Start gently in Bayeux with the Bayeux Tapestry Museum late morning, which is exactly the right first stop because it frames the whole Normandy story before you head to the coast. Plan about 1.5 hours; tickets are usually around the low teens, and it’s smart to book ahead in June since this is peak season. After that, walk five minutes through the old center to Cathedrale Notre-Dame de Bayeux. The cathedral is free to enter, and 30 minutes is plenty unless you want to linger under the nave and stained glass. This part of town is best on foot, with cobbled streets, half-timbered houses, and easy little detours if you want coffee or a pastry along Rue Saint-Jean.
For lunch, settle into Restaurant La Rapière in central Bayeux; it’s a dependable pick for Normandy food without feeling tourist-trap-ish. Expect around €30–45 per person with cider, and it’s a good place for fish, duck, or whatever seasonal menu they’re running that day. After lunch, head out by taxi or Uber toward Colleville-sur-Mer—from Bayeux it’s roughly 25–35 minutes, and around €30–50 depending on time of day. If you’re driving, the D514 is the straightforward route and the one you’ll use all afternoon; public transport is awkward for this stretch, so a car really helps.
Make Overlord Museum your first coastal stop. It gives you the full D-Day context before you stand on the actual ground, and 1.5 hours is about right if you read the exhibits rather than rush. Admission is usually in the mid-teens, and in June they typically stay open through the afternoon, but check the exact hours the week you go. Then continue a few minutes down to Omaha Beach itself in Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer. Walk the shoreline slowly, especially around the beach exits and dunes where the terrain makes the history feel very real; late afternoon light is the best time for it, and the beach is naturally free and open.
Wrap the day with dinner at La Paillote near Omaha Beach, a casual seaside spot that works well after a heavy historical afternoon. Expect roughly €25–40 per person, and it’s the kind of place where you can stay relaxed, have a drink, and let the day sink in. If you still have energy after dinner, stay out for a short sunset look back over the beach before heading to Bayeux for the night.
Start with the Omaha Beach Memorial Museum in Vierville-sur-Mer while the day is still quiet; it’s a compact but very good stop, and about an hour is enough to get the context without feeling bogged down. Expect a modest entry fee, usually around €7–10, and if you can, arrive near opening so you’re not sharing the exhibits with a school group or a coach tour. From there, make the short hop to Widerstandsnest 62 / German bunker remains along the coast in the Omaha Beach sector — this is the kind of place where the landscape does most of the talking, so take your time and walk the terrain rather than rushing through it.
By midday, head to Les Moulins Restaurant in Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer for lunch with a sea view and an easy reset before the more reflective part of the day. It’s a practical choice because you’re right in the middle of the landing-beach area, and a meal here will usually run about €25–40 per person depending on whether you go for a two-course lunch or add wine. If the terrace is open, take the outdoor table; otherwise, the room is casual enough that you won’t feel underdressed. A simple seafood plate or mussels fits the setting perfectly.
After lunch, continue to the Normandy American Cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer for the most moving stop of the day. Give yourself at least 90 minutes — longer if you want to sit quietly and take in the symmetry of the grounds, the memorial, and the views over the beach below. There’s no need to over-plan here; this is the place to slow down, walk the rows, and let the scale of what happened sink in. Late afternoon, carry on west to Pointe du Hoc in Cricqueville-en-Bessin, where the cratered ground and cliff edge make the assault feel startlingly immediate even today. It can be windy and exposed, so bring a layer and comfortable shoes; the site is free, and 1.5 hours is a good pace without exhausting yourself.
Finish in Port-en-Bessin-Huppain for a seafood dinner in the harbor area, where the day can end on a calmer, more local note. A table near the quay at Le Bouchon or La Marina is the kind of low-key, satisfying meal that works well after a full day on the coast, with fresh fish, oysters, or a plate of Normandy shellfish and a glass of white. Budget around €35–60 per person, depending on how indulgent you feel. If you still have energy after dinner, take a short walk by the harbor before heading back — it’s one of the nicest ways to let the day settle.
Make this a clean, early start from Gare de Bayeux so you arrive in Paris with the whole afternoon still in front of you. If you can get settled near Saint-Lazare or one of the central metro lines, even better — it keeps the rest of the day easy. By the time you’re in the city and checked in, you’ll usually be ready for a proper walk, not a complicated plan. For this first Paris stretch, aim for the eastern edge of Le Marais around Rue des Francs-Bourgeois, Rue Vieille du Temple, and the little side streets between them; this is one of the best arrival neighborhoods because it gives you cafés, boutiques, old façades, and enough foot traffic to feel lively without being overwhelming.
From there, wander slowly toward Place des Vosges, which is one of those places that always works, no matter how tired you are — elegant arcades, green benches, and a quiet center that feels like a reset after Normandy. Give yourself time to just sit for a bit and watch the rhythm of the square. Then head to Carette for tea, coffee, or a late lunch; the Place des Vosges location is the most convenient for this route, and it’s exactly the kind of classic Paris stop that makes sense on a first afternoon. Expect around €15–30 per person depending on whether you keep it light or go for pastries and a fuller plate. It’s a polished, slightly touristy place, but in this case that’s fine — the setting is half the point.
After that, make your way to Pont Neuf for your Seine cruise. This is a smart choice after two Normandy days because it’s low-effort, scenic, and gives you a great visual sweep of the city without requiring much energy. If you have a little time before departure, stroll the riverbank around Île de la Cité or across toward Saint-Michel; it’s one of the nicest parts of central Paris for a slow walk, especially in the evening light. For dinner, head over to Le Relais de l’Entrecôte in Saint-Germain-des-Prés — it’s straightforward, famous for a reason, and perfect when you want a reliable first-night meal instead of spending 45 minutes choosing a restaurant. Expect roughly €25–40 per person, and go in knowing the whole charm is the simplicity: one main, one sauce, done.
Ease into your last Paris morning with a slow walk through Jardin du Luxembourg in the 6th. This is the kind of park that feels made for a departure day: elegant paths, chestnut trees, chairs by the fountain, and just enough Parisian life without the pressure of “seeing everything.” Give yourself about 45 minutes, and go early enough that it still feels hushed. From there it’s an easy walk over to Saint-Sulpice Church, which is worth the short detour for its sheer scale and the neighborhood atmosphere around the square; 30 minutes is plenty unless you want to sit for a while and soak it in. Both stops are very walkable, and this part of the Left Bank is one of the nicest places in the city to simply move at half speed.
For a sweet final Paris stop, head to Pierre Hermé Bonaparte in Saint-Germain-des-Prés and pick up a box for the flight — macarons, a pastry, or both if you’re feeling celebratory. Budget roughly €8–20 depending on how much restraint you have. Then continue over to Musée d’Orsay, which is the smartest museum choice for a short last day because it’s compact enough to enjoy properly without eating the whole morning. Plan on 1.5 to 2 hours and go straight to what matters most to you: the Impressionists upstairs, the grand station hall, or just one focused lap. Tickets are usually around the high teens, and if you want to save time, book ahead and use the main entrance rather than wandering up the side.
Wrap things up with a coffee at Café de Flore, one of those places where the point is as much the scene as the drink. It’s not cheap — expect about €15–30 per person if you sit and linger — but for a final Paris pause, it earns its reputation. The best move here is to take your time, keep luggage nearby if you can, and then head out toward your airport transfer without rushing. If you’re going to Charles de Gaulle, the RER B is usually the easiest central option from this side of town; if you’re flying from Orly, a taxi or app ride is often simplest on a noon departure day.