Is it possible to do a day trip from Paris to Normandy? Does anyone have train information? If you take the train, is it within walking distance to get to Normandy and the beaches? About how long does it take to get there by train? Do you need advance tickets?
Thanks.
Yes, it's possible. Not recommended, but possible.
You take the train to Caen or Bayeux. Then you have to hook up with a commercial 1/2 day tour.
Because the beaches are not within walking distance.
Most tours are day long tours, but if you go DIY on the train, you can only do a 1/2 day tour.
Tours have to be reserved in advance.
Takes a couple of hours to get from Paris to Caen.
Your other alternatives is to reserve in advance a big bus tour, they will pick you up from your hotel in Paris and show you around Normandy.
It is not possible to take the train all the way to the beaches. You need to take it to a nearby town/city such as Bayeux or Caen and then get on a tour. Or take a tour directly from Paris which is probably the most viable option for a day trip. Normandy is a big area but I assume you just want to focus on the DDay invasion sights. It can be done as a day trip, but isn't something I would do. We spent three nights there with a rental car and could have stayed longer. The area is bigger and with so many more sites than one would realize.
Several years ago my husband and I took a USO tour of Normandy from Paris. If you are active/prior military, this may be an option.
Hi Ellen, we did a day trip from Paris to Normandy last May. It's an interesting area with lots of history, and it would be better if you had more time, but if a day is all you have, it can be done.
We took the train and arrived in Bayeux at noon. We had a quick sandwich at the cafe across from the train station (there's not much in walking distance). Normandy Sightseeing Tours (http://www.normandy-sightseeing-tours.com/) picked us up at 1 p.m. You need to make reservations in advance. We did a 5 hour tour, and they dropped us back off at the train station. We took the 6:30 p.m. train back, and arrived in Paris at about 9:30 p.m.
It was a nice (quick) overview. My friend hadn't been there before, but was satisfied with what we saw - Omaha Beach, the American Cemetery, and a bit of the surrounding area. Actually, he says that day was one of his best memories of the trip to France.
Thank you for all who responded. It was very helpful.
We are shooting for the one day trip from Paris. Question: do we need to book the train from Paris in advance?
