While many travelers can only squeeze in a day trip to Normandy from Paris, just as many others dedicate a couple of days here to take advantage of the many available Normandy D-Day tours. Booking a local day tour of the many worthwhile D-Day sites is the best way to get the most out of your visit.
Why book one of the Normandy D-Day tours?
Day tours in Normandy are great for many reasons, for instance:
- Transportation – There’s not a lot of reliable public transportation here, so booking a tour will ensure you can get to all the sites you want to see without having to rent a car.
- Expertise – The Normandy tour guides are experts in their field and can provide loads of historical background on the sites you’ll visit.
- Planning – Or really, the lack thereof. Book yourself on a tour and you won’t have to deal with any of the logistical planning.
- Like-minded travelers – On tours like these you get to meet like-minded travelers excited to discuss the topics at hand and share these experiences. This is especially great if you’re traveling solo.
This post only covers D-Day tours originating in Normandy. You have to already be here to join them, or be able to easily get here before the start time. With the exception of two, all the rest start and end in the town of Bayeux (a great Normandy base BTW). If you’re looking for Normandy day tours starting and ending in Paris, check out my post on Normandy day tours from Paris.
Choosing the best Normandy D-Day tours
But which of the many available tours out there are the best ones? Which ones go to the best places and cover the most ground? Luckily, you have a World War II travel expert at your disposal to scrutinize them all and help you choose!
I haven’t taken all the tours on this list, but I do have a keen sense of what the average Normandy visitor wants from a tour of the D-Day sites. To create this list, I’ve compared the many available tours against my stringent set of criteria. I’ve taken into account things like:
- Cost/value
- Customer rating and reviews
- Length of the tour and start/end times
- Overall benefit (Is it worth your valuable time?)
- Topic/focus of the tour
- Ease of logistics
…and much more. All so you can be sure which of these Normandy D-Day tours are the most deserving of your precious time and money. All the tours in this post are English-language tours and all prices are listed in U.S. dollars.
So how do I go about choosing which tours are the “best?” Well, I’m extremely particular when it comes to booking travel. I’ll never recommend anything that’s rated lower than 4 out of 5 stars, anything with no reviews, or anything that’s offered by a company that looks less than reputable. As always, I only recommend the things I would personally book for myself. (And I’m a hard sell.)
And if you do find yourself in Paris, be sure to check out the many interesting WWII sites in Paris. There are some great museums and memorials here not to miss.
My favorite day tour companies
The two companies I always go to for day tours (anywhere I go) are Viator and Get Your Guide. I’ve booked many tours through them and have always been satisfied. They’re both well-known in the travel industry; Viator is owned by TripAdvisor. They’re both super easy to book with; most tours offer free cancelation; and they always have competitive prices.
So, let’s get to it! All things considered, these are my choices for the best D-Day tours in Normandy for 2024.
For more information on each of the sites and museums mentioned in this post, check out my articles on what to see at each of the five Allied landing beach sectors: Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno, & Sword Beaches.
Best D-Day tours in Normandy: at a glance
In this post, I’ll dig into what makes these the best D-Day tours to take in Normandy. I’ll tell you why I picked them, what makes them stand out among the others, what they include (and what they don’t), and more. But first, here’s the quick list of my picks for the 10 best Normandy D-Day tours:
- Best overall: Normandy American D-Day Beaches Full Day Tour from Bayeux
- Best half-day tour: American D-Day Sites in Normandy Half-Day Tour
- Best private tour: Private Full-Day American D-Day Tour from Bayeux
- Best shore excursion: D-Day Landing Beaches Shore Excursion from Le Havre
- Best Band of Brothers tour: Omaha and Band of Brothers Full Day Tour from Bayeux
- Best tour for Canadian visitors: Full-Day Canadian Battlefields and Sites of Normandy Tour
- Most unique Normandy D-Day tour: Half-Day Sidecar Excursion to the Landing Beaches
- Best tour from Caen: Guided D-Day Sites Tour & Caen Memorial Museum
- Best D-Day tour for British visitors: Private Guided British D-Day Tour from Bayeux
- Best bonus D-Day sites tour: Utah & Omaha Beaches D-Day Group Tour from Bayeux
That’s the simple list; now let’s dig deeper into which of these Normandy D-Day tours is going to be the best for you.
