Husband want to "do" Normandy- how long do we need

The time it takes to see the highlights will vary on each individual. Someone with a keen interest in WWII history would want more time than someone with a casual interest. You could do it on your own or take a tour with one of the tour companies. I have heard good things about Battlebus tours. If you do it on your own a car would be best. Do your own research on sites to visit. It is quite a long stretch to see all of the beaches and there are good museums in Caen and Bayeaux. The American cemetery at Omaha is a must as is Point du Hoc with the old German bunkers and the many craters there from the allied bombers. If he watched the Band of Brothers he may be interested in Utah Beach and the surrounding towns and communities where Easy company and other members of the 101st and the 82nd airborne had some of their battles.

Ste Mère Eglise and Dead Man's Corner offer further American interest. The German cemetary at La Cambe is a moving contrasty to the American cemetary and not too far away. Then of course there's all of the Canadian and British sectors.

We based ourselves in Bayeux and took a one day tour of the main sights. We ahve been twice to Normandy and once stayed in Colleville su Mer which is very close to Omaha Beach, good if you have a car. Just walking the small side roads and letting the mind wander was an experience in itself. 2-3 nights should be fine.

For someone like your husband (mine is the same), the more time the better. We spent ten days there, and did the beaches, English, Canadian, and US. There are tons of museums to visit, as well as cemetaries. I would highly recommend at least one trip to a German cemetary, as those are quite and experience. Dead m=Man's Corner was great. I enjoyed St Mere Egilse, as well as Arromache.

Battlebus gets great marks on this board, but we had a car, which is the only way to really do it on your own. Bayuex is a great location to stay.

I am doing Normandy in Sept for 2 1/2 days. Two days would be the minimum I would allow and depending on your schedule 3 or 4 days would be great. Battlebus in Bayeux is a must from what everyone on this site says. I am doing the two day American tour but they have several other options. You must stay in Bayeux or very close to use Battlebus or they will not schedule you. Battlebus has a great web site to pick and choose tours.
Enjoy

First, I suggest you decide whether you want to "do" Normandy thoroughly or just "see the highlights." On a Rick Steves tour in 2000 we hit the highlights by staying overnight in Arromanches, seeing the harhor and museum there, then driving to Point du Hoc the next day with time in the American cenetery. Total time in the Normandy area was less than 24 hours and not nearly enough. I would have liked another day, at least. I returned later to visit the WWII museum in Caen.

We visited the Normandy area in the fall of 2007. We were renting a villa in Provence so took the train from Avignon through Paris to Bayeux. We stayed at the Hotel Churchill which was great. Perfect location. Since we arrived late the first day we just walked around Bayeux and had an early dinner. The next day we took a tour of the beaches. The tour picked us up right outside the Hotel Churchill. This was not a Battlebus tour (they were booked) but it was still very good and we got a good overview of the area. The next day we took the train to Caen and then caught the bus to the Museum. The museum in Caen is outstanding. Don't miss it. Also don't miss the tapestry in Bayeux. It is absolutely amazing. So I would say at least two nights and two full days is a minimum. My husband is the history buff but I really enjoyed it and would even like to go back.

I am LOVING all of these tips! Keep them coming! By the way, my husband is a pretty picky eater. This day and age I imagine there are options for theboring Americans out there, is he going to be OK?

Boring eater? He probably would enjoy steak and fries. You can get that anywhere and usually delicious. Plus the croque monsieur (fancy hot ham and cheese sandwich) or just a ham and cheese sandwich on a baguette is as plain as you can get.

We just got back a week ago. Two days will be the absolute minimum he will need.

We did the tour ourselves following the RS guide. I wish I had booked an all day torur with Battlebus.

I was truly disapointed at the museum in Caen, but the museum at the Ameican cemetery was so moving, and I did not schedule enough time for it.

If you did 4 days, I think that you would be overdoing it. (and I am a WWII fan.)

