D-Day Beaches Coastal Path
95 km · Moderate
See the stages
D-Day Landing Beaches
Memory and coastline — 3 days on the D-Day beaches
The five beaches, the major museums and the coastal path.
A full west-bound circuit: from Pegasus Bridge to Pointe du Hoc, alternating museum visits, sections of the GR 223 along the cliffs and cycling legs on the Vélomaritime. Cultural events happening during your stay are added to the plan automatically.
- Duration
- 3 days
- Distance
- 120 km
- Pace
- Car + walking and cycling
- Season
- April to October
The circuit on the map
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Day-by-day stages
Day 1
- 1Pegasus BridgeVisit
Bénouville, Calvados
Early start at the bridge seized by British gliders during the night of 5–6 June.
- 2Ouistreham — GR 223 trailheadTrail
Sword Beach, Calvados
First section of the coastal path: an easy 6 km facing Sword Beach.
- 3Caen MemorialVisit
Caen, Calvados
Afternoon at the reference museum on war and peace — allow 3 hours.
Day 2
- 1Juno BeachVisit
Courseulles-sur-Mer, Calvados
The Canadian centre opens at 9.30 am: a good start to the coastal day.
- 2Arromanches — Mulberry harbourVisit
Arromanches-les-Bains, Calvados
View of the Phoenix caissons from the cliff, then lunch on the seafront.
- 3Longues-sur-Mer batteryViewpoint
Longues-sur-Mer, Calvados
The only Atlantic Wall battery still holding its original guns.
- 4Bayeux — Vélomaritime stageTrail
Bayeux, Calvados
Overnight in Bayeux, a convenient link point with EuroVelo 4.
Day 3
- 1Omaha BeachVisit
Colleville-sur-Mer, Calvados
American cemetery at opening time, then down to the beach at low tide.
- 2Pointe du HocVisit
Cricqueville-en-Bessin, Calvados
Crater field and the cliff scaled by the Rangers: 1.5 hours of free visit.
- 3Utah BeachVisit
Sainte-Marie-du-Mont, Manche
Final seafront stop, with the landing museum to round off the trip.
Photos
History
On 6 June 1944 Operation Overlord opened the Western Front: more than 150,000 Allied soldiers landed on five beaches, from Sword in the east to Utah in the west, after paratroopers and gliders dropped during the night.
The circuit follows that order of battle from east to west: Pegasus Bridge, the first objective taken, the Anglo-Canadian beaches, the Arromanches artificial harbour that supplied the bridgehead, then Omaha and Pointe du Hoc, scenes of the hardest American fighting.
Tips
- Book the Caen Memorial and Juno Beach Centre ahead in summer and around 6 June.
- Check tide times before walking on the beaches or the GR 223.
- Military cemeteries call for respectful dress and behaviour; avoid picnicking on site.
- Rent bikes in Bayeux or Arromanches: the Vélomaritime is well signposted but exposed to wind.
Trails and cycle routes used
The Vélomaritime — from the beaches to the Bessin
120 km · Easy to moderate
See the stagesEvents during your stay
Sunday, 8 November 2026
Large flea market held at the Étampes leisure island in Essonne
Manche
The Étampes leisure island hosts its large monthly flea market this Sunday, November 8, with more than 300 exhibitors expected.
Read more