Darija Stojanovic 
Hello, traveler! Ready to explore the wonders of Normandy? While living in France, I spent countless days visiting this incredible region, and I’m excited to share my experiences through this 4-day Normandy itinerary!
From the iconic Mont Saint Michel to the historic D-Day Beaches and the captivating medieval tapestry of Bayeux, Normandy is full of unforgettable landmarks and stories.
In this guide, you’ll find everything you need to plan your trip, including advice on where to stay, how to get around, and more. By the end, you’ll be set to enjoy this journey to its fullest!
Make sure to book your hotels early, as the best ones tend to fill up quickly. Let’s get started!
● Days: 4
● Cost: €800 if traveling on a tight budget, around €1,200 for mid-range travelers, infinity and beyond if you are a luxury traveler
● Transportation: car (best), train, bus, ride sharing
● Best luxury hotels in the itinerary: Le Havre, Caen
● Best mid-range hotels: Le Havre, Caen
● Best budget accommodation: Le Havre, Caen
Quick Picks for Your Stay
Can’t read till the end? No worries, here’s a quick overview with all the stops on the itinerary:
- Day 1: Rouen & Étretat
- Day 2: Deauville, Cider Route, and Caen
- Day 3: Bayeux, D-Day Beaches
- Day 4: Mont Saint Michel
And here’s a map featuring all the stops in this Normandy itinerary:
Contents
Day 1: Rouen and Étretat
● Why visit: history, natural landscapes
● Key activity: Visit Rouen Cathedral, marvel at the dramatic Étretat Cliffs
● How to get there from Paris: driving is ~€95 (car rental, gas, tolls), train is from €9
● Time: 2 hours by car, 1 hour 37 minutes by train
● Estimated daily budget: €300
Normandy is one of the most visited regions of Northern France since it’s super close to Paris. In fact, you’re likely starting your journey from Paris!
Normandy has the history, lovely beaches and villages, beautiful landscapes, and delicious gastronomy, just about everything you need for a memorable trip!
You can do this entire itinerary on 4 (or even 3) day trips from Paris, but you can also embark on a full-time journey and sleep in the region. I made the route flexible and grouped attractions that are nearby so you can organize your trip however you like.
I did this itinerary on day trips from Paris by car, and it was super fast and convenient, so I recommend a car rental before anything else. But if you don’t drive or are on a budget (rental costs around €70 per day, and gas is around €120 for the entire trip), you can still get to most places by train or car sharing. These options are much cheaper!
BUDGET TIP: If you want to rent a car but are on a budget, you can save significantly by taking a train from Paris to Caen and then renting a car there! You’re looking at around €150 savings overall (1 day less for rental + no gas fees for the longest parts of the trip, especially on the last day when you’d have to drive from Mont Saint Michel to Paris for 4+ hours).
Ideally, depart from Paris early in the morning, around 8 AM, either by train or car. If you drive, the ride to Rouen takes up to 2 hours without stops (take the A13 rather than the A15 road, it’s much faster).
If you feel like it, you can make a stop at Giverny, this lovely village known for being the hometown of Claude Monet, France’s most famous impressionist painter. You can visit his house, now a museum. It has absolutely stunning gardens that are so nice to enjoy in summer!
As for Rouen, the highlight is for sure its cathedral from the 12th century (map). It’s so spectacular that it has even been featured in many famous paintings. I loved visiting in summer as they feature these beautiful light shows in the evenings, it’s so relaxing to just sit nearby and watch.
Claude Monet painted the Rouen Cathedral over 30 times!
The beautiful historic town, old markets, and, for history buffs, the Donjon of Rouen, are other must-see attractions. Rouen is pretty small, and you can see the main landmarks in just over 2 hours. Then, around 1 PM, hit the road for Étretat (which will take around 70 minutes).
Ideal for nature lovers and hikers but also for beautiful sunset seekers, Étretat surely is an inspiration! Especially with its dramatic white cliffs and natural archways! I caught a sunset here, and it was one of the most romantic experiences I’ve had to date!
