Train from Paris to Normandy

So many confusing train types in France ! In fact, the train between Paris and Bayeux is neither a TGV nor an RER - it's a TER — branded NoMad because it's the region of Normandy that runs the trains.

There is not a fast train option to Bayeux but it's not that long to get there, just a little over a couple of hours.

It is a nice train ride. Are you thinking on doing this as a day trip? Possible, but unless you are pressed for time, stay in Bayeux the night and enjoy Bayeux the next day and train back to Paris in the evening.

Thanks so much, Kim and Threadwear.

Planning just half a day - going there for the afternoon 4 hour tour with “Overlord”. If we reach there early, hope to visit the Bayeux museum to see the tapestry or walk around town. My two tweens are keen on seeing the D day sites.

Trying to fit in Giverny one day and Versailles another. So we are pressed for time.

Hope you are going this summer as tapestry closing on 8/31 for about two years. It is great idea to have teens watch The Longest Day before you go. Fairly factual and I think a lot was filmed around the area. Very significant depiction of John Steele a US paratrooper who landed in the town square of St. Mare Eglise and was caught on the church spire during the fighting and how it is still depicted today. Very moving.

Use the SNCF app for all the good train info. And then your tickets will be in there as well. We had a couple on our Overlord tour who did exactly as you plan. The Overlord tour guide dropped them off at the train station after the tour. The tours meet up at Pl du Quebec right in the center of town; so if you arrive early you can definitely walk around and explore a bit. The tapestry does take some time to enjoy. Hopefully you'll be there this summer before it closes for renovation.

mentors,
Take the earliest train possible to give yourself some time to appreciate the town of Bayeux (tapestry, cathedral and the WWII Memorial museum). Get an early lunch if you can at a bistro/cafe or get a takeout from a bakery/patisserie (quiche, sandwich...).

We did the Overlord ½ day tour earlier this month and it was excellent - just the right amount of time for us. Your kids should enjoy it.

I agree with the others that you should take the earliest train possible but for an additional reason. Trains in France are at times affected by unforeseen delays, strikes, track work, etc.. You don’t want to miss your tour because of a train issue. Someone else who knows more about French trains can chime in, but here are my recent experiences.

We were in Bayeux for two nights earlier this month and our train back to Paris was canceled due to a strike. We were able to book a later train but we were not able to make our afternoon ticket time for the Picasso Museum. (We emailed the museum and they kindly reissued our tickets for the next day and luckily we were free to accept.)

On another trip, last year, we were notified two days before our travel was scheduled that all trains from Barcelona to Paris were canceled that day for a strike. We ended up flying. On that same trip we needed to cancel our Loire chateaux day trip as the trains from Paris to Tours were not running due to track work.

JenS- I’m sorry to hear about all the cancellations.

This forum is so wonderful and helpful!!! Appreciate all your input. We are going this summer.

mentors,
From what I have read here, the tours fill up fast. I would get on that quickly if you can to reserve your spot. If it is a weekend, the train schedules will be different than weekdays, at least Sunday.

If it were me, I would skip Giverny in favor of spending the night in Bayeux. It will make for a more enjoyable, less stressful tour of Normandy.
Giverny's nice but small, crowded, and the travel time far exceeds the time needed to visit.

Balso makes a very good point.

RERs are, I believe, only around Paris.

TER (Transport Express Régional) are nationwide and are the fastest conventional (that is, non-TGV) trains available.

Not much difference between first and second class. Buying first class increases the probability that you won't be seated next to a family with wailing children.

But it doesn't eliminate that probability.

My go-to source regarding train travel in Europe and the UK is seat61.com. He's gives very detailed info on what trains to take, when, cost, and the differences between 1st and 2nd class on all the routes. For a relatively short trip, he usually recommends 2nd class. As does Rick.

We are on the Normad train but there’s a two hour delay due to an accident. We had hoped to arrive early but now it looks like we may miss the tour we booked with Overload. They said we could join them by taxi..

Please share any advice regarding your experience/ how to make the best of it. Merci!!!

Hello, I had another question for Kim or any other knowledgeable with the train schedules.

We are spending a few nights in Bayeux and looking to head back to Paris on Sunday, September 14th. Right now, when I look on SNCF, the earliest direct NoMad train isn't until 15:38, arriving in Paris at 18:01. We were hoping to get back to Paris in the late morning or early afternoon. Do we think they haven't posted the full timetables for direct trains yet, and I should just be patient, or is it likely that on a Sunday outside of the busier summer season, there might not be trains until later in the day (maybe due to planned construction).

I've looked briefly into a private car for hire, but the rate of over €400 for two is out of our budget. It looks like a bus from Caen to Paris may be an option, but that would require getting from Bayeux to Caen in the morning, taxi may be reasonable if there is no TER trains (doesn't look like schedule is posted until 30 days before, maybe that is a regular train to get from Bayeux to Caen).

We will be coming from Paris, so have also thought about renting a car to drive out to Bayeux and back, travel time looks to be about the same as the direct train, but not too keen on renting a car in a foreign country unless I absolutely have to.

And as far as DDay tours, has anyone used Normandy Sightseeing Tours before? Been looking at their full day US tour, seems pretty comparable to the Overlord tour, but with a max group size of 8 compared to 20 for overlord.

Thank you!