Pre cruise trip Paris to Normandy

[lovetovcruise]

We are thinking about taking a tour from Paris to Normandy Beaches. What is the best way, bus from Paris or take train to Bayeux?

Janice

[-Lew-]

Whichever way you get there, hook up with an organized guided tour once you're there.  We did a RT Paris to Normandy River cruise a few years ago with Avalon Waterways.  We would have missed so much without a guide.  

[John Bull]

Hi Janice,

 

Are you planning to overnight in Normandy before and/or after the tour?  

If not I suspect you'll need a day-tour that runs from Paris.

 

There are inexpensive direct trains from Paris St Lazare station to Caen and Bayeux. 

https://www.overlordtour.com/ (and probably others) offer day-tours starting in Bayeux.

But the earliest train from Paris is 7.05am, arr. Bayeux 9,22am, which for Overlord Tours I think restricts you to just one tour which departs Bayeux rail station at 9.30 (very probably timed  for that train, so no problem if the train is late). 

 

Does your cruise depart from Le Havre?

If so, perhaps rent a car, either from Paris or your Paris airport or from Caen or Bayeux, explore independently, and return the car to the operator's Le Havre depot. But to have a half-decent amount of time in Normandy you'd need to overnite in Normandy.

I'll respectfully disagree with Lew (on opinion, not on facts) - there's staff and signage at the different sights though a bit of research and a guide book would be more than useful. Driving & navigation are easy - other than departing central Paris there's no city driving. 

 

JB 

Edited August 31, 2019 by John Bull

[Roatanfans]

Driving in Paris is horrible, but the rest of France is easy.  Bayeux is a great place to stay and explore if you can spare more then one day!