Paris to Normandy by train… then Brittany

The Paris to Bayeux trains leave from Gare St Lazare. Check an app or website like SNCF for schedules. Multiple times per day. Easy.

Overlord doesn’t pick up at hotel for their small group vans, but a very central location near the Churchill hotel. Easy to find. Other tour buses leave from there also.

I wouldn’t know about RS’s suggestions (and who is Steve Smith???) on how many days or tours to the Normandy beaches. Best to choose yourself based on your interests and research. (What is a “continental sector” - did you mean Canadian?). Lots of info on Overlord website. https://www.overlordtour.com/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20472918647&gbraid=0AAAAADHWXs1agB6ICkhglogJnpebEnEEV&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIo9vwhP6PjQMVKQetBh2a2h-GEAAYASAAEgKpbfD_BwE

Overlord also has tours to Mont-Saint-Michel. If you DIY, you will need a car, practically speaking.

Bayeux does work great as a base if you want a tour and prefer no car rental. You can train to Caen easily if you want to see the Memorial there. Other spots of interest such as Arromanches aren’t as connected by train so the tours are quite handy. I found Overlord excellent last fall after reading glowing reviews in multiple forums for years.

I'd take the train from Paris to Caen; pick up a rental car and drive to Bayeux. (Make sure your accommodations have parking.)
All tours meet/pick in the city center square on Pl du Quebec. Bayeux is very walkable. Then drive to MSM. Drive to Rennes to drop the car off at Rennes train station; taking the train back to Paris.

ORD Traveler, fyi, Steve Smith is Rick's co-writer of his France book. He can be seen in some of Rick's older videos on France.

leejoe, an Overlord all-day tour is about $150.00 per person. There are several good companies that posters recommend, Overlord and HQ Company are two. We have always driven ourselves and done lots of research on our own, but most posters here seem to use tour companies with success. I would suggest being at the American cemetery when they lower the flag at day's end. The ceremony is very moving. Info can be found at abmc.gov (American Battle Monuments Commission). It's a good site for info about the DDay sights (and others).
Bon Voyage!

Thanks, Judy!

Seconding the DIY suggestions above, I have also driven Normandy and Brittany in past years. Last fall, solo short trip, I wasn’t up to driving and the day tour worked well - no complaints and I’m much more of a DIY than tour traveler. That might be the first question to answer - which approach is personally preferred.

We stayed at Villa Aggarthi in Bayeau in 9/23 and used HQCompany tours. We opted for a private tour for the two of us as a splurge. My son and his wife did the same thing two weeks ago. We had used a train from.Paris but they chose to drive. We got a taxi right at the train station to the b and b. The b and b had on site parking. We were picked up.and dropped off at the b and b for the tour.. Recommend watching the old movie the Longest Day before traveling there. Enjoy..

Thank you All. Greatly appreciated!!
That really helps put the little pieces together. Our trip is fall 2026. Trying now to get a game plan and options .

Best regards,
Joe

After those two days, our plan is to stay one night on Mont -Saint- Michel. !!
Will we need a car rental from Bayeaux?Any suggestions on hotels on the Mont?

A car makes things easier. As the RS book suggests its better to arrive at MSM in the afternoon as the daytrippers are leaving. That means you'll have several free hours before getting there so you can visit places like St Malo or Cancale which are about 30 miles past MSM. The Green Michelin Guides to Normandy and Brittany (2 books) may be at your local library and give a wealth of info about towns, sample driving routes, etc. We stayed at a hotel across the bridge from MSM since we could park right outside the hotel instead of in the more distant lot. The view of MSM lit up at nite is spectacular! There are frequent shuttles across the bridge that stop in the hotel area.

Thank you all for the intel!!
I was thinking that maybe I could do the whole trip by train( bus, taxi for short runs).
I do like the idea of going to Caen and picking up rental car there and returning it in Rennes. That gives the option of seeing more of the area - as suggested.

Joe