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The 12 Best Attractions in Normandy (2026)

Updated November 2026 · 12 picks

The best attractions in Normandy in 2026 are Mont-Saint-Michel and its abbey, the D-Day beaches with the Normandy American Cemetery at Omaha Beach and Pointe du Hoc, Monet's house and garden at Giverny, the harbor of Honfleur, the cliffs of Étretat and Rouen's cathedral and old town. Note that the Bayeux Tapestry is in London until July 2027.

Normandy is big, so group your visits: Giverny and Rouen are within about an hour or two of Paris; Honfleur, Étretat and Deauville sit on the coast in between; the D-Day beaches stretch west of Caen around Bayeux; and Mont-Saint-Michel is at the far western edge, on the border with Brittany. A car makes the beaches and the Mont far easier. The Bayeux Tapestry is on loan to the British Museum from September 10, 2026 to July 11, 2027, and the Bayeux museum is closed for redevelopment, with reopening planned for 2027. For trips from the capital, see our best day trips from Paris.

1. Mont-Saint-Michel — Bay of Mont-Saint-Michel, Manche

A medieval abbey on a tidal island, one of the great sights of Europe.

$ BudgetBest for First-timers · Families · History

Mont-Saint-Michel is a rocky island crowned by a Benedictine abbey, rising out of a bay with some of the biggest tides in Europe. The village of shops and restaurants winds up the Grande Rue to the abbey, whose cloister and church sit at the summit.

It is a UNESCO World Heritage site and extremely busy in summer. Visit early, late or out of season, and consider staying overnight to see it after the day crowds leave.

Good to know: Book abbey tickets online and arrive at opening; check the tide timetable for the highest tides.

Abbaye du Mont-Saint-Michel, 50170 Le Mont-Saint-Michel

Google Maps Website

2. Normandy American Cemetery and Omaha Beach — Colleville-sur-Mer, Calvados

The resting place of 9,000-plus Americans, above the beach they landed on.

Best for History · Veterans · Families

The Normandy American Cemetery sits on the bluff above Omaha Beach, with rows of white marble crosses and Stars of David, a memorial and a visitor center that tells the story of D-Day. It is run by the American Battle Monuments Commission.

Walk down to Omaha Beach itself afterwards. The visit is free and deeply moving.

Good to know: Attend the flag-lowering ceremony held late in the afternoon, and allow at least two hours.

Normandy American Cemetery, 14710 Colleville-sur-Mer

Google Maps Website

3. Pointe du Hoc — Cricqueville-en-Bessin, Calvados

The cliff the US Rangers scaled on D-Day, still cratered by bombs.

Best for History · Veterans

Pointe du Hoc is a headland between Omaha and Utah beaches where US Army Rangers climbed the cliffs on June 6, 1944 to attack German gun positions. The ground is still pitted with bomb craters and ruined bunkers.

Managed by the American Battle Monuments Commission, it is free to visit and one of the most vivid D-Day sites.

Good to know: Stay on the paths; the cliff edges are unstable.

Pointe du Hoc, 14450 Cricqueville-en-Bessin

Google Maps Website

4. Monet's House and Gardens, Giverny — Giverny, Eure

The painter's pink house and water-lily garden, an hour from Paris.

$ BudgetBest for Art lovers · Couples · Gardens

Claude Monet lived in Giverny for over 40 years and created the flower garden and Japanese-inspired water garden that he painted again and again. His house, with its yellow dining room and Japanese prints, is preserved as he left it.

The gardens are at their most colorful from May to September. The site is seasonal and closed in winter.

Good to know: Buy timed tickets online and come first thing; take the train to Vernon and the shuttle.

84 Rue Claude Monet, 27620 Giverny

Google Maps Website

5. Honfleur — Côte Fleurie, Calvados

A picture-perfect old harbor of tall, slate-fronted houses.

Best for Couples · Photography · Foodies

Honfleur's Vieux Bassin is ringed by tall, narrow houses with slate and timber facades, the scene that drew Boudin, Monet and the Impressionists. The Sainte-Catherine church, built of wood by shipwrights, is the largest wooden church in France.

It is a good stop between Étretat and the D-Day beaches, with seafood restaurants around the harbor.

Good to know: Come early in the morning or at dusk for the harbor reflections without crowds.

Quai Sainte-Catherine, 14600 Honfleur

Google Maps Website

6. Étretat Cliffs — Alabaster Coast, Seine-Maritime

White chalk cliffs and natural arches, painted by Monet.

Best for Couples · Hikers · Photography

Étretat's chalk cliffs, with the arches of the Porte d'Aval and Porte d'Amont and the Aiguille needle, are one of the most dramatic coastal sights in France. Paths climb both sides of the pebble beach to viewpoints.

It is about two and a half hours from Paris by car and pairs well with Honfleur.

Good to know: Stay back from the cliff edges and check tide times before walking below them.

Plage d'Étretat, 76790 Étretat

Google Maps

7. Rouen Cathedral and Old Town — Rouen, Seine-Maritime

The cathedral Monet painted, and a medieval center of half-timbered houses.

