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D-Day to the Rhine

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Our D-Day to the Rhine Tour commemorates the Allied invasion of Normandy that led to victory in Europe in WWII. Stephen E. Ambrose first designed our D-Day tour itinerary in 1978 when he began his intense study of the D-Day invasion, the Normandy Campaign and western front in WWII. As part of his research, Ambrose travelled with countless veterans to find the sites where they trained in the United Kingdom and the battlefields where they made history in Europe. His extensive study of the European Theater of Operations led to his bestselling books on the subject, D-Day: June 6, 1944 , Citizen Soldiers and Band of Brothers , among others.

Ambrose’s research produced the unrivaled experience that we offer on our D-Day to the Rhine Tour. His expertise was directly handed down to the next generation of historians who have continued to document the battlefield memories of hundreds of WWII veteran soldiers and officers at the very places where they fought. Their vast canon of knowledge is what makes our D-Day tour so authentic. Your historian will share these personal stories and their WWII expertise with you at every stop.

Tour significant areas of interest from WWII, including the Churchill War Rooms, the underground nerve center for Britain’s war effort, and the Imperial War Museum

Southwick House

Travel to the Southwick House where Eisenhower, Montgomery, Ramsay and staff planned the invasion

Normandy Landing Beaches

Visit the American invasion zones code-named Omaha and Utah

Normandy American Cemetery

Pay your respects where the graves of 9,387 Americans memorialize their sacrifice

Sainte-Mère-Église

Visit Sainte-Mère-Église where the effigy of John Steele still hangs on the iconic church steeple where he landed on D-Day among the earliest of the Airborne troops

Pointe du Hoc

See where the Rangers scaled the cliffs and silenced the German artillery firing on the American landing zones on D-Day at Utah and Omaha Beaches

Study Operation Market Garden, the early attempt by the Allied forces to strike directly for Berlin

Bastogne and Battle of the Bulge

Explore the Ardennes, Malmedy, Bastogne and Diekirch as you learn about one of the most epic and decisive victories of the War

Day 1 • Flight to London, England

Guests fly independently to London Heathrow Airport (LHR), arriving on Day 2.

Day 2 • London

Arrive at London Heathrow Airport (LHR) in the morning. You will join the group at the tour hotel for a Welcome Reception followed by dinner at the tour hotel. Your historian will treat you to your first lecture, with introductions all around.

Day 3 • London

The morning will feature key sites in London that figured prominently in the War before proceeding to the Churchill War Rooms, the underground nerve center for Britain’s war effort. You will also visit the Imperial War Museum, which houses authentic examples of World War II weaponry, tanks, and aircraft and an exhibit of WWI trench warfare. You will have free time to enjoy London in the evening.

Day 4 • Portsmouth

Depart London for Bletchley Park where you will visit the nerve center for intelligence used in the Allied War effort, code name Ultra. Here you will see the place where the Enigma machine is housed and where the cyphers and codes of several Axis countries were decrypted during the war.

This afternoon you will tour Southwick House, the advance command post of the Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force. In the months leading up to D-Day in 1944, the house became the headquarters of the main Allied commanders, including Naval Commander-In-Chief Admiral Ramsay, Allied Supreme Commander General Eisenhower, and the Army Commander-In-Chief General Montgomery.

Day 5-8 • Normandy

Following breakfast at the hotel, you will cross the English Channel by ferry, embarking for Normandy as the troops did in 1944.

During the several days you spend in Normandy, your visit will include the following sites, and maybe others:

• Pegasus Bridge : Where the first shots were fired on D-Day
• Brécourt Manor : The medieval family home where Lieutenant Dick Winters led the men of Easy Company to silence the German artillery firing at Utah Beach on D-Day
• Utah Beach : Where the American 4th Division landed, and where the Utah Beach Landing Museum stands today amid the stunning dunes
• Omaha Beach : Where the Americans experienced the greatest losses on D-Day
• Pointe du Hoc : Where the Rangers scaled the cliffs and neutralized the heavy German guns
• Normandy American Cemetery: Pay your respects at the deeply moving cemetery where nearly 10,000 graves memorialize the dead from the Normandy Campaign
• Sainte-Mère-Église: Where the first American Airborne troops landed on D-Day
• La Fiere Bridge: Where the 82nd Airborne successfully delayed a German Panzer counterattack against the Allied landing forces on D-Day
• Sainte-Marie-du-Mont : The church where the Germans used the unique Renaissance-style steeple as an observation post
• Carentan: Proceed from this town captured by the 101 st in the exact steps taken by American Paratroopers during the Battle of Normandy
• German Battery: A fine example of Hitler’s Atlantic Wall of defense

