Introduction
The Normandy landings at D-Day (6 June 1944) took place in Normandy, France. At this date, the allied forces entered France to fight against the Nazi.
Together, the allied landed on many beaches referred as Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword. Plus, the Pointe du Hoc which is a hill.
The most famous Normandy landings beaches are Utah and Omaha were the American forces arrived. Omaha is also the deadliest beach during D-Day.
Around this area, there are tonnes of museums and things to do, so you could be spending 2 days as well 7 depending on how many things you want to do.
We spent 2 days exploring the Normandy landings area and we really liked it. This gave us enough time to discover the history of D-day.
Table of Contents
Mapping the day
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Getting to the landing beaches
The easiest way to visit all the Normandy landings beaches and spot around is by car. Taking public transportation will be complicated and you won’t be able to enjoy as much as there is.
The biggest city nearby would be CAEN. To get there you can either fly or take a train. From there you can simply rent a car.
When to Visit
You can visit all those Normandy landings spots all year round. Though the best time would be in May/June and then September. July and August are the high season, so there will be a bit more people. The rest of the year can be a bit colder.
Where to Stay
There are many places where you can stay as the beaches stretch over long distance. Our favorite Normandy landings accommodation are:
- Budget: La Faisanderie
- Mid-Range: Chambres d’hôtes Les 4 Vents Pointe du Hoc
- Luxurious: Hôtel Mercure Omaha Beach
- Unique for 4: Le Pavillon de Ravenoville – Pierres d’Histoire
- Unique for 8: Le Manoir de Ravenoville
If you would like an even more budget-friendly option: Camping La Baie Des Veys
What to Eat
Some of the local dishes to be tried are:
- Apple pie with cream
- Crepes
- Sole filet
And the must to drink is the Calvados (Calva).
One of the main food we ate around Normandy and Brittany was the crepes. They do lovely salty and sweet one.
Things to do
There are tons of things to do around the Normandy landings area. Most of them are on the map under things to do and things to do additional. Here we will only mention the trip we made and what we visited.
Longues-sur-Mer battery
Visit a part of the Germany’s Atlantic wall. The site is made of 4 bunkers and one command post. In each bunker the condition of the canon is improving to find the last one with a complete battery.
The command post is a small bunker on two level where both can be visited.
Normandy American Cemetery
Explore the cemetery that honours the American troop who died during the war. 9388 burials are present over 172.5 acres. Not only the Normandy landings KIA soldiers are buried here but soldier that fall all along the war.
But first learn about the history by visiting the museum of the cemetery. The site is really well made and really fascinating.
If everyone is thinking alike, someone isn’t thinking. – General George Patton
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