Bonjour!
We (myself, husband and 17 and 14 year old children) are arriving in Paris at 1 PM on a Monday in June, renting a car from the airport and driving to our accommodations in Bayeux. Planned on low key evening of exploring the city and settling in. The next day is occupied with the WWII museum and a 1/2 day tour of the beaches. We depart the following morning to head to Paris for 4 nights. I am wondering if it is worth a detour to Honfleur for a bite to eat and a quick walk around before driving back to Paris. I had planned on arriving back in Paris by mid afternoon, returning the car, settling in at our Air BNB and then exploring the city with very little obligation. I was thinking walking around Luxembourg gardens and other low key spaces prior to our sunset river boat cruise to wrap up day 1 in Paris.
Our rough itinerary for the remaining time in Paris:
Day 2 - Morning trip to Montmartre, spend afternoon Arc de Triomphe, Champs elysees, Eiffel Tower (9:30 tickets)
Day 3 - AM Notre Dame and Notre Dame virtual reality experience/ PM Musse D'Orsay
Day 4 - Musee de l'Armee des Invalides (my husband is a history teacher) and whatever else we feel like we can/want to fit in on this day.
Given this info, I'm wondering if we should have the Honfleur experience or add more time to our first day in Paris. Also, advice on feasibility of our very rough itinerary is welcome!
Thank you!
Posted by
1474 posts
We stopped in Honfluer for lunch after our stay in Rouen on our way to Bayeux. It was fine, (struggled to find parking, but did; ate at a restaurant right at the port; it all looked a bit touristy, but there's no wrong answer about going.) If it were me, I'd return my car in Caen and take the train back to Paris.
PS. Depending on where you are flying in from; driving all the way from Paris to Bayeux after an international flight is a lot.
Posted by
Downingtown, USA
2682 posts
You could take a train to Bayeau on arrival , go on your tours, visit the tapestry, then return to Paris from.Bayeau By train.Since your husband is a history teacher I encourage you to visit the tapestry. . I don't think a car is necessary with what you plan in Bayeau. we did that in September 2023 and it was fine. My son and family were there last month but stayed in Paris on arrival for three days then drove to Bayeau Their accommodation had free parking which was great. Also Bayeau is a very walkable city. Watching the Longest Day and Saving Private Ryan would be a good way for your teens to have some perspective about Normandy. Good luck.
Posted by
Atlanta, Georgia
227 posts
PS. Depending on where you are flying in from; driving all the way
from Paris to Bayeux after an international flight is a lot.
I was thinking the same thing. At minimum it's probably an 8 hour flight from the East coast, and unless you're really lucky, you probably won't have gotten a solid good night's sleep on the plane. To then navigate a car rental and drive another three hours - and in an unfamiliar country in an unfamiliar car which makes it more challenging - sounds like a way to start a vacation under a LOT of stress.
You could take a train to Bayeau on arrival , go on your tours, visit
the tapestry, then return to Paris from.Bayeau By train
Or I'd spend that first night in Paris, within easy access of Gare Saint-Lazare, then head to Bayeux on the train the next day. I'm partial to the train, too, because if it makes sense to the millions of people who live in France, I think it makes sense for visitors, too. It is so much easier and more relaxing - you can nap, read, have a snack, use the restroom, watch a movie on your device - then you arrive in the city center with no worries about parking.
Anyway, this is just me "thinking out loud" how I'd do it. YMMV, of course. :)
Posted by
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, USA
15868 posts
What day of the week is Day 4? There is an excellent free museum called the Musee de la Liberation du Paris although it is closed on Mondays. You could do it on the afternoon of Day 4 after you do the Army Museum. I do recommend your husband pick out a few time frames for the Army Museum and just do them. This museum is huge and you can definitely get "over"-museum'd here. I like the WWI and WWII galleries. It's an older-fashioned Museum - lots of static exhibits which works fine for me.
https://www.museeliberation-leclerc-moulin.paris.fr/en
IF you are there the right day of the week, I'd also recommend the Paris during the Occupation and Liberation Walk thru Paris Walks. It's on Thursday.
Posted by
Long Beach, Ca, usa
2341 posts
karenlynne,
We always like to combine a visit to the Invalides with a visit to the Rodin Museum. It is an easy walk and the grounds are wonderful and filled with his beautiful sculptures. I usually skip the inside, but never get enough of seeing his wonderful pieces in the garden. My favorite is The Burghers of Calais." Your history teacher husband could look up the story of them. I am a history major and find the sculpture very moving. There is a nice little cafe on site which makes for a nice break, and the gardens can provide a shady rest for a break.
From this area you could walk to the Pont Alexandre III (the prettiest bridge I have ever seen) to take an iconic photo, and then walk (5 minutes) to the Petit Palais, or the Grand Palais (gorgeous Beaux Arts design with terrific glass roof).
Posted by
Long Beach, Ca, usa
2341 posts
Oh yes, I would probably skip Honfleur unless it was on my route. I wouldn't detour to go there. Just my opinion.