I would like to take a tour of the D Day Beaches, battle sites and cemeteries in and around Normandy with an historically knowledgeable guide. I'll be in Amsterdam and Paris and could stay overnight in the Normandy area if needed. How much time should I allot in the area? Please advise.
Thanks
Debra
Posted by
Bend, Oregon
2312 posts
I would say 3 nights, minimum. Take a full day guided tour the day after arrival. Explore Bayeux the next day, along with any museums that the tour doesn’t cover. Continue to your next stop the following day.
Posted by
Colorado Mountains, USA
7357 posts
I agree with the 2 days/3 night minimum. You’ll want to be staying in Normandy. We stayed in Bayeux and also visited Caen, but Caen could work as your base, too.
Posted by
Washington DC
27111 posts
Most of the commercial tours depart from Bayeux. Private guides should be willing to pick you up somewhere else, like Caen. I think Bayeux's a more attractive base; it didn't sustain significant wartime damage, and there are important local sights to take in: the tapestry, the cathedral, the invasion museum. Seeing things in addition to the content of your tour is a very good reason to spend extra nights in Normandy. I split about a week between Bayeux and Caen. Caen's more convenient for public-transportation trips to places like Honfleur and Cabourg.
Posted by
Draper, UT
8 posts
My wife and I visited Bayeux last May. We drove in from Rouen after spending a night there. Two nights were perfect for Bayeux. We spent a day walking the beautiful town and seeing the Bayeux tapestry. The next day we did a full-day tour with Operation Overlord and visited Omaha and Utah beach and other WWII sights. If you really wanted to immerse yourself in the D-Day landing area you could spend a second day there and stay a total of three nights in Bayeux.
Posted by
Wyckoff, NJ, USA
7299 posts
Although it is not "next door", many people pair this destination with Mont St Michel. But neither of them is close to Paris.
Posted by
3245 posts
If you really want to see D-Day beaches, battle sites and cemeteries, you should consider 2 full days of touring. Overlord is excellent, but there are multiple guide services with great reviews. If you can only spend one night in Bayeux (which I think is the best base for D-Day sites), Overlord has a one day highlight tours and they will drop you off at the Bayeux train station at the end of your tour, if you make arrangements with them in advance.