Stay in Normandy: visit the beaches of the landing in 3 days

On June 6, 1944, the world held its breath. Thousands of Allied soldiers landed on the Normandy coast, marking a decisive turning point in World War II. Today, life has resumed its course, towns and villages have been rebuilt, leaving only the vestiges of this operation.

These four days in Normandy allowed us to learn more about D-Day. It is for us the ideal itinerary to discover the iconic places of the Normandy landings.

For this first day in Normandy, we start from our hotel in Caen, directly to Sainte-Mère-Église. This first stage revisits Operation Overlord which took place during the night of June 5-6, 1944. Nearly 13,000 Allied paratroopers were dropped that night. One of them, John Steele, became famous for remaining stuck, with his parachute, for several hours on the church bell tower of Sainte-Mère-Église.

The visit to the Airborne Museum immerses us in the history of the paratroopers of the 82nd and 101st divisions who played a crucial role in the early stages of the D-Day landings. You can also find the full-size gliders as well as lots of military objects. We were touched by the poignant testimonies and archive films.

👉 Read also: Itinerary and good addresses in Sainte-Mère-Église.

🕒 Visit duration: Allow at least 2 hours of your day for a complete exploration of the museum and its different pavilions.

💶 Price: 11.5 € per adult (17 years and older)

We have an appointment with Flo and Dylan from WW2 Verteran’s Memories at Pointe du Hoc for the afternoon. This emblematic site of the Normandy landings was also strategic, as it overlooks Utah and Omaha Beach. On D-Day, the American rangers of the 2nd elite battalion landed here to climb this 30-meter high cliff to neutralize the Germans during a merciless battle.

After this visit, we get on board their Jeeps Willys for the rest of the visit. We go down along Omaha Beach and pass in front of the imposing monument 'Les Braves' before reaching the American cemetery.

After this visit, we board their Jeeps Willys for the rest of the tour. We go down along Omaha Beach and pass in front of the imposing 'Les Braves' monument before reaching the American cemetery.

It's under the soft light of the end of the day that we walk on the immaculate lawn where nearly 10,000 American soldiers rest. Did you know that there was a difference between the graves of Christian and Jewish soldiers? Indeed, the graves of Jewish soldiers are marked by a marble stele, but instead of a cross, you will find a Star of David.

We finish the tour arriving at a magnificent viewpoint on Omaha Beach: WN 60. It's a must-see spot to watch the sunset on one of the longest beaches in Normandy.

This site is familiar to us, as it is the first stop we made during our road trip in the Manche.

To end this day with more poetry, we dine at the restaurant Le petit Jardin, awarded by Gault&Millau. We fell in love with this convivial setting, a glass roof in the heart of nature, which is actually the former orangery of the Château de la Chenevière. On the menu, bistronomic dishes made with local and seasonal products (some from their permaculture vegetable garden).

We start this second day following in the footsteps of the Normandy landings with a guided electric bike tour with Petite Reine Normandie. Starting from Bayeux, we cover the 20 km that separate us from Arromanches, passing through the Norman countryside, the Bayeux War Cemetery and the German Batteries of Longues-sur-mer.

Just a few minutes from Omaha Beach, accessible by bike or car, Clos d'Omaha is a charming eco-gîte offering two luxurious suites with private spa. The estate is run by Johanna and Julien, who passionately renovated an old farmhouse to create a high-end location with a contemporary decor while preserving the authenticity of the old stones.

And to complete the experience: a heated outdoor jacuzzi at 40°C all year round, ideal for relaxing after a day following the D-Day trails.

An outdoor activity where we combined a sporting activity (well, with electric assistance, it helps) and historical stories. A big thank you again to Hugo who enthusiastically shared the history of his native region with us.

👉 Also read: Itinerary and good addresses in Arromanches

Renovated for the 80th anniversary of D-Day, the D-Day Museum is the one we preferred during our stay. The information presented is clear, concise, and accompanied by 3D models and archive films. It allows you to easily understand the construction of the artificial harbor and the key events of the Normandy landings.

After visiting the D-Day Museum, we head towards the Winston Churchill Center and the British Memorial in Ver-sur-Mer.

The British Memorial consists of 160 Burgundy stone columns on which are engraved, in tribute, the names of the 22,442 British soldiers who fell during the landing. The location of the memorial was not chosen by chance, it is located not far from Gold Beach, a beach that saw nearly 25,000 British soldiers land on D-Day. A unique place that invites reflection and offers one of the most beautiful views of the English Channel.

