Bayeux Travelers Recommend

The windswept coast of Normandy was the setting for some of the most significant events of World War II, from the D-Day landings to the Battle of Normandy. To learn about the heroic Allied soldiers, here’s a rundown of tour options. 

Group Tours

Group tours offer the best value, allowing you to visit several sites in one tour and often including entrance fees and lunch. Depending on your preferences, perhaps choose a tour that focuses on American D-Day sites such as Utah Beach, Omaha Beach, and Pointe Du Hoc; British sites such as Sword Beach, the Hillman Bunkers, and Pegasus Bridge; or Canadian sites including Juno Beach, the Canadian War Cemetery, and the Hill 67 memorial. For a more personalized experience, opt for a small-group tour limited to about 15 participants. 

Private Tours

Private tours mean you can maximize your time and benefit from the undivided attention of your tour guide. Most importantly, you can customize your itinerary to spend more time at the sites that interest you most, enjoy guided visits of the battlefields and memorials, and travel in comfort with roundtrip transportation included. Tours typically include hotel pickup and drop-off.

Things to Know

• Normandy is located in northwest France on the English Channel coast, and is about 135 miles (220 kilometers) west of Paris (about 2.5 hours away by road and two hours away by train).  

• Tours of the D-Day beaches and battlefields typically run from Bayeux, Caen, Le Havre, and Paris.

• There are five D-Day beaches—from west to east, Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno, and Sword beaches—while other key battle sites include Pointe du Hoc, Arromanches, and Pegasus Bridge.

• Half- and full-day tours are available from Bayeux and Caen.

• Full-day tours from Paris can last up to 14 hours.

• Be sure to wear comfortable walking shoes and dress respectfully if you’re visiting the war cemeteries and memorials.

• Most tours include entrance fees and roundtrip transport; some also include hotel pickup and lunch.

Bayeux is ideally situated for exploring Normandy; three days gives you plenty of time to tick off all of the surrounding sights. Maximize your time by booking a day tour that visits multiple destinations or choose a private tour for greater flexibility. Here’s how to spend three days in Bayeux.

Day 1: Sightseeing in Bayeux

Bayeux’s compact Old Town is best explored on a walking tour, nearly all of which begin with the star attraction—the Bayeux Tapestry Museum (Musée de la Tapisserie). Opt for a morning tour to avoid the crowds and, if visiting independently, grab an audio guide for extra insight into the 1,000-year-old masterpiece.

Afterwards, learn about Bayeux’s lace making heritage at the Conservatoire de la Dentelle (Conservatory of Lace) before visiting the Notre-Dame Cathedral of Bayeux and the Memorial Museum of the Battle of Normandy.

In the evening, book a table at an Old Town restaurant to sample Normandy’s cuisine. Opt for fish stew or meat à la Normande (with a creamy sauce) followed by tarte au pommes (apple tart). To further enjoy Normandy’s cuisine, food lovers can take a full-day tasting tour, which visit cheesemakers and orchards.

Day 2: Discover the D-Day Beaches

Bayeux lies minutes from the D-Day beaches, the landing sites where the fateful events of June 6th 1944 took place. The beaches, battlefields, and WWII sites are scattered all along the coast so having your own transport is essential—join a tour to skip the hassle of car hire and discover important historic context.

Day trips typically visit Utah Beach, Omaha Beach, and Pointe du Hoc, and give you time to pay your respects to the fallen soldiers at the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial. Canadian travelers can also visit Juno Beach and Hill 67, two important sites for Canadian troops. Several museums offer further insight into the historic events— if visiting independently, book tickets in advance for the D-Day Landing Museum of Utah Beach or the Arromanches 360° Cinema to avoid waiting in line.

Day 3: Mont St Michel

There are numerous options for day trips from Bayeux; popular destinations include the historic cities of Rouen and Caen, and the picturesque port towns of Honfleur and Deauville. Normandy’s most impressive attraction is undoubtedly Mont St Michel; a UNESCO World Heritage-listed island monastery and one of the most photographed landmarks in France, which lies just off the coast of south Normandy.

Day trips typically include a walking tour of the hilltop monastery, and give you time to climb to the top and browse the shops in Mont St Michel village; stop at one of the restaurants to enjoy a Breton galette (a buckwheat pancake), a specialty of neighboring Brittany. Booking a round-trip transfer service from Bayeux allows travelers to explore independently without worry about car hire.

Back in Bayeux, spend your final evening in a nearby coastal villages such as Cabourg, Ouistreham, and Luc-sur-Mer; in summer, most host lively night markets with live entertainment.

Two days in Bayeux gives you time to tick off the top sights—which include the world-famous Bayeux Tapestry—and to discover more of Normandy on a day trip. Day tours often visit multiple sights in one day, while private tours let you customize your itinerary. Here’s how to spend two days in Bayeux.

