Top 9 D-Day Sites If You Only Have One Day in Normandy

Last updated on November 21st, 2022 at 03:44 pm

Normandy beach in France might just be one of the most famous beaches in the world. But, not because of its beautiful sands, sunny weather, or fancy resorts. No, it was here that the allies broke through Hitler’s infamous Atlantic Wall during WWII. This series of fortifications, mines, beach obstacles and more built along the Atlantic coast marked the biggest obstacle in liberating Europe from the Germans. In spite of the dangers, thousands of troops, planes, and ships headed towards Normandy, France for the the great D-Day invasion on June 6, 1944. From here, the allies worked their way inland. It wasn’t until Paris was liberated in August 1944 that the Battle of Normandy finally came to an end.

These events marked a great turning point in the Second World War. Once the allies were able to gain a foothold in France, it allowed them to begin retaking Europe and eventually defeat their enemies. I personally think that Normandy, France is a place that everyone should visit. This battle not only changed the course of the war, but also the course of history.

***Disclaimer: Be sure to check the restrictions and regulations for entry into France as well as any activity you wish to participate in before booking any part of your journey.

Where to Stay in Normandy, France

At the recommendations of others, we stayed at Domaine Airborne in Normandy, France. It was amazing! My travel friend and I were amazed at the care and detail that was put into creating such a wonderful and comfortable Bed and Breakfast. With so much war memorabilia around, it definitely got us in the right mood before our tour of the sites even began. Our host, Charles, was also very helpful and provided some great suggestions for our visit.

Some Facts About the Normandy Sites

This area is rich in historical significance and there are so many things to do and places to visit. I personally found it very overwhelming to try and sift through all the options and narrow down what was manageable in a day. And, while my final itinerary is not perfect, I think it covers a good range of activities. Below, I’ve created a brief overview of the types of D-Day related sites you can visit in Normandy.

The Five Beaches of D-Day

There are five important beach landing sites: Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno, and Sword. Utah and Omaha were the landing beaches for the US military. Gold and Sword were for the British and Juno was for the Canadians. You will discover that there are multiple memorials or significant sites on or near each of these beaches.

The Paratroopers Experience in Normandy

There are also multiple spots dedicated to the experiences of the paratroopers, landing sites, and their important contributions to the success of D-Day.

D-Day Museums of Normandy

The number of museums in the area is extraordinary. There are over 25 and each one highlights different elements of D-Day invasion in Normandy. Some are specific to the paratroopers experience vs the naval experience. Others are dedicated to the fallen. Some cover specific events such as the landing on Utah Beach or the landing on Omaha beach, etc. Additionally, some have greater themes that stretch beyond D-Day and additional information about events leading up to WWII and well as after the war.

Cemeteries Dedicated to the Fallen

There are 27 military cemeteries dedicated to precious souls which were lost during WWII. You will find ones dedicated to different nationalities: French, Americans, British, Canadians, Germans, etc.

Important Landmarks of Normandy

The coastline is dotted with important sites and remainders from WWII. These include the German batteries which were used to fire on the allies as they made their landings. There is also Pointe du Hoc where valiant men scaled the cliffs in order to capture an important German battery. You also have Sainte Mere Eglise, which was the first town to be liberated on D-Day. Additionally, there are the Mulberry Harbors and the Pegasus Bridge. Each one of these places serves as a reminder of war.

Some Thoughts and Considerations

I highly suggest that if you have the time and the interest, you dedicate at least 2-3 days just to D-Day sites and exhibits. Honestly, there is just so much here.

But, if you don’t have that kind of time, don’t worry, my travel friend and I were in the exact same boat. You will still get a lot out of this itinerary for the D-Day sites of Normandy. My hope is that this one day guide will help focus your visit and give you a good overview of the important D-Day related events in Normandy. The most important thing is to be flexible, and if you end up really connecting with a certain place, be sure to take the extra time there, even if it means not making it everywhere.

Following This Program of Events

For your reference, we started our day early with breakfast at 8:30am and and we left Domaine Airborne just after 9am. It took us up to about 4:30pm to visit all of the Normandy D-Day sites included in this list. While we chose not stop for lunch, we made sure to have plenty of snacks and water in the car. That way, we could eat during the drives between sites. We also did not spend quite as much time as we might have liked to at all of the locations. (In some instances, that was directly related to the weather we experienced during our visit. While the day started off sunny, the afternoon brought patches of rain and, at times, wind gusts of 30+ mph.)

