Considering visiting Normandy from Paris? You definitely should! Depending on how much you want to do, you can visit Normandy as a day trip from Paris if you only visit Rouen or spend three to four days road tripping in Normandy to enjoy the tranquility of the countryside in Normandy.
If you’re thinking that Normandy will be anything like Paris, get that thought out of your mind. Expect incredibly friendly people, reasonable accommodation options, mind-blowingly good food at the same price as an average meal in Paris, stunning cities filled with history and fantastic drinks.
This Northern region of France has a rich history stemming from the invasion of the Viking tribes. For those who want to experience the serene beauty of France on an easy weekend trip from Paris will fall in love with the slow pace of Normandy, a sneak preview of how France outside of Paris is.
If you have fewer than four days in Normandy, you might be able to combine two of these day trips into one day as I’ve purposely kept this Normandy itinerary slow to give you time to savor this region. Our Normandy road trip left me wanting for far more than our long weekend in Normandy,
Day 1: Drive along the coast in Normandy
Rent a car in Paris and drive to Normandy’s coast. Be aware that avoiding toll roads in France is tricky and you should expect to pay up to 20 euros to get up to Normandy. If you don’t have four days in Normandy, this part of the trip can easily be done as a weekend trip from Paris.
If you’re trying to do your Normandy trip on a budget (or hate toll roads), it is possible to avoid the tolls with the help of your GPS, but expect to double your time while driving through fields and
Veules-les-Roses
This beautiful town in Normandy is considered one of the most beautiful villages in France and Normandy. Its stunning timbered houses and scenic canals have long been an inspiration for writers and painters.
If you’re looking for a fairytale during your time in Normandy, you must come to Veules-les-Roses, which is a two hour drive from Paris. Be sure to admire the smallest river in France, which runs through the city center.
Petites-Dalles
We ended up driving through Petites-Dalles. I just loved the Victorian houses in the hills. It’s just a beautiful town along the coast. The roads make it a bit tricky to end up near the water, but you’ll find some parking if you want to admire the cliffs. (More epic views coming!)
Sassetot-le-Mauconduit
Another beautiful town in Normandy that we passed through after seeing a sign for a chateau. Be sure to stop off to admire Château de Sissi, an affordable chateau hotel with beautiful gardens.
Fécamp
Fécamp is a historic coastal town in Normandy with some of the most epic cliffs that you’ll find. It’s famous for the Bénédictine liqueur distillery, which is still done at the nearby abbey. Save your appetite until you get here as you’ll find a large assortment of seafood at an affordable price.
We ended up having lunch at La Cave du Salut, an affordable seafood place with delicious mussels with calvados (a local liquor). After, we headed to the beach to admire the cliffs.
Étretat
The highlight of our day along the coast was Étretat. When I was younger, I had seen a photo of these epic cliffs in Normandy, but I never imagined that I’d have the opportunity to visit them. Most people head there from town prior to heading back the same way, however it’s better to park outside of town, close to the golf course (20 Route du Havre).
It’s a longer walk along the outskirts of the golf course, but you’ll be able to walk the full length of the cliffs with fewer people compared to the cliff close to town. Continue walking towards town. I found Étretat quite touristy compared to the other towns, however it’s worth visiting.
Where to stay in Normandy
I recommend staying in the area at one hotel as your base in Normandy for multiple nights and I particularly loved staying in the Parc Naturel Régional des Boucles de la Seine. This park is a protected area meant to preserve both natural environments, historic buildings, and the cultural heritage of this region.
Driving along the windy roads in the fog spotting chateaux as they popped up was dreamy. We did this road trip in October, so the leaves turning just added another dimension to it. I think this area is the perfect base for exploring Normandy by car and our chateau was less expensive than staying at a cozy B&B in Honfleur.
Private family chapel on the chateau property
We stayed in this cozy chateau in Normandy that I found on Airbnb for $81. Our host, the owner of Chateau du Verbosc, and his assistant made us a cozy breakfast while the two adorable cats battled over pets (and food). It was only a forty minute drive from our chateau to the the coast. We ended up having an incredible locally made dinner at Auberge du Val au Cesne, a nearby half-timbered guesthouse from the 17th century surrounded by scenic countryside.
