Mont Saint Michel

From afar, the monastery rises majestically on its island. You can either take a free shuttle bus to the island or enjoy a 25-minute walk. The Abbey is free to enter, and walking through the gates feels like stepping back into the medieval era. You’ll discover charming terraces and souvenir shops here.

However, there is an entrance fee to visit the monastery itself. It requires some effort with 300 steps, but the experience is absolutely worth it. In the evening, the Abbey is beautifully illuminated.

• Entrance to the Abbey Church: €9 (audio guide: €3.50, tour guide: €13)

→ Top Things to Do in Mont Saint-Michel – Experience Its Timeless Beauty and History!

Granville

Granville is a town built on an outstanding cliff. At low tide, you’ll see small boats resting in the harbor. The city is also known for being the birthplace of fashion designer Christian Dior. You can visit his family home, which now hosts an exhibition featuring Grace Kelly, available until November. The gardens of the Dior house are free to access and absolutely stunning.

Taking the stairs down leads you via the beach to the casino, which is worth visiting for its beautiful architecture. Continue westward, and you’ll arrive at Pointe du Roc, where you can enjoy a magnificent view of the sea, a lighthouse, and several bunkers used during World War II.

• Entrance to Dior House: €9

Saint Mere Eglise

This village is primarily known for soldier John Steele, who famously got caught on the church tower during the parachute drop. Today, a dummy dressed in white parachute hangs from the church tower in his memory.

Inside the church, you’ll see numerous stained-glass windows depicting the landing in 1944. The Airborne Museum traces the history of the parachute troops dropped in and around Saint Mere Eglise, showcasing vehicles and collections of items, documents, and clothing, along with various films about the Allied landings in World War II.

• Entrance to the Airborne Museum: €9.90

Utah Beach Memorial

If you follow the 1944 route, you’ll come across the Utah Beach Memorial. Here, several memorials exist, including a replica of the Higgins boat, honoring Andrew Jackson Higgins.

You can also visit the D-Day landing museum located inside a German bunker. It houses a rich collection of artifacts and vehicles, including an original B26 bomber plane.

• Entrance to the D-Day Landing Museum: €8

Colleville Sur Mer

This municipality is home to the American Military Cemetery. Endless rows of white crosses remind us of the many brave souls who fought for freedom. Close to the sea, there are 9,387 American soldiers laid to rest.

The memorial features a semi-circular colonnade, with a bronze statue overlooking the white crosses. A garden commemorates the 1,557 missing soldiers whose remains have not been recovered but are honored beautifully here.

Access is free.

Honfleur

Often referred to as the prettiest port town in Normandy, you can wander around the harbor, lined with narrow, tall houses and charming streets. Many renowned painters have created stunning artworks here. We particularly enjoyed the ambiance, the quaint boutiques, and the views from the terraces, but there’s plenty to see in Honfleur.

Visit the wooden Sainte-Catherine Church, and if you love painting, don’t miss the Eugene Boudin Museum, which showcases paintings centered around Honfleur. If you’re visiting Honfleur, there’s a good chance you’ve crossed the Pont de Normandie, the longest cable-stayed bridge in Europe at 2,143 meters.

• Entrance to Sainte-Catherine Church: Free
• Entrance to Eugene Boudin Museum: €8

Etretat

A highlight of our trip. Etretat is a historic village filled with beautiful buildings like the Manoir de la Salamandre and the market halls, where you can buy nice souvenirs or local products. Etretat is best known for its cliffs, where you can see stunning chalk-white rocks along the shore.

The cliffs are easily walkable, or you can take a little train (located by the market halls) to the cliff d’Amont, which features a fishing chapel or the Gardens of Etretat. The Falaise d’Aval hike takes about 10 to 15 minutes, offering incredible views of a grand golf course and the sea.

• Train Fare in Etretat: €6 one way

Veules-les-Roses

The name refers to the shortest river (the 1.2 km long Veules) and the many roses found in this romantic village. You can take various walks along the river and through the town, encountering an old watermill, quaint bridges, and romantic spots adorned with beautiful roses. Don’t miss the church in the town center or enjoy fresh oysters from one of the restaurants sourced directly from the channel. If you want to cool off, head to the beach of Veules-les-Roses.