What to visit and see in Normandy in 2, 3, 4, or 5 days? What are the best things to do in Normandy? Here, we will uncover the must-see places in Normandy and the best places to stay during a road trip in Normandy. We will also see an itinerary for visiting Normandy in 2, 3, 4, and 5 days. So here we go!
- Our TOP 10 best places to visit in Normandy 🥇
- Hotels and apartments where to stay in Normandy 🛌
- Road trip itinerary in Normandy đźš™
1. TOP 10 best places to visit in Normandy
Here is our TOP, but this list is, of course, not at all exhaustive:
- Mont Saint Michel
- Etretat and the Alabaster Coast
- Rouen
- The CĂ´te Fleurie from Cabourg to Honfleur
- Giverny
- The D-Day landing beaches
- Swiss Normandy
- The Cider Route
- Caen
- The Chausey Islands
To help you choose which places you want to visit in Normandy, here is a brief description of our TOP 10 to give you an idea.
1.1. Mont-Saint-Michel, the most beautiful place in Normandy
Mont-Saint-Michel is a must-see place to visit in Normandy and France! It is clearly one of the most beautiful places in France. On the border with Brittany, and today officially in Normandy, Mont-Saint-Michel is one of the stages to include in a road trip itinerary in Normandy or Brittany. Read our blog post for more practical information: Visiting Mont-Saint-Michel.
1.2. The cliffs of Etretat and the Alabaster Coast
The cliffs of Etretat are majestic! You will love this exceptional place. In addition to discovering cliffs, you can visit the Gardens of Etretat. The cliffs of Étretat are unique worldwide, and the cliffs’ views are exceptional. So, without a doubt, it is one of the must-see places in Normandy and even in France! Find out more in our post about Etretat: How to visit the Cliffs of Etretat?
1.3. Rouen
Visiting Rouen is number 3 in our TOP best things to do in Normandy. It is a charming town to visit in Normandy: the Notre-Dame de Rouen Cathedral, the Gros-Horloge, the Place du Vieux-Marché and its cathedral, the Place de la Pucelle, and the Palace of Justice. The city center is pedestrian and pleasant to visit. Find our tips for visiting Rouen here: Visiting Rouen.
1.4. The Flowery Coast aka the CĂ´te Fleurie
The Côte Fleurie is one of Normandy’s most significant places to visit. Several cities are parts of it, such as Honfleur, Deauville, Trouville-sur-Mer, Houlgate, and Cabourg. Visiting Deauville and Trouville is one of the essential things to do on the Côte Fleurie. Many people come here for significant events such as the Film Festival or equestrian competitions, while others come for the beach, nature, and peace. We have written two articles dedicated to the Côte Fleurie of Normandy:
- Visiting Honfleur : what to do, what to see, good addresses in Honfleur
- Deauville-Trouville: all you need to know to plan your trip to Deauville
1.5. Giverny
If you come to Giverny for a peaceful weekend in nature, you will not see time passing. The village of Giverny is one of the most beautiful villages in Normandy. It is known because it is here that Claude Monnet lived and created his artworks. The best time to visit Giverny is during the flowering period and also the opening period of the Gardens of Giverny: from April to October. Find out how to visit Giverny in our dedicated article. Among the best things to do and visit in Normandy, Giverny is the closest to Paris. So it is straightforward to stay in Paris and visit Giverny in a day.
1.6. The D-Day landing beaches in Normandy
Visiting the D-Day landing beaches is one of the essential things to do on the Normandy coast to learn more about the history of the Second World War. During the visit, you can also enjoy the incredible beaches and landscapes. It is a family visit to remember these events in our history. To prepare for this visit, find all the information here: Visiting the D-Day landing beaches in Normandy.
1.7. Swiss Normandy
The Suisse Normande stretches over 2 departments: Calvados and Orne, between towns such as Falaise, Flers, Argentan, and Caen. It is also called “La Petite Suisse”. The Suisse Normande is known for its nature, its fauna, and its flora.
