Normandy is the part of France where, in a single week, you can take in Mont-Saint-Michel, the chalk cliffs at Étretat, the D-Day beaches, a harbour straight out of an Impressionist painting and a medieval city with one of France’s most beautiful cathedrals. Distances are manageable, and from Paris you can be in Rouen in just over an hour by train. Working out where to stay in Normandy is what makes or breaks the trip.
The region is simply big, so where you base yourself matters a lot. Pick the wrong spot and you’ll spend every day in the car instead of exploring. Here you’ll find six towns, each with its own strengths, and three hotels in each.
Contents
Where to Stay in Normandy: The Best Towns
- Rouen - best town for culture and train travellers
- Honfleur - best town for couples and a cosy atmosphere
- Étretat - best town for cliffs and walks
- Deauville & Trouville - best town for beaches and families
- Bayeux - best town for the D-Day beaches and history
- Mont-Saint-Michel - best area for a night by the abbey
I go through the towns from east to west, in other words in the order you’ll reach them when driving from Paris. For each town you get a map, distances, price level and three hotels in different price brackets. The prices come from a search for a weekend in May for two people, and they rise noticeably in July, August and around the D-Day anniversary in early June.
1. Rouen - best town for culture and train travellers ⛪
- 📍 Distance to the centre: The Old Town sits on the north bank of the Seine, and from the cathedral it’s a five-minute walk to the Gros-Horloge and ten minutes to Place du Vieux-Marché.
- 🚆 Transport: Trains from Paris Saint-Lazare to Rouen Rive Droite take around 1 hour 10 minutes to 1.5 hours. From the station it’s a 15-minute walk down to the cathedral, and in the Old Town you can do everything on foot.
- ✈️ Time from Paris-CDG: Around 1 hour 45 minutes by car. Without a car, take the train into Paris and continue from Saint-Lazare.
- 💰 Price level: €€ to €€€€. The three hotels below cost roughly £80 to £250 per night when I searched for a weekend in May.
- 👮 Safety: Safe in the Old Town. The area around the station and the south bank at Saint-Sever feels more run-down in the evening, so stay north of the river.
Rouen is the capital of Normandy and the city I’d start a trip with, especially if you’re arriving by train. The Old Town is full of half-timbered houses, and in the middle of it all stands Notre-Dame Cathedral, which Claude Monet painted again and again in different light. Rue du Gros-Horloge leads you under the great Renaissance clock and out onto Place du Vieux-Marché, where Joan of Arc was burned in 1431. Today a modern church stands on the square in her memory.
The city is strong on art, too. The Musée des Beaux-Arts has one of France’s largest Impressionist collections outside Paris, and the permanent collection is free to visit. The museum is closed on Tuesdays, so plan around that. In the evening, people sit out on the terraces around Saint-Maclou and along Rue Martainville, where the crooked houses are some of the best preserved in the city.
I’d stay in Rouen if you’re travelling without a car, if you only have a long weekend, or if you’re combining Normandy with a few days in Paris. If you need help with the capital, I’ve written a guide to where to stay in Paris. Rouen also makes a sensible first night if you land in the afternoon and don’t want to drive all the way to the coast the same day.
The downside is that Rouen is a city, not a coastal town. It’s around an hour by car to both Honfleur and Étretat, so if you stay here all week, you’ll spend a lot of hours behind the wheel. Better to give Rouen two nights and then move on westwards.
Hotels in Rouen
Hôtel de Bourgtheroulde, Autograph Collection - five-star mansion with an indoor pool
Hôtel de Bourgtheroulde is on Place de la Pucelle, a few minutes’ walk from Place du Vieux-Marché, in an old Renaissance mansion with an indoor pool, spa, sauna, steam room and restaurant. It’s the city’s only five-star hotel, and there’s valet parking if you arrive by car. A few guests do feel that the décor is worn and doesn’t quite live up to the five stars.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “The hotel has always been excellent, with a lovely location and a very welcoming atmosphere.”
See photos and book Hôtel de Bourgtheroulde here.
