Normandy is one of the most rewarding regions in France, but it's also large. Monet's garden, medieval Rouen, the harbour of Honfleur, the elegant Côte Fleurie, the D-Day beaches and Mont-Saint-Michel are spread across more than 300 km. Rushing them in a single day trip from Paris means long hours in the car and little time at each stop. Spending five to seven days in Normandy with a private driver changes everything: you travel in short, comfortable stages, sleep in charming towns and see each place properly. This week-long itinerary from Paris shows how to plan it, with shorter versions if you have less time.
Day 1 — Paris to Rouen via Giverny
Leave Paris in the morning and drive about 1h15 to Giverny. Walk through Claude Monet's house, with its yellow dining room and Japanese prints, then the flower garden and the famous water lily pond. The gardens are open daily from 1 April to 1 November, from 10:00 to 18:00.
After lunch in the village, continue about one hour to Rouen, the capital of Normandy. Check into your hotel in the old town and enjoy an evening walk among the half-timbered houses. Overnight: Rouen.
Day 2 — Rouen to Honfleur
Spend the morning in Rouen: the Gothic cathedral painted many times by Monet, the Gros-Horloge astronomical clock, and the Place du Vieux-Marché where Joan of Arc died in 1431. In the early afternoon, drive about 1h15 west to Honfleur. Its Vieux Bassin harbour, lined with tall slate-fronted houses, inspired generations of painters. Visit the wooden Sainte-Catherine church, built by shipwrights. Overnight: Honfleur.
Day 3 — The Côte Fleurie and Pays d'Auge
In the morning, visit Deauville, with its famous wooden boardwalk, Les Planches, and elegant villas, then neighbouring Trouville for its fish market. In the afternoon, head inland to the Pays d'Auge and the Cider Route: half-timbered villages such as Beuvron-en-Auge, orchards, and farm producers of cider, pommeau and Calvados. With a driver, everyone can taste. Overnight: Honfleur or Deauville.
Day 4 — D-Day beaches, eastern sector
Drive about one hour to the landing beaches. Start at Pegasus Bridge, the first point liberated on 6 June 1944. Continue along Sword, Juno and Gold beaches, where British and Canadian forces landed. At Arromanches, the remains of the Mulberry artificial harbour are still visible at low tide. In the evening, settle into Bayeux, a beautifully preserved medieval town with a magnificent cathedral. Overnight: Bayeux.
Day 5 — D-Day beaches, western sector
This day focuses on the American sectors. Visit the Normandy American Cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer, overlooking Omaha Beach; the cliffs of Pointe du Hoc, scaled by US Rangers; Utah Beach and its museum; and Sainte-Mère-Église, famous for the paratrooper caught on the church spire. Many visitors book a specialist D-Day guide for these two days. Overnight: Bayeux.
Day 6 — Mont-Saint-Michel
Drive about 1h30 southwest to Mont-Saint-Michel. Cross to the island by shuttle or on foot, climb the narrow Grande Rue to the abbey and walk the ramparts above the bay. Check the tide calendar: on days with big tides, the sea surrounds the Mont dramatically. Stay nearby to see the abbey lit up after the day visitors leave. Overnight: Mont-Saint-Michel area.
Day 7 — Return to Paris or the airport
The drive back to Paris takes about four hours. Your driver can drop you at your Paris hotel, at CDG or Orly for your flight home, or at Gare du Nord for the Eurostar.
Shorter versions of the itinerary
- 5 days: combine days 2 and 3 (Rouen in the morning, Honfleur and Deauville afternoon), and see the D-Day beaches in one long day.
- 3 days: Paris to Honfleur, then the D-Day beaches and Bayeux, then Mont-Saint-Michel and back to Paris.
- Add a day: include Étretat's cliffs, Saint-Malo in Brittany, or a slower day in Bayeux.
Why travel Normandy with a private driver
- One driver all week, who knows the route and your preferences.
- Luggage handled daily between hotels, with no repacking for trains.
- Flexibility around weather, tides and how long you want at each stop.
- Tastings without worry on the Cider Route and at Calvados producers.
- Space for everyone: a Mercedes V-Class fits up to seven travellers and a week of luggage; an S-Class or E-Class suits couples.
Multi-day trips are quoted individually, including the driver's accommodation. Check Luxberri's deals page for current offers on Normandy routes.
Where to stay in Normandy
Choosing the right bases saves hours of driving. On this itinerary, three or four bases work well:
- Rouen: central boutique hotels in the old town, within walking distance of the cathedral.
- Honfleur or Deauville: harbour-side hotels and guesthouses in Honfleur, or grand seafront hotels in Deauville.
- Bayeux: the ideal base for the D-Day beaches, with characterful hotels in old townhouses and manor houses in the countryside nearby.
- Mont-Saint-Michel: a few small hotels on the Mont itself, or more choice on the mainland a short shuttle ride away.
Book early for May to September, and especially around the D-Day anniversary in early June, when hotels near the beaches fill up months ahead.
Weather and what to pack
Normandy has a mild, maritime climate. Summers are pleasant rather than hot, and rain can arrive at any time of year, so pack a waterproof jacket and layers even in July. Comfortable walking shoes are essential for the cobbled streets of Rouen and Honfleur, the beaches and the steep climb at Mont-Saint-Michel. Bring something smarter for dinners in Deauville. In autumn and spring, the light is beautiful and crowds are lighter, but days are shorter, so the driver may suggest earlier starts. With a chauffeur, there's no need to pack light: luggage stays in the car between hotels all week.
Best time to tour Normandy
May to September brings long days and the best weather for the coast and the D-Day beaches. Early June is the busiest period around the D-Day anniversary, so book hotels well ahead. Spring adds apple blossom in the Pays d'Auge, while September and October bring the cider harvest, autumn colour and quieter roads. In winter, many sights stay open but days are short, so a slower five-day version of this itinerary works better.
More questions
Can the trip end at CDG?
Yes, or Orly, Gare du Nord or your Paris hotel.
What's the best season?
May to October for long days; spring for orchards in blossom.
