On 6 June 1944, the world turned on these beaches. Cemeteries, batteries and the remains of the Arromanches harbour tell the story of D-Day — a profoundly moving day an hour and a half west of the terminal.
An hour and a half west lies the coast where the world turned on 6 June 1944. Above Omaha Beach, the Colleville American cemetery aligns 9,387 white crosses facing the sea — a place of rare emotion. At Arromanches, the remains of the Mulberry artificial harbour still rise from the water, and the museum explains the logistical feat behind them. Pointe du Hoc, stormed by the Rangers, is still cratered and lined with bunkers, the most dramatic of the sites, while the Longues-sur-Mer battery is the only one to keep its guns in place, facing the Channel.
The D-Day sites make a full but manageable day. The drive is around an hour and a half to two hours each way, so leave reasonably early and follow the coast in geographic order, east to west, to keep driving to a minimum. Low tide reveals more of the Arromanches harbour, so check the times. These are places of reflection — dress and behave accordingly at the cemeteries and memorials. Set a sensible return time; in your own car you decide it, with margin before all-aboard.
The A13 and then the coast roads bring you to the beaches in about 1h30–2h. Plan the sites east to west so the car does as little back-tracking as possible, and if time allows, Bayeux and its famous tapestry are fifteen minutes away and round off the day. One fixed price covers the whole group for the day, and you keep the car for every stop along the coast — no tour bus, no timetable.
About 1h30 to 2h each way, roughly 130 km via the A13 and coast roads, depending on which sites you choose.
Leave reasonably early after you disembark. A full day covers the main sites comfortably with a safe return margin.
East to west — Arromanches, Longues-sur-Mer, the Colleville cemetery and Pointe du Hoc — to keep driving to a minimum.
Not with an early-ish start and a fixed return time. In your own car you set the return, with no timetable to catch.
Yes. Bayeux and its famous tapestry are about 15 minutes inland and round off the day well.
From €150 for the day: the car, unlimited mileage and insurance, delivered to the cruise terminal and collected on your return. No options, no extras.
Same fixed-price, terminal-delivery promise for every stop along the coast. Pick your next drive.
See all destinations →From €150 for the day — D-Day Beaches and back. Unlimited km, insurance included, delivered to the cruise terminal. No options, no extras.