You can freely walk here for 2-3 hours, have lunch/dinner, and then hit the road for Le Havre (where it’s most convenient to stay overnight).
FOODIE TIP: La Flottille (map) is an amazing traditional restaurant just by the beach in Étretat, it’s ideal for lunch!
Day 1 in Rouen & Étretat
- Walk through the old Rouen on a tour and enjoy the medieval architecture
- Marvel at the Rouen Cathedral
- Visit Place de Vieux Marché (map) and its colorful buildings
- See the Donjon of Rouen (map) where Joan d’Arc was held before the execution
- See the main cliffs of Étretat, Falaise d’Aval (map) and Falaise d’Amont (map)
- Catch a sunset at the beach in Étretat (map)
Where to stay on Day 1
As for sleeping, it’s best to get to Le Havre in the evening and find a nice hotel there. This is the biggest city in the area, and it’s just a short 35-minute drive from Étretat. You can grab a nice dinner here as well!
Here are my 3 top hotel recommendations in Le Havre for all budgets:
- Hôtel Saint-Delis ($$$) – This castle hotel is slightly outside of the city center, but it’s ideal if you’re looking to spoil yourself on this vacation!
- Odalys City ($$) – A popular hotel among couples and families with an excellent breakfast and a central location.
- Holiday Inn Express ($) – Situated right in downtown Le Havre, this hotel is perfect for backpackers and casual travelers on a budget.
Day 2: Deauville, Cider Route, and Caen
● Time: 50 minutes
● Distance: 43 km (27 mi)
● How to get there from Le Havre: car is €85, bus is around €5
● Why visit: beautiful nature, medieval fortresses
● Key activity: Go cider tasting, see the Caen Castle
● Estimated daily budget: €250
On Day 2, depart from Le Havre in the morning after breakfast and go straight to Deauville. If you don’t drive, you can catch the bus Line 20, which takes up to 70 minutes (Moovit is a really useful app for planning your commute).
This day is one of the most culturally diverse days on this itinerary, as it’s literally going to be a delight for all senses! From beautiful nature and seaside to delicious cider tasting to impressive medieval fortresses, these spots are guaranteed to leave you wanting more.
Ideally, arrive in Deauville around 11 AM and catch some tan in this charming seaside resort. A walk along the Les Planches Broadwalk (map) is a must, and then you can descend on the Deauville Beach adjacent to it (map). Don’t forget a photo of the colorful umbrellas!
Then, drive along the Cider Route (map) and ideally make at least one fun stop for cider tasting or shopping. Calvados Pierre HUET (in Cambremer, map) and Domaine Dupont (map) are great estates for a tour!
INSIDER TIP: Stop by Beuvron-en-Auge (map) for a quick break, it’s known as one of France’s most beautiful villages!
Finally, arrive in Caen just after sunset, check in your hotel, and explore this beautiful city at night! You’ll have some more time for sightseeing here as you’ll be staying for 2 nights!
NOTE: If you aren’t doing the itinerary on a car, ride sharing is your fastest and cheapest way to move around, especially to get from Deauville to Caen, or really from any large city where the train arrives to any smaller one!
Day 2 in Deauville, Cider Route, and Caen
- Walk Les Blanches Broadwalk in Deauville
- Chill out at Deauville Beach
- Go cider tasting along the Cider Route
- See Beuvron-sur-Auge, the most picturesque village in France
- Catch a sunset in Caen
Where to stay in Caen
I chose the 3 top-rated hotels in Caen to make your stay pleasant and convenient. They all have parking on the premises!
- Luxury: Domaine de Coeurmandie – Spoil yourself and stay in this 4-star chateau with free private parking, a lovely on-site restaurant, an outdoor pool, and a spa center!
- Mid-range: Hôtel la Fontaine – Fancy staying in the city center? This clean and comfortable hotel is your spot! Just note that they charge €22 for parking per day.