The Winston Churchill Center, which is located a few minutes' walk from the British Memorial, was inaugurated on June 6, 2024 by Prince Charles III, on the anniversary of the 80th anniversary of the Normandy landings. You can find an exhibition, a classroom and a small cafe there. The latter is closed during the winter and will reopen in the spring of 2025.

Back in Arromanches, we take advantage of the low tide to stroll on the beach and discover the wrecks of the caissons of the artificial harbor up close. This floating port was built during the Normandy landings to supply the Allied troops. This ingenious construction was assembled in record time under German bombing.

👉 Also read: Itinerary and good addresses in Arromanches

After the English and American memorials, this third day in Normandy is dedicated to the Canadians and begins in Courseulles-sur-Mer. Besides, did you know that more than 1 million Canadian soldiers fought in the world during the Second World War? Fifteen thousand of them landed on Juno Beach on June 6, 1944 and liberated the city of Caen from the Germans.

The Juno Beach Center pays tribute to the 45,000 Canadians who lost their lives during the Second World War. The museum, which was established in 2003, has, for us, remained somewhat unchanged. We appreciated the last part of the visit with an immersive documentary of about ten minutes, very poignant, as well as the guided tour of the German bunkers.

The Pegasus Memorial is a museum dedicated to the heroic men of the 6th British Airborne Division. It retraces in particular one of their most famous missions: The capture of the bridges over the Caen canal at Bénouville and the Orne at Ranville. This bridge was renamed a few years later ‘Pegasus Bridge’ in their honor and is now on display at the memorial.

You can also find a full-size Horsa glider there. This model played a major role during the Second World War by transporting men and equipment.

We are heading to Caen for the final stage of this road trip in Normandy. To end this trip on a light note, we are going to discover the must-sees of the city. Half a day is obviously very short to visit the city of a hundred steeples. We advise you to spend a weekend there to fully enjoy it. In the article below, we reveal the list of things to see in Caen!

Hôtel de Brunville & Spa in Bayeux

An hotel under 60€ per night for a double room with access to the outdoor swimming pool and jacuzzi in the center of Bayeux. Perfect to afford some comfort while on a budget.

📍 Address: 25 Rue des Bouchers, 14400 Bayeux, France

💶 Prices: from 60 € per night

👉 Availability and reservations: Hôtel de Brunville & Spa in Bayeux

Hotel La Marine in Arromanches

Hotel on the seawall by the sea. The rooms are small, but the sea view on the wrecks of the artificial harbor makes it unique.

📍 Address: Quai du Canada, 14117 Arromanches-les-Bains, France

💶 Prices: from 88 € per night

👉 Availability and bookings: Hôtel La Marine in Arromanches

The People in Caen

The People, the good vibes hostel chain, has recently opened in Caen. This youth hostel, a 15-minute walk from the city center and 10 minutes from the train station, also offers double rooms with private bathrooms. Perfect for small budgets with a price under €60 per night!

📍 Address: 15 Victor Hugo Ave, 14000 Caen, France

💶 Prices: from 30 € per night in a dormitory and 60 € in a double room

👉 Availability and reservations: The People in Caen

Restaurant Le petit jardin

Located in Port-en-Bressin, Le petit jardin offers a bistronomic menu cooked with local and seasonal products. A favorite for the bright and warm setting of this former orangery.

The Sainte-Mère-Église Biscuit Factory

A classic and seasonal menu a few minutes from the Airborne Museum.

Fish & Co by Papagall in Arromanches

Perfect address to eat traditional fish & chips. Not much choice on the menu, but everything is homemade and the owners are lovely.

El Olivero in Caen

Intimate restaurant in the heart of the Vaugueux district in Caen.

The Marine in Arromanches

A romantic address with a sea view. The restaurant La Marine is known for its dishes based on fresh, local seafood. They also offer meat and vegetarian dishes on their menu.

La Pêcherie in Courseulles-sur-Mer

A restaurant with a menu based on fresh and local products. Classic and elegant cuisine in an unusual setting. The restaurant is enhanced by a glass roof that offers beautiful light, even on a cloudy day.

This is where our stay in Normandy ends. Through these 3 days, we were able to discover a large part of the history of the D-Day landings and how much this event marked the region. We hope that this blog post you enjoyed it and that you can be inspired by our itinerary for your next Normandy getaway.