📍 France

NORMANDY COMPLETE: HISTORY, CLIFFS AND CIDER VILLAGES

Chalk cliffs plunging into the Channel, half-timbered houses huddled around harbors, cider orchards and D-Day memorials. Normandy in all its diversity.

≈ 17
Days
888
Km
14
Stops
📖 9 min read 🔄 Last updated: 2026-01-17

Explore Normandy between memory and landscapes. Visit Bayeux and D-Day sites. Walk atop Étretat cliffs. Wander Honfleur. Discover Rouen and its cathedral. Cross Norman villages between orchards and half-timbering.

Your day-by-day itinerary

1
Day

Bayeux

medieval cathedral d-day tapestry

Bayeux - Photo 1Bayeux - Photo 2Bayeux - Photo 3
3 photos
Day 1
🔍

Discover

1
Bayeux — Bayeux Tapestry (Centre Guillaume-le-Conquérant)
2
Bayeux — Notre-Dame Cathedral and medieval old town
3
Bayeux — Baron Gérard Museum of Art and History
4
Bayeux — Botanical garden (weeping sequoia)
🎯

Activities

→
Urban stroll — ramparts and canals circuit
🚗
Next stop
Distance: 95 km
Travel time: 1h35
2
Day

Barfleur

stone harbor normandy northeast

Barfleur - Photo 1Barfleur - Photo 2Barfleur - Photo 3Barfleur - Photo 4Barfleur - Photo 5
5 photos
Day 2
🔍

Discover

1
Omaha Beach — Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer sector (monuments & beach)
2
Normandy American Cemetery (Colleville-sur-Mer)
3
Pointe du Hoc — trail on the craters and bunkers
4
Utah Beach — Landing Museum & beach
+2 Places visited
🎯

Activities

→
Coastal walk — dike and jetty of Barfleur
🚗
Next stop
Distance: 120 km
Travel time: 2h10
3
Day

Gouville Sur Mer

quiet harbor fishing village charm

Gouville Sur Mer - Photo 1Gouville Sur Mer - Photo 2Gouville Sur Mer - Photo 3Gouville Sur Mer - Photo 4Gouville Sur Mer - Photo 5
5 photos
Day 3
🔍

Discover

1
Baie d'Écalgrain — panorama & coastal path
2
Jobourg Caves — viewpoint
3
Vauville marsh nature reserve — Thot viewpoint
4
Flamanville Castle — gardens (exterior)
+1 Places visited
🎯

Activities

→
Coastal hike — between dunes and foreshore (marked trail section)
🚗
Next stop
Distance: 37 km
Travel time: 45min
4
Day

Granville

rampart town beach fortress

Granville - Photo 1Granville - Photo 2Granville - Photo 3Granville - Photo 4Granville - Photo 5
5 photos
Day 4
🔍

Discover

1
Pointe d'Agon — lighthouse & Sienne nature reserve
2
Coutances — Notre-Dame Cathedral
3
Coutances — Bishop's Palace Park & public garden
4
Granville — Upper Town, ramparts & Pointe du Roc
+2 Places visited
🎯

Activities

→
Harbor walk — Granville docks and fish market
5
Day

Granville

rampart town beach fortress

Granville - Photo 1Granville - Photo 2Granville - Photo 3Granville - Photo 4Granville - Photo 5
5 photos
Day 5
🔍

Discover

1
Chausey Islands Archipelago — lighthouse & Blainvillais village
2
Chausey Islands — Fort & Lambert Tower (exteriors)
3
Chausey Islands — beaches and coves (wildlife observation)
🎯

Activities

→
Commented boat tour of the archipelago (depending on tides)
🚗
Next stop
Distance: 23 km
Travel time: 30min
6
Day

Mont Saint Michel

tidal island abbey monumental

Mont Saint Michel - Photo 1Mont Saint Michel - Photo 2Mont Saint Michel - Photo 3Mont Saint Michel - Photo 4Mont Saint Michel - Photo 5Mont Saint Michel - Photo 6
6 photos
Day 6
🔍

Discover

1
Mont-Saint-Michel — ramparts & Grand'Rue
2
Mont-Saint-Michel — Abbey (visit)
3
Mont-Saint-Michel — museums & viewpoints over the bay
🎯

Activities

→
'Le Passeur' shuttle — causeway/parking crossing
→
Sunset — viewpoint over the bay
🚗
Next stop
Distance: 115 km
Travel time: 1h50
7
Day

Clecy

river valley pastoral serenity

Clecy - Photo 1Clecy - Photo 2Clecy - Photo 3Clecy - Photo 4Clecy - Photo 5
5 photos
Day 7
🔍

Discover

1
Mortain — Great Waterfalls & White Abbey (ext.)
2
Norman Switzerland — Rocher de la Houle (belvedere)
3
Suisse Normande — Rocher des Parcs (ridges)
4
Roches d'Oëtre — viewpoint & trail
🎯

Activities

→
Orne ridges hike (marked route)
🚗
Next stop
Distance: 120 km
Travel time: 1h50
8
Day

Le Neubourg

countryside crossroads rural heartland

Le Neubourg - Photo 1Le Neubourg - Photo 2Le Neubourg - Photo 3Le Neubourg - Photo 4Le Neubourg - Photo 5
5 photos
Day 8
🔍