Mercure Rouen Centre Cathédrale - four-star hotel right by the cathedral
The Mercure is on Rue Croix de Fer, a couple of minutes’ walk from the cathedral and the Gros-Horloge. There’s a restaurant, bar, gym, soundproofed rooms and an underground car park, which is rare this central in Rouen. A couple of guests mention minor issues in the rooms, such as a plug socket that didn’t work.
From one review: “Fantastic location, very helpful staff, a good hotel.”
See photos and book Mercure Rouen Centre Cathédrale here.
Aparthotel Adagio Access Rouen Centre Cathédrale - budget aparthotel within walking distance of everything
Adagio Access is on Rue du Docteur Robert Rambert, around a five to ten-minute walk from the cathedral, and was the cheapest of my three suggestions when I searched. There’s air conditioning, soundproofed rooms, family rooms and a 24-hour reception, and its score on Booking.com is higher than the Mercure’s. On short stays the room isn’t cleaned every day, which annoys some guests.
One guest highlights: “A very pleasant hotel with good beds, a good breakfast and friendly staff!”
See photos and book Adagio Access Rouen here.
2. Honfleur - best town for couples and a cosy atmosphere ⛵
- 📍 Distance to the centre: Honfleur is small. From the Vieux Bassin, the old harbour, it’s no more than a 10 to 15-minute walk to any hotel in town.
- 🚗 Transport: There’s no railway station, so you’ll arrive by car or by bus from Le Havre, Caen or Deauville. Across the Pont de Normandie, it’s about 25 minutes to Le Havre and 20 minutes to Deauville.
- ✈️ Time from Paris-CDG: About 2.5 hours by car.
- 💰 Price level: €€ to €€€€. The three places below came to roughly £65 to £270 per night when I searched for a weekend in May.
- 👮 Safety: Very safe. The biggest problems are the crowds around the harbour on summer weekends and finding a parking space.
Honfleur is the most picture-postcard town in Normandy. Tall, narrow slate and half-timbered houses huddle around the Vieux Bassin, sailing boats bob in the water in front of them, and in the evening the whole quayside becomes one long pavement of restaurants. It’s no coincidence that the painter Eugène Boudin and his pupil Monet painted here, and the tourist office still calls the town the cradle of Impressionism.
Walk a few streets up from the harbour to Sainte-Catherine, the largest wooden church in France, with a bell tower that stands on its own across the square. Around it you’ll find small galleries, cider and calvados shops, and lanes where you’re almost alone, even when the quayside is packed. The Saturday market by the church is a good place to buy cheese, cider and fish.
I’d stay in Honfleur if you’re a couple, or if you want a base that’s lovely in the evening once the day-trippers have gone home. The town is also centrally located: Étretat and Deauville are easy day trips, and you can even reach the D-Day beaches on a long day. If you only have one base and a car for the whole trip, Honfleur is the place I’d choose, because you can reach both the cliffs to the north and the beaches to the west in under an hour.
The downsides are the prices and the crowds. Honfleur is one of the most visited towns in Normandy, so the restaurants right on the harbour are expensive and not always the best, and in summer you’ll need to book your hotel well in advance. Eat a few streets back into town instead, and take a morning stroll around the harbour before the coaches arrive.
Hotels in Honfleur
L’Absinthe Hôtel - small boutique hotel a few steps from the harbour
L’Absinthe is on Rue de la Ville, a couple of minutes’ walk from the Vieux Bassin, and has one of the highest ratings among the town’s hotels. It’s a small hotel with just a few rooms, and there’s a bar, air conditioning and a private underground car park, which is worth its weight in gold in Honfleur. Breakfast has to be ordered in advance, and several guests mention that the choice is limited.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “The hotel was very clean and beautifully presented.”
See photos and book L’Absinthe Hôtel here.
Le Rituel Hotel & Spa - spa and outdoor pool at a mid-range price
Le Rituel is on Cours Albert Manuel in the western part of town, about a five-minute walk from the centre. It’s a four-star hotel with a spa, sauna, steam room, heated outdoor pool in summer, restaurant and its own parking, and the price was lower than at most of the three-star hotels by the harbour. Some guests feel breakfast is expensive for what you get.
From a review: “A beautiful hotel, and it’s only a five-minute walk to the centre.”
See photos and book Le Rituel Hotel & Spa here.
