The Normandy D-Day beaches are one of the most important historical sites in Europe, and they're surprisingly easy to reach from the UK. A direct ferry from Portsmouth puts you in Caen — right in the heart of the landing beaches — making this one of the most accessible road trips you can do across the Channel.
1. Getting There: Portsmouth to Caen
The Portsmouth to Caen (Ouistreham) ferry is the obvious choice for a D-Day trip. It drops you within 20 minutes of Sword Beach — the easternmost landing beach. Brittany Ferries operates this route with both daytime and overnight crossings.
| Route | Crossing Time | Typical Return Cost | Drive to Beaches |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portsmouth → Caen | 6 hours (day) / overnight | £150-£300 | 20-40 mins |
| Portsmouth → Cherbourg | 3-4 hours | £130-£280 | 1-1.5 hours |
| Dover → Calais + drive | 1.5 hours crossing | £80-£140 | 3.5-4 hours |
| Eurotunnel + drive | 35 mins crossing | £130-£200 | 3.5-4 hours |
Tip: The overnight Portsmouth-Caen ferry is ideal. You board in the evening, sleep on the ship, and arrive in Normandy early morning — ready to start your tour with no hotel costs for the first night.
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2. The Five D-Day Beaches: A Suggested Itinerary
The five landing beaches stretch along 80 km of Normandy coastline. You can visit all five in two days, but three days lets you absorb the history properly. Here's a suggested east-to-west route starting from the Caen ferry port:
Day 1: Sword, Juno & Gold Beaches (East)
Start at Sword Beach (20 mins from Caen), where British forces landed. Continue west to Juno Beach (Canadian landing) and the Juno Beach Centre. End at Gold Beach and the remains of the Mulberry Harbour at Arromanches — one of the most remarkable engineering feats of the war.
Day 2: Omaha Beach & Utah Beach (West)
Omaha Beach saw the heaviest casualties and is deeply moving. Visit the Normandy American Cemetery overlooking the beach — 9,387 white crosses and Stars of David. Continue west to Utah Beach and the Utah Beach Landing Museum.
Day 3: Pointe du Hoc & Sainte-Mère-Église
Pointe du Hoc sits between Omaha and Utah — the cliff-top German gun battery scaled by US Rangers. The bomb craters are still visible. Finish at Sainte-Mère-Église, famous for the paratrooper whose chute caught on the church spire.
3. Key Museums and Memorials
| Site | Location | Entry | Allow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mémorial de Caen | Caen | €19.80 | 3-4 hours |
| Normandy American Cemetery | Colleville-sur-Mer | Free | 1-2 hours |
| Arromanches 360 Cinema | Arromanches | €7.50 | 30-45 mins |
| Juno Beach Centre | Courseulles-sur-Mer | €10 | 1-2 hours |
| Utah Beach Museum | Sainte-Marie-du-Mont | €8 | 1-2 hours |
| Airborne Museum | Sainte-Mère-Église | €10 | 1-2 hours |
4. Where to Stay
Bayeux is the ideal base — a beautiful medieval town centrally located between the eastern and western beaches. It survived the war largely intact and has excellent hotels, B&Bs, and restaurants. The Bayeux Tapestry museum is a bonus.
- Bayeux hotels and chambres d'hôtes from around €70-€120/night
- Campsites along the coast from €15-€30/night (seasonal)
- Caen for a wider choice and lower prices, but less atmosphere
- Book early for the June anniversary period — accommodation fills fast
5. Total Trip Budget
Estimated costs for 2 people, 3 nights
Good to know: Normandy is one of the few French regions with almost no motorway tolls. The roads between beaches are free national roads, keeping driving costs very low.
Plan your Normandy crossing
ChannelHop compares ferry, tunnel, and fly + hire prices for your specific journey. Portsmouth-Caen is often cheapest for Normandy — but it depends on where you start.
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