Day trip from Paris to Normandy

Thanks Kent. Which is closer to the D-Day sites -Bayeux or Caen? Ron

Both Caen and Bayeaux sit inland, parallel to the landing beaches, so their difference in distance is neglible. (The landings occurred over a very long stretch of coast, not a single discrete point). Caen is closer to Paris, however.

Sorry I wasn't very clear. We would like to visit the more popular battefield beaches in Normandy. TIA. Ron

Your last post simplifies things: To visit any of the D-Day Beaches when you don't have a rental car, you must take a tour, because train only gets you as far as Bayeux or Caen.There are two types of tours: those departing from Bayeux and Caen (those get the best reviews here) or bus tours departing from Paris.Many of the tours departing from Bayeux and Caen, including the most popular one here (BattleBus) require you to connect with the tour in the morning. Presumably there are some that go in the afternoon, but I don't know that for sure. For that reason, most travelers who want these tours don't do them from Paris as a day trip, they sleep in Bayeux or Caen. I don't know much about day trip tours of the D-Day Beaches departing from Paris--so I'll let others describe those. Finally, it's simply not feasible to tour Versailles, Rouen, and the D-Day Beaches as a day trip from Paris in one day. I've never heard of anyone doing it. Travelers do Versailles as a day trip from Paris, about 4 hours including travel time by RER from Paris. You would not want to try to combine a day trip to Versailles with the D-Day Beaches, I've not heard of anyone (on this forum) doing that.

Versailles is an easy metro ride from Paris. If I remember correctly about 40 minutes. Get off and follow the grouds. Be prepared it will be busy. Even for the "non-history buffs" there is so much to see up at the beaches. It is all very interesting. And if you rent a car and drive up you can set your pace and see what you want for as long as you want.

The biggest bang for our buck was taking train to Bayeux, spending a few nights, and touring with Battlebus. We did a separate afternoon trip to Rouen from Paris.

Caen is bigger then Bayeux. Bayeux is interesting and has a tapistry worth seeing. It just depends on which you like best big city or smaller towns. Caen has a really good WWII museum, so I have been told. I did not visit. I went to St Mare Eglais. It had a small museum and that is where longest day took place. If you ever saw the movie. Interesting stop. If you go you probably want to maybe start at Gold beach area where British landed. A small museum with a movie that sets the tone. Then travel west to Omaha, Utah etc. and the cemetary. Seeing the gun enplacements the Germans manned etc. All very interesting. Rent a car it gives you so much flexibility. You can't just walk from landing point to landing point.

Thanks all. I think we've decided to take the train to Caen,go to the museum by taxi, and take the tour provided by the museum (www.memorial-caen.fr) which includes the major beaches. This seems to give us the max flexibility for a one day trip yet allows us to see what we want to see. I appreciate all th help and kind ideas though and thank you all. Ron

You may already be aware of this, but we learned the hard way. Taxis in smaller towns are not as plentiful, especially on weekends. I would encourage you to have the number of at least one local taxi, if time is a concern for you. Your itinerary seems to have some time constraints and I'd hate for your to be held up for lack of a taxi. We've had to wait for a taxi (45 min) both times we went to Bayeux and the line for a taxi on a Sun. in Cherboug was too long for us to make the ferry on time.

Thanks Patty. I was not aware that taxi's could be a potential problem. While we plan a visit mid week, your advice will be useful nonetheless. Thanks again. Ron

The Caen Memorial "D-Day" tour includes : Pick-up at the Caen railway station in the morning by a bilingual guide. Guided tour of the WWII area of the Caen Memorial, Lunch at the Caen Memorial, Guided tour of the D-Day Landing beaches and the American cemetary in the afternoon, An illustrated handbook (A Memorial de Caen publication) : "The D-Day Landings." Drop off at the Caen railway station in the early evening for the return trip to Paris.
You can make your reservation and purchase your tickets in advance at www.linkparis.com or at www.memorial-caen.fr/portail/index.php. LinkParis gives the option of booking your rail tickets, or you can do it yourself and save some money. (Caen is 2 hrs by rail from Paris, Gare Saint-Lazare).