Normandy’s D-Day sites sit about two hours from Paris by train. On July 26, 2026, UNESCO added the D-Day landing beaches to the World Heritage List. The inscription covers the five beaches, Pointe du Hoc, the harbor remains at Arromanches, and the cemeteries and memorials along 80 kilometers of coast.

The Five D-Day Beaches

American forces landed at Omaha Beach and met the heaviest resistance of the five sectors. The Normandy American Cemetery overlooks the beach from the bluff at Colleville-sur-Mer.

Utah Beach was the westernmost landing sector. American airborne troops dropped inland during the night before the seaborne assault, and the Utah Beach Landing Museum now stands in the dunes at the landing site.

Canadian forces landed at Juno Beach. The Juno Beach Centre at Courseulles-sur-Mer tells the Canadian story of the campaign.

British forces landed at Gold Beach and took Arromanches, where the remains of the artificial Mulberry harbor still show at low tide.

Sword Beach was the easternmost sector, assaulted by British forces with the objective of Caen. Pegasus Bridge, taken by glider troops in the first minutes of June 6, stands a short drive inland.

Beyond the Beaches

Army Rangers scaled the cliffs at Pointe du Hoc on the morning of June 6 to destroy the German battery above. The American Battle Monuments Commission began an 18-month, $10 million restoration of the site in February 2026. Pointe du Hoc remains open during the work, with rerouted paths and some temporary closures. The top platform of the observation bunker is closed; the interior stays open. Check current conditions at abmc.gov before your visit.

The Normandy American Cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer holds the graves of more than 9,300 American war dead above Omaha Beach. Paratroopers landed in and around Sainte-Mère-Église in the first hours of the invasion, and the Airborne Museum there covers the night drops. The German battery at Longues-sur-Mer stands between Gold and Omaha; its observation post is currently closed to the public. Our guide to the ten best D-Day museums in Normandy covers the full museum landscape.

Getting There from Paris

Direct trains run from Paris Saint-Lazare to Caen and Bayeux. The trip takes about two hours to Caen and slightly longer to Bayeux. The D-Day sites spread across 80 kilometers of coast, and public transit between them is limited. Plan on a car, a taxi arrangement, or a guided tour once you arrive.

LinkParis.com, the company behind this site, runs a small-group Normandy D-Day day tour from Paris. Your guide meets you at the Bayeux station after the morning train from Saint-Lazare. The day covers Sainte-Mère-Église, Utah Beach, Omaha Beach, Pointe du Hoc, Arromanches, and the American Cemetery, timed when possible for the playing of Taps. The tour costs $225 per person, or $347 to $440 with round-trip rail from Paris included. Prices were current on July 28, 2026.

Planning Your Visit

The beaches and the outdoor memorials are open year-round and free. Crowds peak in July, in August, and above all during the week of June 6, when roads around the beaches jam and hotels in Bayeux and Caen sell out months ahead. Sites stay open and crowds thin from late September through October. Give the D-Day sites at least one full day. Two days add the British and Canadian sectors or the airborne battlefields of the Cotentin without rushing.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get to the D-Day beaches from Paris?
Take a direct train from Paris Saint-Lazare to Caen or Bayeux; the ride takes about two hours. From there, rent a car, arrange a taxi, or join a guided tour. The sites spread across 80 kilometers of coast with limited public transit.

Can you visit the D-Day beaches in one day from Paris?
Yes. A full day from Paris covers Omaha Beach, Utah Beach, Pointe du Hoc, Arromanches, Sainte-Mère-Église, and the American Cemetery, with an early train out and an evening return.

Do the D-Day beaches charge admission?
No. The beaches, the cemeteries, and the outdoor memorials are free and open year-round. The museums charge admission.

Are the D-Day beaches a UNESCO World Heritage Site?
Yes. UNESCO inscribed the D-Day landing beaches on the World Heritage List on July 26, 2026. The listing covers the five beaches, Pointe du Hoc, the Arromanches harbor remains, and the cemeteries and memorials along the coast.

Is Pointe du Hoc open in 2026?
Yes. Pointe du Hoc stays open during a restoration that runs from February 2026 to mid-2027. Expect rerouted paths and some temporarily closed areas. The top platform of the observation bunker is closed to the public.