Start with breakfast at your Caen hotel or a local café to fuel the first day; most hotels offer breakfast 7:00–9:30. If you prefer a café, try Café Mancel in the Vaucelles quarter for coffee and pastries.
Modern, comprehensive museum about WWII and D-Day with audiovisual exhibits and a battlefield timeline; a great orientation for the rest of your visits. Typical hours: ~9:30/10:00–18:00 but check seasonal times and special closures in January.
Walk the castle ruins (Château de Caen exterior) and the medieval streets to get a feel for the city that will be your base; many sights are public and accessible year-round.
Museum commemorating the British 6th Airborne operation; excellent exhibits, original bridge displays, and landing craft. Typical winter opening around 10:00–17:00 but check the official site for exact January hours.
Short drive east to Ouistreham for Sword Beach, where British forces landed. The beach and coastal memorials are always accessible; nearby Atlantic Wall sites may have museums with limited winter hours.
Walk the sands and visit the Atlantic Wall bunkers and local memorial plaques; some small museums around Ouistreham may operate reduced winter hours—check ahead.
Canadian museum with personal stories, artifacts and a strong focus on the Canadian contribution on D-Day; usual winter hours ~10:00–17:00 — verify opening dates in January.
Museum about the artificial Mulberry harbour with an impressive 360° film and beach viewpoint; winter openings often start around 10:00 with earlier closures — check January times.
The large American cemetery overlooking Omaha Beach is a solemn and essential visit; grounds are open daily year-round (visitor center hours may be seasonal—check current winter times).
Dramatic cliff-top site assaulted by US Rangers, now a preserved landscape of craters and bunkers; the site is outdoors and usually open year-round (visitor center hours vary), bring warm layers and sturdy shoes.
If time and weather permit, visit the Longues-sur-Mer coastal battery for well-preserved German gun positions (outdoor site, typically accessible year-round).
Museum dedicated to the US airborne landings and the famous paratrooper story; typical winter hours are ~10:00 but some museums open at 9:30–10:00—confirm January schedules.