Normandy, France

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When to Go

Spring (April–June) for apple blossoms, mild weather, and far fewer crowds
June 6 for D-Day anniversary commemorations — deeply moving, books up early
Summer (July–August) is peak season — Deauville buzzes, beaches fill
September–October for harvest season, cider pressing, and quiet country roads

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Walk the D-Day beaches — Omaha, Utah, Juno — and visit the American Cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer
The Bayeux Tapestry — 70 metres of embroidered history, genuinely unmissable
Étretat's chalk cliffs and natural arches — one of France's most dramatic coastlines
Monet's garden at Giverny, especially in spring when the wisteria is in bloom
Mont-Saint-Michel — technically on the border, but always part of a Normandy journey
Honfleur's old harbour, Deauville's boardwalk, and the medieval streets of Rouen

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Deauville — grand Belle Époque hotels, glamorous beach energy, casino evenings
Bayeux — central for D-Day sites, walkable, and deeply charming
Countryside manoirs and working-farm chambres d'hôtes for an authentic stay
Honfleur for boutique hotels right on the harbour with views to match

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The Norman cheese trinity: Camembert, Livarot, and Pont-l'Évêque
Oysters from the Cotentin Peninsula and Utah Beach — some of the finest in France
Sole normande, moules marinières, and fresh seafood along the Alabaster Coast
Teurgoule — a slow-baked spiced rice pudding, the region's underrated classic
Calvados apple brandy and local farmhouse cider — the liquid soul of Normandy
Crêpes and galettes everywhere, from roadside crêperies to refined restaurant menus