1.8. The Cider Route
To the east of Caen, the Cider Route is a 40km route that connects the villages of Beuvron-en-Auge (recognized among the most beautiful villages in France), Cambremer, Bonnebosq, and Beaufour-Druval. The Cider Route is number 8 of our TOP 10 places to visit in Normandy and Calvados.
1.9. Caen
Caen is a city with a great religious and historical heritage. In the Men’s abbey of Caen lies one of the most fabulous Kings of England: William the Conqueror. You can visit this abbey, the Ladies’ Abbey, the medieval castle, and also the center of Caen with the Cold Street and the Vaugueux district.
1.10. The Chausey Islands
Located north of the bay of Mont Saint-Michel, the Chausey Islands are an interesting archipelago to visit in Normandy. It is a remarkable protected natural space. You can go to the Chausey Islands from Granville in 45 min – 1 hour. There is also a connection from Saint-Malo in summer. Only Chausey Island is inhabited, and only about thirty people.
Chausey Islands on the official Manche tourism portal.
2. Hotels and apartments where to stay when visiting Normandy
We have made a selection of accommodations that are really worth it: wonderful places to stay in Normandy and visit the region.
Where to stay on the Normandy coast? In Cabourg, you can choose Le Grand Hotel Cabourg, which offers rooms with a view of the sea and a massage service. On the edge of the beach, in Normandy, with a view of the port of Carteret, the Hotel La Marine is an excellent place to stay in Normandy.
Thalasso in Normandy: Cures Marines Trouville Hotel Thalasso & Spa. Enjoy a relaxing and rejuvenating stay with a swimming pool, spa, and wellness center. In addition, this Thalasso hotel is located on the beach in Trouville. The rooms are spacious (30m2), some of which have a view of the sea and the port.
In nature. La Pluie de Roses is an exceptional place to stay when visiting Giverny and the region! A 15-minute walk from the Monnet Foundation, surrounded by a 6000 m2 park, the Rain of Roses offers lovely double rooms with breakfast.
3. Road trip in Normandy: possible routes
It is practical to visit Normandy by car. There are thousands of possible road trip routes, but here’s what you can visit in 2, 3, 4, or 5 days.
You can also compare car rental prices here.
3.1. Itinerary for visiting Normandy in 2 days
Itinerary 1: Rouen and its surroundings. If you want to visit Normandy in 2 days, you can discover the city of Rouen and its surroundings. If you come from Paris by car, you can stop beforehand at the village of Giverny, one of the most beautiful villages in Normandy.
Itinerary 2: Caen and its surroundings. In 2 days, you can have a weekend in Caen.
3.2. Itinerary for visiting Normandy in 3 days
Itinerary 1: Mont-Saint-Michel + Saint-Malo. If you are going to discover Mont-Saint-Michel, you can take the opportunity also to visit Saint-Malo, which is 1 hour away by car.
Itinerary 2: Rouen + Cliffs of Etretat
Route 3: the CĂ´te Fleurie (see above for more info)
3.3. Itinerary for visiting Normandy in 4 days
Route 1: Rouen + Étretat + Normandy Bridge + Honfleur
Route 2: Caen + CĂ´te Fleurie or Route 3: Caen + the landing beaches
3.4. Itinerary to visit Normandy in 5 days
Itinerary 1: Rouen + Étretat + Honfleur + the landing beaches + Caen
Route 2 (Normandy + Brittany): Rouen + Étretat + Normandy Bridge + Honfleur + Mont-Saint-Michel + Saint-Malo! It’s intense, but you see a lot in a short time.
There are so many exciting and diverse places to visit in Normandy that a few days will not be enough for you! You can therefore return to Normandy several times, constantly changing your itinerary. In any case, the road trip in Normandy is one of the most practical ways to visit the region because many places are not connected by train.
Leave a Comment