Also check out: 10 Things You Need to Know Before Visiting Normandy’s D-Day Sites
1. Best overall Normandy D-Day tour from Bayeux
My pick for best overall: Normandy American D-Day Beaches Full Day Tour from Bayeux
Without a doubt, my pick for the absolute best D-Day tour in Normandy is this one, for 3 main reasons: it’s a small group tour (maximum 8 people); it has a 5-star rating after almost 1,000 reviews; and it stops at all the right places.
What you’ll see on this tour
This tour includes stops at:
- Omaha Beach
- St-Mère-Église
- Pointe du Hoc
- Utah Beach and the Utah Beach Museum
- Normandy American Cemetery
- La Cambe German Cemetery*
*This stop isn’t listed in the tour description, but many recent reviews say they also stopped here. If you read my post on the best D-Day sites to visit, you’ll know why I recommend a stop at the German cemetery as well.
Why it’s the best
This tour includes all sites I absolutely recommend visiting and no unnecessary fluff. This tour is also ideal for American visitors since it focuses on the American landing zones of Utah and Omaha Beaches. If you have to choose just one day tour for Normandy, this is your best option!
I also love small-group tours because of the individual attention each visitor receives and it’s just a more enjoyable experience overall. (No being herded or not being able to ask questions, etc.) Plus, this tour has a 5-star rating and almost a thousand rave reviews! Reviewers’ favorite aspects of this tour have been the knowledgeable tour guides and the choice of stops.
What to expect on this tour:
This is a full-day (9-hour) tour that starts and ends in Bayeux. It includes:
- Pick-up and drop-off in Bayeux
- Your own knowledgeable guide
- Air conditioned private transportation
- Free cancelation up to 24 hours before your tour’s start time
It does not include lunch, optional gratuities, or other personal expenses.
How much this tour costs
As of November 2024, this tour is offered 7 days a week and costs just $135 per person (but will be going up to $151 in January). All things considered, I feel this is a fantastic value for such a highly-rated tour that visits many of the best sites. I would absolutely book this tour myself.
A similar option
There’s another tour that’s similar to this one but that trades in the Utah Beach Museum and La Cambe Germany Cemetery for a visit to the small village of Angoville-au-Plain. If you’d like to visit a small local village where a lot of fighting took place (by the 101st Airborne), check out: Utah & Omaha Beach D-Day Tour from Bayeux Station.
This tour also has a 5-star rating and tons of rave reviews and is also a small-group tour with a maximum of 8 people.
2. Best half-day Normandy D-Day tour
My pick for best half-day Normandy D-Day tour: American D-Day Sites in Normandy Half-Day Tour from Bayeux
If you find yourself on a time budget here in Normandy but still want to see some of the top D-Day sites, this is the tour for you. This 4-hour tour visits the key American locations, has a maximum of 8 passengers, and has a 5-star review rating.
What you’ll see on this tour
This half-day Normandy tour includes stops at:
- Omaha Beach
- Normandy American Cemetery
- Pointe du Hoc
Why it’s the best
If you have limited time for a D-Day tour, these are three sites you shouldn’t miss. It caps the tour at 8 people for a more personalized experience, and it has a 5-star rating after hundreds of rave reviews. All the best reviews go to the tour guide Matt!
Another thing I love about this tour is that you can choose between morning or afternoon start times. Because it’s just a half-day tour, you can opt for either a 9:00 am start or a 2:00 pm start.
What to expect on this tour
This is a half-day tour (4 hours) that starts and ends in Bayeux. It includes:
- Pick-up and drop-off in Bayeux city center
- Private, air conditioned transportation
- Your own knowledgeable tour guide
- Free cancelation up to 24 hours before your tour
It does not include lunch, optional gratuities, or your own personal expenses.
How much this tour costs
As of November 2024, this tour is offered 7 days a week, two times per day, and costs $84.25 per person. For a small group tour that visits the three main American D-Day sites with a passionate and knowledgeable guide, this is a great deal.
