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Day trip to Normandy from Paris
Posted on 3/5/23 at 7:13 pm
Posted on 3/5/23 at 7:13 pm
Anyone done it? Recommend any outfits to use?
Would like to be in a smaller group or potentially just do it without a guide but interested in what others may have done.
Would like to be in a smaller group or potentially just do it without a guide but interested in what others may have done.
9
Posted on 3/5/23 at 7:50 pm to STLhog
It's generally recommended that you not do Normandy as a day trip from Paris. It's a full day excursion to get the most out of the experience and see everything. Plus if you base in the area you can see other things - Mont. St. Michel, Bayeaux Tapestry, Rouen.
But if time is short and this is your only trip to France and you want to check that box I think you can do it if you take the early train and arrange for a tour operator to pick you up and return you for the late train, which will abbreviate your day to an afternoon tour.
Overlord Tours is very popular (probably the go-to company) and I think they offer this package. Just be prepared for a very long day with most time spent on trains and only getting to see some of the D-day stuff.
Posted on 3/5/23 at 8:32 pm to STLhog
Done it. It was so awesome. Overland tours
Posted on 3/5/23 at 9:19 pm to STLhog
Never done a day trip but definitely hire a guide. There are so many back stories you will not get on your own.
Posted on 3/5/23 at 11:33 pm to STLhog
Overlord Tours out of Bayeux is the answer.
We spent four days in Bayeux in April 2019 just weeks before the 75th anniversary of D-Day. We took the all day Overlord Tour of the D-Day Beaches and it was fantastic.
I had been to Paris a bunch of times and had always wanted to go to Normandy, but I knew that going there as a day trip was stretching it. I waited until I could spend a few days there and I am glad I did. Bayeux is a nice little town, one of the only ones around there that was spared the bombs of WW II and Mont St. Michel is nearby.
But if you think you will not be back soon, I will not dissuade you from taking a day trip from Paris. You will have to get up at the crack of dawn and take a train that will get you to the Bayeux town center by 8:00 because the tour leaves at 8:20. That or pay a small fortune to a private driver to take you there from Paris.
I had lunch today with a friend of mine who is going this summer and I was explaining all this to him.
We spent four days in Bayeux in April 2019 just weeks before the 75th anniversary of D-Day. We took the all day Overlord Tour of the D-Day Beaches and it was fantastic.
I had been to Paris a bunch of times and had always wanted to go to Normandy, but I knew that going there as a day trip was stretching it. I waited until I could spend a few days there and I am glad I did. Bayeux is a nice little town, one of the only ones around there that was spared the bombs of WW II and Mont St. Michel is nearby.
But if you think you will not be back soon, I will not dissuade you from taking a day trip from Paris. You will have to get up at the crack of dawn and take a train that will get you to the Bayeux town center by 8:00 because the tour leaves at 8:20. That or pay a small fortune to a private driver to take you there from Paris.
I had lunch today with a friend of mine who is going this summer and I was explaining all this to him.
This post was edited on 3/5/23 at 11:55 pm
Posted on 3/6/23 at 5:46 am to STLhog
We took a bus from Paris with a small group. Left very early. Had a guide. Hit the landing beaches, American Cemetery, La Pointe du Hoc, and Caen Memorial Museum (had lunch there).
On the way there, the guide pointed out things about local agriculture, history, etc. Once there, she gave info about the war events.
It was a full day, but we were very happy we did it. Took another day trip via bus to Giverny to see Monet's home and garden.
On the way there, the guide pointed out things about local agriculture, history, etc. Once there, she gave info about the war events.
It was a full day, but we were very happy we did it. Took another day trip via bus to Giverny to see Monet's home and garden.
Posted on 3/6/23 at 6:09 am to STLhog
Most Americans just go to the D-Day Beaches, but it is one of the most diverse and beautiful regions in France.
If that's your only time you could do it, I guess, one day would certainly be better than nothing. Just realize it's a large area to explore and generally it's about 125 miles from Paris, so figure at least 2 1/2 - 3 hrs. So, you'd start really early. It'd be a brutally long day.
Guided Tours
We didn't do that. If you can swing it, would highly recommend taking more time and staying in the region. We did spend some time in Bayeux, which was amazing. Honfleur would be a great base as well.
More time would allow you to visit all of the beaches if you wanted to, visit small towns and stop and eat/drink. Maybe even take the 2+ hour drive over to Mont-Saint-Michel, which is one of the great wonders of the world.
Selected Photos - November 2022.
If that's your only time you could do it, I guess, one day would certainly be better than nothing. Just realize it's a large area to explore and generally it's about 125 miles from Paris, so figure at least 2 1/2 - 3 hrs. So, you'd start really early. It'd be a brutally long day.
Guided Tours
We didn't do that. If you can swing it, would highly recommend taking more time and staying in the region. We did spend some time in Bayeux, which was amazing. Honfleur would be a great base as well.
More time would allow you to visit all of the beaches if you wanted to, visit small towns and stop and eat/drink. Maybe even take the 2+ hour drive over to Mont-Saint-Michel, which is one of the great wonders of the world.
Selected Photos - November 2022.
Posted on 3/6/23 at 11:14 am to Twenty 49
quote:
We took a bus from Paris with a small group. Left very early. Had a guide. Hit the landing beaches, American Cemetery, La Pointe du Hoc, and Caen Memorial Museum (had lunch there).
do you remember what outfit you used?
7am to 7pm type or day? Or arriving back in Paris later?
Posted on 3/6/23 at 12:04 pm to STLhog
I think you could but I would recommend staying a night in Caen or Bayeux. That would make things easier and both of those places are pretty cool. As other people have said, I would do Overland Tours. I did their Omaha 1/2 day and it was excellent. If you do go from Paris though, BOOK THE TRAIN IN ADVANCE. I didn't book it early enough and I had to take detour route which showed me a few places I would have never thought to go to (Amiens Cathedral) but it was a full day of travel. Paris to Caen fills up fast.
Posted on 3/6/23 at 4:45 pm to STLhog
Wife and I with another couple caught a 7 a.m. train from Paris to Carentan. Our guide with Normandy Sight seeing Services picked us up there and we toured the rest of the day until around 5:30 p.m. I’m not much on touring with a guide but I will do this one again next time I go
Posted on 3/6/23 at 8:41 pm to STLhog
quote:
do you remember what outfit you used? 7am to 7pm type or day? Or arriving back in Paris later?
No idea what company. It was 20 years ago. Was one of the companies with flyers in the hotels, and their office was near where we stayed. We were young and on a budget, so it worked well for us.
I recall eating crepes on the street at 5:30 am before we headed to catch the bus. It was a long day.
Those crepes were great. We were near a working class neighborhood, and the workers lined up at their favorite sidewalk crepe stands for breakfast. The vendor poured the batter and made them fresh. I picked the longest line, figuring he must be the best. Got a savory one, like egg and cheese, but the highlight was Nutella and banana. Shazam! That thing was special.
Posted on 3/7/23 at 10:10 am to STLhog
We did it. It’s a FULL day. Our guide was a really cool guy with a unique perspective on living in Paris and the French in general which made the time in the car enjoyable. We hit the highlights and didn’t feel rushed. Started at 6a and didn’t get back until late in the evening.
Private guide, 4 of us in a nice car, no meals or anything extra included was $1,300 in 2018. If you have the time, a bus ride and a overnight stay is probably about the same price.
Private guide, 4 of us in a nice car, no meals or anything extra included was $1,300 in 2018. If you have the time, a bus ride and a overnight stay is probably about the same price.
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