Best for History · Architecture · Day trips

Rouen's Gothic Cathédrale Notre-Dame is the facade Monet painted in his famous series, and in summer it hosts an evening light show. Around it, the old town has streets of half-timbered houses, the Gros-Horloge clock and the square where Joan of Arc was burned in 1431.

Rouen is about 1 hour 15 minutes from Paris by train, an easy day trip.

Good to know: Combine with Giverny on a day trip by car, or stay overnight to see the cathedral lit up.

Place de la Cathédrale, 76000 Rouen

Google Maps Website

8. Mémorial de Caen — Caen, Calvados

The most complete museum of World War II and D-Day in Normandy.

$$ Mid-rangeBest for History · Families · Rainy days

The Mémorial de Caen is a large museum covering the Second World War, D-Day and the Battle of Normandy, and the Cold War. It is the best place to understand the context before visiting the beaches.

Allow at least half a day. It also runs guided tours of the landing beaches.

Good to know: Visit before the beaches, not after; book a guided beach tour if you don't have a car.

Esplanade Général Eisenhower, 14050 Caen

Google Maps Website

9. Arromanches and the Mulberry Harbor — Arromanches-les-Bains, Calvados

The remains of the artificial harbor built to supply the invasion.

$ BudgetBest for History · Families

At Arromanches, concrete caissons of the Mulberry harbor, towed across from Britain after D-Day, still sit in the sea. The Musée du Débarquement on the seafront explains how it worked, and Arromanches 360, a circular cinema on the cliff, shows archive footage of the battle.

It is the most visual way to grasp the scale of the operation.

Good to know: Walk up to the cliff top for the best view of the harbor remains.

Place du 6 Juin, 14117 Arromanches-les-Bains

Google Maps Website

10. Juno Beach Centre — Courseulles-sur-Mer, Calvados

Canada's D-Day museum, on the beach where Canadian troops landed.

$ BudgetBest for History · Families

The Juno Beach Centre tells the story of Canada's part in D-Day and the war, on the beach where Canadian troops landed on June 6, 1944. Guided tours take you through German bunkers in front of the museum.

It is essential for Canadian visitors and a thoughtful stop for everyone.

Good to know: Join a guided tour of the bunkers in front of the museum.

Voie des Français Libres, 14470 Courseulles-sur-Mer

Google Maps Website

11. Utah Beach Museum — Sainte-Marie-du-Mont, Manche

A D-Day museum on the beach itself, with a B-26 bomber inside.

$ BudgetBest for History · Families

The Utah Beach Museum stands on the sand where American troops of the 4th Infantry Division landed on D-Day. It tells the story of the landing and displays an original B-26 Marauder bomber.

It pairs with nearby Sainte-Mère-Église, famous for the paratrooper caught on its church steeple.

Good to know: Combine with Sainte-Mère-Église and its Airborne Museum, 15 minutes away.

La Madeleine, 50480 Sainte-Marie-du-Mont

Google Maps Website

12. Deauville and Trouville — Côte Fleurie, Calvados

Twin seaside towns: chic Deauville and the fishing port of Trouville.

Best for Couples · Families · Day trips

Deauville is Normandy's glamorous resort, with its boardwalk Les Planches, colorful parasols, casino and racecourse. Across the river, Trouville is livelier and more down to earth, with a fish market and seafood restaurants.

Both are about two hours from Paris Saint-Lazare by train, making them the easiest Normandy beach trip.

Good to know: Eat seafood at Trouville's fish market, then walk Les Planches in Deauville.

Boulevard de la Mer, 14800 Deauville

Google Maps

Frequently asked questions

Can I see the Bayeux Tapestry in 2026?

Not in Bayeux: it is on loan to the British Museum in London from September 10, 2026 to July 11, 2027, while the Bayeux museum is redeveloped. The town of Bayeux, with its cathedral and medieval center, is still a good base for the D-Day beaches.

How many days do you need in Normandy?

Three days covers the essentials: one for Mont-Saint-Michel, one for the D-Day beaches, and one for Honfleur and Étretat. Giverny and Rouen can be done as a day trip from Paris.

Which D-Day sites should I visit?

For American visitors, the Normandy American Cemetery above Omaha Beach, Pointe du Hoc and the Utah Beach museum; for Canadians, the Juno Beach Centre; and for the full story, the Mémorial de Caen and the Mulberry harbor remains at Arromanches.

When is Monet's garden at Giverny open?

The Fondation Monet opens seasonally, roughly from April to the start of November, and is closed in winter. Late spring brings the tulips and wisteria, and summer the water lilies.

How do I get to Mont-Saint-Michel?

By car or by train to Rennes or Pontorson and then a bus. From the visitor parking on the mainland, free shuttles or a walk of about 40 minutes cross the causeway to the island.

Is Normandy worth visiting in winter?

Yes for the D-Day sites, Mont-Saint-Michel and Rouen, which stay open (with shorter hours); no for Giverny, which closes. Bring layers: the coast is windy and wet.

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