3. Best private D-Day Normandy tour
My pick for best private D-Day tour in Normandy: Private Full-day American D-Day Guided Tour from Bayeux
There was some stiff competition here for best private tour, but ultimately I chose this one, for many reasons.
What you’ll see on this tour
The greatest thing about hiring a private tour guide for Normandy is you get to choose which sites you visit. Most guides have a list of sites they think are best, but all are open to amending your tour to your preferences. For instance, on this tour, you’ll visit
- Utah & Omaha Beaches (the two American landing beaches)
- Normandy American Cemetery
- Pointe du Hoc (American battleground)
- Sainte-Mère-Église
But again, the guides are happy to work with you to choose which sites to visit in order to create the D-Day tour you’ve always wanted.
Why it’s the best
I chose this particular tour for the best private option for a few reasons. First, the reviews. Nothing but 5-star satisfied customers here! (A rarity!) Specifically about the guide–the terms most often used are “phenomenal,” “exceptional,” and “a pleaser to work with.”
Additionally, this tour is available for groups up to 8 people (whereas many of the others can only accommodate 4) and as such is a much better (per-person) value than many others
What to expect on this tour
This is a full-day (9-hour) private tour that starts and ends in Bayeux. It includes:
- Fully customizable itinerary of sites that you choose (or go with the pre-planned ones)
- Your own private expert local guide people can’t say enough good things about
- Air conditioned private transportation
It does not include lunch and other personal expenses, optional gratuities, or museum admission if you choose to visit an extra museum.
How much this tour costs
As of November 2024, this tour costs $644 for a group up to 8 people, for everything mentioned above. This is a great option for larger groups or families, but at this price point is just as awesome for couples looking for a personalized experience.
4. Best shore excursion Normandy D-Day tour
My pick for best shore excursion to Normandy’s D-Day sites: D-Day Landing Beaches Shore Excursion from Le Havre
If you’re planning to arrive to the area via cruise ship and are looking to spend a day exploring Normandy’s historic sites, this is the best D-Day tour for you, tailor-made for cruise ship passengers.
What you’ll see on this tour
This full-day Normandy D-Day tour includes visits to:
- Pointe du Hoc
- Omaha Beach
- Normandy American Cemetery
Why it’s the best
If you’re visiting Normandy via cruise ship, you’ll most likely dock at the port in Le Havre. But seeing as how most Normandy D-Day tours leave from Bayeux, your options are limited. This particular tour is tailor-made for cruise ship passengers like you.
You’ll get picked up and dropped off right there at the port near your ship by a guide who understands your particular needs as a cruise ship passenger on a shore excursion. The three sites it includes are my top 3 recommendations for anyone visiting Normandy for any amount of time. And most importantly, it has a 5-star rating and rave reviews.
What to expect on this tour
This full-day (10-hour) shore excursion starts and ends at the cruise port in Le Havre. It includes:
- Expert guide to tell you all about the sites you’ll visit plus the relevant history of Le Havre as well
- Round trip transportation to and from your cruise port
- Free cancelation up to 24 hours before your scheduled tour
It does not include lunch, optional gratuities, or your own personal expenses.
How much this tour costs
As of November 2024, this tour ranges in cost depending on which month of the year you book and how many people are in your group, but the lowest rates are around $350 per person. Take a look at their availability calendar to see the different prices.
5. Best Band of Brothers tour
My pick for the best Band of Brothers-inspired tour: Omaha and Band of Brothers Full Day Tour from Bayeux
There’s a good chance that if you’re here looking at Normandy D-Day tours then you’ve either read the book by Stephen Ambrose or watched the Steven Spielberg/Tom Hanks miniseries Band of Brothers. (And if you haven’t, go do that… NOW.) If you’re as big a fan of the story as I am, you’ll love this tour.
What you’ll see on this tour
This full-day tour of Normandy’s D-Day sites includes visits to:
- Omaha Beach
- Normandy American Cemetery
- Pointe du Hoc
- Sainte-Mère-Église
- Airborne Museum
- Plane crash site at Beuzeville-au-Plain
- Marmion’s Farm
- Brécourt Manor
- Angoville-au-Plain
- Drop Zone D
- Carentan
This tour is specifically tailored to intrigue fans of the show Band of Brothers so you’ll visit many lesser-known sites and learn more about the history.