Day 9 • Normandy to the Netherlands

You will spend the morning in Normandy, and then travel to the Netherlands with an overnight stay in eastern France.

Day 10 • Netherlands: Arnhem

After breakfast, you will begin your study of Operation Market Garden, the early attempt by the Allied forces to strike directly for Berlin. Control of the bridges at Eindhoven, Nijmegen, and Arnhem was essential for the push into Germany. We drive Hell’s Highway where the 101st and 82nd Airborne broke through to connect with the British in Arnhem. You will visit Nijmegen to see the daring crossing of the Waal River by the 82nd Airborne.

From there we travel to Arnhem where again we cross the “Bridge Too Far.” Your historian will recount the desperate three days that the British 1st Airborne under General John Frost held it. You will end the day at the Airborne Museum at Oosterbeek.

Day 11 • The Ardennes

This is where Hitler put everything he had into his final counter-attack in the Ardennes that became the Battle of the Bulge. On December 16, 1944, Lt. Lyle Bouck was one of the first people to see the German columns coming. Your first stop will be in the Ardennes at Lanzereth, the town where Bouck and a platoon of 19 men held off a full-strength German SS Battalion under the infamous Joachim Peiper for an entire day. You will visit the American positions and hear their story, a breathtaking tale of heroism.

On December 17, 1944, the second day of the offensive, the Germans had several breakthroughs and many Americans surrendered near the town of Malmedy. Outside the town, Peiper’s SS lined up about 150 GIs and fired at them point-blank. Less than half escaped alive. You will view the site of the massacre and the Malmedy Massacre Memorial. From there, you will enjoy a scenic drive through the Ardennes Mountains en route to the evening’s lodging.

Day 12 • Luxembourg

Today, you will continue your study of the Battle of the Bulge. After breakfast, we drive to Bastogne where the Americans rallied and stopped the German attack. Here, you will view the route of the initial American retreat and the place where the 101st Airborne and elements of the 10th Armored Division held off fifteen German divisions for six days. You will visit key sites in and around this historic crossroads town. You will also drive by General McAuliffe’s HQ where he replied to German surrender demands with one word: “NUTS.” After your visit, it is a short ride to Luxembourg. This afternoon affords some relaxing free time in the center of this bustling but charming old-world city.

Then, you will visit nearby Hamm and the Luxembourg American Cemetery, the site of General George S. Patton’s grave. America’s foremost WWII field general rests here among his men.

Day 13 • Frankfurt, Germany

Today, you will then travel to the Siegfried Line to see remnants of the German communication trenches, pillboxes, and dragon’s teeth that American GIs fought so hard to take in late 1944. This evening you will enjoy a farewell dinner and discussion after an enriching campaign into history.

Overnight at a hotel near the Frankfurt International Airport (FRA).

Day 14 • Flight Home from Frankfurt

There will be one morning departure to the Frankfurt International Airport (FRA) to catch your flight home.

Post-tour Extension

Day 1 • nuremberg, germany.

Early morning departure from your hotel in Frankfurt for the post-tour extension to Nuremburg. You will continue your journey toward the Bavarian Alps, stopping first in the historic city of Nuremberg, where Hitler staged his infamous Nazi rallies and the International Tribunal conducted the Nuremberg Trials. After lunch in the picturesque market center dominated by the Frauenkirche, you will tour the Nazi Party Rally Grounds and visit the Nuremberg Trials Courtroom 600.

