16 TOP THINGS TO DO
Overview Table
| Name | Appeal | Type | Visit | Cost | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ➡️ Mont Saint-Michel | ✦✦✦✦✦ | Bay‚ Village & Abbey | Either | Either |
| 2 | D-Day Sites | ✦✦✦✦✦ | WWII | Either | Either |
| 3 | ➡️ Etretat Cliffs | ✦✦✦✦✦ | Hiking | Self | Free |
| 4 | ➡️ Monet's House & Gardens | ✦✦✦✦✦ | Gardens + House Museum | Either | Paid € |
| 5 | Criel-Sur-Mer Cliffs | ✦✦✦✦✧ | Hiking | Self | Free |
| 6 | Nez de Jobourg Cliffs | ✦✦✦✦✧ | Hiking | Self | Free |
| 7 | Cap de la Hague | ✦✦✦✦✧ | Hiking | Self | Free |
| 8 | Cabanes Vauban Cliffs | ✦✦✦✦✧ | Hiking | Self | Free |
| 9 | Biking along the Coast | ✦✦✦✦✧ | Biking | Rental | Paid € |
| 10 | ➡️ Honfleur | ✦✦✦✦✧ | Town (Port) | - | - |
| 11 | ➡️ Bayeux | ✦✦✦✧✧ | Town | - | - |
| 12 | ➡️ Deauville & Trouville | ✦✦✦✧✧ | Towns (Seaside Resorts) | - | - |
| 13 | ➡️ Rouen | ✦✦✦✧✧ | City | - | - |
| 14 | ➡️ Caen | ✦✦✦✧✧ | City | - | - |
| 15 | ➡️ Le Havre | ✦✦✦✧✧ | City (Port) | - | - |
| 16 | ➡️ Fécamp | ✦✦✦✧✧ | Town (Seaside Resort) | - | - |
1. Mont Saint-Michel
Overall Appeal ✦✦✦✦✦
Type Village, Abbey & Bay
Visit Self-guided or Guided Tour
Cost Free or Paid
Mont Saint Michel is a stunning tidal island with a medieval abbey on top, located off the coast of Normandy. It offers amazing views, cobbled streets, and a rich history that goes back to the 8th century. This UNESCO World Heritage site attracts millions of visitors every year.
➡️ 9 Things to Do in Mont-Saint-Michel
- Village Itself & Ramparts ✦✦✦✦✦
- Abbey ✦✦✦✦✦
- Sand Bay Hiking ✦✦✦✦✦
- etc.
2. D-Day Sites
Overall Appeal ✦✦✦✦✦
Type WWII Sites
Visit Self-guided or Guided Tour
Cost Free or Paid
The D-Day Sites in Normandy cover historic beaches, museums, and memorials that remember the Allied invasion on June 6, 1944.
Main Sites USA
- Colleville-sur-Mer Cementery
- Omaha Beach
- Point du Roc Cliffs
Main Sites Canada
- Juno Beach Center Museum
- Juno Beach
- Beny-sur-mer Cementery
3. Etretat Cliffs
Appeal ✦✦✦✦✦
Type Hiking
Visit Self-guided
Cost Free
French Name
Falaises d’Étretat
The Etretat Cliffs are famous for their dramatic white chalk formations and natural arches overlooking the English Channel. These cliffs inspired artists like Monet and are perfect for scenic walks and photography.
The Etretat Cliffs are located right next to the town of Etretat.
- Etretat Cliffs ✦✦✦✦✦
- Ultralight Craft ✦✦✦✦✦
- Etretat Garden ✦✦✦✧✧
- etc.
4. Monet's House & Gardens
Appeal ✦✦✦✦✦
Type Gardens + House Museum
Visit Self-guided or Guided Tour
Cost Paid
French Name
Maison et Jardins de Claude Monet
Giverny is a picturesque village famous for being the home of Impressionist painter Claude Monet. Visitors can tour Monet’s house and gardens, including the famous water lily pond and Japanese bridge.
🏞️ Google Images Overview – Gardens
🏞️ Google Images Overview – Interior
Monet’s House & Gardens are located in the village of Giverny.
- Monet’s House & Gardens ✦✦✦✦✦
- Impressionism Museum ✦✦✧✧✧
- etc.
5. Criel-sur-Mer Cliffs
Appeal ✦✦✦✦✧
Type Hiking
Visit Self-guided
Cost Free
The Criel-sur-Mer Cliffs are tall, white cliffs that look over the English Channel. They give you awesome views of the sea and the countryside around.
6. Nez Jobourg Cliffs
Appeal ✦✦✦✦✧
Type Hiking
Visit Self-guided
Cost Free
Nez de Jobourg is a striking coastal cliff located on the Cotentin Peninsula in Normandy. Known for its breathtaking views and rugged beauty, it rises over 128 meters above sea level.