You can watch Band of Brothers here on Amazon and it’s also currently available on Netflix, Hulu, and HBO Max.
Why it’s the best
This tour is operated by Overlord Tour, a leading tour company in the area specifically dedicated to D-Day history. Its itinerary and guides have rave reviews and it’s a favorite among Band of Brothers fans and WWII buffs in general.
I like that it visits the top sites, but also many more obscure sites that the majority of visitors don’t get to see or learn about. You’re sure to make some good friends on this group tour. I also really like the price point—good value here for sure.
What to expect on this tour
This full-day (9-hour) tour starts and ends in Bayeux. It includes:
- Your own knowledgeable guide
- Round trip transportation
- Small-group limited to 16 people
- Free cancelation up to 24 hours before your start time
It does not include the cost of lunch, any optional gratuities, or other personal expenses.
How much this tour costs
As of November 2024, this tour is offered 7 days a week and costs $152 per person. Something I’d like to note about the cost: When you book this tour directly with Overlord Tours instead of through Viator, the cost is slightly lower (€130 which is about $141 US).
While this may be tempting, consider this: when you book through Viator, you get the benefit of a full refund if you need to cancel anytime up to 24 hours before the start of your scheduled tour.
When you book directly with Overlord, if you should need to cancel or you simply change your mind, you’ll be subject to a 6% cancelation fee no matter what. If you need to cancel within 14 days of your tour, you now owe a 50% cancelation fee. And if you should want to cancel within a week of your tour, you lose 100% of your booking cost.
That’s just something to think about. Don’t always be so quick to choose the lowest price without digging a little deeper. (Personally, I’d be happy to pay the $16 more for the peace of mind because I know how unpredictable travel planning can be.) By booking with Viator, you still get the highly-rated Overlord tour, but you also get a little bit more freedom and forgiveness.
6. Best D-Day tour for Canadian visitors
My pick for the best D-Day tour for Canadian visitors: Full-Day Canadian Battlefields and Sites of Normandy Tour
You’ve probably noticed that most of these tours center around the American D-Day achievements, but Canada and Great Britain also participated in this monumental invasion. Canadian visitors, this tour focuses on the struggles and achievements of your fellow countrymen.
What you’ll see on this tour
This full-day tour of Normandy D-Day sites includes stops at:
- Juno Beach and the Juno Beach Center
- Beny-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery
- The communes of Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer, Bernieres-sur-Mer, Authie, Abbey d’Ardenne, and Carpiquet to follow the Canadian advance
Why it’s the best
As far as Normandy D-Day tours go, there are very few that specifically focus on the battles and achievements of Canadian troops. This tour does not only that, but it also maxes out at 8 passengers, has a 5-star rating, and tons of rave reviews about the tour guides. Plus, the price tag makes this a fantastic value.
What to expect on this tour
This full-day (8-hour) tour starts and ends in Bayeux. It includes:
- Your own expert tour guide
- Small-group tour of 8 passengers or less
- Pick-up and drop-off in Bayeux as well as transportation between the sites
- Juno Beach Center admission costs
It does not include lunch, gratuities, or other personal expenses. For a full refund, you must cancel within one week of your chosen tour’s start time.
How much this tour costs
As of November 2024, this tour is offered 7 days a week and costs $144 per person. This is a great deal, especially considering this is one of the only tours of its kind dedicated to Canadian-only D-Day sites.
7. Most unique Normandy D-Day tour
My pick for the most unique Normandy D-Day tour: Half-Day Sidecar Excursion to the Landing Beaches
For something quite different than all the other Normandy D-Day tours out there, check out this tour of the D-Day sites via fully restored vintage sidecars!
What you’ll see on this tour
This half-day D-Day sites tour includes visits to:
- Arromanches-les-Bains (one of my favorite spots)
- Longues-sur-Mer
- The commune of Port-en-Bessin-Huppain
- Omaha Beach
- Normandy American Cemetery
And all of your travel between the sites will take place aboard some awesome vintage sidecars. What a unique way to explore Normandy!