Day 2 • Munich, Germany

We continue south through Bavaria toward Munich, first stopping in Dachau, where you will visit the site of some of the most nefarious acts against humankind during the war. In total, over 200,000 prisoners from more than 30 countries were confined in Dachau: notably Jews, resistance fighters, clergymen, politicians, communists, writers, artists, and royalty. The second camp liberated by Anglo-American forces, Dachau was one of the first places where the West was exposed to Nazi brutality. After lunch in a traditional Munich restaurant, you will enjoy a city tour of Munich before checking into a hotel in the heart of Munich, your base for our final two days.

Day 3 • Munich

The day includes a city tour of Berchtesgaden and Obersalzberg where you will visit the Eagle’s Nest and the remains of the vast Nazi Party complex liberated by the Allies in May 1945. Eagle’s Nest was built as a 50th birthday present to Hitler from the Nazi Party. Perched at 6017 feet, the complex and road network leading to it were considered feats of engineering genius as they were completed in only 13 months in 1937-1938. For your final night, you will reflect on your journey and enjoy the camaraderie of a farewell dinner.

Day 4 • Flights Home

There will be one morning transfer to Munich Airport (MUC) to catch our flight home.

Historians on this tour

Dates & Prices

• 2024 Dates & Prices
• 2025 Dates & Prices

Tour Includes

• Itinerary designed by Stephen E. Ambrose
• Professional historian traveling with you throughout the tour, lecturing and answering questions
• Tour manager to handle guest needs and on-the-ground logistics
• Educational road book of maps and historical information
• 3 or 4-star hotel accommodations
• Rooms with private bath or shower
• Hotel taxes and service charges
• All Breakfasts, some lunches, most dinners and a Welcome Reception
• Touring by private first class, air-conditioned motor coach
• Channel crossing to Normandy via ferry
• All entrance fees to museums and attractions

Flights are not included in the cost of the tour.

Activity Level

As with all of our tours, we prefer to spend our time on the battlefields. There will be some museum stops, but please be prepared to walk on sandy beaches and cobblestone streets. There is a fair amount of walking, especially in Normandy.

If you use a wheelchair, please read our Wheelchair Policy .

Recommended Reading

• Citizen Soldiers by Stephen E. Ambrose
• D-Day: June 6, 1944 by Stephen E. Ambrose
• Voices of D-Day by Ronald Drez & Stephen E. Ambrose

Customize this Tour

If you would like to customize this itinerary for your alumni travel association, educational organization, high school, family or other private group, please see our custom tour page .

Other tours you may be interested in

Operation Overlord Tour

The Operation Overlord Tour covers the planning and launch of the D-Day Invasion based intensive research and interviews by Stephen E. Ambrose and our chief historian, Ron Drez. This is a D-Day tour that is unmatched in its authenticity. Highlights are: London, Portsmouth and Normandy, Ste-Mere-Eglise, Normandy Beaches, and Omaha Beach. Read More >

Band of Brothers® Tour

Immortalized by our founder, Stephen Ambrose's bestseller 'Band of Brothers' and brought to millions more in the epic HBO miniseries, the men of Easy Company were on an extraordinary journey during WWII. This is the best Band of Brothers® Tour you can take. We meticulously crafted our Band of Brothers® Tour based on the recollections of the paratroopers themselves and the extensive research of Professor Ambrose. Read More >

Battle of the Bulge

Travel from Brussels to the Ardennes to Bastogne on our Battle of the Bulge Tour, which takes a detailed look at the largest land battle in WWII. Read More >

Guest Reviews

15 reviews for ' D-Day to the Rhine '

I was on the second tour August 1999. I hope to go again. Ron and Judy Drez hosted the tour and they really made it simple and enjoyable. It’s really worth doing

Bucket List CHECK OFF

Having fulfilled my #1 Bucket List item, I can truthfully say that this was the best trip I’ve ever taken, Jonathan Carroll, our historian and chief entertainer, along with David, our tour manager and Johan, our magic-man driver, made these days a memory that I will never forget. Thank you.

Bucket List CHECK

Normandy to the rhine.

This was a trip of a lifetime for me. Learned so much, saw so much. Stood on Utah and Omaha Beach which was important to me. I LOVED it!!