- Budget: The People Caen – Another centrally located hotel but at more affordable prices, with private parking (€15 per day) and a 24-hour front desk.
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Day 3: Bayeux, D-Day Beaches
● Time: 35 minutes
● Distance: 30 km (19 mi)
● How to get there from Caen: car is €76, train is around €10
● Why visit: captivating history
● Key activity: Bayeux Tapestry Museum, D-Day Beaches
● Estimated daily budget: €250
On Day 3, we’re going to visit some of my favorite spots in Normandy! If you’re a history lover, you’re going to love both major stops today!
I suggest you wake up early, have your breakfast in Caen, check out the iconic Caen Castle (map) for around 1 hour, and then hit the road for Bayeux to see the iconic Bayeux Tapestry!
The Bayeux Tapestry is a 70-meter (230-ft) long and 50-meter (20-inch) tall embroidery cloth that depicts the Norman conquest of England in the 11th century.
I couldn’t believe the attention to detail on this masterpiece, over 1,000 years old. And honestly, you need to see it in person to understand how awesome it is! That’s why I highly recommend a stop here before moving to the D-Day Beaches. It took us around 1 hour to tour the museum, and after that, we continued toward the beaches as well.
NOTE: The Bayeux Tapestry Museum will be closed for renovation from September 1st, 2025 until October 2027.
From the museum, it’s a short 17-minute ride to the next stop, Arromanches (map). Here, you can see the remnants of the temporary Mulberry Harbor that facilitated quick cargo offloading during the major Normandy operations in WWII.
A visit here shouldn’t take more than 45 minutes, and then you can go to the next stop. See some German bunkers and places where they hid their guns at Longues-sur-Mer (map), as this spot is definitely one of the highlights. It’s just a 13-minute ride from Arromanches.
Finally, Omaha Beach (map), one of the famous landing sites, is great for a casual walk. You can’t help but reflect on all the important events that happened in this place. The beach is located some 18 km (11 mi) from Longues-sur-Mer.
NOTE: All attractions I mentioned above, except for the Bayeux Tapestry Museum, are free to visit. The Bayeux Museum costs €12. If you don’t drive, it’s best to get a guided tour of the D-Day Beaches from Caen.
OPTIONAL STOP: American tourists would appreciate an extra stop at the Colleville-sur-Mer cemetery of American soldiers fallen in WWII (map), just a 10-minute ride from Omaha Beach.
After an insightful day on the coast of Normandy, you can head back to Caen for a relaxing dinner and a good rest before your last day of sightseeing!
Day 3 in Bayeux and D-Day Beaches
- See the magnificent Bayeux Tapestry Museum
- Check out the Mulberry Harbor remnants at Arromanches
- Visit the German bunkers and batteries at Longues-sur-Mer
- Reflect on the past at Omaha Beach
Day 4: Mont Saint Michel
● Time: 2 hours
● Distance: 156 km (97 mi)
● How to get there from Caen: car is €95, bus is around €17
● Why visit: amazing scenery
● Key activity: Visit the Mont Saint Michel Abbey
● Estimated daily budget: €200
Finally, on Day 4 of this Normandy itinerary, we’re going to my absolute favorite spot in all of France! I dreamt of visiting Mont Saint Michel for years, and when you have such high expectations of a place, it’s really easy to get disappointed once you actually get there. But that wasn’t the case here at all!
Mont Saint Michel is a one-of-a-kind island on the border between Normandy and Bretagne with a spectacular medieval Abbey on top. It’s a unique sight and one of France’s most iconic tourist attractions!
So, as usual, get up early, have your breakfast in the hotel (or a nearby bakery), and hit the road for Mont Saint Michel! The ride from Caen is smooth and takes around 2 hours.
I recommend getting to Mont Saint Michel around 11 PM at the latest, so you have at least 7 hours to explore before closure. Think of it as a tiny town with distractions all over the place.
