Normandy for 4 days, not just the beaches!

If you’re doing a guided tour of the DDay sights, I would do that early in your stay. You will drive through areas with cute villages, but will not have time to explore them. You can return on your own. Consider Arromonches les Bains, St. Mere Eglise, St. Marie du Mont. Bayeux is worth half a day itself.

when we had 5 nights for Normandy we spent 2 in Bayeux and did the Overlord beach tour on the full day which also included some towns along the way. We then spent 2 nights in Honfleur which is a charming little town and went to Etretat for the stunning cliffs on the full day. We also did a day in Mont St. Michel which is IMHO a not miss spot once in a lifetime..
https://janettravels.wordpress.com/category/normandy/
You could certainly do all this from near Bayeux. I would not miss MSM and Etretat --

I wondered about doing MSM in a day from Bayeux. The stories about the huge crowds sound awful! I was there years ago and agree it’s a stunning sight. My husband and our friends have never been so maybe a day trip would be worth it.

I would definitely try to visit MSM.

Two other places I visited and really liked on the western side of the peninsula are Coutances, with a stunning cathedral, and Granville, a charming fishing town. I have to say, though, that I was there 30 years ago, so I have no idea whether Granville is still charming.

We visited MSM t the end of October when it was not at all crowded. I would still do it in June and probably book a room ON the island so you can wander about after the tourist hoards have left. It is a stunning place. The best thing may well be the view of the Mont from a distance.

If you can, stay on Mont Saint. Michel---there are a few hotels to stay at on the 'island. This is still one of our kids favorite things we have ever done---in the evening when the tourists are gone, you have the place to yourself to explore!

Staying at MSM was a highlight of our trip, but if you don't mind driving at night, you could arrive around 4, tour the abbey as most people are leaving and then wander the town before driving the 1.5 hours back. Maybe bring a picnic supper rather than counting on finding a restaurant still open and with space.

There are guided walking tours on the mudflats around MSM, too.

Is visiting Cherbourg on the itinerary per your interest "in the western end of the peninsula.?"

I am such an “off the beaten track” traveler that I was thinking about two days of exploring the Cherbourg area. We would head out each day from Bayeux. Thoughts?

To respond to an earlier responder, Granville is a pretty large town but still very nice. We were just there to do some shopping over the weekend. Going up to the old town area where Eglise Notre-Dame is, with views of town and the harbor, is quite nice.

As for Cherbourg, it's a large city and not particularly scenic in my view, with lots of shopping opportunities. There's an aquarium, nuclear submarine, and Titanic museum that I've heard good things about but haven't yet visited. The Château de Nacqueville, just west of Cherbourg, is worth a visit -- mostly for the grounds and pretty views. It was used as a Hitler Youth camp during WWII and was converted by the Allies into a re-education camp for German prisoners deemed to be open minded about democratic principles. Over on the eastern side of the Cotentin peninsula, Saint-Vaast-la-Hogue is a good place for a stop, with views of the Vauban defensive watch towers offshore

Normandie is so much more than the beaches! So much more!

Consider Deauville / Trouville and Cabourg four a nice water-side vacation and amazing seafood.

I’ve read mixed views on Honfleur vs Deauville. Honfleur is crowded and touristy, Deauville not so much. Any opinions?!

To be, both cities are so different. Honfleur is certainly more touristy, but Deauville is as well (perhaps with more French).

Random thoughts. I agree with the post re: Granville. I stopped there for a walk around and lunch on my way from Mont-Saint-Michel to Bayeaux once, and was pleasantly surprised. Avranches is also a nice town en route and has a wonderful ruins of a Château way up on a hill with a commanding view.

I also once returned from Normandy to Paris through the Cherbourg train station and only caught a glimpse of the waterfront. But it was memorable. So this past June I went back to visit an interesting fort/museum way up on a hill overlooking the city and train station. I really enjoyed it. If going, do watch The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (Les Parapluies de Cherbourg) beforehand. It's a tear-jerker movie/operetta filmed in the city, and has a very romantic/sad scene filmed at the train station.

An absolutely classic film..."The Umbrellas of Cherbourg"

Deauville is heaving with well-off Parisians on summer weekends. It is a fancy resort town with a beautiful beach (which Honfleur lacks). The town itself is not ugly at all, but I do not find it super charming either. Trouville across the river is more charming. Overall, it is a good base for the area, and so is Cabourg (also a resort town, a hair less fancy).

No one has mentioned Caen as a destination. I enjoyed the excellent WW2 museum, the Fortifications de Caen and the nearby Ardenne Abbey (site of Canadian massacre) just outside of Authie. All worthwhile sights.

Bayeux Tapestry is a must! Also you have charming towns and if religious the Basilica in Lisieux. You can visit cheese/dairy farms and also sample calvados. Rouen Etretat and Deauville are lovely!

Consider a visit to Angoville-au-plain Church. A stained-glass window honors the two US Medics that treated everyone from the battles outside the church. We have been there twice - very moving.

https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/angovilleauplain-church

Consider a visit to Angoville-au-plain Church

Excellent advice. This place is a shrine, but to appreciate it, you should know the back story. Easy to research online, but the following book tells the story:

https://www.ddayhistorian.com/angels-of-mercy.html

There is also a documentary of this by the wonderful WWII Foundation called Eagles of Mercy:

https://wwiifoundation.org/lesson/eagles-of-mercy/

I try to visit this little church on every visit. It is very sobering.