Day 1: The best bits of Bayeux

Morning: Head straight to the Bayeux Tapestry Museum (Musée de la Tapisserie) to admire the UNESCO-listed artwork before the tour buses arrive. Afterwards, browse stalls at the lively Bayeux Market (only on Saturdays) for a taste of local life and cuisine—pick up a bottle of Normandy cider or calvados (apple brandy) as a souvenir.

Afternoon: Explore Bayeux Old Town on a walking tour, which typically cover must-see sights such as the Gothic Notre-Dame Cathedral of Bayeux, the Old Conservatoire de la Dentelle (Conservatory of Lace), the Botanical Gardens, and the Memorial Museum of the Battle of Normandy.

Night: Book a table at a restaurant in the Old Town to sample local delicacies such as fish stew or a meat dish à la Normande (with a creamy sauce); be sure to finish with a cheese plate— camembert is a favorite throughout France—and a classic tarte aux pommes (apple tart). A glass of Normandy cider is also a must.

Day 2: Explore Further Afield

Morning: Day trips from Bayeux typically visit the UNESCO-listed floating monastery of Mont Saint Michel or the nearby cities of Rouen and Caen. If you’ve only got time for one, opt for a tour that explores Normandy’s WWII sites, which include the D-Day Beaches of Omaha and Utah, and the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial.

Afternoon: Visiting the D-Day beaches with a guide provides important historical context, but for greater insight, there are a number of museums worth visiting. Most notable are the D-Day Landing Museum of Utah Beach and the Arromanches 360° Cinema, which shows never-before-seen archive footage—pre-book your tickets to avoid waiting in line.

Night: Summer visitors can enjoy a number of seasonal events in and around Bayeux. Nearby seaside towns such as Cabourg, Ouistreham, and Luc-sur-Mer host lively night markets, while Bayeux presents a dazzling light show several nights a week, against a backdrop of the cathedral.

Most famous for the Bayeux Tapestry, the small town of Bayeux also serves as a strategic base for exploring Normandy. Day tours often combine Bayeux with nearby towns and typically include a tour of the D-Day landing beaches. However, there’s plenty to see and do in the town, too—here are some ideas for how to spend one day in Bayeux.

Morning: The Famous Bayeux Tapestry

Bayeux’s star attraction is a staple of Normandy day trips, so head straight to the Bayeux Tapestry Museum (Musée de la Tapisserie) before the tour buses arrive. The UNESCO-protected monument is more than 1,000 years old and depicts the conquests of William the Conqueror in 1066—opt for an audio guide for extra insight.

After admiring the iconic tapestry, explore the rest of Bayeux Old Town on a walking tour. Tours typically stop at the botanical gardens and Notre-Dame Cathedral of Bayeux, and reveal the city’s lace making history at the Conservatoire de la Dentelle (Conservatory of Lace).

Afternoon: Normandy’s War History

Normandy will forever be remembered as the site of one of the most significant events of World War II. Learn more about the D-Day landings and ensuing Battle of Normandy on a half-day tour of the D-Day Beaches from Bayeux., which tend to stop at WWII battle sites such as Omaha Beach and Pointe du Hoc, the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial, and the D-Day Landing Museum or the Arromanches 360° Cinema—pre-book your tickets to avoid waiting in line.

If you prefer to stay in the town, visit the Memorial Museum of the Battle of Normandy and pay tribute to the Allied soldiers who lost their lives at the Bayeux War Cemetery.

Night: Camembert, Cider, and Calvados

Normandy is renowned for having some of the best cuisine in France and a trip to Bayeux wouldn’t be complete without an evening of fine dining. Book a table at one of the town’s top restaurants to sample local specialties such as camembert cheese, seafood, and fish stew.

Finish with a classic tarte aux pommes (apple tart) and don’t forget to sample Normandy’s famous drinks too—the region is known for its cider and calvados (apple brandy).

Though the Bayeux Tapestry—which depicts the 1066 Norman invasion of England in vivid detail—is the undisputed star attraction in this town in Northern France’s Normandy region, it is just one of several medieval gems. See below for our selection of the can’t-miss medieval sights in Bayeux. 

Bayeux Tapestry

Comprising some 58 separate scenes painstakingly stitched on a 230-foot (70-meter) long strip of canvas, this magnificent artwork chronicles the Norman conquest of England in 1066. Though it was created in 1067, it remains in good condition, with detailed depictions of everyday life and battles providing fascinating insight into life in Norman France. 

Bayeux Cathedral (Cathedrale Notre Dame de Bayeux)

Dating mostly from the 12th and 13th centuries—though some parts such as the 11th-century crypt are even older—this hulking Norman Gothic cathedral is a protected national monument. It was here where the famous Bayeux Tapestry was originally displayed, though the masterpiece has since been moved to a dedicated museum. 

Bayeux Town Center

Having survived World War II intact, Bayeux’s historical town center still retains medieval-era streets and architecture, with rows of medieval houses found overlooking the River Aure. For an immersive experience, attend the town’s summertime Medieval Festival, which consists of reenactments, crafts, games, and performances.