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Best central location for touring Normandy area ?

We would like to locate in one apartment for 3 days and use it as a base to travel up and down the coast from Dieppe towards Le Havre. No budget restraints and we would like to be around a village or town versus out in the country. Doesn't have to be on the beach.

Homeaway seems to have lots of choices scattered all up and down the region.

Plan to be there 1st week of May, thanks

Posted by
32523 posts

That is the very eastern end of Normandy, in the Seine-Maritime department.

That is pretty far from the Normandy D-Day beaches, both the US beaches and the British and Commonwealth / Empire / Allied beaches. Are you not intending to visit them, or some of them?

Have you thought of Rouen? About midway between Le Havre and Dieppe....

Posted by
7010 posts

I'm assuming you will have a car? If not, then Rouen is a good place to base. If you do have a car, Etretat is a possible place that's much smaller than Rouen and it's on the coast; it's closer to Le Havre than Dieppe but you could also get to Bayeux and the Normandy beaches from there as a long day trip. It would help to know for sure that you'll have a car and also what you plan to see/visit in Normandy.

Posted by
784 posts

I've used Honfleur as a base. It is one if my favorite towns in France with some nice museums, a lively harbor, and lots of good restaurants, and ambience.

Posted by
9 posts

Thanks for all the wonderful suggestions
Yes, we do have a car.

Our original plan was to leave Paris and just see Normandy Beach, the cemeteries and museums. Then it was suggested we continue driving down the coast for a couple of days and see the coastline and the towns; hence the need for a central location. From there we will head over to Loire Valley. I just thought it would be nice to have an apartment for 2 nights as a base

Posted by
10344 posts

Some apartment owners don't rent for just 2 nights. Hotel would be the other option for 2 nights.
If you look at a map, see the destinations you want to see along the coast, and then select a town centrally located to each of your destinations, you'll be fine.