D-Day Beaches Full-Day Tour from Bayeux
A small-group full-day guided tour from Bayeux through the American sector: Omaha Beach, Pointe du Hoc, Utah Beach and Sainte-Mère-Église, with the American cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer.
Normandy (France)
Normandy (Bayeux & the D-Day Beaches)
Normandy is where medieval history and the Second World War sit side by side on one green, windswept coast.
Bayeux, a town largely spared in 1944, is the natural base: a small cathedral town of timbered houses a short drive from the five landing beaches of 6 June 1944, the American cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer, the Mulberry harbour remains at Arromanches and a string of well-run museums. This guide plans the visit with care and respect, from a small-group full-day tour of the American sector to the Overlord and Utah Beach museums, Arromanches 360 and the Caen Memorial, then widens out to Mont-Saint-Michel, the harbour at Honfleur, the chalk cliffs of Etretat and a calvados tasting in the apple country. One thing to know before you plan: the Bayeux Tapestry is not on view in Bayeux. Its museum has been closed for renovation since September 2025, and the tapestry is on loan at the British Museum in London from 10 September 2026 to 11 July 2027. Hotels are matched to where you will spend your days, from a Relais and Chateaux farmhouse in Honfleur to a Bayeux townhouse and a budget room beside the road to the abbey.
Don't miss
Normandy American Cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer
A free, carefully kept American war cemetery on the cliff above Omaha Beach, with a visitor centre, a memorial and rows of white crosses and Stars of David.
Mont-Saint-Michel Abbey
The medieval abbey crowning the tidal island of Mont-Saint-Michel, with an entry ticket, a village of steep lanes below and a long day trip from Bayeux.
Overlord Museum, Colleville-sur-Mer
A museum beside the American cemetery with reconstructed scenes, more than thirty-five vehicles and the personal belongings of soldiers who fought in Normandy.
Bayeux Cathedral
A free Norman and Gothic cathedral in the centre of Bayeux, consecrated in 1077 and the original home of the Bayeux Tapestry.
Things to do in Normandy (Bayeux & the D-Day Beaches)
Hand-picked: every experience here has strong traveler reviews and a verified booking link.
FreeNormandy American Cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer
A free, carefully kept American war cemetery on the cliff above Omaha Beach, with a visitor centre, a memorial and rows of white crosses and Stars of David.
1.5 to 2 hoursDetails →
Arromanches 360 and the Mulberry Harbour
A circular cinema on the cliff above Arromanches-les-Bains that tells the Battle of Normandy, with the remains of the Mulberry harbour visible in the bay below.
Overlord Museum, Colleville-sur-Mer
A museum beside the American cemetery with reconstructed scenes, more than thirty-five vehicles and the personal belongings of soldiers who fought in Normandy.
Utah Beach Landing Museum
A museum built on the dunes at Utah Beach, telling the story of the landing from the beach itself, with a bomber and a landing craft on display.
Caen Memorial Museum
A large museum for peace in Caen that covers the road to war, the occupation, the Battle of Normandy and the Cold War, with galleries, a film and gardens.
Mont-Saint-Michel Abbey
The medieval abbey crowning the tidal island of Mont-Saint-Michel, with an entry ticket, a village of steep lanes below and a long day trip from Bayeux.
FreeBayeux Cathedral
A free Norman and Gothic cathedral in the centre of Bayeux, consecrated in 1077 and the original home of the Bayeux Tapestry.
30 to 60 minutesDetails →
Honfleur Old Harbour and Sainte-Catherine Church
A picturesque harbour town on the Seine estuary with tall slate-fronted houses and one of the largest wooden churches in France.
2 to 4 hoursDetails →
FreeÉtretat Cliffs
The chalk cliffs and natural arches of the Alabaster Coast, with clifftop walks, a pebble beach and views that have drawn painters since the nineteenth century.
3 to 5 hoursDetails →
Calvados Experience, Pont-l’Évêque
A guided visit to a distillery on the site of the oldest calvados house, following the spirit from orchard to glass and ending with a tasting.
FreePointe du Hoc Ranger Monument
A free, cratered clifftop where US Army Rangers scaled the rock on 6 June 1944, kept much as the bombardment left it, with a visitor center and a granite memorial.
1.5 hoursDetails →
Where to stay
Hotels we would book ourselves, from splurges to good-value bases.
La Ferme Saint-Siméon
Hillside above the old town, Honfleur
A five-star Relais and Châteaux hotel on the hill above Honfleur, with a spa, a gourmet restaurant, a bistro and rooms with private hammams.
Check rates →Hôtel Le Lion d’Or
Rue Saint-Jean, central Bayeux
A four-star hotel-restaurant on rue Saint-Jean in the centre of Bayeux, with 34 rooms, a garden, a bar and a restaurant, La Table du Lion.
Check rates →Mercure Omaha Beach Hotel
Port-en-Bessin, on the D-Day coast
A four-star hotel at Port-en-Bessin on the D-Day coast, with a spa, a seasonal heated pool, free parking and a restaurant beside a golf course.
Check rates →Hôtel Vert
Route du Mont Saint-Michel, mainland by the shuttle
A 54-room hotel on Route du Mont Saint-Michel on the mainland, a few steps from the shuttle to the island, with a restaurant, a garden and free wifi.
Check rates →ibis budget Bayeux
Nonant, 3 km from central Bayeux
A two-star budget hotel in Nonant, about three kilometres from central Bayeux, with free parking, compact air-conditioned rooms and an early breakfast buffet.
Check rates →Grand Hotel Chateau de Sully
Sully, minutes from Bayeux
A four-star château hotel in Sully, a few minutes from Bayeux, with an indoor pool, spa, sauna, hot tubs and a fine-dining restaurant, open for the warmer months.
Check rates →Chateau d Audrieu Relais and Chateaux
Audrieu, between Bayeux and Caen
A five-star Relais and Châteaux country house in Audrieu, about a quarter of an hour from Bayeux, with a spa, two restaurants, a seasonal pool and treehouse rooms.
Check rates →Normandy (Bayeux & the D-Day Beaches) guides
First Time in Normandy: Bayeux, the D-Day Beaches and What to Book
A practical first-visit guide to Normandy from Bayeux: how many days, what to book ahead, how to get around, and a plain update on the Bayeux Tapestry.
Where to Stay in Normandy: Bayeux, the D-Day Coast, Honfleur and Mont-Saint-Michel
A guide to choosing a base in Normandy, matched to seven hotels: central Bayeux, the D-Day coast, Honfleur and the road to Mont-Saint-Michel.
Normandy in Three Days: A Bayeux-Based Itinerary
A three-day plan for Normandy from Bayeux: the town and the British sector, the American sector, then a choice of Caen and Juno, Mont-Saint-Michel or the Cotentin.
The D-Day Beaches Sector by Sector: How to Plan Your Visit
How the five landing beaches fit together, which sites belong to which sector, and how to build a day around each without crossing the coast twice.
Eating and Drinking in Normandy: Cider, Calvados, Seafood and Cheese
A guide to Normandy food and drink: apple drinks, butter and cream, cheeses, seafood from the Channel, and how to eat well on a Bayeux-based trip.
Best Time to Visit Normandy: Seasons, Weather and Opening Patterns
A season-by-season guide to Normandy: crowds, weather, the D-Day anniversary, orchard and cider months, and which sites and hotels close in winter.
