Is one or two days enough for DDay tours?

I did the beaches in one day trip (driving) between Honfleur & Bayeaux (we didn't go to the museum). It would depend on how many of the beaches you want to go to. I think we went to two: Omaha Beach and Pont d'Hoc (I think that's right). If you're driving, you could possibly go to the museum in the morning, then go to the beaches in the afternoon. It would also depend on how much time you want to spend at each place. Visiting the beaches is, IMO, a very moving experience, so if you find these things to be very emotional, it could be overload to do all in one day.

Two is better than one, three is better than two, etc. We've been there at least 6 times for a week each time and never, ever got bored. So much to see. The WWII museum in Bayeux is much better than the one in Caen, almost no one there compared to Caen which is packed like sardines, and costs a lot less.

I suppose the answer will depend on how interested you are in the subject, and how many of the sights you want to see. I took two full day tours last time there, as well as a full day with a car touring on my own, and barely scratched the surface. There's so much to see! I took the American Highlights and Canadian Highlights tours with one of the excellent local companies. Both were outstanding!

Definitely depends on your level of interest in WWII history, but I found that two days wasn't enough. I would have loved to have one more in the area. There is SO much to see!

We did one full day of a guided tour. On another day, toured the Bayeux museum along with the British cemetary in town. Then on the 3rd day we drove the battlefields ourselves. I really had little interest in WWII when I went there, but thought I should look at it. I came away with such a huge interest because our tour guide was so good. I could have spent more time there.

Sharon, what tour guide did you use? TIA!

Hi Smart, check out the itineraries at Normandy Sightseeing (normandysightseeing.com). They have several half, one and two day tours available. We took a tour in May 2014 and enjoyed it very much. Even if you don't chooose this company, the itineraries may help you draft your plan.

I was staying in Paris, and wanted to see the D-day beaches. I was told the only way to do it was to take a day tour. It was over 200 Euros, but I enjoyed the trip and I thought a one-day trip was enough. (I did not care for the Caen museum because it has very little specifically about D-day.) Be aware that the weather near the beaches is often cold and rainy.-- bring umbrella and dress appropriately. My group ate near Gold Beach and the lunch was good.

We stayed 3 nights in Bayeaux. There is a lot to see. They have their own WWII museum which was really good. Also, there is a very nice cathedral, small town, and of course the tapestry exhibit which is very well presented. We drove to the coast but I think there is a bus that will take you to the sites.

I tried to do this as a day trip out of Paris and to visit both the museum in Caen and to visit the beaches. I regret not allowing more than one day, everything was too rushed. If I only had one day, I would skip the museum and devote the entire day to visit the beaches.

Here are some of the many past discussions here that might help you decide:

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/to-the-west/60th-bday-in-normandy

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/to-the-west/normandy-and-mont-st-michel

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/to-the-west/normandy-beach-tours-cd1a9635-ce15-47c9-bdda-e4f02f19aa49

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/to-the-west/normandy-st-michel