Photo: Gzzz, CC BY-SA 3.0 on Wikimedia Commons
Six days by car through Normandy: Rouen and the cathedral Monet painted, his garden at Giverny, the chalk cliffs of Étretat, the old harbour of Honfleur, Bayeux, the D-Day beaches and Mont-Saint-Michel. One big sight a day, and a museum for the wet hours.
From average weather, 2021 to 2025: days that are warm but not hot, with few rainy days, score highest. Crowds and prices change through the year, so check them before you book.
A day on foot in the old capital of Normandy. A cathedral that Monet painted, a clock over the street, the square where Joan of Arc died and the timber houses of the old quarter.
A huge Gothic cathedral with a lace-like stone front and a tall iron spire. Monet painted this front again and again, in different light. Stand across the square, then step inside.
Go when Morning, when the light falls on the front.
Local tip Monet painted the front at different hours. Look at it from the square, then again later in the day and see how the stone changes color.
A great gilded clock face on an arch over a pedestrian street, the symbol of the city. Walk under it and look up at the dial.
Go when Midday, then walk on to lunch.
Local tip Look for the clock dial from the street and from the side, where its face hangs out over the lane. The street below is one of the liveliest in the old town.
A thin buckwheat or wheat crêpe filled with ham and cheese, with a cup of apple cider, is the easy lunch of the region. Look for a small crêperie on a side street.
Local tip Ask for a dry or a sweet cider, and share a second crêpe with caramel for dessert.
A modern church on the old market square where Joan of Arc was executed in 1431. A tall cross stands near the spot. The windows come from an older church that was lost. A quiet place to pause.
Go when Afternoon, when the square is calmer.
Local tip Read the plaque by the cross in the square, then step in and look at the old stained glass. The market stalls on the square sell fruit and flowers.
Sucre d'orge à la pomme is a traditional sweet of Rouen: apple-flavored barley sugar, sold in sticks and wrapped in paper. A small gift to take home.
A large art museum with paintings from the Renaissance to the Impressionists, set around a calm courtyard. A good place to be on a wet afternoon.
Go when Afternoon, or whenever it rains.
Local tip Choose a few rooms rather than all of them. Look for the paintings of the cathedral and of the Seine, which show the city as the painters saw it.
A fine late Gothic church, and just behind it the Aître, a courtyard of carved wooden galleries from the plague years. The streets around it are lined with old timber houses.
Go when Late afternoon, when the lanes are quiet.
Local tip Walk into the Aître courtyard and look at the carved wood on the galleries, then wander the nearby streets with their timber houses.
Canard à la rouennaise is a classic of the city, a rich roast duck with a dark sauce. A dish for a slow dinner after a day of walking.
Local tip It is often made for two, so ask when you order.
A day out along the Seine valley. A morning in the garden where Monet painted, a museum of the painters who followed him, then a ruined fortress and a river town.
The pink house with green shutters, the flower garden and the pond with its water lilies and arched Japanese bridge, all as Monet made them. The garden is open only for part of the year, so check ahead.
Go when Early, before the crowds.
Local tip Walk the garden slowly and look for the places you know from the paintings. Check ahead for the months it is open, because the garden closes for the winter.
A museum in the village about Impressionism and the many painters who came to live and work in Giverny. Its exhibitions change, so check ahead for what is on.
Go when Midday, after the garden.
Local tip Look for the paintings by the foreign artists who came to Giverny. Exhibitions change, so enjoy what is on and do not expect a fixed collection.
A quiche, a salad and a glass of cider near the village, nothing heavy before an afternoon of climbing.
Local tip Look for a table in a garden, and book ahead on a busy day.
The ruins of a fortress that Richard the Lionheart had built on a cliff above the Seine in the 1190s. Climb to the walls for a wide view of the river bend.
Go when Afternoon, when the light is clear.
Local tip The path to the walls is steep. Wear sturdy shoes, and look down at the Seine curling below the cliff.
A small town on the Seine below the castle, with narrow streets and a riverside walk. A calm place to end the day before the drive back.
Go when Evening, when the river is calm.
Local tip Walk along the river bank and look up at the castle on its cliff. A simple supper in the town makes a quiet end to the day.
Poulet vallée d'Auge is chicken cooked in cream with apples and a splash of calvados, a classic Normandy dish. Warm and filling after a day out.
Local tip It is rich. Ask for a green salad on the side.