L’escale honfleuraise - budget apartment five minutes from the Vieux Bassin
L’escale honfleuraise offers apartments with a terrace on a quiet street west of the centre, about a five-minute walk from the old harbour. It was by far the cheapest of my three suggestions and has a high rating, but it’s an apartment rather than a hotel, so don’t expect a reception or breakfast, and you park on the street. One guest mentions a dripping sound from the water pipes.
One guest highlights: “It was a lovely apartment. Very private and quiet.”
See photos and book L’escale honfleuraise here.
3. Étretat - best town for cliffs and walks 🌊
- 📍 Distance to the centre: The town is a village, and from the seafront promenade it’s a 10-minute walk to the foot of either cliff and around 20 minutes up to the viewpoints.
- 🚌 Transport: There’s no railway station. Taking the train to Le Havre and the bus onwards takes around an hour from Le Havre, and by car it’s 30 minutes to Le Havre and an hour to Honfleur.
- ✈️ Time from Paris-CDG: Around 2 hours and 45 minutes by car.
- 💰 Price level: €€€ to €€€€. The three hotels below cost around £125 to £350 a night when I searched for a weekend in May.
- 👮 Safety: Safe. Stay behind the fences on the clifftops, don’t go too close to the edge, and check the tides before you walk along the foot of the cliffs.
Étretat is the reason many people come to Normandy in the first place. The white chalk cliffs rise on either side of a small pebble beach, and to the west stands the Falaise d’Aval with the Porte d’Aval arch and the L’Aiguille rock needle out in the water. To the east is the Falaise d’Amont, with the little Notre-Dame-de-la-Garde chapel on top. Monet painted the cliffs in every kind of weather, and you’ll understand why when the sun sets behind the arch.
The best thing about staying here is that you can walk up onto the cliffs early in the morning or late in the evening, once the day-trippers have gone. The path along the Falaise d’Aval carries on past La Manneporte, an even bigger arch, and further along the coast, and the Le Havre and Étretat tourist office has maps of the routes. The town itself is small, with a covered wooden market, a few streets of restaurants and a promenade where you can tuck into moules frites with views of the cliffs.
I’d stay in Étretat if you’re coming for the nature, want to go on long walks or photograph the cliffs in good light. One or two nights is enough for most people. Combine it with Honfleur or Rouen so you get both nature and a city on the same trip, and bring decent shoes, as the paths up the cliffs are steep and can be slippery after rain.
The downside is that Étretat is expensive for what you get, and the choice of hotels is small, so many of the best places are villas and guesthouses. On summer weekends the town is packed to bursting and the car parks are full by mid-morning, so arrive early or stay here. In the evenings, on the other hand, there isn’t much to do apart from eating out.
Hotels in Étretat
Domaine Saint Clair - Le Donjon - château hotel with a pool and views over the town
Le Donjon sits on the hillside above Étretat along Chemin de Saint Clair, with an outdoor pool, spa, sauna, restaurant and free parking. It’s the most luxurious address in town, and from the garden you look out over the rooftops towards the sea. On the other hand, several guests mention wear and tear in the rooms and communal areas, and the price is the highest in Étretat.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “The view was amazing. The hotel is beautiful.”
See photos and book Domaine Saint Clair here.
Dormy House - four-star hotel with a garden and terrace above the bay
Dormy House is on Route du Havre at the western end of town, close to the path up the Falaise d’Aval. There’s a garden, terrace, restaurant, bar and private parking, and its Booking.com score is the highest of the three. Not every room has space for an extra bed, so if you’re travelling with children, choose your room type carefully.
From one review: “We absolutely loved the hotel! Everything was perfect.”
See photos and book Dormy House here.
Hotel Le Rayon Vert - cheapest option with the sea right outside the door
Le Rayon Vert is right on the seafront promenade, with the sea and the cliffs just outside the door. There’s a restaurant, bar and 24-hour reception, and it was the cheapest of my three suggestions. You’ll need to find parking in town yourself, and several guests feel the breakfast is disappointing.
One guest highlights: “A wonderful hotel right by the sea. Friendly staff.”
See photos and book Hotel Le Rayon Vert here.
