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Normandy is one of the most rewarding regions in France for a road trip. Just a short drive from Paris and the Channel ports, it combines dramatic white cliffs, historic towns, rolling countryside, and some of the most significant sites in European history, all linked by easy, scenic roads.
From the medieval streets of Rouen and the gardens of Giverny to the D-Day landing beaches and the tidal spectacle of Mont-Saint-Michel, Normandy offers a rare mix of culture, coastline, food, and history. Distances are manageable, making it ideal for a one-week itinerary that still feels relaxed rather than rushed.
This 7-day Normandy road trip brings together the region’s highlights into a logical, car-friendly route, with driving distances, key stops, and practical planning tips. It’s designed to help you experience Normandy at a comfortable pace while still covering its most iconic places.
Route: Évreux – Rouen – Fécamp – Étretat – Le Havre – Falaise – Bayeux – Saint-Lô – Mont-Saint-Michel
Distance: ~550 km (loop)
Duration: 7 days
Best time to go: May-September
Best for: History, coastlines, WWII sites, gardens, classic France
This map shows the full route and main stops on this road trip. You can save it to Google Maps to use while planning or on the road.
Planning tools we actually use for France Road Trips
Day 1: Évreux, Giverny and Rouen
Base: Rouen
Begin your Normandy road trip inland at Évreux, an easy first stop if you’re arriving from Paris or one of the Paris airports. The compact centre makes it ideal for a gentle start, with the Gothic cathedral and nearby museums giving you an early sense of Normandy’s depth of history.
From Évreux, detour north to Giverny to visit Claude Monet’s house and gardens. This is one of Normandy’s most famous cultural sights and well worth timing carefully. Arriving earlier in the day or booking a skip-the-line visit helps avoid peak crowds, especially in spring and early summer when the gardens are at their best.
Continue north to Rouen for the evening. The historic centre is atmospheric after dark, with half-timbered streets, Joan of Arc sites, lively squares, and the cathedral illuminated at night. This is a strong first base and sets the historical tone for the journey.
Day 2: Rouen to Fécamp via Dieppe
Base: Fécamp
Leave Rouen and head toward the coast, stopping first in Dieppe. This working port has a layered history, from medieval fortifications to its role in World War II. The seafront, castle, and market (if you’re there on a Saturday) make it a worthwhile pause rather than a quick photo stop.
From Dieppe, continue along the coast to Fécamp, one of the most characterful towns on the Alabaster Coast. The town’s maritime history is closely tied to fishing and the production of Bénédictine liqueur, and both are well represented in its museums and architecture.
Fécamp is also well placed for evening cliff walks or a short drive to viewpoints overlooking the Channel like Cap Fagnet.
Day 3: Étretat and the Alabaster Coast to Le Havre
Base: Le Havre
A short drive brings you to Étretat, one of Normandy’s most dramatic coastal landscapes. The white cliffs and natural arches of Porte d’Aval and Manneporte are the headline attraction, but the real reward comes from walking the clifftop paths above the town.
If you want the best views, head up to Chapelle Notre-Dame-de-la-Garde, perched above the town. It’s a short climb and the payoff is huge: cliffs, arches, rooftops, and sea all laid out in one sweep. Go late afternoon if you can, when the light softens and the paths are quieter.
After exploring Étretat, continue south along the coast to Le Havre. The city offers a striking contrast to the historic towns you’ve seen so far, with post-war modernist architecture, wide boulevards, and a strong cultural scene. Its rebuilt centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and worth exploring with fresh eyes.
Day 4: Honfleur, Deauville and Falaise
Base: Falaise
Cross the Seine via the Pont de Normandie and arrive in Honfleur, one of Normandy’s prettiest ports. The old harbour, the wooden Sainte-Catherine Church, and salt warehouses reflect the town’s maritime past, while its art museums link it to the Impressionist movement.
Continue east along the Côte Fleurie to Deauville, a classic seaside resort known for its wide beach, Les Planches boardwalk, and Belle Époque elegance. This is a good place to slow the pace before heading inland.
Finish the day in Falaise, birthplace of William the Conqueror. The town feels quieter and more local, offering a change of rhythm after the coast.
Day 5: Caen and Bayeux
Base: Bayeux
Drive north to Caen, a city shaped by both medieval power and modern conflict. William the Conqueror’s castle and abbeys dominate the centre, while the Memorial Museum provides essential context for understanding Normandy’s role in World War II.
From Caen, continue west to Bayeux, home of the Bayeux Tapestry and one of the best-preserved historic towns in the region. Its compact centre, Notre Dame de Bayeux Cathedral, and museums make it an ideal base for the next two nights.
Day 6: D-Day Beaches and Saint-Lô
Base: Saint-Lô or Bayeux
Today focuses on the D-Day landing sites, starting with Omaha Beach. The landscape here is deceptively calm, but memorials, museums, and cemeteries give weight and context to the events of June 1944.
After visiting the key coastal sites, head inland toward Saint-Lô. Heavily damaged during the war, the town has rebuilt itself and offers quieter streets, green spaces, and a more reflective atmosphere after a powerful day.
For a really special experience, take a Normandy D-Day tour by vintage motorbike sidecar from Bayeux and visit the Longues-sur-mer coastal battery, Omaha Beach, Gold Beach and Arromanches.
You can either remain based in Bayeux tonight or move on to Saint-Lô, depending on how you want to pace the final days.