Wonderful journey

The DDay to the Rhine trip(June 2022) was our second trip with SAHT and hopefully not the last. Our historian was Chris Anderson and he is truly a walking encyclopedia! His passion for WW2 history is evident in every visit. He kindly made an unscheduled stop for me at Sugar Red sector of Utah Beach because he knew that was where my father had landed! Looking forward to another trip with SAHT! Cheryl and George Holt

Trip of a Lifetime

My wife and I enjoyed every minute of every day. Our historian, Chris Anderson, provided personal anecdotes from residents and veterans that helped make each site all the more interesting and moving. We had the honor of being at the American Cemetery at Omaha Beach for the 78th anniversary ceremony. It was amazing being there with some of the surviving veterans sharing the moment honoring them. Chris was masterful knowing his topic inside and out yet making it interesting for all regardless of how much knowledge one had going in. Sabine was the camp Mom, making sure everyone was happy and safe as well as keeping us all on schedule so we could see and do as much as possible. She even helped put my wife and I in contact with a friend who is a master clock builder as a side project in the midst of all her other responsibilities. Klaus, our driver, was friendly and added to the experience dining with him and learning from him as well. The lodgings and meals were very nice as well. We have already booked a follow up trip waitlist with the Pacific theater tour and are looking at several of their other offerings in the meantime. I cannot imagine a better tour experience, and we can’t wait to go again..

This is the bucket list trip that I have been waiting for and it was beyond my expectations. From walking on the Normandy beaches, and attending the D-Day ceremony and sitting in the audience was a special treat. There were so many outstanding sites that we visited. Our London tour guide Tim was great. Bletchley Park was so neat and how the code breakers overcame astronomical odds to break the German codes. Standing inside one of the bunkers overlooking the Pointe du Hoc waterfront brought home what terror the Germans there must have experienced seeing the armada of ships descending on them. Both the American and Germany cemeteries brought home the human element of the war. The Berchtesgarden extension was very worthwhile and touring Dachau brought the trip to an emotional climax. I highly recommend this trip. I will remember this trip for years to come and made many new friends along the way.

I really enjoyed it. I was on the second trip in August of 1999. I’d like to go again but this disease thing keeps me out this year. I am retired now and can see some changes that will make it better. Berchestgarden wasn’t available then. Can’t say when but I’m going again.

My son and I took this tour some yars ago and are still talking about it. The tour and it’s guide were fist class. I have been to Normandy since and it was more impressive having been with Ambrose before.

Stephen Ambrose Historical Tours is the place for D-Day Tours

Stephen Ambrose Historical Tours is by far the leaders in keeping younger generations informed with regard to historical events and history of World War II on Facebook.

Content with regard to tours, past and future are encouraging and reminding people of the importance of the outcome of the war for present and future generations is informative.

The acknowledgement they give to the men who sacrificed themselves, especially on D-Day, not forgetting but honoring those who have been blessed to live a long and fulfilled life, must be the only place where these men to whom we all owe the life we enjoy today are really honored.

Their D-Day Tours are well known and if one ever decide to attend a D-Day tour Stephen Ambrose Historical Tours is the place to do it, first on Facebook and then joining the actual tour.

Thank you for keeping us informed and all the best I hope you will be with us for a long time. Your valuable input in the most important time in world history is to be commended.

Dream trip for any WWII history buff

This D-Day tour is a dream trip for any WWII history buff who wants to stand on the beaches at Normandy, experience the powerful emotions brought forth by the military cemeteries in France and Luxembourg, stand in a foxhole in the Ardennes, and tour General McAuliffe’s office in Bastogne.

Best experience!

Overall, the tour was the best experience Ive had. I will remember it for the rest of my life. I took over 600 photos. I got to see where my dad was at and wondered what made him what he was.

We saw so much

We saw so much – places I’ve read about but never thought I’d see.

Outstanding Trip!

I am a history and WWII buff and I felt this was an outstanding trip. My wife, who does not have a great interest in military matters, also feels this was one of her best trips.

Excellent tour

Excellent tour. I would highly recommend it to anyone with WWII interest. Best company and historians.