4. Deauville & Trouville - best towns for beaches and families 🏖️
- 📍 Distance to the centre: The two towns sit on opposite banks of the River Touques. From Deauville’s beach it’s about a 15-minute walk across the bridge to Trouville’s fish market.
- 🚆 Transport: The towns share Trouville-Deauville station, and according to SNCF the fastest trains from Paris Saint-Lazare take around 2 hours and 15 minutes.
- ✈️ Time from Paris-CDG: About 2.5 hours by car. Deauville also has its own small airport, but it has few routes.
- 💰 Price level: €€€ to €€€€€. The three hotels below cost roughly £140 to £500 per night when I searched for a weekend in May.
- 👮 Safety: Very safe. In summer there are lots of people and cars, so keep an eye on the children along the roads by the beach.
Deauville is the Parisians’ seaside weekend getaway and has been for more than a hundred years. Here you’ll find Les Planches, the famous wooden boardwalk along the beach with its colourful parasols, a large casino, two racecourses and half-timbered Norman villas. Every September the town hosts a festival of American film, and that’s when the hotels fill up.
Trouville, across the river, is Deauville’s more down-to-earth sister. It’s an old fishing town with a fish market on the quay where you can eat oysters and prawns standing up, a long sandy beach with its own boardwalk and narrow streets with cheaper restaurants. The painter Eugène Boudin painted the first bathers on the beach here, and the grand villas along the promenade date from the same era. In fact, many people prefer to stay in Trouville and walk over the bridge to Deauville when they want a taste of the glamour.
See hotels in Deauville and Trouville here.
I’d stay here if you’re travelling with children and want a proper sandy beach, or if you fancy a classic seaside holiday with good food and a touch of glamour. With direct trains from Paris, it’s also the easiest place on the coast to reach without a car, and Honfleur is only 20 minutes away.
The downside is the cost. Deauville is the most expensive town in Normandy, and at weekends and during holidays prices climb even higher because half of Paris heads up here. Out of season, many restaurants close on weekdays, and the water in the English Channel is cold, even in summer. On the plus side, you can often get the smart hotels for far less in spring and autumn.
Hotels in Deauville & Trouville
Hôtel Barrière Le Normandy - Deauville’s famous grand hotel by the casino
Le Normandy is the large half-timbered hotel next to the casino and one of the best-known hotels in France. There’s an indoor pool, spa, gym, kids’ club and tennis court, and Les Planches is just a few minutes’ walk away. It’s the most expensive hotel in this entire guide, and some guests complain that they can hear the neighbouring rooms.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “The staff were always very polite and helpful.”
See photos and book Hôtel Barrière Le Normandy here.
Le Flaubert - four-star hotel right on the beach in Trouville
Le Flaubert is on Rue Gustave Flaubert, right on Trouville’s beach and promenade, and the fish market is a ten-minute walk away. There’s a bar, family rooms and valet parking, and its Booking.com score is one of the highest on this stretch of coast. If there’s a group staying, the breakfast room can be fully booked, so ask about it when you check in.
From one review: “Lovely staff, great location and beautiful rooms.”
See photos and book Le Flaubert here.
ibis Styles Deauville Centre - the cheapest sensible option in central Deauville
ibis Styles is on Rue Fossorier in the middle of Deauville, a few minutes’ walk from both the beach and the market square. There’s a bar, terrace, air conditioning and family rooms, and breakfast is included at most ibis Styles hotels, but check when you book. Some guests say the staff could be more welcoming.
One guest highlights: “Very clean, and you can park in front of the hotel.”
See photos and book ibis Styles Deauville Centre here.
5. Bayeux - best town for the D-Day beaches and history 🎖️
- 📍 Distance to the centre: Bayeux is a small town, and from the cathedral it’s no more than a 10 to 15-minute walk to the hotels in this guide. The coast at Arromanches is about 10 kilometres away.
- 🚆 Transport: Bayeux has a railway station with trains from Paris Saint-Lazare via Caen, taking about 2 to 2.5 hours. To get out to the beaches, you’ll need a car or a guided tour.
- ✈️ Time from Paris-CDG: About 3 hours and 15 minutes by car.
- 💰 Price level: €€ to €€€. The three hotels below cost around £100 to £270 per night when I searched for a weekend in May.
