A stoic reminder of one of the greatest events in World War II, many history buffs and descendants of WWII veterans flock to these shores to learn more about this grisly yet triumphant day.
Although there were thousands of casualties, their victory marked a distinctive turning point that would ultimately win the war with Germany. This two-day itinerary through Normandy follows the five main landing areas for the Allied Forces. America, French, Canadian, and British forces, among a few other European battalions, came together that day.
Start your first morning of exploring the D-Day Beaches just east of Ouistreham, a city on the far eastern edge of this section of Normandy. Still, many visitors choose to stay in the small, seaside hamlet of Arromanches. Where you spend the night depends entirely on which sights are most important to you, how close you want to be to the beaches, and whether you want to experience the countryside of a city. Much like Ireland and England to the north, Normandy sees variable weather and plenty of rainfall throughout the year.
That being said, some of the best times to visit the D-Day Beaches are in spring and fall. Precipitation is fairly consistent throughout the year, with a chance of rain at any time, but temperatures are perfect for exploring these sites along the coast from April to May and September to October.
Keep in mind that the average hours of daylight in October is 11 making it more difficult to pack in seeing all of the sites! Although the shoulder seasons of spring and fall are both great times to visit the D-Day Beaches, many visitors come for the anniversary of the Allied Invasion on June 6th. Those who do decide to visit on June 6th will be treated to reenactments, memorials, and more festivities.