Why it’s the best
I love this tour because it’s something totally different from the rest. Rather than drive between the sites in a sedan or multi-passenger van (or worse, a giant tour bus), you get to see Normandy from a totally unique (and fun!) perspective.
Beyond that, this is one of the few Normandy day tours that visits Arromanches-les-Bains and the German battery at Longues-sur-Mer. The commune of Arromanches is located in the Gold Beach sector and is famous for being the location of the artificial harbors that helped the Allies win the war (which you can still see out in the ocean today).
The Longues-sur-Mer battery is another great site I recommend visiting. Here, you’ll find the most intact German battery that still exists and it really helps to put German defense of the “Atlantic Wall” into perspective.
This tour also has a 5-star rating and nothing but rave reviews. I also love how hard they work to make visiting these somber locations fun and interesting.
What to expect on this tour
This half-day (4-hour) tour starts and ends in Bayeux. It includes:
- Private, round-trip transportation
- Use of vintage helmets, gloves, glasses, and jackets for some fun photo ops
- Fully licensed and insured professional tour guides
- Maximum of 8 people on this tour
- Full refund if canceled up to 24 hours before your tour’s starting time
It does not include the cost of lunch, gratuities, or other personal expenses.
How much this tour costs
As of November 2024, this tour is offered 7 days a week and costs $258 per person. For such a unique and fun tour, and one of your only chances to visit Arromanches and Longues-sur-Mer, this price point makes sense, even if it is just a half-day tour. This will definitely be an experience you’ll never forget.
8. Best Normandy D-Day tour from Caen
My pick for the best Normandy tour from Caen: Guided D-Day Sites Tour & Caen Memorial Museum
It’s true that most of the best Normandy D-Day tours start and end in Bayeux, but what if you’re staying in Caen? Rather than having to make your way to Bayeux to start your tour, check out this one that starts and ends in Caen.
What you’ll see on this tour
This full-day tour includes visits to:
- Caen Memorial Museum
- Omaha Beach
- Normandy American Cemetery
- Pointe du Hoc
Why it’s the best
This is one of the only available Normandy D-Day tours that includes a self-guided visit to the Caen Memorial Museum, widely believed to be the best World War II museum in France. I personally consider this museum a must-visit, so I love that this tour includes it. I also like that the museum portion of the tour is self-guided since everyone visits museums in their own way.
This is another small-group tour (capped at 7 people) and it has tons of rave reviews, especially of the guides (5/5).
What to expect on this tour
This full-day (7-hour) tour starts and ends in Caen. It includes:
- Private, round-trip transportation
- Admission to the Caen Memorial Museum
- Your own knowledgeable tour guide
- Maximum of 7 people total
- Full refund if canceled within 2 days of your tour
It does not include lunch, optional gratuities, or other personal expenses.
How much this tour costs
As of November 2024, this tour is offered 7 days a week and costs $132 per person all year long. Since this includes museum admission (about $22 US), that makes this tour one great value to visit these top locations.
9. Best tour for British visitors
My pick for best D-Day tour for British visitors: Private Guided British D-Day Tour from Bayeux
Despite the fact that Great Britain was a massive participant in the D-Day landings, landing at two of the five beaches, there are shockingly few tours that focus on the British sectors. However, there is one really great option.
What you’ll see on this tour
This full-day tour includes visits to:
- Pegasus Bridge
- The Hillman Site
- Gold and Sword Beaches
- German battery at Longues-sur-Mer
- Arromanches and its artificial harbors
- Bayeux War Cemetery
Why it’s the best
So few Normandy D-Day tours visit the British sectors and this one is great because it visits so many (without a lot of fluff in between). You also have some very knowledgeable and passionate guides leading you. (And nothing but 5-star reviews!)
What to expect on this tour
This full-day (8-9-hour) tour starts and ends in beautiful Bayeux. It includes:
- Pick-up, drop-off, and round-trip transportation between all sites
- Private transportation in an air conditioned vehicle
- Your own expert tour guide
It does not include lunch or other personal expenses.
