Normandy day trip from Paris

I don't have a Paris-based tour company to recommend, but I can outline your travel options.

1. A package tour starting in Paris.

2. Take the train from Paris to Bayeux, usually requiring a change in Caen. Unfortunately, the earliest you can arrive in Bayeux is around 09:30, too late to join an all-day tour. However, Overlord Tours (there may be others) offers half-day tours, either morning or afternoon.

3. Rent a car. Leave Paris early enough to catch an organized tour leaving Bayeux around 08:30. Or tour the beaches on your own.

Normandy really warrants more than just a day. Go and spend a night.. Visit Mont St Michel as well. VERY worth it.

I also would suggest you arrive one day and take the tour the following day. Too much to see in one day.

We took a direct train (no changes) from Paris St. Lazare station to Bayeux. Duration: 2 hours 3 minutes. There are others that you have to change in Caen. Whatever train you take to Bayeux leaves from St. Lazare station. Take the train, relax and enjoy the scenery.

We stayed at the Logis Remparts and was very please. the most comfortable bed in all of Europe.

http://www.lecornu.fr/homeEN.html

I would highly recommend the Battle Bus Tours:

http://www.battlebus.fr/

We took this 9 hour tour:

http://www.battlebus.fr/tours/American_Highlights.html

Enjloy your trip!

Joe,

D-Day beaches to do it justice is three (3) days. I would take a car stay in Bayeux or Ryes at a cow farm
( Rick reccommends and we do too.)Utah, Omaha, Sword, Gold, Juno, Pegasus Bridge, Band of Brothers, etc. Drive south to Mont St. Michel spectacular.

Good luck

Craig

If you are tight on time, I suggest http://www.linkparis.com/normandy-day-tour.htm
We left Paris around 9am and took train to Caen. When the train arrived the tour guide was waiting on the platform. We were then placed in an 8 passenger van for a half day tour. We saw all the main sights and were back in Paris about 9:30 pm.

Incidently, the departure track for trains are not posted till about 25 minutes before departure.

Joe,
Rent a car. You can drive the freeways to Bayeux or start in Caen at the Peace Museum. My wife and I did a D Day tour based on my interest in the Band of Brothers HBO series. We drove from our B & B in Balleroy to Carentan, then out to Utah Beach. From there we went to the Airborne Museum in St. Mere Eglise - my wife still talks about that place. We then drove to Point du Hoc where the Rangers made their assault on the cliffs and finished the day at the Cemetary over Omaha. That's a huge day from Paris, but pick a few things, research them before you go and spend as much time as your trip allows.

I agree w/ other posters that a day trip doesn't do Normandy and the D-Day sites justice. A car allows you the flexibility to go from one to the other and spend as much or as little time as possible. Try to visit one of the German cemetaries and the Canadian cemetary---much smaller than the American but moving and lovely.

Yes you really should rent a car...and forgive me everyone, but skip the Peace Museum in Caen, its' expensive and friends of ours going to Normandy wanted to touch the beaches and not spend all day in the museum, albeit lovely and important. We were most touched by Pegaseus, St Mere Eglise, Pointe du Hoc and the American Cemetary...our visit was in October so the air was different, and no tour buses...Very good brochures are available in most tourist offices along the coast. A tour bus will get you there and back, but i don't think you'll have time to feel anything in a day trip...especially if they drag you to the museum in Caen which is about WAR, and Peace, but not WWII..
However, a week in Paris is short, so make sure you've allowed enough time to see what you want in the City before heading to the coast.
I asked my french husband how long it would take to drive to Arromanches, my favorite for emotion...He said "not far"...which means 3 or 4 hours in this case....

Round trip train fare Paris St Lazare to Bayeux approx 80 euro per person( 2.5 hrs)D Day tours approx 45 euro per person....Bus tours from Paris approx 175 euro per person....mid size rental from Hertz approx 148 euros, 165 miles to Bayeux on easy roads... from Bayeux to Omaha, Arromanches, Pont Du Huc, Colleville sur Mer a short 20-30 minute drive...we have driven and found it to be enjoyable and economical while still seeing most of the sights...

yes, i agree, good idea...take the train to Bayeux and get the rental car from there...You'll appreciate being able to make you own choices regarding which spot you want to visit and spend more time at.

To answer OPs question,,since he would prefer a tour,, there are two main bus company tours , that you can google and read their web sites in english, that are well known and long established.
There are Cityrama and ParisVisions.
Both have their main offices by the Lourve, one right on Rue du Rivoli, the other just arounnd the corner.
The trips are not cheap,, but they are well done.
We used Cityrama for a Loire Chateau tour, and yes, it is a long day( and it is longer for the Normandy tours) but , you don't have to think,, so it is relaxing in a way, plus with a guide you skip lines etc.
Ideally of course Normandy is worth more then a day trip, but , if one is only going for a week it isn't practical to do .

Hi Joe,

Just in case this inn might work into your final plans, check it out ...

http://www.levieuxchiennoir.com/

bon voyage, P.