We stayed in Honfleur when we were in Normandy, and drove to the WWII sites. It is a distance away, but we counted Honfleur as one of the best towns we stayed in while in France for our 17 days. Morning breakfasts at the port were super (and we don't usually eaqt BFast!), and sometimes we were finishing dinner at 10 PM while we watched the lights dance on the water. Magical.

I just returned from a 23 days in France and Belgium. Normandy was one of the highlights for me. My husband and I both are interested in World Wasr II history. We spent 4 nights in Bayeaux at the Hotel D'Argouse and loved it. We took the two day American Experience tour with Battlebus and the Oone day Band of Brother's tour and loved them both. The personal stories bring Normandy to life. I would of liked to spent more time to see the Canadian beaches and the British beaches. We did spend one night in Honfleur which was nice but very touristy to me. I prefer Bayeaux and the location is better for tours of the beaches. You must getr reservations with Battlesbus A.S.A.P. It would not of been the same with out a guided tour. Mont St. Micheal is also close and we spent one night there. I would think at least four nights for highlight tour of Normandy. I would skip the Caen Memorial too. I usually agree with Rick, but the Caen Memorial was over priced and not as good as the ones in Normandy. I liked the smaller museums better. I think the two day American Experience tour is a must. We are big Band of Brother fans so the tour was great, but if your husband has not seen it I would pass on it and spend the fourth day in Arramonches to see the fake harbours and museum there. It is a lovely sea side town.

Last summer, we spent 4 nights in Bayeux at the Hotel Churchill. Wonderful, and just across the parking lot from where the tours depart for the D-Day sites. We took the morning train from Paris St. Lazare station, and spent that afternoon seeing the Tapestry and the lovely cathedral. Then we toured with Battlebus for 3 days, and wandered the lovely streets of Bayeux in the evenings. Absolutely the best. We took the two day American Experience tour, followed by the Band of Brothers tour. If we had it to do again, we would stay and add the British tour and the Canadian tour, so we could spend more time hearing more remarkable stories and seeing more memorable places. Just can't say enough about the men that lead these tours. Sure, you can rent a car and drive around, but never would you know all the little out of the way places where something remarkable or heroic took place. These guys have spent years visiting with veterans and telling their stories...locating battlesites and hedgerows, churches and villages, paths and fields. Check out the Battlebus site and see where they will take you..all the places you expect, and many you never heard of. Every moment was a highlight.
If you decide that Battlebus is what you want, contact them many months ahead. Be advised that in the past, they have closed around June 6 for a day or two, and they close for a time in August for vacations.

You should consider D-Day Battle Tours with Ellwood von Seibold. His tours are fantastic.

We rented a car and drove to the D day beaches, and drove over to Mont St. Michel and stayed in a chateau near MSM.

If you rent a car, make sure there's a GPS. That was a blessing to have.

We did not spend enough time, and can't wait to return.

Have a great time. Its beautiful and you'll have no problem with food.

I have 2 children who will be 10 and 15 (who both love learning about WWII) by the time we go next summer to Normandy. I am currently thinking about spending 4 days in Bayeux. After reading the posts on this thread, I am concerned b/c we were aiming to get into Normandy in time for the D-Day festival held on June 6th. However, the problem is that we would still like to tour with a guide while we are there. Any ideas? Maybe walk around on our own for a day or so and then have a tour scheduled once Battlebus is running again?

My husband is a huge WWII guy as well. We went to Normandy a few years ago and saw an awful lot in the one full day/night we spent there. I did have to nudge him along a few times, but he was very satisfied at the end of the day...we saw Arromanches, Longues sur Mer, cemetary/Omaha Beach, and Pointe du Hoc. If you want to see the other beaches or Ste Mere Eglise it would require an extra day at least. It really depends on your overall trip and time available, but we were very happy with our time. We are taking our kids this May and will be spending 3 nts in Normandy because we are adding Mont St Michel and Honfleur this time. Enjoy!!