Have you always dreamed of a discovery road trip to the D-Day Landing Sites and Beaches of Normandy without knowing where to start? In this article, I’m offering you a step-by-step itinerary through the must-see landmarks of this historic moment for an exceptional journey.
To miss nothing during your excursion, follow my itinerary starting from Caen:
If you can’t wait or want a package tour, I recommend this Bus tour starting from Paris. It goes through all the main D-Day sites and beaches.
Table of Contents
D-Day landing beaches
Sword Beach
Address: From Ouistreham (14150) to Langrune-sur-Mer (14354)
Sector: British and French
Landing point: Hermanville-sur-Mer Beach (14880)
Ideal Visiting time: 1h
To begin this road trip, I recommend Sword Beach, a landing point entrusted to British and French troops.
The journey to Ouistreham will give you a glimpse into the grim past of the area through the last visible remains of the anti-tank defenses rising out of the sandy beach.
Higher up, you’ll find the Flame Memorial, a towering metallic sculpture honoring the soldiers lost during the assault, flanked by a stone statue of their commanding officer, Commandant Kieffer.
Juno Beach
Address: From Bernières-sur-Mer (14990) to Courseulles-sur-Mer (14191)
Sector: Canadian
Landing Point: East of Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer (14750)
Ideal Visiting Time: 2h-3h
On the beach of Courseulles-sur-Mer, you’ll discover the Juno Beach Center, a museum dedicated to the memory of the Canadian soldiers lost during the assault on Juno Beach.
Walking along the beachfront, you will discover an open-air exhibition called “In Their Footsteps,” telling the true story of those (soldiers and civilians) who witnessed that momentous event.
Finally, on the beach of Bernières-sur-Mer, you’ll find period pictures portraying the famous landing of the Canadian troops on Juno Beach.
Gold Beach
Address: Asnelles (14022) to Ver-sur-Mer (14739)
Sector: British.
Landing point: East of Arromanches-les-Bains (14117)
Ideal Visiting Time: 3h-4h
The remains of the famous Mulberry Port, an artificial harbor built to unload troops and equipment during the British landing, can still be seen on the beach of Arromanches-les-Bains.
Visitors enjoy a front-row view of an essential component of the operation Overlord.
In the hills near Gold Beach, you can also visit the Longues-sur-Mer Battery, an old German strongpoint bearing heavy guns and tasked to protect the coast from Allied attacks.
Omaha Beach
Address: From Vierville-sur-Mer (14710) to Colleville-sur-Mer (14165)
Sector: American
Landing point: Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer Beach (14605)
Ideal Visiting Time: 2h
The 172.5 acres of the Normandy American Cemetery stretch just above Omaha Beach at Colleville-sur-Mer. It is the last resting place of the 10,000 US soldiers who fell during the assault.
It is a unique experience to reflect among the rows of white crosses doting the tombs of the honored dead in this legendary graveyard.
On the beach of Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer, three steel sculptures that are reachable at low tide, stand by the water as a memorial.
Utah Beach
Address: from Sainte-Marie-du-Mont (50509) to Quinéville (50421)
Sector: American
Landing point: Saint-Martin-de-Varreville Beach (50517)
Visiting time: 2-3h
I recommend that you conclude your road trip with a stop at Utah Beach, the easternmost D-Day landing site.
Near Saint-Marie-du-Mont Beach, you’ll find remains of the landing, such as bunkers and cross-shaped anti-tank obstacles.
The wreck of an American boat, invisible at high tide, reveals itself as the day ends and the tide recedes.
Heading towards Audouville-la-Hubert, take the opportunity to visit the old military bunker on the Brèche beach. Entering this peaceful and fascinating place is like taking a peek through a little window in the past.
Must-see museums and sites
Pegasus Bridge Memorial
1 Avenue du Major Howard, 14860 Ranville
Ideal Visiting Time: 1h30
Discover the Pegasus Memorial Museum, which recounts the British troops’ night landing in Normandy on June 5th and 6th,1944.
A rich collection of objects, uniforms, and pictures are on display and shine a light on the background of this legendary military operation.
