Fodorite018

We are headed to France this summer and need a bit of help in one area regarding Normandy.

We will take the train from Paris to Bayeux, drop our bags at our hotel, but then want to go to Caen for the museum. Is the best way to take the train from Bayeux to Caen? If we do that, then what is the best way to get to the museum? Is the museum near the train station by chance?

Any help with this would be greatly appreciated.

Mucky

Is car hire out of the question?

Muck

PalenQ

yes train back to Caen then local bus to museum which is a bit out of town on the fringe of town.

Fodorite018

Well, I am also toying with the idea if renting a car when we arrive in Bayeux. I am not sure it is worth it though as we only need it for that one day as we will be on a tour for our other day there.

If we take the train and then the bus, can you give me a few more details...where to catch the bus and which number? Two of us have been to the museum before and I do remember it was a bit out of town. But I don't remember anything else about the town to navigate.

gradyghost

Hello mms:

You may wish to consider leaving the train in Caen and renting a car there (rental car companies are directly across from the station main entrance). From there you could drive to the museum and then drop the car in Bayeux. Quite a lot easier IMO. Good luck. Gradyghost

PalenQ

I'd bet the buses leave from in front of the Caen train station. Was there last year and a zillion buses stop there - this seems to be bus central.

Just a short walk from the station is the Caen tourist office which can surely help out.

A taxi from the station can't cost too much for a few mile jaunt.

Fodorite018

Thanks! Renting a car that way makes sense. I guess the only issue I can think of with that would be leaving our luggage in the trunk (assuming we got a car with a trunk, lol!). Is there an issue with that as far as theft in the parking lot? There are 3 of us...women...so a few pieces of luggage, lol!

gradyghost

mms: Sorry, I can't comment on the security in the museum parking lot. I've never experienced a problem, but I suppose one can be too trusting or just lucky. With three people, perhaps sequential visits to the museum could be an answer. Gradyghost

Gretchen

Is this all in two days? As I understand the museum it is an all day affair. Going to Bayeux first is of course, backtracking--and Caen is a good hour or more from Bayeux just driving in a car, not making bus connections, etc.
Maybe the museum isn't in your future for that short a trip.
Or perhaps there is a conducted tour from Paris for one day that includes the museum and the D-Day beaches (I assume that is your one day tour).

Fodorite018

We are taking the train on a Thursday morning over to Bayeux and want to see the museum in Caen. Our tour is the next day, for a full day. Then Saturday we will explore Bayeux before heading back to Paris. Two of us have been to the museum, so I know what to expect for that. And yes, backtracking...but it might be the way to go. Trying to make this as easy as possible since it is my moms first trip overseas.

Fodorite018

Another question...I thought Bayeux to Caen was only about a 15 minute train ride. Am I way off on timing/distance?

laverendrye

mms: You are not off on timing/distance. Bayeux is about 30km from Caen, and it should take about 30 min to drive from one to another. The Mémorial is in the north of the city, just off the ring road. The train station is just south of the city centre.

For the Caen Mémorial, plan to spend about 3-4 hours to take in all the exhibits plus the several memorial gardens there (U.S., British, Canadian).

I think that your best bet would be to take the train to Caen, rent a car there and drive to the Mémorial, and then head on to Bayeux.

Fodorite018

Thank you Now, a stupid question...is there a place in Bayeux to drop the car or will we need to return it in Caen?

StCirq

You'll have to ask the car rental agency if they have a drop-off spot in Bayeux. Chances are they do.