For a more luxurious experience, consider staying at Chateau Du Landin, an epic chateau overlooking the Seine river with a large estate where the staff will cook a candlelit meal for you at your request. It wasn’t available during our dates and it really disappointed me and I had my heart set on it.
Day 2: Honfleur
Honfleur is one of the most beautiful cities in France and it’s worth the trip to this stunning seaside town, even just for the food and the architecture. Located in the Calvados region of Normandy, Honfleur is one of the best places to try calvados, a spirit made with apples.
Its stunning wooden port made me fall in love with the city,
Day 3: Rouen
Rouen is a beautiful city to visit if you’re interested in medieval history. This gorgeous French city with a clocktower dating back to the 14th century and half-timbered houses straight out of a fairy tale has a stunning historic cathedral (Rouen Cathedral) where Richard the Lionheart is buried.
Rouen also is where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake. You can view her memorial in the city center. I just loved getting lost in the cobblestoned alleyways here. Don’t miss Les Berthom for craft beer.
Day 4: D-Day Memorial & The Calvados/Cider Route in Normandy
For anyone visiting Normandy, Omaha Beach is a must-see. You might want to switch hotels as you have a 1.5 hour drive to the area around Honfleur, Rouen, and Parc Naturel Régional des Boucles de la Seine.
I’d recommend staying at one of the many chateaux closer to the Cider Trail to minimize driving back. This historic manor is right along the cider trail and a nice halfway point between Upper and Lower Normandy. Alternatively, this refurbished chateaux is right near the D-Day landings.
Pay your respects at the five beaches where the troops landed in World War II and the various cemeteries for the fallen soldiers. Click for more information about visiting Omaha Beach. I recommend taking a tour if possible to learn more about
Following this somber visit, head towards Normandy’s Cider Route for some cider tastings. Although many foreigners aren’t aware of this, some of the best apple cider in the world comes from Normandy. For a couple of euros, you can try calvados and cider directly at the source along the 40km cider route.
I recommend stopping off in Bonnebosq in particular as it’s particularly well known for cider and on your way back to Paris. Note: Please ensure that the driver doesn’t drink and drive. You can buy a bottle to enjoy at home! Click for a map of the cider trail.
Even if you don’t have time during your four days in Normandy to get out to the cider towns, you’re likely to pass a farm with a sign that says VENDRE with an apple on it if you’re driving on non-highway roads close to Calvados. It usually means that you’ll be able to buy fresh Normandy cider!
Map of your Normandy road trip
Have you been to Normandy?
Please let me know what you thought of this Normandy itinerary and share this post!
This sounds like a dream! Beaches, history, craft cider, beautiful buildings, and delicious food?! Yes please!
Thank you. I am going with my family this summer. This is so helpful
Very helpful guide for variety of activities – thank you so much!
Hi, so thankful for your blog. We booked our flights gets to Paris, but with a lot of family emergencies, we’ve had no time to figure out where to go. We just booked the chateau you recommended that you didn’t get to stay at. It looks amazing.
We want to stay in Paris, but are not sure on which bank to get a hotel. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks
Karen
Hope the family emergency is improving. I generally recommend the right bank, especially the 3rd/4th arrondissement (Le Marais). It’s a good central location with a good selection of hotels for all budgets and typical Parisian buildings, so you can walk a lot of places easily.
Hope your vacation is restorative and you love the chateau! 🙂
Best,
Karen
Great tips! We visited Normandy last summer and only allowed one night which wasn’t enough! We stayed in Bayeux and absolutely loved it. We’re heading back next summer and will be staying 1 night in Bayeux, 1 night in Mont St. Michel and 1 night in Honfleur. Can’t wait!
