Normandy
Normandy draws travelers to the D-Day landing beaches, the tidal abbey of Mont-Saint-Michel and the chalk cliffs at Étretat, with cider farms and fishing ports along the coast.
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Normandy is a region in northwestern France on the English Channel. People come for the beaches where Allied forces landed on D-Day in June 1944, for Mont-Saint-Michel, an abbey on a tidal island, and for Claude Monet's garden at Giverny. The region also holds the cathedral city of Rouen, the old harbour at Honfleur and the chalk cliffs at Étretat.
Plan four or five days to cover the coast and the inland towns. The landing beaches lie north of Caen, and the Mémorial de Caen covers the 1944 campaign in depth. Caen is a practical base for them, and Rouen suits the old town and cathedral. Apples, cream and butter shape the cooking, and farms make cider and Calvados. Rent a car to reach the smaller villages, since trains and buses are sparse on the coast. Late spring through early September is the best window for the coast.
Normandy in five
- Check the tide before you go to Mont St-MichelThe bay floods fast around the abbey, and the causeway can be cut off at high tide. Set your day by the tide tables as well as the opening hours.Mont St-Michel
- Book Monet's garden in advanceMonet's house and garden at Giverny get crowded in peak season. Book your entry online before you travel.Giverny
- Rent a car for the coastÉtretat and Honfleur are not on the main rail lines, and bus links are sparse outside town. A car gets you to the cliffs and harbours on your own schedule.Getting around
- Carry a chip card with a PINMany French car park and ticket machines need a chip card with a PIN. A card that asks for a signature may be refused.Money and costs
- Plan a half day at the Caen MemorialThe Mémorial de Caen covers the 1944 campaign. The landing beaches are about an hour by car, so leave time for both.Caen
Neighborhoods
Rouen
- Price band: $$
Caen
- Price band: $$
Honfleur
- Price band: $$$
Le Havre
A port city in Normandy with a concrete center rebuilt after 1944, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and France's second-largest Impressionist collection.
Need to know
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
- Entry
- Schengen rules: visa-free short stays for many passports; check France-Visas Read more
- Emergency
- 112 EU-wide, 15 ambulance (SAMU), 17 police, 18 fire
- Tipping
- Not expected; service is included by law, extra is optional
- Time
- UTC+1, UTC+2 in summer (daylight saving)
Weather by month
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryCold, grey
- FebruaryCold, quiet
- MarchSpring starts
- AprilShowers, green
- MayMild, long days
- JuneLong days, green
- JulyWarm, busy
- AugustPeak crowds
- SeptemberMild, quieter
- OctoberAutumn light
- NovemberWet, grey
- DecemberCold, grey
Right now in Normandy
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
11
- Feels like
- 7°
- Humidity
- 73%
- Wind
- 27 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 93%
Normandy
09:46 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today13°5°93%Monday: Rain. High 13°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 93%.
- Tue11°5°0%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 11°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Wed9°2°1%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 9°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 1%.
- Thu8°5°7%Thursday: Rain. High 8°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 7%.
- Fri11°2°15%Friday: Fog. High 11°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 15%.
- Sat10°4°10%Saturday: Fog. High 10°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 10%.
- Sun11°4°31%Sunday: Fog. High 11°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 31%.
Updated 09:04 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Day trips by train
- Givernyabout 50 min by train from Paris, then a shuttle or bikeMonet's house and garden, a half-day trip from Rouen or Paris.Read the guide
- Mont St-Michelabout 1 to 1.5 hours by car from CaenAn abbey on a tidal island, best planned around the tide.Read the guide
- Honfleurabout 1 hour by car from CaenA harbour town known for its tall timber-framed houses.Read the guide
- Étretatabout 40 min by car from Le HavreWhite chalk cliffs and a pebble beach a short walk from the village.Read the guide
Before you go to Normandy
Rules for Normandy, checked
- Entry follows Schengen rules, so many passports need no visa for short stays. Check the current rules on France-Visas before you book.Source
- Declare cash above the EU limit when you enter or leave the EU, and check the current amount with French customs before you travel.Source
- Validate paper train tickets in the machines on the platform before you board, since an unvalidated ticket can draw a fine.
All Normandy guides
How toParis to Giverny day trip: train, shuttle and a plan for the day
How toMont St-Michel tides, shuttle and parking: how the visit worksThings to doThings to do at Mont St-Michel: abbey, ramparts, bay and lanesHead to headMont St-Michel: day trip or overnight? Paris, crowds and where to sleepHow toMonet's garden in Giverny: tickets, season and the best monthHead to headImpressionist day trips from Paris: Giverny, Auvers-sur-Oise and RouenPlan around Normandy
Normandy in a wider French route
Read the guideGetting aroundTrains from Paris, buses and car hire for the coast
Read the guideVisas and entryEntry rules and where to check them before you book
Read the guideMoney and costsCards, cash and typical prices in Normandy
Read the guideWhere to stayOld towns, harbours and quieter bases across Normandy
Read the guideNormandy FAQ
How many days do you need in Normandy?
Four to five days covers Rouen or Giverny, Honfleur, Étretat and Mont St-Michel, with time on the coast. Add two more days for the D-Day beaches in full.
Do you need a car in Normandy?
A car helps for Étretat, Honfleur and the beaches, where trains are sparse. Rouen and Caen are easy to reach by train from Paris and work without one.
Is Mont St-Michel worth a day trip?
Yes, if you plan around the tide. The abbey sits on a tidal island, and the bay floods around it, so check the tide tables before you set a day.
Is Giverny worth visiting from Paris?
Yes, for Monet's house and garden, which makes a half-day trip. Take the train to Vernon, then a shuttle or bike to the village.
When is the best time to visit Normandy?
Late spring to early autumn, when the days are long and the coast and gardens are open. Check the opening season of any garden before you go.
Is Caen or Rouen better as a base?
Rouen suits the old town and cathedral, and Caen suits the D-Day memorial and beaches. Both have train links to Paris, so pick by what you want to see.