A day on the coast. White cliffs with stone arches in the morning, then a drive across the Seine estuary to a small harbour town that painters loved.
A long pebble beach curved between two white cliffs, with a sea-front promenade. Start here: the paths up to both cliffs begin at either end.
Go when Early morning, before the visitors arrive.
Local tip The beach is pebbles, not sand, and it steps down quickly, so keep an eye on the waves. Watch the cliffs from the water first.
The western cliff, with its great natural arch and a pointed rock standing in the sea. A grassy path climbs to the top for the view back over the town.
Go when Morning, or near sunset (about 9:38 PM) when the chalk turns warm.
Local tip Stay back from the cliff edge, which can crumble. The path is grassy and the wind is strong, so bring a layer.
The eastern cliff, with a small white chapel on the top and wide views of the arch and the pebble beach. Monet and Courbet both painted these cliffs.
Go when Late morning, in clear weather.
Local tip Climb to the chapel for the view back toward the arch. Wear shoes with a good grip, because the grass can be slippery.
Moules à la crème are mussels cooked in white wine and cream, served with fries. A plain seaside dish in a harbour-side cafe.
Local tip Order a bowl to share, and use the bread to mop up the sauce.
The Vieux Bassin, a small harbour framed by tall, narrow houses with slate fronts and boats tied up along the quay. Painters came here for generations.
Go when Late afternoon, around sunset (about 9:38 PM).
Local tip Walk the full quay and look up at the houses, each one a little different in height and slant. Cross the lock for the view back over the water.
The apple orchards give Normandy its cider, and its brandy called calvados. A small glass at the quayside is a pleasant way to pause.
Local tip Calvados is strong. Sip it slowly, and skip it if you are driving.
A church built almost entirely of wood, with a bell tower that stands apart from it. Step in and look up at the ceiling shaped like two upturned ship hulls.
Go when Late afternoon, then dinner nearby.
Local tip Look at the bell tower, which stands separate from the church. The wood has a deep, rich color from centuries of use.
Sole normande is fish served in a cream sauce with mussels and shrimp, a classic of the coast. A good dish for the evening in a harbour town.
Local tip Ask what is fresh that day.
A day of history in two towns. A museum of the wars and the peace that followed, the abbey of William the Conqueror, then Bayeux and its famous embroidered story of 1066.
A large museum about the Second World War, the Battle of Normandy and the search for peace afterward. Give it a good part of the morning and take your time in the quieter rooms.
Go when Morning, when you have energy for it.
Local tip It is a heavy subject, so pace yourself. Choose the galleries that matter most to you and leave time for a quiet walk outside.
Tripes à la mode de Caen is a traditional slow-cooked stew of tripe with vegetables and cider. It is not for everyone, but it is the city's dish.
Local tip If tripe is not for you, a plain omelette and a salad is easy to find.
The abbey church founded by William the Conqueror, where he is buried. Its plain stone front has two tall towers. A calm place after the museum.
Go when Midday, after the museum.
Local tip Find the marker for William the Conqueror's tomb in the church. The cloister and the gardens are a good place to sit for a few minutes.
The home of a long embroidered cloth that tells the story of the Norman conquest of England in 1066, with ships, battles and a comet. Check ahead that the Tapestry is on show in Bayeux, because it can be moved for loans and for work on the building.
Go when Afternoon, with an audio guide if one is offered.
Local tip The cloth is long, so walk it from the start and follow the story scene by scene. Check ahead that it is on display before you plan the day around it.
A great Norman and Gothic cathedral in the middle of the old town, which came through 1944 almost untouched. Walk the quiet lanes around it afterward.
Go when Late afternoon, when the stone glows.
Local tip Look up at the carved arches in the nave, then walk around the outside to see the towers from the back lanes.
Tarte normande is a tart of sliced apples baked in a light custard, often served warm with cream. A fitting way to close the day.
Local tip Try it with a spoon of thick Norman cream.
A day of remembrance on the coast where the Allied landings took place on June 6, 1944. Four places, a slow pace and time to stand quietly. These are graves and memorials, so go with respect.
A small seaside town where the Allies built an artificial harbour after the landings. Many of its huge concrete pieces still sit out in the bay. The town has a museum that explains how the harbour worked.
Go when Morning, at low tide if you can.
Local tip Walk to the end of the sea wall and look at the concrete pieces in the bay. Their number is easier to see from the hill above the town.
The coast here is known for shellfish: oysters, whelks and small shrimp, served cold with bread and butter. A simple lunch by the sea.