Write your review

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Ronald Drez is an award-winning and best-selling author and historian. Along with Stephen Ambrose, he designed the D-Day to the Rhine Tour. Dr. Ambrose hand-picked his Eisenhower Center deputy to lead those tours and to help develop other tours like the Band of Brothers® Tour and The Italian Campaign Tour.

Drez, a decorated Marine combat veteran from the Vietnam War, was the first to encounter the now legendary Band of Brothers in 1988. He has interviewed more than 4,000 WWII veterans, showcasing their stories in his many writings (see ronalddrez.com ).

His passion and enthusiasm leave our guests with the memories of a lifetime. To quote one of our travelers, “Ron Drez was the history professor you wanted in college but couldn’t get because his classes were always full. His stories are fascinating.”

Rick Beyer is an award-winning documentary filmmaker, New York Times best-selling author, and long-time history enthusiast.

Beyer has been researching the Ghost Army of WWII for nearly 20 years, and has led our Ghost Army Tour since 2014. He produced and directed the award-winning PBS documentary, The Ghost Army , and co-wrote (with Liz Sayles) the book, The Ghost Army of World War II . Beyer worked tirelessly for seven years as the President of the Ghost Army Legacy Foundation to make sure this top secret unit received the Congressional Gold Medal.

Beyer has shared his unique take on history with audiences around the country and appeared on CBS News, Fox News, NPR, CNN and elsewhere. He has made numerous history documentaries for the HISTORY channel, National Geographic, the Smithsonian Institution, and others. He is the author of the The Greatest Stories Never Told series and Rivals Unto Death , which explore the intricate 30-year rivalry between Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr.

He is the co-host of History Happy Hour , a weekly livestream that features fascinating, knowledgeable guests such as Andrew Roberts, Joe Balkoski, Lynne Olson, and Hampton Sides for entertaining history discussions. A graduate of Dartmouth College, he lives in Chicago.

Charles Brower, Ph.D.

A graduate of West Point, General Charles (Casey) Brower, USA, Ret. received a Master of Arts degree in American History and a Doctorate in diplomatic and strategic history from the University of Pennsylvania. Among assignments over his Army career he served in Germany, Vietnam, and as Army Aide to President Ronald Reagan.

He has taught history and strategy at West Point, the Naval War College, and the Virginia Military Institute and has led groups to Normandy and other European battlefields for over two decades. Casey has published books and articles on American history and World War II. He is the former Deputy Superintendent for Academics and Dean of the Faculty and Professor Emeritus of International Studies and Political Science at VMI.

Erik Flint, Lt. Col (retired)

Erik Flint is an experienced historian who specializes in the European and Pacific Theaters of Operation. In 2022, Flint retired as a lieutenant colonel after spending 35 years as both an enlisted United States Marine and U.S. Army officer. During his time in uniform, Flint served throughout the world, including deployments to Iraq as a U.S. Special Operations Combat Historian and as a faculty member of the United States Army Command and General Staff College. Flint has commanded Army organizations at all levels, from infantry rifle squad to platoon, company, and battalion.

From 2015 to 2024, Flint worked for the U.S. Army Center of Military History as the Director of the Lewis Army Museum on board Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington State. He continues to serve the soldiers and military family members as a museum volunteer and director emeritus.

Flint holds a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Washington and a master’s degree in International Land Warfare Studies from American Military University. He resides in Tacoma, Washington, where he volunteers with a number of local history and heritage organizations.

Martin K.A. Morgan

Martin K.A. Morgan is an author and historian who specializes in American and military history. The experience Morgan gained in public history during his time as a former park ranger and a museum professional paved the way for the publishing and broadcasting work he does today. He is the author of Down To Earth: The 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment in Normandy and The Americans on D-Day: A Photographic History of the Normandy Invasion . He contributes frequently to World War II Quarterly, Shooting Illustrated and The American Rifleman and has been published in Aviation History , World War II , World War II History , Armchair General , GCA Journal, 39/45 Magazine (France) and After the Battle (England).

