Northern Normandy is not really well known by foreign travelers who come for a tour of France. When travelers mention Normandy, they usually have in mind the WWII D Day landing sites in Calvados or Mont Saint Michel. But there is so much more to see in this region!

We warmly invite you to browse our Normandy tour packages

Upper and Lower Normandy

The map below shows the border between Upper and Lower Normandy, which is near Honfleur. The WWII beaches are mostly in Lower Normandy, as well as the lovely port town of Honfleur and the famous islet of Mont Saint Michel. You may also like to see some other more detailed maps of Normandy.

The capital of Upper Normandy is Rouen, famous for Joan of Arc and the many paintings of the Cathedral by Claude Monet. You might also know about the Etretat Cliffs: rumor has it the famous gentleman burglar - Arsène Lupin - hid real treasure in a secret place inside the cliffs.

 

Etretat Cliffs - Romantic getaways in Normandy

Etretat Cliffs in Normandy (Photo: Needpix.com)

The beautiful white chalky cliffs receive a lot of visitors. They can be seen along the coast for about 90 miles, starting from the Seine estuary at Le Havre to the Somme estuary at Le Crotoy. It is called La Côte d'Albâtre - The Alabaster Coast. You can enjoy a romantic stroll along the beach at sunset after enjoying a seafood platter from a local restaurant... and you'll probably be alone on the beach.

Normandy at Sunset - Romantic Getaways in Normandy France

(Photo: Needpix)

 

When we visited, we had a great afternoon sailing from the lovely port of Dieppe. Most of the city was destroyed during the second world war, but the port and some surrounding streets provide a nice setting for a drink on a terrace so you can enjoy the ocean breeze. 

Dieppe Romantic getaways in Normandy, France Just For You

Dieppe harbor (Photo: Pixabay)

Last but not least, there's no comparison when it comes to comparing the August crowds on the beaches of the French Riviera and the quieter setting of the beaches in Normandy. Admittedly, the water temperature is a bit colder, but if you don't mind the cold, the Normandy coast is a great place to relax and enjoy France off the beaten path!

Normandy beach - Romantic Getaways in Normandy

(Photo: Pixabay)

 

 

Normandy from Paris

Normandy is very easy to reach from Paris and we recommend driving over the train (which is longer as there is no high speed). In less than 3hr drive you will reach Normandy from Paris and you have so many stop options along the way that it would be a pity doing otherwise !

Don't hesitate to contact us to plan your self-drive trip in France !

FAQs

For a well-rounded trip, three to five days is ideal for exploring Normandy’s key sights at a relaxed pace.

3 days – Visit the D-Day landing beaches, the charming town of Bayeux, and the iconic Mont Saint-Michel (see our recommended 3-day Normandy road trip itinerary). 

4–5 days – Add time for Honfleur’s picturesque harbor, the dramatic cliffs of Étretat, and Monet's Garden in Giverny.

A full week – Explore Normandy in depth, including the Pays d’Auge countryside, local markets, and regional specialties like Camembert and Calvados cider.

If you’re short on time, three full days will allow you to see the highlights without feeling rushed.

France Just For You

Experts in self-drive tours in France

Travelers Reviews

5.0
Carol & Don
For our journey in the Loire Valley, we could not have hoped for more gracious, firendly and hospitable hosts. They made us feel like long time friends. It has been wonderful sharing this time with this French family and we hope we may meet again. The guidebook was totally professional and indispensable ! Aurevoir et merci beaucoup
Tony
The organisation and friendliness of the places we stayed was outstanding. We travel a lot and this was a delightful experience that we can't wait to do again. I could not recommend more highly the professionalism in the booklets which are a long term reminder of a most memorable time. We travelled from NZ a long way for just two weeks but it was …
Wendy & Ron
We could not be happier. When we first received the guide book and brochures, we thought we would not need them, but they were invaluable! Our first stay with Florence and Phil was especially memorable but really we cannot think of a highlight because it was all wonderful. We will certainly recommend your company to anyone we know travelling to …
Tonya & Bob
We did 2 weeks May to June to Normandy, Loire Valley and Paris and had a wonderful time. We gave Laura our list of must see and do items and our budget and she took care of the rest. From arranging our auto rental to providing suggestions to the French smart phones, everything was taken care of and good not have been easier. When our car got a flat …
Judy
I can echo everything that has been said in the previous three reviews. The personalization of this entire trip was incredible and Emilie communicated quickly and completely, both in the planning of the trip and after we were in France. My husband and I were spending four weeks in France in celebration of our 50th anniversary. We were a little …
Pamela
We just returned from a fantastic three weeks in Southwest France. I highly recommend the services of France Just For You, we could never have planned the trip ourselves as well as they did. Laura did the planning and gave us an amazing itinerary, and was available at a moment's notice when we had a plane cancellation on our flight to Bordeaux and …