- 👮 Safety: Very safe and peaceful. The town is quiet in the evenings, and the only thing you need to watch out for is the traffic on the narrow roads out by the beaches.
If you’re wondering where to stay in Normandy for the D-Day beaches, Bayeux is the obvious base. The town was liberated just one day after the landings in June 1944 and escaped almost undamaged, so you’ll be staying in a charming medieval town with canals, half-timbered houses and a huge Gothic cathedral consecrated in 1077. The town is also famous for the Bayeux Tapestry, the roughly 70-metre-long embroidery telling the story of William the Conqueror. The museum where the tapestry is displayed may be closed at times, so check the town’s page about the tapestry before you go.
From Bayeux you can reach all the major sites within half an hour: Arromanches with the remains of the artificial harbour, Pointe du Hoc, Omaha Beach and the American Cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer, where nearly 9,400 Americans are buried. The beaches are on the UNESCO World Heritage List and are spread along about 80 kilometres of coastline, so this is where a hire car from Booking.com really makes a difference. If you’d rather have the stories told to you, a full-day tour of the American D-Day sites from Bayeux for around 190 euros (around £160) is a good choice.
I would stay in Bayeux if D-Day and the Second World War are the main purpose of your trip, and I would give the town at least two nights. It’s small enough to walk everywhere, and in the evening you can eat well at sensible prices in the streets around the cathedral.
The downside is that Bayeux is quiet in the evenings and a long way from the rest of Normandy. Honfleur and Étretat are more than an hour away by car, so you’re better off combining Bayeux with Mont-Saint-Michel, which lies about 1.5 hours to the south-west. Around the anniversary on 6 June, hotels sell out months in advance.
Hotels in Bayeux
Domaine de Bayeux - manor house with a garden and the town’s highest rating
Domaine de Bayeux is on Rue de Cremel on the eastern edge of town, about a ten-minute walk from the cathedral. It’s a four-star manor house with a garden, terrace, free parking and an EV charging point, and with a score of 9.4 it has the highest rating of all the hotels in this guide. The driveway is narrow, so take it slowly if you’re driving a large car.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “A truly special hotel… very friendly staff.”
See photos and book Domaine de Bayeux here.
Churchill Hotel Bayeux Centre - charming hotel on the town’s main street
Churchill Hotel is on Rue Saint-Jean, the main street in the middle of Bayeux, and it’s a five-minute walk to the cathedral. There’s a bar, terrace, air conditioning and a 24-hour reception, and you’ll be right among the cafés and shops. Some guests mention that the rooms are small and there’s no kettle.
From one review: “Fantastic location, a beautiful hotel and spotlessly clean.”
See photos and book Churchill Hotel here.
Le Declic - small budget hotel with bags of charm
Le Declic is on Rue Alain Chartier in the western part of the centre, about a ten-minute walk from the cathedral. It’s a small hotel with a terrace, street parking and an EV charging point, and it was the cheapest of my three suggestions. A couple of guests say the Wi-Fi signal is weak on the top floor.
One guest highlights: “A charming hotel with lots of character.”
See photos and book Le Declic here.
6. Mont-Saint-Michel - best area for a night by the abbey 🏰
- 📍 Distance to the centre: The hotels are either on the island itself or in La Caserne on the mainland, just over 2 kilometres from the island. From there it’s a good half-hour walk, or you can take the free shuttle bus out to the island.
- 🚌 Transport: The Le Passeur shuttle bus is free and runs continuously from 7.30am until midnight, according to the tourist office. By train, you’ll usually travel to Rennes or Pontorson and take a bus for the last stretch.
- ✈️ Time from Paris-CDG: About 4 hours by car.
- 💰 Price level: €€ to €€€. The three hotels below cost roughly £125 to £220 per night when I searched for a weekend in May.
- 👮 Safety: Safe, but never walk out onto the tidal flats in the bay without a guide. The tide comes in fast, and there’s quicksand.
Mont-Saint-Michel is Normandy’s best-known sight: a rocky island in a bay with a Benedictine abbey on top and a small village of houses and walls beneath it. The island is on the UNESCO World Heritage List, and the bay has the biggest tides in continental Europe, so during the highest tides the island is surrounded by water for a couple of hours. A ticket to the abbey costs €13 (around £11), and EU citizens under 26 get in free.