It’s also called “Falaise de la Hague” (not to be confused with Cap de la Hague below, which is flat in relief).
7. Cap de la Hague
Appeal ✦✦✦✦✧
Type Hiking
Visit Self-guided
Cost Free
Cap de la Hague is a cape at the tip of Normandy. Pleasant in good weather, hiking there is also very appealing during stormy weather when the sea is rough. In such conditions, the current passing in front is one of the strongest in Europe.
8. Cabanes Vauban Cliffs
Appeal ✦✦✦✦✧
Type Hiking
Visit Self-guided
Cost Free
The 2 Cabanes Vauban are historic lookout huts built along the Normandy coast during the 17th century. These structures provide stunning views of the coastline, and on clear days, you can even see the Mont Saint-Michel in the distance.
9. Biking along the Coast
Appeal ✦✦✦✦✧
Type Biking
Visit Self-guided
Cost Free
Normandy’s coastal bike routes provide a unique way to experience the region’s natural beauty and historic sites. Cyclists can enjoy the fresh sea air, picturesque villages, and stunning views of cliffs, beaches, and rolling countryside.
10. Honfleur Town (Port)
Overall Appeal ✦✦✦✦✧
Honfleur is a quaint port town with a rich maritime history, known for its charming harbor, timber-framed houses, and art galleries. The picturesque Vieux-Bassin is a highlight, attracting artists and tourists alike.
➡️ 22 Things to Do in Honfleur
- Town Center ✦✦✦✦✧
- Biking Tour ✦✦✦✦✧
- St. Catherine Church ✦✦✦✧✧
- etc.
11. Bayeux Town
Overall Appeal ✦✦✦✧✧
Bayeux is a lovely medieval town known for the Bayeux Tapestry, an 11th-century masterpiece showing the Norman Conquest. Visitors can explore its historic cathedral, cobbled streets, and traditional Norman architecture. The town is also a gateway to the D-Day landing beaches.
- Town Center ✦✦✦✦✧
- Tapestry Museum ✦✦✦✧✧
- Bayeux Cathedral ✦✦✦✧✧
- etc.
12. Deauville & Trouville Towns (Seaside Resorts)
Overall Appeal ✦✦✦✧✧
Deauville and Trouville are twin seaside resorts known for their elegant villas, sandy beaches, and lively boardwalks. Deauville is famous for its upscale amenities, horse racing, and film festival, while Trouville offers a more relaxed vibe with its bustling fish market and charming streets.
➡️ 12 Things to Do in Deauville
- Sidecar Tour ✦✦✦✦✦
- Town Center ✦✦✦✦✧
- Beachfront ✦✦✦✧✧
- etc.
➡️ 8 Things to Do in Trouville
- Beachfront & Dike ✦✦✦✧✧
- Town Center ✦✦✧✧✧
- etc.
13. Rouen City
Overall Appeal ✦✦✦✧✧
Rouen is a historic city known for its stunning Gothic architecture, including the impressive Rouen Cathedral. It played a big role in French history, being the place where Joan of Arc was tried and executed. The city’s medieval quarter and museums offer a rich cultural experience.
- Rouen Cathedral ✦✦✦✦✦
- Ouen Abbey ✦✦✦✦✧
- City Center ✦✦✦✧✧
- etc.
14. Caen City
Overall Appeal ✦✦✦✧✧
Caen is a vibrant city with a mix of historic and modern attractions, including the Caen Memorial Museum dedicated to World War II. The city has medieval structures such as abbeys and a castle.
- Caen Memorial ✦✦✦✦✧
- Men’s Abbey ✦✦✦✦✧
- Women’s Abbey ✦✦✦✧✧
- etc.
15. Le Havre City (Port)
Overall Appeal ✦✦✦✧✧
Le Havre is a port city known for its modernist architecture by Auguste Perret after WWII. It boasts the UNESCO-listed Le Havre Modern Art Museum and a lively waterfront.
➡️ 24 Things to Do in Le Havre
- St. Joseph Church ✦✦✦✧✧
- City Center ✦✦✦✧✧
- André Malraux Museum ✦✦✦✧✧
- etc.
16. Fécamp Town (Seaside Resort)
Overall Appeal ✦✦✦✧✧
Fecamp is a historic town on the Alabaster Coast, known for its Benedictine Palace and cliffs. The town features a beautiful marina, pebble beaches, and a rich maritime history.
- Cap Fagnet Cliffs ✦✦✦✦✧
- Sail Boat ✦✦✦✦✧
- Jet-Ski ✦✦✦✦✧
- etc.
18 SECONDARY THINGS TO DO
➡️ 18 Unusual Things to Do in Normandy
- Petites & Grandes Dalles Hike ✦✦✦✧✧
- Biville Dunes ✦✦✦✧✧
- Hatainville Dunes ✦✦✦✧✧
- Champ de Bataille Castle ✦✦✦✧✧
- etc.
