Honouring History: Exploring Omaha Beach and Beyond

A pâtisserie specialising in handcrafted chocolates and pastries.
Take a quick pit stop en route in the quaint town of Avranches. The Mont Chocolat bakery will spoil you rotten with their selection of pastries. Some of them look like pure works of art, almost too pretty to eat! Get your coffee and cake to-go, or take a moment to sit and enjoy. 🗓️ Check the opening hours before your visit. 🅿️ Car parks are available nearby.

A four-star hotel located in the heart of the D-Day region.
Time to drop your bags off at this highly rated and comfortable hotel right by the coast. It's then onwards to the real destination. 🅿️ On-site parking is available.

One of the five Normandy beaches where Allied forces landed on D-Day, 6 June 1944, during the Second World War, as part of the invasion of German-occupied France.
You're here. Omaha Beach. Try to imagine it on the morning of 6 June 1944. The US 1st Infantry hits the beach from their landing craft, while the German 352nd Infantry Division rains down heavy machine gun fire and mortar rounds. A hell on earth, now returned to its peaceful, windswept landscape. 🅿️ Car parks are available nearby.

A commemorative monument, honouring the bravery of Allied soldiers who participated in the D-Day landings on 6 June 1944.
Visit 'The Braves' sculpture. It's right in the middle of Omaha Beach and really gives you some great perspective on the daunting mission the Allies had of taking this wide, flat beach with nothing to hide behind. It's a moving and rather chilling monument.

A restaurant located close to the D-Day Omaha Museum, serving fresh seasonal cuisine.
That fresh sea air has likely given you a bit of an appetite. Grab yourself a cheeky burger and fries at this highly rated lunch spot. Other light bites and vegetarian options are available.
You'll be surrounded by D-Day memorabilia with a great view. If you're lucky enough to grab a table in it, part of the dining area is an old Second World War US army bus. Even the drink bottles and table cutlery are Second World War-themed. It's quite an experience! 🗓️ The restaurant has seasonal opening hours, so make sure to check them well in advance. If you happen to be travelling while it's closed, consider having lunch at La Sapinière hotel-restaurant, within a 5-minute drive from Omaha Beach. 🅿️ On-site parking is available.

A museum in an authentic American period building at Omaha Beach, displaying thousands of original pieces across more than three thousand square metres.
This is a cute little independent museum that has been built up by a family of fans of the Second World War. It's a must-see space with several quite unique exhibits, both inside and out. Another fascinating anecdote about this museum is that it's actually the former US Army field hospital, set up on-site immediately after the landings. Take a leisurely look around this museum and, if you're lucky, grab a quick chat with the lovely owners. 🗓️ Check the opening hours before your visit.

A memorial honouring thousands of fallen soldiers, with a memorial colonnade, reflecting pool, and visitor centre, serving as a revered site for remembrance and ceremonies.
After viewing the scene of some of the heaviest fighting, where it's estimated that up to 5,000 casualties were suffered by the Allied forces, you can now see where some of these men rest. It's a deeply moving feeling to walk among the graves, thinking about the lives that could have been lived but were cut short. They shall not grow old. 🗓️ Check the visiting hours before your visit. 🅿️ On-site parking is available.

A restaurant in the heart of the historic centre serving seasonal cuisine.
Wow, what a long day. It's time for some nourishment. Enjoy this beautiful and homely little restaurant right in the heart of Bayeux town. A selection of fish and meat dishes are available. Vegetarian options too. The desserts are widely regarded as worth going back for second helpings. So be careful! 🗓️ Check the opening hours and book a table in advance. 🅿️ Street parking is available.

Time to call it an early night and rest up in the hotel. You've got a lot more to see and do tomorrow.