Note: the original bridge was replaced in 1994 by a perfect replica near its old emplacement at Bénouville. The copy is fully operational, so don’t miss the opportunity to cross the bridge during your visit!
Pointe du Hoc
14450 Cricqueville-en-Bessin
Ideal Visiting Time: 1h30
Pointe du Hoc is one of the key heritage sites of the D-Day Landing. It would make a fine ending point for your road trip.
Located halfway between Omaha Beach and Utah Beach, it was the setting of one of the most significant battles of the operation, pitting American and German troops against each other.
The place is teeming with bunkers, ruins, and shell craters attesting to the intensity of the fights and bombings happening at the time.
Note: The site is freely accessible and entirely free of charge.
Juno Beach Center
Voie des Français Libres, 14470 Courseulles-sur-Mer
Ideal Visiting time: 2h30
During your time here, take the opportunity to see the Juno Beach Center Museum dedicated to the memory of the Canadian soldiers.
It offers interactive exhibits and visual testimonies retracing the course of the Overlord operation, whose aim was to unload the troops and equipment of the Canadian forces.
You can also stand vigil before the memorials honoring the fallen outside the museum.
360 Movie Theater, Arromanches-les-Bains
Rue du Calvaire, 14117 Arromanches-les-Bains
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Ideal Visiting time: 1h30-2h
Next to Gold Beach, you can find a circular cinema on the Arromanches clifftops above the famous Mulberry Porton.
This movie theater has the particularity of screening original pictures of the D-Day landings archives.
In other words, it’s a key heritage site that will give you new insight into these historical events. Your road trip wouldn’t be the same without it.
Caen Memorial
Esp. Général Eisenhower, 14050 Caen
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Ideal Visiting Time: half a day
The Caen Memorial is doubtlessly the most exhaustive D-Day landing memorial.
Although it is close to Sword Beach, the museum offers thorough exhibits on all landing sites and beaches, including details about the Allied forces and the stakes of the operation.
It’s an ideal first stop for your road trip, where you can learn more about the various landing sites. Who knows, it may inspire you to visit them yourself.
Military Cemeteries
Ideal Visiting Time: 30-45 min
Finally, I suggest visiting the Military cemeteries set up next to the various battlefields. They are the perfect place to contemplate and reflect on those momentous events.
There is, for example, the Normandy American Cemetery next to Omaha Beach. Or the British War Cemetery at Hermanville-sur-Mer near Sword Beach.
Take some time to walk among the graves and the memorials to pay your respects to the soldiers lost in the conflict properly.
Tips for your road trip
Now that you have a better idea of your destination, here are some tips to prepare your trip in the best conditions and to make the most of it.
- To have the best time possible: if you don’t want to miss out on anything, prepare to stay a few days. Booking a hotel room for a night or two – as you like – is your best option.
- To have a successful road trip: Plan a coherent itinerary with a clear direction (from west or east or vice versa).
- To have a unique experience: Speak to the locals. They often have amazing anecdotes about the D-Day landing and know the best places to visit.
My 3-day road trip recommended itinerary
If you want to get the most out of your trip, the best way to proceed is to stay on-site for a few days to explore at your own pace.
You could, for example, plan a 3-day trip starting from Caen.
First Day
You would begin by visiting Caen Memorial, which should take around half a day. Then you can explore Sword and Juno Beach (which would require about four hours).
I recommend the Hotel Crémaillère for the first night, a lovely seafront residence barely 100m from Juno Beach.
Second Day
You should start by visiting the Juno Beach Centre (2h), then head toward Gold and Omaha Beach (5h).
You could finish with a more solemn visit to the Normandy American Cemetery (30-45min).
For you last night, I recommend Villa Omaha, a charming villa with a garden 20m from Omaha Beach.
Third Day
For your last day, the ideal stop is the towering Point du Hoc, which requires around 1h30 to visit. You could also go to Utah Beach (2h-3h).
I aim to share my tips and recommendations for the beautiful country of France. My goal is to help you plan your next adventure, whether it’s a weekend getaway or a once-in-a-lifetime trip. From finding the best hotels and restaurants, to discovering unique activities and sights, I’ve got you covered!