Day 7: Mont-Saint-Michel
End: Mont-Saint-Michel or onward travel
Finish your Normandy road trip at Mont-Saint-Michel, one of France’s most extraordinary sights. Rising from its tidal bay, the abbey and village feel almost unreal, especially if you arrive early or stay overnight nearby to experience it outside peak hours. Make sure to book your Mont-Saint-Michel Abbey tickets well in advance, especially in high season.
Where to Stay on a Normandy Road Trip
For a 7-day Normandy road trip, choosing the right bases matters more than changing hotels every night. Normandy’s highlights are spread out, so staying in a handful of well-placed towns keeps daily driving reasonable while letting you explore the coast, historic cities, and countryside without rushing.
The locations below work well for travellers with a car, offer straightforward road access, and make it easy to visit nearby sights as day trips. All recommended hotels have parking or practical parking options and avoid the stress of tight historic centres where possible.
Rouen: Eastern Normandy Base (1 night)
Upmarket: Hôtel de Bourgtheroulde Autograph Collection is a refined historic hotel in the heart of Rouen’s old town, with a spa, valet parking, and an excellent location for exploring the cathedral area on foot.
Mid-range: Hotel Litteraire Gustave Flaubert is a characterful and well-located option close to Rouen Cathedral, offering comfortable rooms and easy access to public parking nearby.
Budget: Le Vieux Carré is a simple, good-value hotel near the old town, well suited to a short stay with a car thanks to nearby parking and quick access back onto main roads.
Fécamp or Étretat: Alabaster Coast Base (1 Night)
Both are good for the white cliffs, Étretat, Cap Fagnet, coastal walks, and the dramatic Channel scenery.
Upmarket: Les Pins de César is a peaceful countryside hotel near Étretat, offering spacious rooms, a spa, and easy parking, ideal if you want a quiet stay within short driving distance of the Alabaster Coast.
Mid-Range: B&B A La Maison Blanche is a friendly and comfortable guesthouse close to Fécamp’s harbour, with parking available and a convenient location for exploring the coast by car.
Budget: Hotel Vent d’Ouest is a simple, reliable option near the centre of Fécamp, offering good value, nearby parking, and quick access to the coastal road.
Le Havre or Honfleur: Seine Estuary Base (1 night)
Choose Le Havre if you’re interested in modern architecture, museums, and an easy city drive, or Honfleur if you prefer a smaller, historic harbour town with classic Normandy character.
Le Havre Luxury: Hilton Garden Inn Le Havre Centre is a modern waterfront hotel with secure parking, spacious rooms, and easy access to the city centre and coastal roads.
Honfleur Luxury: La Ferme Saint Siméon is an iconic historic property overlooking the Seine estuary, offering refined rooms, spa facilities, and on-site parking within walking distance of the old port.
Mid-range (both towns): Odalys City Le Havre Centre Gare or Hôtel du Dauphin Honfleur both offer comfortable stays with parking options and good access to sights without driving stress.
Budget (both towns): ibis Le Havre Centre in Le Havre or ibis Honfleur are reliable, car-friendly choices with easy access to main roads and town centres.
Falaise or Caen: Inland Normandy Base (1 night)
Choose Falaise if you want a quieter historic town with easy countryside driving, or Caen if you prefer a larger city with museums, restaurants, and faster road connections.
Falaise Upmarket: Le Manoir du Ribardon is a peaceful countryside manor near Falaise, offering spacious rooms, characterful surroundings, and easy parking, ideal for a relaxed overnight stop away from busy towns.
Caen Upmarket: Hotel Ivan Vautier is a refined boutique hotel on the edge of Caen, with a Michelin-starred restaurant, spa, on-site parking, and easy access to the city and surrounding road network.
Mid-range (both stops): Les Prémontrés in Falaise and Best Western Plus Le Moderne in Caen are both comfortable and well-located, within walking distance of the restaurants, and with practical parking options nearby.
Budget (both stops): ibis Falaise Coeur de Normandie and ibis Styles Caen Centre are reliable, car-friendly options, with free parking and quick access to main roads for onward travel.
Bayeux: D-Day and Historic Town Base (2 nights)
Upmarket: Villa Lara Hotel is an elegant boutique hotel overlooking Bayeux Cathedral, offering spacious rooms, private parking, and a superb location for exploring the historic centre on foot.
Mid-range: Domaine de Bayeux is a comfortable and characterful hotel set in landscaped grounds just outside the old town, with on-site parking and easy access to Bayeux and the D-Day beaches.
Budget: ibis budget Bayeux is a straightforward, car-friendly option on the edge of town, with free parking and quick road access for visiting nearby Normandy highlights.
Saint-Lô and Mont-Saint-Michel Area: Western Normandy Base (1 night)
This final overnight stop works best as a practical base rather than somewhere to linger. Saint-Lô makes sense if you’re visiting Omaha Beach and Pointe du Hoc first, while staying near Mont-Saint-Michel is ideal if you want an early or late visit to the abbey without rushing.
Upmarket: Château de Bernesq is an elegant countryside château offering spacious rooms, peaceful surroundings, and on-site parking, well positioned between Bayeux and Mont-Saint-Michel.
Mid-range: Château D’Agneaux is a characterful château B&B close to Saint-Lô, with easy road access, parking, and a relaxed rural atmosphere ideal for a quieter overnight stop.
Budget: ibis budget Saint-Lô offers free parking and fast access to main roads, perfect for a short and efficient stop before heading to Mont-Saint-Michel.
Booking Tips for a Normandy Road Trip
Normandy is popular for good reason, but smart booking makes a big difference, especially in peak months.
Road Trip Tips for a Normandy Road Trip
Normandy is an easy region to drive, but a little planning goes a long way.
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