Le Pommier
What to order: one of its two menus, with regional produce.
38-40 rue des Cuisiniers · menus at €28 and €42 · closed Wednesdays, Thursdays and in January
geocalia
Day itinerary · 49.34° N · 0.78° W
The D-Day beaches in a day, by train to Bayeux and by minibus to Omaha.
Direct train from Saint-Lazare to Bayeux, the cathedral and old town in the morning, Norman lunch and, in the afternoon, Pointe du Hoc, Omaha and the American cemetery by guided minibus.
Leaving from
Direct flight to Rennes fromSevilla 2 h 15
Part of D-Day BeachesSecond World War routes
Add to my trip
Total time15 h
By car3 h 15 each way
From ParisDirect train · about 2 h 20
Minibus visit13:15–18:00 · €95 pp
WalkingLittle: 1 h around Bayeux
DifficultyEasy
Cost€130–160 pp without the train
With childrenFrom about age 10
The plan
The day at a glance
Any part can be swapped for another without spoiling the day.
-
Leave Paris 2 h 15 by train
direct Nomad train from Saint-Lazare; seat reservation is compulsory
-
1
Bayeux, Old Town and Cathedral
1077 cathedral and rue Saint-Jean, free
- 3 min on foot
- 2
- 15 min on foot
-
3
Hôtel de la Gare
Normandy Tours departure point, opposite the station · book the afternoon tour
HotelCheck availability - 30 min by car
-
4
Pointe du Hoc
in the Normandy Tours minibus, 1 to 8 people, with a guide in English or French
- 15 min by car
-
5
Omaha Beach and the Colleville American Cemetery
Omaha Beach and the American cemetery; the flag lowering is an hour before closing
-
Back home 30 min by car
the minibus returns to the Hôtel de la Gare
- 2 h 15 by train · Nomad train to Saint-Lazare; book the return from 18:30
Approximate cost
About €20–35 per person
Adds up the activities and meals in the plan at their published prices; travel and accommodation not included.
The route
Bayeux, Old Town and Cathedral
The D-Day beaches are a little over three hours from Paris by car, and most people who go from Paris stay overnight. But there is a way to do them in a day without driving: the direct train from Saint-Lazare to Bayeux takes about two hours and a quarter, and opposite the station, at the reception of the Hôtel de la Gare, the Normandy Tours minibus visits leave, taking groups of one to eight people to Pointe du Hoc, Omaha Beach and the American cemetery. In the morning you have time to see Bayeux cathedral and eat unhurried.
It is a long day, fifteen hours, but in it you see the essentials of the American sector with someone to explain it. And the minibus solves the hard part: by public transport you can only reach the cemetery comfortably.
The day, hour by hour
7:30 · Train to Bayeux. The direct Nomad trains leave Saint-Lazare and take between two hours a quarter and two and a half. Seat reservation is compulsory: make it when you buy the ticket.
10:15 · Cathedral and old town. From the station it is fifteen minutes' walk. The cathedral dates from 1077 and is free to visit; then go down rue Saint-Jean. The Tapestry is not there: it is on show at the British Museum in London until July 2027.
12:00 · Lunch at Le Pommier. On rue des Cuisiniers, next to the cathedral: Norman cooking with regional produce and two menus, at €28 and €42. It serves from 12:00 to 14:00; order when it opens so you leave on time.
13:15 · Minibus departure. At the reception of the Hôtel de la Gare, opposite the station. Normandy Tours also offers pick-up at your hotel.
13:50 · Pointe du Hoc. The cliff the Rangers scaled on 6 June, still full of craters. While works last, until mid-2027, only the west path can be walked.
15:00 · Omaha Beach and the American cemetery. Almost 9,400 graves above the beach. The cemetery is open from 9:00 to 17:00 and every day, an hour before closing, the flag is lowered to a bugle call.
18:00 · Return. The minibus drops you at the Hôtel de la Gare and you take the train back. In Paris, around nine or ten at night.
Is it for me?
If you have no car and only one day, it is the most complete way to see Omaha. If you are interested in the British sector, choose the Gold and Omaha afternoon, which adds Arromanches and the Longues battery for €105. And if you can sleep over for a night, the Hôtel de la Gare is opposite the station.
Time3 h
Change the route
Tuesday to Friday: midday menu at the Lion d'Or restaurant, on the rue Saint-Jean:
La Table du Lion
If you prefer the British sector: Normandy Tours has a Gold and Omaha afternoon, from 13:15 to 18:30, for €105:
Arromanches and the Remains of the Artificial Harbour
Out of season or in the rain: train to Caen and bus to the Mémorial, open all year:
Mémorial de Caen
Where to eat
Where to eat?
Lunch is half the plan: book before you set off.
La Sapinière Restaurant
What to order: French cooking with local produce, on the terrace if the weather is good.
100 rue de la 2e Division US, next to Omaha Beach · March to early November · closed in winter
La Table du Lion
What to order: the lunchtime menu.
71 rue Saint-Jean · lunchtime menu from €24, à la carte in the evening · open all year except 1 and 2 January
Calvados Pierre Huet
What to order: a tasting of cider, pommeau and calvados; juice for children.
On the cider route · shop Monday to Saturday; Sundays and public holidays, April to September · confirm by phone first
Takeaway and markets
Bayeux Market, Bayeux
Map
The stops, in order
With where to park at each one.
What to do
Eat
88 €Stay
Services
Getting there
By car or without one?
When to go
When to go to D-Day Beaches
From 1 April to 31 October, which is when the Normandy Tours minibus visits run. Do not do it on a Wednesday or Thursday, when Le Pommier is closed. In May, June and September there is light until late and fewer people than in July and August; around 6 June the coast fills with ceremonies.
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Best timeGood timeLow season
Tips
Worth knowing first
- 1Book the minibus before the train
Places are one to eight people per vehicle and your train time depends on there being room that afternoon.
- 2Bring a raincoat
Pointe du Hoc and Omaha are very exposed to wind, even in summer.
- 3Discreet clothing for the cemetery
It is a place of silence; during the lowering of the flag, people stand still.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Can you see the D-Day beaches from Paris in a day?
Yes, by direct train to Bayeux and with a guided minibus visit in the afternoon, from April to October.
How much does the minibus visit cost?
Normandy Tours publishes €95 per person for the Omaha sector afternoon and €105 for the Gold and Omaha one.
Where does the minibus leave from?
From the reception of the Hôtel de la Gare, opposite Bayeux station, or from your hotel.
Is it suitable for children?
From about ten, when they understand what they see. Under-12s get a 15% discount.
More plans like this
Other days of walking and good food
geocalia.com/en/france/normandy/d-day-beaches/itineraries/bayeux-and-omaha-beach-by-train
Prices, opening hours and times are approximate: check them before you go. Each place has its own page on Geocalia.