Stay in Normandy: visit the landing beaches 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 leave our hotel in Caen, directly for Sainte-Mère-Église. This first stop looks back on theOperation Overlord which took place during the night of June 5th to 6th, 1944. Nearly 13,000 Allied paratroopers were dropped that night. One of them, John Steele, became famous for getting stuck, with his parachute, for several hours in the bell tower of the Sainte-Mère-Église church.

Visiting theAirborne Museum immerses you in the history of the 82nd and 101st Airborne divisions who played a crucial role in the early stages of the D-Day landings. You can also find full-size gliders and many military artifacts. We were moved by the poignant testimonies and archive films.

👉 Also read:Itinerary and good addresses in Sainte-Mère-Église.

🕒 Visit Duration: Allocate at least 2 hours of your day for a complete exploration of the museum and its various pavilions.

💶 Price: €11.50 per adult (17 years and older)

We meet up with Flo and Dylan from WW2 Veteran's Memories at Pointe du Hoc this afternoon. This iconic Normandy D-Day location was strategically important because it overlooks Utah and Omaha Beaches. On D-Day, the US Rangers of the 2nd elite battalion landed here to climb this 30-meter cliff to neutralize the Germans in a fierce battle.

After this visit, we get into their Willys Jeeps for the next part of the tour. We drive down Omaha Beach and pass the imposing 'The Braves' monument before reaching the American Cemetery.

After this visit, we board their Jeeps Willys for the rest of the tour. We descend along Omaha Beach and pass the imposing 'The Braves' monument before reaching the American Cemetery.

It is under the soft light of the late afternoon that we tread 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, there is a Star of David.

We finish the tour by arriving at a magnificent viewpoint over Omaha Beach: the WN 60 point. It's an essential spot to watch the sunset over one of the longest beaches in Normandy.

This site is familiar to us, as it was the first stop we made during ourroad trip in the Channel region.

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

We begin this second day on the Normandy landings trail with a guided electric bike tour with Petite Reine Normandie. Leaving from Bayeux, we cycle the 20 km to Arromanches, passing through the Norman countryside, the Bayeux British Cemetery and the German Batteries of Longues-sur-mer.

An outdoor activity where we combined a sporting activity (well, with the electric assistance, we are well helped) and historical stories. Thanks again to Hugo who enthusiastically shared the history of his native region.

👉 Also read: Itinerary and good addresses in Arromanches

Renovated for the 80th anniversary of D-Day, the Landing Museum was our favorite during our stay. The information presented is clear, concise, and accompanied by 3D models and archive films. It makes it easy to understand the construction of the artificial port and the key events of the Normandy landings

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

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

The Winston Churchill Centre, located a few minutes' walk from the British Memorial, was inaugurated on June 6, 2024, by Prince Charles III, on the 80th anniversary of the Normandy landings. It features an exhibition, a classroom, and a small café. The café is closed during the winter and will reopen in spring 2025.

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

👉 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. Did you know that more than 1 million Canadian soldiers fought around the world during World War II? 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 honors the 45,000 Canadians who lost their lives during World War II. The museum, which opened in 2003, felt a bit outdated to us. We enjoyed the final part of the visit with a poignant, immersive documentary of about ten minutes, as well as the guided tour of the German bunkers.

The Pegasus Memorial is a museum dedicated to the heroic men of the British 6th Airborne Division. It details 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 honour and is now on display at the memorial.

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

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

Hôtel de Brunville & Spa in Bayeux

A hotel for under €60 per night for a double room with access to an outdoor pool and jacuzzi in the heart of Bayeux. Perfect for a little comfort on a budget.

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

💶 Prices: from 60 € per night

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

Hôtel La Marine in Arromanches

Hotel on the seawall by the sea. The rooms are small, but the sea view of the artificial port's wrecks 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 a location in Caen. This hostel, located a 15-minute walk from the city center and 10 minutes from the train station, also offers double rooms with private bathrooms. Perfect for budget travelers with prices under €60 per night!

📍 Address: Av. Victor Hugo 15, 14000 Caen, France

💶 Prices: from 30 € per night in a dorm 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 bistro-style menu prepared with local and seasonal ingredients. A favorite for the bright and warm atmosphere of this former orangery.

The Sainte-Mère-Église Biscuit Shop

A classic and seasonal map just minutes from the Airborne Museum.

Fish & Co by Papagall in Arromanches

Perfect address for a traditional fish & chips. Few choices 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 at Arromanches

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

The Pêcherie in Courseulles-sur-Mer

A restaurant with a menu based on fresh, local produce. A classic and elegant cuisine in an exceptional setting. The restaurant is enhanced by a glass roof which provides beautiful light, even on cloudy days.

This is where our Normandy trip 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 has marked the region. We hope that this blog post pleased you and that you can draw inspiration from our itinerary for your next Norman escapade.