I am including the amount of time we spent at each stop for your reference. Additionally, I have added some suggestions to help you maximize your time at each stop. Once again, I would like to reiterate that you also don’t have to visit all of the items on this list. Even if you only get through half of it, you will still have a good time and hopefully find a deeper connection to these important events which helped transform history.

Driving/Parking

Our visit was during the off-season and we did not encounter any issues parking the car. There are parking lots next to each of the museums and major monuments and they all had plenty of open spaces. Additionally, as far as we could tell, parking at these sites was free. Driving between destinations was also easy and we did not encounter any issues with congestion or delays.

Map of the Route

Below You can see a picture of the map. The total drive time is just over 2 hours, but the time between individual sites ranges from 15 – 30 minutes (with most of them ranging between 15-20 min).

1. German Batterie de Crisbecq and Batterie d’Azeville

These are the long-range guns that the Germans used to shoot at the allies as they attempted to capture the Normandy beaches.

Unfortunately for us, the Batterie de Crisbecq was temporarily closed and the the Batterie d’Azeville did not open until the afternoon. So, we just parked and took some pictures of the batteries from outside of the fence. One thing that really stood out to me was just how far these batteries were from the shoreline. And yet, they could still easily fire at the allies.

Time Recommendation

If you’re trying to follow this specific tour and you do decide to stop in, I recommend spending a maximum of 30 min at each or up to 1 hour at one of them. Even if you don’t get to go in, it was absolutely worth it to stop by. You really get a sense of what exactly the allies were up against.

2. Utah Beach Landing Site

This beach may seem like a wonderfully peaceful place now, but it was once the first beach landing site of the D-Day invasion of Normandy. Despite being pushed a bit south of the original landing point by strong winds, it was a successful undertaking. Because they ended up on a less-defended part of the beach, the Americans were more easily able to take it. From there, they were able to link up to the 101st Airborne paratroopers who had landed before the water invasion took place.

Time Recommendation

Take 15 minutes or so to walk out to the beach and imagine it covered in obstacles and mines. Stop by the Utah Beach Memorial and reflect on the brave men who fought and died here.

3. D-Day Experience Museum in Normandy

If you are looking for an immersive D-Day experience, this is the place for you. We visited this The D-Day Experience Museum at the recommendation of our gracious host. And, I am so glad that we did. It was intense, but it really set the mood and gave us a great foundation of information for the rest of our day.

Exhibits

Here you will discover extensive exhibits dedicated to the American paratrooper experience. There is also the Deadman’s Corner Museum. This was the headquarters for the German paratroopers before it was captured by the American paratroopers.

3D Movie and 4D Flight Simulation

You will also have the opportunity to experience a unique, 20-minute long 4D flight simulation. First, you are given your D-Day briefing by Lieutenant Colonel Wolverton before boarding a genuine C-47 aircraft. From there, you the flight simulation allows you to experience what the paratroopers experienced on D-Day.
***IMPORTANT NOTE: This flight simulation is intense. I would NOT recommend this to anyone who has any kind of war/combat PTSD or very small children.

There is also a 35-minute long 3D movie which gives a great overview of the events of D-Day and why it was such an important win for the allies. The movie presented a great timeline for the events of D-Day and the following days as the allies attempted to liberate the occupied areas. I personally felt like it provided a lot of context which prepared us well for the activities we had lined up for the rest of the day.

Time Recommendation

Overall, we spent a little over 2 hours here at the museum. Even after all of that, I felt like we could have taken at least another hour to truly experience the whole thing. Still, we felt like the time we had was sufficient.

4. La Cambre German Cemetery

This was not originally on my list of top D-Day sites in Normandy. At first, I didn’t really see the point of going to the German cemetery. They were the enemy. Why would I want to go there? But, after seeing it come up in my research again and again, I decided it must be worth a stop by.

Honestly, I’m glad we went. Reflecting back on my visit, I think it’s important to remember the humanity of the people on the opposing side of a war. Yes, there were many who were very evil and who did terrible, despicable things. But, then there were others who were there because they were forced to be there. Or, they felt like they had to defend their families. Some might have even believed in the cause at first, but later started to question if what they were doing was actually right.

But, no matter what they thought they were fighting for, or whether they truly believed in the cause or not, they were still people. At the end of the day, they still had families back home and possibly young children. They still had people who loved them and mourned for their loss. War is a terrible thing and it impacts both sides. We must never forget that.

Time Recommendation

Spend about 15 minutes here. Walk up to the top of the mound and take in the view of the graves from above.

