Visiting Normandy from Paris
 

I am interested to get advice on the best itinerary for visiting Normandy - we will be visiting Paris just prior. Should we plan for bus or train and make a long day trip, or do most plan to stay overnight?

If staying overnight do you have recommended hotel/B&B ?

My husband and I will be traveling with our 3 sons ages 11, 14, and 16.

Thank you,
Christine

Where in Normandy do you want to go? It's a very large region with much to see besides the landing beaches and Mont St-Michel, the usual tourist sights. To see even a bit of Normandy would take several days at least.

I would definitely stay at least one night - otherwise you will spend all your time traveling to and fro. We stayed at Ferme de la Ranconniere - in a beautifully restored Norman farmhouse. But you would definitely need a car for that one. The restaurant was also great. https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Re..._Normandy.html

Is this your first trip to Paris? How long are you staying in Paris and does your trip have other destinations?

Hotel Lion d'Or in right in the center of Bayeux with parking. There is a lot of history connected to the hotel too. It is near the D Day beaches and the Bayeux Tapestry. Try to stay more than one night. I can't imagine doing it as a day trip with kids.

I agree with mjs's questions. A "day trip or maybe an overnight" in Normandy seems strange. One could spend 2-3 weeks in Normandy and still leave with some areas "untouched". And "next door" in Brittany deserves several weeks worth of exploration.

Many on this forum have spent years & years vacationing in France. Our first "mistake" was to spend 3 days in Paris, 2 days in Normandy, 2 days in Brittany, 2 days in the Loire - and that was the end of our 10 day vacation in France. Now it's 2 weeks in Normandy, 2 weeks in Brittany, and one night in Paris before flying home. Or 2 weeks in Paris & 2 weeks in Normandy or Brittany.

Provide some more info so we can help, s'il vous plait.

Stu Dudley

Another thing to consider is whether you want a brief glimpse of coastal Normandy or inland Normandy.

Here's a list of places to stay and things to do in Lower Normandie:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g...Vacations.html

And here's the same for Upper Normandie:
http://en.normandie-tourisme.fr/norm...urism-1-2.html

You'll have to figure out which most interests you - DD Beaches or charming seaports...

A daytrip versus an overnight doesn't work for me. I've been to Normandy countless times and never spent less than 4 days there. It's a huge département, with far more to see than just the D-Day sights, but even if that's your focus a daytrip seems like a big PITA to me considering the travel time, unless you just want to tick something off your bucket list.

Works for me, I did a day trip, it's up to you. But that was for one particular reason, for a D-Day beaches tour. It is certainly not a PITA given it's just an easy train trip from Paris that takes a couple hours, it's not difficult at all. I frequently do day trips that take that long. It is certainly easier than moving hotels on an itinerary for some particular sightseeing interest rather than staying in Paris. Also gave me enough time to stroll around Bayeux and see the tapestry.

It depends what your purpose is and how much free time you have. Staying overnight and moving hotels, and changing your itinerary in other ways seems a PITA to me just to avoid a short train trip. That doesn't even make sense. Because if you are going south of Paris, Normandy isn't on your way, and if you then have to leave Paris from CDG, it is obviously not on your way either. Train trips are a lot easier when just for the day, also, rather than moving hotels, checking in and out, etc. I don't understand why getting on and off a train for a day trip is that difficult.

Try to spend the night and two days if possible (or more)- day trips to the Normandy D-Day Invasion highlights are easily done by train to Bayeux then special D-Day tours from there - book them in advance - if staying they pick up at many hotels -

If wanting to see Mont-Saint-Michel (technically in Brittany) it is also a possible day trip from Paris by train and bus - train to Rennes then coordinated shuttle buses right to the Mont.

To do both rent a car and drive between Bayeux and Rennes via MSMichel (two days- one night) or take train from Bayeux to Pontorson - six miles from the Mont.

For lots on trains check www.voyages-sncf.com - French Railways - book tickets early to get limited in number discounted fares - www.seat61.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.

There are bus tours that may do both of these places in one long day from Paris.

Thank you very much for the information! I would love to stay longer - but we are bound by our work schedules (US needs to learn that a 3 week vacation IS acceptable!!!).

I am considering a tour guide to visit the D-Day sights - I was a bit shocked at the price (private guide up to $700 for the day). If anyone has suggestions on tour companies that would be more reasonable in price and still offer a good experience I would much appreciate it!

Thank you,
Christine

If anyone has suggestions on tour companies that would be more reasonable in price and still offer a good experience I would much appreciate it!>

Well again it is super easy to take a train to Bayeux in a few hours and have a pre-arranged tour to D-Day sites -saving about $500 or so.

Ask for recommendations from many others here who have done D-Day tours from Bayeux- also a nice town with famous cathedral.

I think you will find bus tours from Paris a lot cheaper than $700 which must be a private driver- do a google search.

Bruce and Veronique McAleer from French Mystique tours took us on an amazing tour of Normandy, Mont St Michel and the Loire Valley five years ago, but I think they are only doing bike tours now. Still, if you contact Bruce he will definitely put you in contact with someone who could help you. https://www.frenchmystiquetours.com/