How much this tour costs
As of November 2024, this tour is offered 7 days a week (but does sell out!) and costs $854 per group up to 8 people. This is one of the best per-person rates of all the private Normandy tours I’ve seen.
10. Best bonus D-Day sites tour
My pick for best bonus D-Day sites tour: Utah & Omaha Beaches D-Day Group Tour from Bayeux
This tour visits many of the same sites as the others, but I’m calling this a “bonus” tour because it passes by a number of additional sites you might not otherwise see. Even though these are just “pass-by” stops, they still might interest you.
What you’ll see on this tour
This full-day tour includes visits to:
- Normandy American Cemetery
- Pointe du Hoc
- Airborne Museum
- Sainte-Mère-Église
- Utah Beach
- Commune of Angoville-au-Plain, drop zone of the 101st Airborne
- Site of the hedgerows battle (pass by)
- Major Richard Winters Memorial (pass by)
- Sainte-Marie-du-Mont (pass by)
Why it’s the best
On this tour, even in between stops you’ll get to see interesting things like the famous hedgerows (“bocage”) and the monument to Maj. Dick Winters whom you may know from Band of Brothers.
This tour also has a 5-star rating and is one of the most popular Normandy D-Day tours on Viator (with over 1,100 rave reviews).
What to expect on this tour
This full-day (8.5-hour) tour starts and ends in Bayeux. It includes:
- Admission to the Airborne Museum
- Round-trip transportation
- Air conditioned minivan
- Professional tour guide
This isn’t necessarily a small-group tour since it has a maximum of 20 passengers (if it fills up). It does not include lunch, gratuities, or other personal expenses.
How much this tour costs
As of November 2024, this tour is offered 7 days a week and costs $154 per person. This price point is par for the course and you get to see so much.
Other Normandy D-Day tours
If you have questions about other Normandy D-Day tours that I didn’t cover in this post, let me know! I’ve examined nearly all of them. So if you find one you’re curious about, leave a comment below and I’ll tell you why it didn’t make the list.
More info for your Normandy D-Day trip
- Hotels: Read reviews and find great places to stay here on Booking.com (my personal favorite). Hotels.com and Expedia usually have good deals too though.
- Save lots of money and time by getting some Paris GoCity passes.
- Rental cars: Check out the best local rental car deals here.
- For more Normandy D-Day tours, check out all the options from Viator and Get Your Guide.
- Don’t forget a France guidebook and this must-have France customs and culture guide!
Like this post? Have questions? Let me know in the comments below! Have a great time on your tour of Normandy! I hope I’ve made planning your trip a little easier.
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10 Things You Need to Know Before Visiting Normandy’s D-Day Sites
what itinerary would you recommend if you have a day and half to visit the area. I’ll be staying in Bayeux.
Hi Ray! I would definitely check out the sites in this post, and then add in another museum or two according to your interests. Check out this post to see which area you might want to focus on.
Thanks Ashley. Can you recommend a private tour for my second day?
Yes – take a look at the many options here on Tours By Locals. They always have great reviews and are usually customizable.
Thank you for making this so easy. I am very interested in the Normandy American D-Day Beaches Full Day Tour from Bayeux. I have a group of 3 that will be staying in Paris. What is best, a tour from Paris where you are picked up in Paris and shuttled to Normandy or a tour where we take the train out to Bayeux? It looks as if we are able to get more sites if we do a tour from the Bayeux train station. Just want to maximize the day and not afraid of a long day – we can sleep on the train:).
Hi Scott! I agree that getting yourself to Bayeux and beginning your tour from there would be the most time-efficient way to go about it. That is, if you are comfortable using public transportation in France and you’re willing to get started pretty early. (Some people aren’t, lol.) That’s probably the route I would personally go!
Ashley can you please recommend a 1 day tour from Paris to Normandy that covers the British, Canadian and American DDay sites?
Hi Lisa, so far I haven’t come across anything like that. But you should know that might be impossible to find. You’ll have limited time in Normandy if you come from Paris (a 3-hr drive each way) and seeing the sites in these 4 separate landing sectors just won’t fit. If you want to do a day trip from Paris, you’ll have to stick to just one.