The reason to stay the night here is that most visitors leave again in the late afternoon. In the evening and early morning you’ll have the Grande Rue and the ramparts almost to yourself, and the island is lit up after dark. Parking as a day visitor costs about €10 (around £8) in high season, but if you stay at a hotel in La Caserne, you’ll get an access code that lets you drive right up to the hotel.
See hotels near Mont-Saint-Michel here.
I’d stay here for one night on the way between Bayeux and Brittany, or if you want to photograph the island at sunset and in the morning light. Arrive a couple of hours before high tide if you want to watch the water flow in around the island, and check the tide tables before you set off. Bayeux is about 1.5 hours away by car, so the two fit together nicely.
The downside is that Mont-Saint-Michel isn’t a place you stay for several days. The hotels on the island are old, expensive for what you get and mean carrying your suitcase up stairs, while the hotels in La Caserne are mostly practical chain hotels along a road. The restaurants on the island are touristy and pricey, so you’re better off eating in La Caserne or in Pontorson.
Hotels near Mont-Saint-Michel
Hôtel la Croix Blanche - sleep on the island itself with views over the bay
La Croix Blanche is on the Grande Rue on the island, and from several of the rooms you look straight out over the bay. It’s expensive for a three-star hotel, but you’re paying for the experience of being on the island once the day-trippers have gone. There are lots of stairs up to the rooms, so pack a small overnight bag and leave your suitcase in the car.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “Fantastic views, and it’s wonderful to stay overnight ON the island.”
See photos and book Hôtel la Croix Blanche here.
Mercure Mont Saint Michel - four-star hotel by the shuttle bus
The Mercure is in La Caserne close to the shuttle bus stop and has a restaurant, bar, garden, terrace and private parking. It’s the most comfortable choice on the mainland, and the rooms have air conditioning and soundproofing. A few guests have complained about flies in the restaurant at breakfast in summer.
From one review: “Excellent location, parking and nice rooms.”
See photos and book Mercure Mont Saint Michel here.
Hôtel Vert - simple, budget hotel in La Caserne
Hôtel Vert is also in La Caserne, a few minutes’ walk from the shuttle bus, and has a restaurant, bar, terrace and private parking. It was the cheapest of my three suggestions and has over 5,000 reviews on Booking.com. However, several guests say the rooms are starting to look worn and dated.
One guest highlights: “The location is excellent, and the hotel met all the basic needs.”
See photos and book Hôtel Vert here.
Where not to stay in Normandy?
Avoid the cheap chain hotels on the business parks by the motorway exits outside Caen and Rouen. You’ll save a few pounds, but you’ll be staying among warehouses and roundabouts and will have to get in the car for dinner. Le Havre is practical if you’re arriving by ferry, and the centre was rebuilt in concrete after the war, but it isn’t the charming coastal town most people dream of. Cherbourg, right out on the Cotentin Peninsula, is too far from most things unless you’re catching the ferry. And don’t stay only at Mont-Saint-Michel to see the rest of Normandy: from there it’s almost three hours to Honfleur.
If it’s your first trip to Normandy and you have a week, I’d split it into three: two nights in Honfleur with day trips to Étretat and Deauville, two or three nights in Bayeux for the D-Day beaches and one night at Mont-Saint-Michel. If you’re travelling by train and have a long weekend, choose Rouen or Deauville, where you can manage without a car. If you’re travelling with children, Trouville and Deauville with their long sandy beaches are the most relaxed choice, and if you’re a couple, Honfleur is hard to beat.
If you’re flying to Paris and want to pick up a hire car at the airport, my guide to getting from Charles de Gaulle can help you with the logistics. If you have a few days in Paris before or after, you’ll also find my guide to things to see in Paris. From there, Normandy is only a couple of hours away.
Travel ressources & websites I use all the time 👇
• Booking.com has the best offers on hotels and unique places to stay
• GetYourGuide is the best place to book tours & activities with free cancellation
• Welcome Pickups is the best & safest place to pre-book airport transfers
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