Local tip Ask what is fresh, and share a plate.
Rows of white marble crosses and Stars of David on a bluff above the sea, for the American soldiers who died in the Normandy campaign. The grounds are quiet, and visitors speak softly.
Go when Midday, with unhurried time.
Local tip Speak quietly, and keep to the paths between the graves. The walk to the viewpoint over the sea is calm and gives a wide view of the beach below.
One of the five landing beaches, a wide stretch of sand below low bluffs. Walk a little of it, read the memorials along the shore and think of what happened here.
Go when Afternoon, at low tide when the sand is wide.
Local tip Walk a short stretch of the shore, and look for the memorials. Do not drive or park on the sand, and take away what you bring.
A cliff-top headland where American Rangers climbed the rock on the morning of June 6, 1944. The ground is still pitted with shell craters, and the concrete bunkers are still there.
Go when Afternoon, in dry weather.
Local tip Stay on the marked paths, because the ground is uneven and the cliff edge is close. The craters and bunkers show what happened here.
Coquilles Saint-Jacques à la normande are scallops in a cream sauce, a Normandy favorite when they are in season. A quiet dinner after a day that asks for it.
Local tip Ask what is in season, and have a glass of cider with it.
A last day at the abbey on its rock in the bay. The tide changes how the Mont looks and how you reach it, so check ahead before you set out.
The steep medieval street and ramparts that wind up the rock toward the abbey, lined with old stone houses. Walk up slowly and stop to look out over the sands.
Go when Early, or late in the day, when it is quiet.
Local tip The main street is narrow and gets crowded at midday. Take the ramparts, which are quieter and have the best views over the sands.
Normandy is known for its butter, and the biscuits of the Mont are made with plenty of it. Buy a small bag to eat while you walk.
The abbey at the top of the rock, built in stages over centuries, with a church, cloister and great halls above the sands. Check ahead for the tide and for how visitors reach the Mont on your day.
Go when Morning, once the tide and the day's crowd are known.
Local tip The climb is steep, with many steps. Check ahead for the tide and for how you reach the Mont, and wear shoes you can walk in.
Agneau de pré-salé is lamb raised on the salty grass of the bay, which gives the meat a delicate flavor. A dish of this coast.
Local tip Eat lightly before the climb back down.
A museum in the nearby town of Avranches that shows medieval manuscripts, many of them copied at the abbey of the Mont. A quiet indoor stop after the climb.
Go when Afternoon, as a calm contrast to the Mont.
Local tip Look at the old manuscripts and read the captions to see how the monks of the Mont copied and decorated their books.
Camembert, Livarot, Pont-l'Évêque and Neufchâtel are all cheeses from Normandy. A mixed plate with bread and cider is a good last supper.
Local tip Eat them from mildest to strongest.
By average weather from 2021 to 2025, May to October are the most comfortable months for walking around Normandy. This plan is built for late May, which is one of the best months. Crowds and prices change through the year, so check them before you book.
It covers 6 days in Normandy, planned for late May. Each day is built around a small number of stops, with room to rest.
It was planned for most travelers. The pace and the places reflect that, so check it fits how you travel.
No. Places marked "book ahead" need a reservation. Hours, prices and availability change, so confirm before you go.
Yes. Archie drafts a day by day plan for your dates and takes your pace, the weather and who is travelling into account. You can start one from the Archie app.
Yes. It is a starting point you can change to fit your own trip: swap a place, add a day or move the pace.
Each day has about 1.7 to 34.1 kilometers between its stops, and 139.1 kilometers in all across 6 days. A short hop is a walk and a longer one a ride. Distances are straight-line estimates, so allow extra for the streets.
4 days in ParisAbout 170 km awayAn easy add-on
8 days in London, Oxford and the CotswoldsAbout 260 km away
5 days in the CotswoldsAbout 330 km awayOther guides with a page about Normandy. Each one opens in a new tab.
WikivoyageNormandy, the free travel guideLonely PlanetNormandy travel guideRick StevesNormandy travel guideThe GuardianNormandy travel featuresPhoto: DXR, CC BY-SA 3.0 on Wikimedia Commons · Photo: Jean-Pierre Dalbéra, CC BY 2.0 on Wikimedia Commons · Photo: Wilson44691 at English Wi… on Wikimedia Commons · Photo: AdrienWikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons
Make it yours in a minute, then move days around and add what you want.
A trip idea · Updated October 2026
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