Morgan appears regularly on television programs as an expert on a variety of historical subjects, including Discovery, National Geographic, HISTORY, H2, The Weather Channel, Syfy, Outdoor Channel, Smithsonian Channel, and American Heroes Channel. Subjects have ranged from D-Day to Pearl Harbor to how whiskey, Christmas, and chocolate changed history. Since 2002, he has been leading battlefield tours around the world, mostly in Europe.

He holds a B.A. in History from the University of Alabama, an M.A. in history from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and is currently a history doctoral candidate at the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.

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1944 – 2024: 80th Anniversary of D-Day and the Battle of Normandy

Normandy Tourism, France

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© Silvia Crisman - stock.adobe.com

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Updated on 19 July 2024

Reading time: 7 minutes

Throughout Normandy

1 - 16 June 2024 (D-Day Festival) and beyond until December 14

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Normandy will forever be marked by the D-Day Landings and the Battle of Normandy that led to the liberation of France and Europe. 2024 marks the 80th Anniversary of this historic event, and with it, a momentous occasion to celebrate peace, liberty and reconciliation. A rich and unprecedented programme of events is put together to bring the memory of this tragic period of world history to life, all while emphasizing the spirit of hope.

The memory lives on

On 6th June 1944, and during the long summer which followed, soldiers from the world over came to fight in Normandy to defeat Nazism and to re-establish Freedom. Normandy will bear the scars of the moment in history forever, and every year we remember and pay tribute to the veterans from America, Britain, Canada, Belgium, Denmark, Holland, Norway, Poland, Australia, France and their brothers in arms, to those many heroes who lost their lives here during that summer, and are at rest in the cemeteries to be found throughout the area. It is often forgotten that the people of Normandy also paid a heavy price in those terrible battles. Each anniversary year is the occasion to pay tribute to the fallen and to the veterans who will come to attend the commemorative events and celebrations organized in Normandy. Lest we forget.

The Normandy region is encouraging all those who wish to express their gratitude to leave a testimonial on this webpage .

An important anniversary

In 2024, Normandy honours the memory of these events and the men and women who came from all over the world to liberate us. A regional mobilisation takes place to celebrate this major ten-year anniversary. It is the perfect occasion for visitors to discover, or rediscover, the main memorial sites, the cemeteries, the key places and the museums which bear witness to this tragic period of time. These important places are today imbued with fundamental and universal values such as Reconciliation, Peace and Freedom. Our hope is that your visit will present a special moment for you to share with your loved ones.

a unique event

For this very special occasion, Normandy’s ambition is to offer a major family-friendly event, aimed at Normans and visitors alike, who have little or no access to official ceremonies. The date of Saturday 1st June, at nightfall, has been chosen for this event, on the weekend ahead of 6 th  June. Over 20 huge firework displays will light up the sky simultaneously over the 5 Landing Beaches. A beautiful family-friendly and free event.

THE INTERNATIONAL CEREMONY

It’s official:

The official international ceremony will take place on Thursday 6 June 2024 on Omaha Beach at 3.30pm. 25 heads of state, veterans and officials will commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day (by invitation only).

On this day, please take note that for security reasons many beaches and sectors will be cordoned off with no access to visitors, vehicles etc (see map below).

Other ceremonies include the following:

5th June: International Ceremony in tribute to the civilian victims, Saint-Lô

6th June: Franco-American Ceremony in Colleville-sur-Mer at 12.30pm

6th June: Franco-Canadian Ceremony in Courseulles-sur-Mer, at 11am

7th June: Ceremony with American President Joe Biden in Cherbourg

7th June: Bayeux Liberation Ceremony with President Macron in Bayeux

Restricted Traffic Zone on 6th June:

Important information: Due to the organisation of the official ceremonies and the presence of many Heads of State, a large section of the coast stretching from Caen to four of the D-Day Landing Beaches will be cordoned off on Thursday 6th June from 6am to 10pm. If you are staying within the Restricted Traffic Zone, or if you have an invitation for the official ceremonies on 6th June, you can apply for a pass by sending an email to this address: [email protected]

The only beach which will be fully open to visitors on 6th June is Utah Beach (Sainte-Marie-du-Mont / Sainte-Mère-Église). Please be aware that this area will be very crowded.