5. Pointe du Hoc

Pointe du Hoc is a steep cliff located between the Utah and Omaha beach landing sites. Here, approximately 225 American army rangers were tasked with scaling the cliff and destroying the German battery located at the top. This was an incredibly important move for the allies because from this site, the Germans could easily shoot at the Americans landing on both Utah and Omaha beaches. It was a vicious battle, but the rangers finally succeeded. In the end, only 90 were able to bear arms when relief arrived on June 8th.

Time Recommendation

Spend about 20-30 minutes here appreciating the steepness of the cliff and the difficulty of the task these men were given. There is a trail loop you can walk which will take you past the German batteries, the Pointe du Hoc Memorial, and an area where you can read about some of the men who lost their lives here.

6. Omaha Beach Landing Site

Omaha Beach experienced some of the most intense flighting on D-Day and it was one of the bloodiest sites in Normandy. This landing site was the most heavily defended by the Germans. Additionally, rough seas and strong currents forced the boats to land east of their intended targets and caused problems for the whole operation. Several landing craft sank and other stayed afloat only because the men bailed water out with their helmets.

All the while, the Germans were firing upon them. The men who made it to the beaches used the obstacles to try and shield themselves from the deadly fire. In an amazing effort to support the men on the ground an opening, the American destroyers came in as close as they could and began raining fire on the Germans. This gave the soldiers the window they needed to break through.

Despite the odds, the Americans managed to capture the beach by the end of the day. But it came at an enormous cost: 2,400 Americans had been killed and hundreds more were either wounded or missing.

Time Recommendations

Spend about 15-20 minutes here. Take a moment to spot the German batteries and imagine the intensity of the fight. Stop at the Omaha Beach Memorial and remember those who fought and sacrificed their lives here.

7. American Cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer

“You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade, toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you. The hope and prayers of liberty-loving people everywhere march with you…
Your task will not be an easy one. Your enemy is will trained, well equipped and battle-hardened. He will fight savagely….
The free men of the world are marching together to Victory! I have full confidence in your courage, devotion to duty and skill in battle. We will accept nothing less than full Victory!”
– Excerpts taken from Dwight D. Eisenhower’s letter which was delivered to the troops on the eve of D-Day.

War is terrible and the loss of so many young lives is enormous and tragic. This cemetery honors the brave men who went into battle knowing that the likelihood of death was very high. No matter what they were feeling, they still went because they knew it was necessary. And, for that too many of them paid the ultimate price.

We owe so much to these men. Literally, our current way of life exists because of their bravery and willingness to go and fight. Who knows what things would be like if D-Day had failed? I know that I would not like to imagine it.

Take your time here, walk around, and take a moment to say “thank you”.

Time Recommendation

Take 20-30 minutes walking around this sacred place. Take in the rows of crosses and remember that peace and freedom have been bought at a great price. Find the crosses dedicated to the unknown soldiers.

8. 360 D-Day Movie in Arromanches, France

Located in Arromanches, France this 360 degree movie features actual footage from the D-Day invasion. Over the course of the 30 minute documentary entitled “The 100 Days of the Battle of Normandy”, you will view actual footage taped in Normandy during the invasion. You will also see the aftermath of the battles fought here, civilians talking with soldiers, children walking amongst the rubble, and the devastation caused by the war. Many lives were lost. Not just soldiers, but civilians as well. This movie stands as a testament to them all.

For us, it was a nice, fitting end to our day of touring. For more information about tickets, opening hours, and more please visit their official website.

Time Recommendations

The movie itself is about 30 minutes long and plays on the hour and half hour. My recommendation is to arrive as close to the start of the next showing as possible. Afterwards, enjoy the views of the man-made Mulberry Harbor and memorials set up on the hill.

9. Mulberry Harbor

This artificial, floating harbor was built on Gold beach by the allies to help protect the ships landing in Normandy. It was a major technological feat for its time. Over 45,000 people in 300 engineering companies around the UK helped to make the project a success.

The harbor was integral for the allies as it allowed ships to dock safely while delivering supplies such as machinery, soldiers, weapons, and more to the frontlines of the war. The one in Arromanches was actually one of two man-made harbors that were assembled along the Normandy coastline. Unfortunately, the one on Omaha beach was destroyed by a violent storm and was abandoned. The one on Gold beach was decommissioned less than a year after its construction, but its remains can still be seen today.

Time Recommendations

During low tide, it is possible to walk out to the remains of the Mulberry Harbor. Since this is the end of the tour, take as much time as you would like. After your walk, find somewhere for a warm, delicious meal in the cute little town of Arromanches.

In Conclusion

I hope that you have found this itinerary helpful as you plan your own visit to the D-Day sites in Normandy. I also want to wish you a wonderful and meaningful stay in this incredibly, historically significant region of France.

Happy Travels,
<3 Christine