Paris to Normandy D-Day Tour

A one day trip from Paris to Normandy to see the D-Day landing beaches

---

---

Our Paris to Normandy Train Tour Itinerary

This is our most popular tour from Paris for a reason. Experience the incredible story of D-Day with an expert guide. Join our signature one day tour from Paris to Normandy.

After an direct early train from Paris to Bayeux, you’ll be met personally at the rail station by your guide. Then it’s off to Sainte-Mère-Église, the site of the pre-dawn parachute drops on June 6th, 1944. Next, you’ll visit both Utah and Omaha Beach, then Pointe du Hoc, site of the famous Ranger climb. After lunch, you’ll visit Arromanches Harbor. Then it’s a final stop at the American Military Cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer, timed for Taps whenever possible.

This is a small group excursion with eight persons maximum per tour. Meals are not included, but time for lunch is set aside along the beautiful coast in a quaint town.

Note: This tour often sells out, so please book early to get your preferred tour date.

Famous Normandy D-Day Stops On The Tour

Arrive in Bayeux

Bayeux is a small town that lies on the Aure River in Normandy, France, not far from the English Channel in the “county” (region) of Calvados.  It is located 16 miles west-northwest of Caen, and roughly 166 miles northwest of Paris. The town is home to the famous medieval tapestry, which bears its name. This is where your adventure in Normandy starts. Once departing your train, your guide will be waiting for you.

Sainte-Mère-Église

This lovely medieval town of Sainte-Mère-Église stands right on the N13 road, a crucial link for the Germans to counter the landing beach attacks. The 81st and 101st paratroopers landed in a first wave, ultimately securing the town for the Allies despite heavy casualties.

Utah Beach

Utah Beach was a critical link between the airborne and infantry invasion forces, combining both. The goal at Utah was to secure a hold on the Cotentin Peninsula (also known as the Cherbourg Peninsula), with the ultimate goal being to re-take the crucial port at Cherbourg.

Omaha Beach

Omaha Beach was the code name for the main U.S. landing beach during the Normandy D-Day invasion on June 6, 1944.

Securing the five mile stretch of Omaha was crucial in order to link up the British landings to the east at Gold Beach, with the American landing to the west at Utah Beach. The Allies were up against the Germany 352nd infantry division, a mix of green troops who had never seen combat and experienced men who had served on the Eastern Front.

It took a full day on June 6, with heavy loss of life to secure just two footholds off the beach along that 5 mile stretch.

The Pointe du Hoc

Strategically located between the American landing beaches Omaha and Utah farther west, the Pointe du Hoc remains virtually unchanged from the day American Army Rangers scaled its sheer cliffs under deadly fire to knock out huge coastal guns they didn’t know had been moved.

Pocked by huge craters left by naval bombardment, most of the German bunkers remain. The cliff-side battlefield also offers a scenic view of the French coastline that saw some of the war’s fiercest fighting.

The Normandy American Cemetery at Colleville-Sur-Mer

The most important stop on our Normandy d-day tour is the Normandy American Cemetery. Situated above Omaha Beach, the American cemetery at Colleville-Sur-Mer honors the more than 9,000 servicemen who died during the campaign to liberate Normandy in the summer of 1944.

The 172 acre site is not technically American property, but is owned and run by the American Battlefield Monument Commission. Graves are carefully noted on a grid map for visiting. Troops unaccounted for are honored on a Wall of the Missing. The opening scene of “Saving Private Ryan” was filmed here at the Normandy American Cemetery, while the fighting scenes were shot in the village of Curracloe in southeastern Ireland.

The Artificial Harbor at Arromanches

The modest fishing and resort town of Arromanches was a key toehold for the Allies on June 6. Remnants of so-called “Mulberrys” remain off shore, where the rough seas of the bay were tamed enough to keep ships anchored and maintain a supply chain for the troops.

Visitors to Arromanches, located at what was code named Gold Beach, will appreciate seeing the huge undertaking of the invasion from the cliff top perspective. Interestingly, the town and bay have been important strategically to successive waves of Celts, Gauls and Vikings.

Is It Worth Visiting Normandy From Paris?

Absolutely! A visit to Normandy offers a chance to learn the incredible events of June 6, 1944.  You actually walk on Omaha Beach. You pay your respects at the American Cemetery and experience the story of the battles that were so hard-fought by  Allied troops.  An expert local guide truly brings history to life.

How Much Time Is Needed to Visit the Normandy Sites?

Your local guide knows how to pace the tour timing so the full story of June 6 can be experienced and visited within just a day. You get a full feel for each site, with a generous break for lunch. Some time to self tour, especially at the American Cemetery Visitor Center, is built in. For those wishing to stay overnight or longer we offer a great package with an overnight stay in Bayeux, and the option to visit Mont St. Michel.

What is the best time of year to schedule this tour?

A trip from Paris to Normandy is great any time of year. Normandy is right along the English Channel and has the rainy, windy weather you would expect in the region year round. While summer and fall will be warmer, a late winter visit can be ideal, with fewer crowds.

Paris To Normandy Tour Details

How To Prepare For The Tour

Bringing along a folding umbrella or a light raincoat is recommended. Comfortable shoes for walking that resist water and keep out sand will make your day a lot easier. Unless it’s full summer, wearing layers to keep out the wind is a great plan. A small backpack with your extras is perfectly acceptable in the van.

Tour Accessibility

Folding wheelchairs and strollers can be stored on the van. Some sites require walking to fully appreciate, such as seeing the German gun emplacement, but most sites are reached via easy van ride.

Rest room stops are available at lunch and select museums at the key sites, and at the American Cemetery visitor center. Both classes on the train offer restrooms.

What Others Say About This Tour:

Normandy D-Day Tours From Paris FAQ’s

More About Us and Our Normandy Tours from Paris

We’ve been selling Normandy guided tours from Paris since 2002. Each year, we have the pleasure of connecting families with a loved one’s story, introducing history buffs to the very sites they’ve read about, and helping clients new to the June 6, 1944 events appreciate the tremendous sacrifice of D-Day. We look forward to seeing you in Normandy.

Join us for this chance to walk right along Omaha Beach, and pay your respects at the American Cemetery.

Read a friendly and informative article about our Paris to Normandy Day Trip.