Discover

1
Château de Carrouges — courtyard, dwelling & park
2
Château du Champ-de-Bataille — French formal gardens
3
Château du Champ-de-Bataille — grand apartments (if open)
🎯

Activities

→
Picnic in the gardens (authorized area)
🚗
Next stop
Distance: 80 km
Travel time: 1h15
9
Day

Giverny

monet gardens impressionist dreams

Giverny - Photo 1Giverny - Photo 2Giverny - Photo 3Giverny - Photo 4Giverny - Photo 5Giverny - Photo 6Giverny - Photo 7Giverny - Photo 8Giverny - Photo 9
9 photos
Day 9
🔍

Discover

1
Acquigny — village stroll & water features
2
Giverny — Claude Monet Foundation (house & gardens)
3
Museum of Impressionisms (Giverny)
🎯

Activities

→
Countryside stroll along the Epte
🚗
Next stop
Distance: 40 km
Travel time: 50min
10
Day

Les Andelys

river cliffs chateau ruins

Les Andelys - Photo 1Les Andelys - Photo 2
2 photos
Day 10
🔍

Discover

1
Gisors — Castle (feudal motte) & ramparts
2
Gisors — Saint-Gervais-Saint-Protais Church
3
Les Andelys — Château Gaillard (panorama over the Seine)
4
Les Andelys — Notre-Dame & Nicolas Poussin Museum
🎯

Activities

→
Walk along the Seine — Petit & Grand Andely
🚗
Next stop
Distance: 45 km
Travel time: 55min
11
Day

Rouen

cathedral spires medieval soul

Rouen - Photo 1Rouen - Photo 2Rouen - Photo 3Rouen - Photo 4Rouen - Photo 5Rouen - Photo 6
6 photos
Day 11
🔍

Discover

1
Rouen — Notre-Dame Cathedral
2
Rouen — Rue du Gros-Horloge & Place du Vieux-Marché
3
Rouen Museum of Fine Arts
4
Museum of Ceramics (earthenware)
+1 Places visited
🎯

Activities

→
Half-day tour — historic center on foot
🚗
Next stop
Distance: 70 km
Travel time: 1h20
12
Day

Etretat

chalk cliffs arch against sky

Etretat - Photo 1Etretat - Photo 2Etretat - Photo 3Etretat - Photo 4Etretat - Photo 5Etretat - Photo 6
6 photos
Day 12
🔍

Discover

1
Jumièges Abbey — ruins & park
2
Étretat — Aval and Amont cliffs (trails)
3
Étretat — Needle & beach (depending on tide)
🎯

Activities

→
Coastal hike — GR® towards Aval gate (portion)
🚗
Next stop
Distance: 28 km
Travel time: 40min
13
Day

Le Havre

industrial port art deco geometry

Le Havre - Photo 1Le Havre - Photo 2Le Havre - Photo 3Le Havre - Photo 4
4 photos
Day 13
🔍

Discover

1
Le Havre — Perret District (UNESCO) & model apartment
2
Le Havre — Saint-Joseph Church (tower-lantern)
3
Le Havre — Hanging Gardens
4
Le Havre — Docks Baths (exterior) & seafront
🎯

Activities

→
Beach & esplanades stroll
🚗
Next stop
Distance: 25 km
Travel time: 35min
14
Day

Honfleur

harbor boats painted countless times

Honfleur - Photo 1Honfleur - Photo 2Honfleur - Photo 3Honfleur - Photo 4Honfleur - Photo 5
5 photos
Day 14
🔍

Discover

1
Honfleur — Old Basin & alleys
2
Honfleur — Garden of Personalities
3
Honfleur — Churches & museums (Boudin / Marine / Satie House, your choice)
4
Deauville — Promenade des Planches & parasols
🎯

Activities

→
Architectural walk — half-timbered villas (Deauville-Trouville)
🚗
Next stop
Distance: 90 km
Travel time: 1h15
15
Day

Caen

normandy memorial and stone streets

Caen - Photo 1Caen - Photo 2Caen - Photo 3Caen - Photo 4
4 photos
Day 15
🔍

Discover

1
Caen — Caen Castle (walls & museum, depending on time)
2
Caen — Abbey of Women
3
Caen — Maison des Quatrans & old center
4
Caen — Notre-Dame de la Gloriette Church
🎯

Activities

→
Pedestrian circuit — historic center & shops

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❓ Frequently asked questions

What weather should you expect?

Spring (April-June): Perfect weather, blooming countryside, ideal for all regions, moderate crowds, excellent value, romantic atmosphere.

Summer (July-August): Warmest weather, peak tourist season, highest prices, crowded attractions, perfect for Mediterranean coast, festival season.

Fall (September-October): Harvest season, comfortable temperatures, fewer crowds, wine regions spectacular, excellent photography, good value.

Winter (November-March): Christmas markets, ski season Alps, fewer crowds, lowest prices, cozy indoor attractions, cultural experiences.

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We believe you will enjoy this itinerary best by dedicating between 14 and 20 days. The next step will allow you to adjust the duration of your stay.

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