Bayeux and Normandy Beaches on D-Day - June 6th

Suppose it depends upon whether you wish to enjoy the sites and history, or would rather be "part" of an event occurence. We were there in July 2017 and enjoyed touring the beaches, museums and towns/restaurants with very little crowds (pre Covid - I know).

Can't speak directly to D-Day but I would expect a lot of scheduled events - which may be very interesting to you.

When I toured the sites, I asked my guide what it was like on D-Day every year. He said it was a madhouse. Parking lots are overflowing, some sites are closed to the general public, and it's virtually impossible to get hotel or restaurant reservations.

If that's your thing, go, but plan way in advance.

I went in October 2018 and April 2022. Both were great. Not much in the way of crowds.

Yes. I have gone during an anniversary in 2010, 2012, 2014 (70th anniversary), 2016, 2017, 2019 (75th anniversary) and 2022. And if all goes well, I'll be there for the 80th in 2024. Yes, there are more crowds, so you are well advised to make all reservations well in advance. But there are also more ceremonies, more events, and just overall a larger "feel" to the visit and the area. But crowds are relative in this area. Normandy is mostly rural, so it is not like you are in traffic jams, and it is always easy to find something to do, or somewhere to visit. Keep in mind that the five Normandy beaches are 45 miles apart as the crow flies, and you won't fly between them. So many sights are inland from the actual beaches, and that is where you will have a lot of your activities. Book as early as you can, and enjoy the festivities!

PharmerPhil, We are planning a trip in 2024 for the 80th anniversary and plan to be in Bayeux for several days. My husband is a huge American history buff. What I can't find is some kind of schedule or itinerary, even for previous years. Will most of the festivities be on the 6th? I'm not sure how to schedule our days or even if I need to do so. Usually I know what we are doing each day of our vacation. Thanks for your help. I realize it's a little early and we can't make reservations yet but I want to make sure we don't miss something important. We may take a tour for one of the days but the rest of the time, we will be on our own (two couples + one adult with a rental car).

You are certainly not planning too early. One problem I often have is that I need to make my flight and hotel plans ahead of time, but many events (and many reservations) are not available or listed far enough in advance. Book what you can now, and keep checking back if you can't get what you want/need. As far as events, a lot of the American activities occur in the area of Sainte-Mère-Église. That is where the commemorative parachute drops happen on the Sunday closest to June 6th, and that is where a lot of the U.S. and other militaries' presence is. SME is a party town during this week. Plus, of course, the official ceremony at the American Normandy Cemetery in Colleville-sur-mer. For events around Sainte-Mère-Église, check the official tourism web page for there and Carentan. The following is a link to their events page for 2022:

https://www.ot-baieducotentin.fr/en/day-by-day-program/

But they typically don't update it for the current year until a few months ahead of time, and changes happen often. Check back regularly. This page still will give you an idea of the types of events that occur each year. The guided walks are really great, but often fill up before they are even announced.

The official ceremony at the American Normandy Cemetery is highly regulated, and you will need an official invite to attend—especially during an "0-", or "5-year" anniversary. They are often attended by heads of state, and security is very tight. When I went in 2019 (75th anniversary), Presidents Macron and Trump were in attendance. I had to park a long way away and ride an official bus to get there. But I did get my "invitation" via e-mail while I was already in Normandy. Start by looking here:

https://www.abmc.gov/

Keep in mind that the presence of heads of state on June 6th itself usually means that huge swaths of roads and highways are closed to traffic except for people living in that area, and even they need an official pass that is issued ahead of time.

All this not withstanding, being there during an anniversary is extremely memorable. You will have access to all sorts of ceremonies, parades, and routine flybys by military aircraft (they will sometimes surprise you, be prepared) that don't occur during other times of the year. Some typical sights are busier than normal, but this is a fairly rural area that is well spread out, and it isn't crowded like Disney or Versailles. You will always have somewhere to go and some sights to see. PM me if you want additional info, and enjoy your trip!

Thanks so much for taking the time to reply. How did you apply to be there for the official ceremony? Is it even worth it? I'm guessing we would be far back and there wouldn't really be much to see. Looking at the schedule, it looks like there is a lot of activity leading up to the 6th and then it stops. Would you recommend trying to be there a couple days before and then a couple days after to go through the museums or does the traffic not really thin out that quickly? Would you try to do a one day guided tour or would that be too difficult with all of the festivities?

photomom1 : You can apply to go to the official ceremony on the ABMC web site (above). In 2019, I didn't hear back from them until I was already in Normandy. Whether it is worth it or not depends on your interests. Yes, you will be far back, and likely seeing the presenters on large screens (kind of like a modern rock concert). But you will hear the words of the presenters which can be very moving, and there will be military flybys and a flag raising ceremony. Whether or not you go on the 6th, plan to visit the cemetery on another day. Traffic is limited, so you can't just wander around all of the graves and monuments on D-day itself. They even block off Theodore Roosevelt Jr.'s head stone and that of his younger brother (Quintin who died in WWII, but was re-interred here) all that week to keep traffic down on the lawn immediately in front of these popular head stones. The area museums will be fairly busy, but nothing like the Louvre or d'Orsay. You can visit the local Normandy museums with ease without worrying about crowds. I have never done a guided tour, as I am somewhat of a history nerd and prefer to visit various places myself. But those who have taken tours rave about them. All of the guides will be very busy that week, so if your considering this, book right away if you can.

Thank you!!!

We were there on June 5, 2019. It was very crowded with a lot of celebrations going on at the time. It was very much a "madhouse". I would recommend that you go at a different time.

Our apartment host told us it’s a madhouse. Many streets are closed. Transportation is a challenge. Lodging booked way in advance. Hard to get a dinner reservation. Unless you are a VIP, expect your experience to be greatly impacted by the additional crowds, and not in a positive way.