The parking, however, is almost 3 km (1.9 mi) away from the actual island, and there’s a free shuttle that runs to and fro 24/7. So factor in around 30 minutes to 1 hour to catch the free shuttle from the parking lot to the island and vice versa. The ride is around 15 minutes one way. You could also walk, there are nice views, but I don’t recommend it if you’re short on time. Here’s a full-access plan to plan your journey better.
Also, for visits to the Abbey, you need to reserve your spot, so you’d better do this in advance, especially if you’re not flexible with the dates!
INSIDER TIP: Head to the bridge right at the start of the access road to the island (map) for the most amazing views. Leave some extra time to take the pictures on your way back, and consider yourself lucky if you’re here during the sunset!
As you wrap up your visit, drive back to Paris. It’s a long ride (around 4 hours), so think about whether you should stay for that sunset or not! We visited in winter, and the sunset was at about 5pm, so we had more than enough time to get back to Paris at a decent hour.
Alternatively, if you decide to rent a car in Caen, just drop off your rental in the city and hop on the next train to Paris! The route from Mont Saint Michel to Paris passes through Caen anyway.
Day 4 at Mont Saint Michel
- Enter Mont Saint Michel through Porte de l’Avancée (map)
- Climb the ramparts for stunning views
- Walk the medieval streets of Mont Saint Michel
- Visit the Abbey (1-2 hours)
- Stroll down Grande Rue (map)
- Catch the stunning sunset from the nearby bridge (map)
Customizing the itinerary
Have more or less time for Normandy? No worries, that’s why I made the itinerary customizations below!
5-day itinerary
If you have more time for Normandy, follow the itinerary above and then add one more day:
- Day 5: Suisse Normande + Falaise, for the most scenic routes in the countryside
2-day itinerary
And if you’re short on time, you can still see the highlights in 2 days, but this is only doable by car:
- Day 1: Rouen, Étretat, sleep in Caen
- Day 2: Bayeux, D-Day Beaches (optional Mont Saint Michel), back to Paris
| 📅 How many days: | 4 |
| 🤩 Best town: | Le Havre |
| 🏨 Best hotel: | Hôtel Saint-Delis |
| 🌞 When to visit: | April to September |
FAQs about the Normandy itinerary
4️⃣ How many days do you need in Normandy?
4 days is ideal to explore Normandy’s main attractions without rushing. For detailed sightseeing of D-Day Beaches plus all the other attractions, stay up to 7 days.
🏰 What is the prettiest part of Normandy?
This really depends! For me, it’s the area around Mont Saint Michel, but many people love the small villages in the North, like the Beuvron-en-Auge.
🚗 What is the best way to see Normandy, France?
Driving, for sure! It’s the most flexible option that gives you endless opportunities for short stops to admire the scenery, walk in small, picturesque villages, and visit at your own pace.
🇫🇷 Why is Normandy so famous?
Normandy is famous for its rich history. This is where the Allied forces invaded Nazi-occupied France in WWII, which helped liberate the rest of Europe. Also, Normandy is known for impressive castles like Mont Saint Michel and the dramatic cliffs in Étretat.
🚆 How to visit Normandy from Paris?
Depending on your budget, time, and possibilities, you can rent a car, book a tour, or hop on a regional train to visit Normandy.
❓ What are the three biggest cities in Normandy?
Rouen, Caen, and Le Havre are the 3 biggest cities in Normandy, demographically speaking.
Final thoughts on the Normandy itinerary
That’s it, dear reader! You made it to the end of our Normandy itinerary! I hope it has given you tons of useful information and ideas so you can organize your trip like a pro!
I honestly love this region for its rich history and surreal landscapes, so I say take as much time as you can to soak all its beauty. If you ask me, the Bayeux Museum, D-Day Beaches, and Mont Saint Michel are absolute must-sees here!
Do remember to book your hotels in advance, there are limited options, after all! And finally, if you have any questions, feel free to drop a comment below! I’m always happy to help!
Au revoir,
Darija
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