I will arrive in Paris on a July Sunday morning after an overnight flight from the U.S. I plan to take a train to Bayeux and should arrive by about 5 that evening. I have my hotel booked. I need to leave Bayeux mid-day Tuesday to connect with family arriving in Paris. Is the best use of my time an all day DDay tour on Monday? Is there anything to do on Sunday evening or Tuesday morning I should plan on? Or should I do a half-day DDay tour Monday in order to have more time for other sites? I know it's a short amount of time but it was all I could squeeze in around a trip primarily planned to attend a wedding.
Posted by
Washington DC
27062 posts
My vote is for the full-day tour. Too much of the time on the-half day tour has to be spent driving from Bayeux to the actual invasion sites. The driving time constitutes a much smaller percentage of the time if you take the full-day tour.
Things you can do on Tuesday AM, assuming they are open: Bayeux Cathedral, Bayeux Tapestry (going early is smart; I think you can buy a timed ticket), and the WW II museum. The museum is outside the center of town. You obviously cannot do all of these unless they open very, very early. so I think it comes down to either the museum or the other two.
It's also nice to just walk around Bayeux's historic district; that's something you can attempt after arrival on Sunday, if you can prop your eyes open. Perhaps the cathedral will still be open then.
Since you have no time flexibility at all, you should check immediately about space on a tour. It helps that you'll be solo on this part of the trip.
Posted by
girdwood, ak
156 posts
It depends on how much interest for the dday sights you have. I took an overlord 1/2 day tour and it was just right for me - I loved every minute of it and it was enough. I am not usually a tour taker, but I recommend them for this. sue
Posted by
174 posts
I would do an all day guided D-Day tour on Monday. Overlord Tours will get you to all the highlights in a timely manner. You won’t get to see everything and might not have as much time as you’d like but it’ll give you a good taste should you come back in the future.
I’ll echo what the above poster said on Tuesday morning. I would place priority on the Bayeux Tapestry, which is just wonderful. Be there when it first opens and you shouldn’t have trouble getting a ticket. I would then go into the Cathedral, which has some really unique interior decoration. One of my favorite churches in France. The tapestry and cathedral are about 5 minutes from each other. If time, rather than doing the WWII museum (if you’re D-Day-ed out), there are a few little museums in the area that are quite nice. The museum of art history is right next to the cathedral. We found it very enjoyable. Otherwise the D Day Museum is approx a 10 minute walk.
Posted by
3240 posts
If you're interested in D-Day, I would blow off the other sites and reserve a full day tour on Monday. You might have time to see the Tapestry on Monday - check the opening time. The Bayeux Cathedral and WWII sites are worthwhile, but with your limited time I would skip them and go for a full day tour.