Going to Paris, Want to See Normandy Too

Hi Fred,

I think it depends on what you want to see in Normandy. If you just want to see the beaches and then move on, a day-trip can suffice. If you really want to experience Normandy, you might want to consider a tour company. The Battlebus tours are very popular with people on this site. The only thing is that they are all-day tours, so you would need to spend the night prior to taking the tour.

If you are spending the night there and taking the tour, you need not rent a car as the train can serve you quite well and it is only about two hours one-way from Paris to Bayeux. Driving, on the other hand, shows about 2:45 from Paris to Bayeux according to Google Maps. Five-and-a-half hours of driving might be too long for a day-trip, and four hours of train is a bit much too.

If I can make the recommendation, whether you drive out or take the train you are pretty close to Mont-Saint-Michel... you could always consider that too if you plan on spending a bit more time in the area.

Fred - I'm looking at doing the same thing at the end of June.

I will be taking a morning train from Paris to Bayeux, spending the night. The next morning I will meet my Battlebus tour guide and off I go. I will then catch an evening train back to Paris.

I would do the same as Joel, but you must check with Battlebus asap to see if they have tour availability. They book well in advance. Depending on the time of day you arrive by train in Bayeux, you may have time to see the Tapestry, the lovely Cathedral, and perhaps the D-Day museum. But you should also doublecheck to see what time the last train leaves Bayeux to take you back to Paris.

We are taking the one day tour from Paris.. We are a family of four. This is how it had to be for us this time.. If I had only known 6 months ago, I would have planned it differently. (we have been to Paris before) Battlebus would have been my choice. I will post a review when we get back.. however we will not be there until June. Our tour has to take a bus I believe... I think the train would be more comfortable. I listed the name of the tour company on another post.
happy travels
Viv

Fred,

We were there about three years ago and spent a full day and night in Normandy. We drove ourselves and visited many areas along the way. We took the time to walk down to the beach at Omaha, see the large guns at Longues sur Mer, and visit Pointe du Hoc, etc. It really depends how interested you are in all the sights. My husband is a huge WWII history buff, and I must say that I am not, but I was very interested in all the sights when we were there. We stayed just outside Bayeaux in a lovely French Chateau and it was one of our favorite areas. We also did Versailles the day before on the way out of Paris.

I'd also vote for spending the night and taking the Battlebus tour if you can. If you are at all in D-Day at Normandy, the wealth of information you get from Battlebus will amaze you. It is well worth the money and your time.

And to compare day-trips from Paris, you should check out European sites like city-discovery.com or isango.com as I have posted in a similar topic 10 mins ago. In fact there are tons of options, that's the problem.

Fred, think about driving from Lansdale to Pittsburgh, visiting everything there is to see and driving back to Lansdale. Got your answer?

We took a day trip to Normandy from Paris last summer, family of 6. We took a train to Bayeux and did a half day Omaha Beach tour that included Pointe du Hoc and the American Cemetary. It was absolutely amazing. We were somewhat rushed because of the train schedules and in hindsight would have been better served to spend the night. The trip is one worth taking and in my opinion definitely do the overnight if possible.
James

I would recommend taking the train from Paris to Bayeux and spending the night. Bayeux is a wonderful destination in and of itself and the tapestry is something you do not want to miss. It is one of the most amazing things I've ever seen. We stayed at the Hotel Churchill which was very comfortable and in a great location. It is right at the spot where the tour buses pick up. We spent two nights in Normandy and I actually wish we had spent at least one more. You will definitely enjoy it.

Not sure what your interests are but I would rent a car. Take a couple nights in Bayuex (sp). I can even recommend a nice place to stay. While there you can see the tapistry. Also on the way up you can visit Monte Garden. Sounds like that might be a trade off for the one that only wants one day of Normandy.