This is great and timely info. My wife and I are planning a trip for next Sept ish that includes visiting Normandy. Conceptually, we will travel from Amsterdam (by car or train or ?) to Normandy and then from Normandy to Paris and Paris to Dillingen (Saar), Germany. Originally, I was considering a rental and then driving the entire route, but my initial research is indicating that there are sizeable fees for renting/returning vehicles in different countries. Do you know if this is the case? Any suggestions on the leg of the trip from Amsterdam to Normandy? We’d prefer a way that keeps us close to the countryside – we want to experience the country – not just get from Amsterdam to Normandy. Mahalo!
Hi Bryon,
I’d recommend traveling by train to Normandy prior to renting a car in Paris. It’s probably cheaper to just rent it for the Normandy part of the trip. Alternatively, you could take the train through Belgium to Normandy prior to renting a car in Normandy itself–and then just taking the train to Paris. Belgium is full of charming towns and stunning countryside. You can check my blog for some recommendations in Belgium.
Most agencies fine you if you try to return the car somewhere different than where you started. It’s good to check to ensure that the same agencies are where you’re going and the policy of your rental.
Best,
Karen
Dear Karen,
This is a beautifulj road trip. My husband and I plan to have 4 days in end of May this year.. After read your itineray, it very helpful to us. All places are very amazing. We may copy your plan, thank you very much for share such a beautiful trip.
Chalee
Used your website as inspiration and ended up having our base in Honfleur. Such a beautiful place.
Cannot wait to return to Normandy again.
Karen, If I wanted to start from Honfleur and work senicly up to Calais to get to london. Whats your recommendation 🙂
my best,
Nicole
Thanks Karen, this info is very helpful. We, as a family, are planning a trip to the region in March and had no idea where to base ourselves!
Hello, this is great! We are traveling to Paris for a few days and then thinking of renting a villa in normandy for a week. Any ideas where a good “base” would be to do day trips to?
It depends on what you want to see in Normandy. We stuck along the eastern coast, but both sides of the coast are lovely. I found a location closer to Honfleur to be helpful and there are many villas in the Parc Regionale mentioned in my article.
Thank you for sharing. I literally can not wait to plan this trip.
We are thinking of visiting Paris and then doing your tour of Normandy. Is there a particular villa in the Parc Regionale that you recommend? Also, if we are coming from Paris, do you recommend we rent a car in Paris and drive to Normandy, or do you recommend we train toward Normandy and rent a car outside of Paris? If so, what town?
Unfortunately, the one that I stayed at does not host anymore, but I link to a few other options within the post. A car is best for exploring Normandy!
Hi Karen!
My husband and I are hoping to plan a trip to the Normandy area France in the next year or two. I would love to get your help in planning this trip, we will be celebrating 50 years of marriage. Your post is amazing and it’s been so helpful already…I know this is what we want to do.
Thank you,
Linda Wyatt
Friend and i are planning to fly into paris stay 2 nts rent a car and head to normandy. We will take our car and ferry to guernsey for 5 nts then back to normandy area and head to paris to fly home to usa. Want to find a cool village between nrmandy and paris for a couple nts. We just plan to overnite in paris close to airport before we return home. Any suggestions on a quaint village for a noght or two on the way back to paris?
Perhaps Rouen or Lyons-la-Forêt ?
Hello
I am planning a trip to France for two weeks next summer 2022. We would like to see Normandy Paris and wine country. Can this be done in two weeks
It’s a lot, but I think so if you plan well!
Love you post, very informative. Do you have any suggestion for a private tour guide in this region?
Your thoughts on city/where to stay when visiting Normandy area. Plan to drive from CDG. Want to see D-Day Beaches, Mont Saint-Michel, other sights of interest. Thinking of staying in Caen or Bayeux. B&B suggestion?
Greetings from the sunny Panhandle of Florida! Thank you so much for all of the information you have shared, as we have only ever visited Paris and Avignon. My husband has his heart set on WW2 history, while I have my heart set on horseback riding, breathtaking castles, and amazing food!!!!
I look forward to any input you can offer; nothing like putting a trip together last minute.
Be well,
Chance S,