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Normandy Travel Guide
Published 28 March 2024 by Leyla Alyanak — Parisian by birth, Lyonnaise by adoption, historian by passion
Two back-to-back trips to Normandy in the space of a month made me fall in love with this region – and I have plenty of stories to tell, which I'll add below as I write them.
Next to Brittany and close enough to Paris for a weekend trip, Normandy has called people to it for centuries for its dramatic coastlines, profound history, and a delectable culinary scene. The Vikings may be long gone, but their presence is still there, subtly.
Rouen
Bayeux
D-Day Beaches
Mont-Saint-Michel
More Normandy stories
The foods of Normandy
- Fresh Seafood Delights: Fresh seafood takes center stage with specialties like moules-frites (mussels and fries) and oysters enjoyed in charming harbor towns like Honfleur.
- A Cheese Lover's Paradise: Creamy cheeses like Camembert and Pont-l'Évêque tantalize taste buds. Explore the dedicated cheese route and sample the region's bounty.
- Cider and Calvados: Savor Normandy's signature beverage, cider, produced using traditional methods in charming "cidreries" throughout the Pays d'Auge. Don't miss Calvados, a potent apple brandy, best enjoyed as a digestif.
Practical considerations
Best time to visit Normandy
- Spring (April-May) and Fall (September-October): Pleasant weather with fewer crowds.
- Summer (June-August): Warmest temperatures and lively atmosphere (expect higher tourist numbers).
Getting around Normandy
- Public Transportation: Exists, but a car offers more flexibility for exploring the countryside's hidden gems.
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Bonjour! I’m Leyla! I was born in Paris and now live in the bucolic mountain foothills of Eastern France between Lyon and Annecy.
I'm rediscovering my own back yard after years of living abroad in Canada, Spain and Switzerland as a journalist and a diplomat － and I'm loving every minute.
Passionate about history and culture, I’ve created Offbeat France to seek out my country’s mysteries and legends, less-traveled destinations, along with plenty of food stops and many castles － I am French, after all!
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