus cost around €13 per person and leave right outside of arrivals at CDG. If you have a lot of luggage, or more people, it might make sense to take a taxi from the official taxi stand (ONLY!), which has a fixed fare of €53 for up to four people to the right bank.

Pharmer Phil - THANK YOU! Your detailed instructions are exactly what I needed to hear. I kind of need the step-by-step hand holding at this point to figure things out!