Coast & beaches
Clifftop walks, broad beaches, small harbours and lively seaside towns line the Channel coast.
Channel coast · D-Day beaches · historic towns
Holiday homes in
Normandy
Coastlines, countryside, half-timbered towns and centuries of history.
Find a stay in Normandy
1 current listing
Discover Normandy
A whole region to explore
Normandy brings together a varied Channel coastline, green bocage countryside, historic cities, fishing harbours and some of France’s most recognisable landmarks.
From the cliffs around Étretat and the harbours of Honfleur to the D-Day beaches, Bayeux, Rouen and Mont-Saint-Michel, the region works equally well for coastal breaks, countryside stays and history-filled touring holidays.
Explore the region
Normandy at a glance
Choose a department or another region on the map. Property counts update automatically as approved listings are added.
History everywhere
Medieval landmarks, the Bayeux Tapestry, D-Day sites and historic centres give days out real depth.
Food & countryside
Apples, cider, cheeses, seafood and rich farmland are central to the region’s character.
Easy touring
Distinct coastal and inland areas make Normandy ideal for a holiday built around several contrasting day trips.
Independent holiday rentals
Places to stay in Normandy
Contact owners and managers directly. Holiday House France does not add a guest booking fee.
Explore the whole region
The departments of Normandy
14
Calvados (0)
Bayeux, Caen, the Côte Fleurie, cider country and the central D-Day beaches.
Explore department → 27Eure (0)
The Seine valley, Giverny, market towns and countryside within easy reach of Paris and Rouen.
Explore department → 50Manche (1)
Mont-Saint-Michel, the Cotentin Peninsula, long beaches, harbours and a wild western coastline.
Explore department → 61Orne (0)
Quiet inland Normandy, forests, rolling farmland, spa country and traditional villages.
Explore department → 76Seine-Maritime (0)
Rouen, Dieppe, Le Havre, Étretat and the dramatic white cliffs of the Côte d’Albâtre.
Explore department →Towns, coast & countryside
Places to explore in Normandy
Mont-Saint-Michel
The celebrated tidal-island abbey on Normandy’s western edge, surrounded by a vast bay and changing light.
Bayeux
A handsome historic town known for its medieval centre, cathedral and the Bayeux Tapestry.
Rouen
Normandy’s historic capital, with a magnificent cathedral, half-timbered streets and a lively centre beside the Seine.
Honfleur
A much-loved old harbour framed by tall narrow houses, galleries, cafés and streets leading away from the waterfront.
Étretat
A small coastal town set beneath the natural arches and chalk cliffs of the Côte d’Albâtre.
Caen
A useful city base with major museums, historic sites and quick access to the coast and central Normandy.
Deauville & Trouville
Neighbouring seaside towns offering a mix of broad beaches, markets, restaurants and Belle Époque character.
The D-Day beaches
A wide stretch of coast where museums, memorials and preserved sites tell the story of June 1944.
Make a holiday of it
What makes Normandy special
Coastal days
Walk the cliff paths, explore fishing harbours, spend time on wide beaches or follow the coast from the Seine estuary towards the Cotentin Peninsula.
Historic Normandy
Link medieval Rouen, Bayeux and Mont-Saint-Michel with the landing beaches, museums and memorials of the Second World War.
Markets, cider & local food
Village markets, cider routes, cheese, cream-rich cooking and seafood make food an easy part of exploring the region.
D-Day & the Battle of Normandy
A landscape where history is still close at hand
For many visitors — including military veterans, service families and dedicated history enthusiasts — Normandy is a place of particular significance. The landing beaches, airborne objectives, cemeteries, memorials, museums and preserved battlefield sites form one of the most important Second World War landscapes in Europe.
The D-Day landing beaches
Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword stretch along the Normandy coast, with museums, memorials and preserved positions helping visitors understand the events of 6 June 1944 and the fighting that followed.
War cemeteries & memorials
Sites including the Normandy American Cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer, Bayeux War Cemetery, Ranville War Cemetery and La Cambe German War Cemetery offer very different but deeply moving places of remembrance.
Pegasus Bridge
The bridge at Bénouville was a vital airborne objective captured in the opening hours of D-Day. The nearby Pegasus Memorial museum tells the story of the British 6th Airborne Division and the glider assault.
Merville Battery
The Merville Gun Battery was a key German coastal position attacked by British airborne troops before the landings. Today the preserved site and museum explain the extraordinary assault and the men involved.
Pointe du Hoc & the battlefield coast
The dramatic clifftop position at Pointe du Hoc, together with preserved batteries and strongpoints along the coast, helps visitors understand the scale and difficulty of the fighting beyond the beaches themselves.
Sainte-Mère-Église, Arromanches & museums
From airborne history at Sainte-Mère-Église to the remains of the Mulberry harbour at Arromanches, Normandy’s museums, memorials and preserved sites allow the wider campaign to be explored across both Manche and Calvados.
These are not simply visitor attractions. Many are places of remembrance, and HHF encourages visitors to explore them with the respect their history — and the people commemorated there — deserve.
Plan your stay
When to visit Normandy
Spring
Fresh green countryside, blossom and comfortable weather for gardens, towns and coastal walks.
Summer
Long days for beaches, outdoor markets, harbour towns and the region’s major visitor attractions.
Autumn
Quieter roads, apple harvests, changing woodland colour and a relaxed pace for touring.
Winter
Atmospheric coastlines, historic towns and cosy food-focused breaks, with reduced hours at some attractions.
Travel & getting around
Getting to & around Normandy
Normandy is particularly convenient for visitors arriving from the UK, with ferry routes serving ports including Cherbourg, Caen-Ouistreham, Le Havre and Dieppe depending on the operator and season.
Rail services connect Paris with Rouen, Caen, Bayeux and other larger towns. A car gives the greatest freedom for linking rural accommodation, coastline, villages and historic sites.
Normandy at a glance
Channel coast · D-Day beaches · Mont-Saint-Michel · cider country · historic towns · gardens · seafood
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