Day Trip to Normandy DDay beaches from Paris

Most D-Day tours depart from Bayeux, which is a much more atmospheric place to stay than Caen. Bayeux has rail service from Caen.

I very much enjoyed my Overlord Tour, but most customers of other tour companies in that area have been very happy with their experience, too.

Check the rail schedule on the SNCF Connect website to see whether there's a late enough train departure to allow you to stay in Bayeux the night before your tour and get back to Paris the next night. Don't forget to allow time to retrieve luggage from your Bayeux hotel.

If necessary, you can consider Overlord's 2FS tour, which is designed for people staying in Paris wh take an early trip up to Bayeux, are picked up right at the train station, are taken on a tour very similar to the standard full-day tour, and are then dropped off at the Bayeux train station in time to catch the train back to Paris.

Although there are half-day tours of D-day sites, I don't recommend those because a lot of the half day is spent driving from Bayeux to the first stop, between stops and then from the last stop back to Bayeux. The D-Day sites cover a considerable area; they aren't in Bayeux--though the invasion museum in Bayeux is very good. In fact, Bayeux has several other interesting sights, including the Bayeux tapestry and the cathedral. It's worth at least a 2-night stay if you can manage that.

Edited to add: I believe demand for lodging in the area around Bayeux is very heavy around June 6. It's not too early to try to pin down a reservation. Just be sure it's cancellable in case your plans change.

Any D-Day reservations for Bayeux will be pricier than a week before or after, besides being hard to come by. Staying in Rouen will be cheaper and easier to get, but will require a 2-2 1/2 hour drive if you rent a car in Rouen. If you choose to, I would go a few days before or after the 6th, unless you can snag a room when they become available. Best of luck!

This is very helpful, I better check my maps again, I didn't realize I was so far from the Normandy beaches. Also I would love to find a tour company to help so I plan to check out the Overlord site. Thanks so much!

I reached out to Overloard and they responded right away. I'm on the waitlist for next June for their tour. thanks so much for the travel tips! Maybe someone knows of a nice place to stay in Bayeau perhaps? that's the next thing I need help with.

Hi,

I stayed here in November, 2023. It was spotless, centrally located and the host was fantastic. I suspect it's already booked on the anniversary date upon which you're visiting:

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/20070654?source_impression_id=p3_1727053907_P3lyQ9YESHXrR7NQ

Good luck,

We stayed at Villa Aggarthi a fantastic bed and breakfast only a block and a half from the Tapestry.. We are.staying there again this April. Eggs came from their hens in the back of the property. We stayed on the second floor of the cottage and when opening the windows we were in the treetops and it was awesome!! We used HQCompany tours perhaps they don't yet have a wait list..thought it was wonderful.

John and Gail, thanks for the suggestions!! I'm on it :)

Hopefully, you'll plan to stay in Bayeux which is an absolutely charming, wonderful city and the launching point for the DDay Tours. We stayed in Bayeux in April; and thoroughly enjoyed our Overlord Tour. We went on to Rouen for a few night after, but that is in no way where you would want to stay for DDay tours. You are of course visiting at the busiest possible time; the invasion anniversary; so that will make everything far more crowded. (I personally would choose any other time than that week, but just be aware that it's a very busy time.)

While in Bayeux don't miss The Tapestry. What a marvel! You will be lucky enough to view it before it goes off display in Sept 2025 for nearly two years of restoration work.

Also the Cathedral Notre- Dame Bayeux is also worth a visit.

KD, I hadn't even thought of the Tapestry so I appreciate for the tip. I surely don't want to miss that. Thanks!!