My husband and I would like to take a one day guided trip to Normandy from Paris and are looking for a good tour. We trust Rick Steves and hope the forum might have good recommendations.
We will be doing a weeklong tour in Paris and are extending our stay to accommodate a trip to Normandy. It is possible for us to take the train on a Sunday, but we need to be at CDG airport on Tuesday.
We prefer not to rent a car.
Thank you for any suggestions you might offer.
Posted by
Chicago
8247 posts
Look at Overland Tours Normandy.
https://www.overlordtour.com/
Take the train on Sunday and stay one night in Bayeux
Book either a half or full day tour for Monday.
Leave you luggage with the hotel when you check out
After the tour catch the train back to Paris.
.
Posted by
Washington DC
28505 posts
Definitely book a full-day tour. The D-Day sites are not in Bayeux, though that is a great place to stay. Considerable driving time is required to reach the sites, which leaves not a great deal of feet-on-the ground time if you take just a half-day tour.
Bayeux has a number of worthwhile sights itself, including an excellent invasion museum. If possible, allow extra time in Bayeux to see the town's sights.
Posted by
Indiana
957 posts
If you are willing to spend the money for a private tour, then I highly recommend Sylvan Kast. You can take the train from Paris to Bayeaux; spend the night and I believe he would pick you up there for a tour. He is a terrific guide! https://www.d-day-experience-tours.com/tours/
Posted by
Los Angeles
4916 posts
If you trust Rick, you have his book yes? doesn't he have a chapter on this subject?
Posted by
OP
2 posts
Thank you for all your experience and recommendations.
Yes, I trust Rick Steves and we not only have his tour book for Paris but also for Normandy, but no matter the book, it is always good to hear from people who recently experienced the trip.
Posted by
26 posts
Hello: Your post caught my interest because I want to do the same trip, however: in 2025. I would love to learn more from your experience and trip once you finish. If you would like to share. I wish you the best trip/experience. I look forward: PLEASE for your post following your trip. I hope so! Have a great time! Judi
Posted by
Ontario
26 posts
I/we have done three Normandy tours with three different guides/tours.
The best of the three guides was this fellow who previously worked for BattleBus and then went on his own. Might be a bit pricy for a couple and once contracted he doesn’t take on any others.
First Normandy Battlefield Tours http://www.firstnormandybattlefieldtours.com/
Actually did a half day tour through Viator-wanted to give a 14 year old granddaughter an introduction.
The contracted guide was excellent!
And I believe we also did one with the old Battlebus Tours with a youngish guide. This wasn’t great.
Posted by
2 posts
Just an update:
We decided to extend our Paris hotel stay so we didn't need to pack up for an overnight then worry about getting to CDG from a different location. This worked perfectly for us. We booked a day trip to Normandy via LinkParis.com. They arranged for our first-class round-trip tickets on SNCF rail leaving from Gare Saint-Lazare. They met us at the Bayeux station in a very comfortable touring van, which was a Godsend due to the day-long cold rain we had on our visit. Somehow the rain seemed to fit the mood and atmosphere. Umbrellas were provided. In addition to visiting the beaches, Pointe du Hoc, and other important sites, we stopped for lunch at a restaurant that was clearly popular with the locals and was delicious. Our day concluded with a visit to the American Cemetery and the flag-lowering ceremony before being dropped off at the Bayeux train depot for our trip back to Paris. LinkParis.com also offers overnight trips that would have allowed us to visit local museums, the Bayeux tapestry, and Mont St. Michel, but our one-day tour was perfect for our itinerary and got us back to our hotel in plenty of time to enjoy a last night in Paris.