It will still be possible to access the city of Caen, but once again, please be aware however that the roads will be very congested.

Extra information here: www.calvados.gouv.fr

Thank you for your understanding

A VERY SPECIAL FESTIVAL

Each year from end May to mid-June, the tourist offices of the Landing Beaches area invite you to celebrate freedom! During the D-Day Festival Normandy , visitors will enjoy a popular program of festive and cultural events to mark the anniversary of the Allied Landings. The D-Day Festival Normandy takes place along the entire coastline of D-Day and the Battle of Normandy, from Pegasus Bridge to Sainte-Mère-Eglise, including Ouistreham, Arromanches, Pointe du Hoc, and of course the five iconic sectors of Utah Beach, Omaha Beach, Gold Beach, Juno Beach and Sword Beach. Parachuting, parades, concerts, historical re-enactments, fireworks, exhibitions, projections… The festival offers over 100 events, and promises to be bigger and better than ever before in 2024!

Download the programme of 80th DDay tours and events until December 14

events certified by the Normandy Region

To put together a schedule of events that will take place throughout Normandy during this anniversary year, the Normandy Region has worked on a label to certify several hundreds of them, over a period stretching from 1 March to 15 October 2024. Synchronized fireworks at the major D-Day sites, giant picnic on Omaha Beach, Liberation balls, bagpipe parades, international parachuting of hundreds of soldiers above Sainte-Mère-Église, etc. The festivities will take place throughout the year and particularly in fine weather. A great way for everyone to join in this spirit of fraternity.

The programme and map of events is available HERE (in French).

Standing with Giants installation

A total of 1,475 silhouettes by ‘Standing with Giants’ have appeared at the British Normandy Memorial in Ver-sur-Mer, representing the number of fatalities under British command on 6 June 1944. This art installation is part of D-Day 80 commemorations at the Memorial and will be available to visit throughout Summer. Standing with Giants is a community project, set up in 2019 by Oxfordshire community artist, Dan Barton, and a group of local volunteers. They create large scale art installations using recycled building materials and provide meaningful spaces for people to visit and reflect.

NORMANDY FOR PEACE

The  Normandy for Peace World Forum  was created in 2016 on the back of an initiative to promote the values of peace and freedom to the general public and in particular with the young in mind. It now takes place every year at the Women’s Abbey in Caen and consists of a series of conferences that bring together leading international thinkers and Nobel Peace Prize winners. The programme also includes cultural activities and social events. This year, the event will take place on 26 and 27 September.

Spend less with the Explore Normandy Pass

For just 1 euro, make the most of the reductions on offer with the Explore Normandy Pass on entry tickets and in the shops of museums and sites linked to the D-Day Landings and the Battle of Normandy.

You will also have access to extra articles, fun games and exclusive testimonies about the history of the D-Day Landings and the Battle of Normandy. The App and website : explorenormandypass.com

New D-Day Line

New for 2024: hop on and off the freedom bus! Between Grandcamp-Maisy and Courseulles-sur-Mer, the D-Day Line enables visitors to travel along Omaha, Gold and Juno Beaches, allowing you to explore the many sites linked to the D-Day Landings and ensuing Battle of Normandy. This shuttle bus service is easy to use and operates daily from 13 May to 30 September 2024, between 9:30am and 6pm. The vehicles are new and equipped with wifi, air-conditioning and USB charging points.

Full info here and view your shuttle on map (in real time): nomad.normandie.fr

When will the official programme be available?

The full programme of events for the D-Day Festival is available HERE . The programme of events certified by the Normandy Region is available HERE (in French for the moment).

Where can I get a map of the Landing Beaches?

You can download and print the map right here .

You can also download the official visitors guide here .

Where can I find accommodation?

Please take note that most hotels located in Bayeux, Caen and close to the D-Day Landing Beaches are already fully-booked for early June. We recommend looking for accommodation in Le Havre, Rouen or Dieppe, which have many options, in the Cotentin or in towns inland such as Lisieux, Bernay, Pont-Audemer, Pont-L’Evêque, Evreux or Louviers. All of these towns are located close to the A13 motorway.

Can I visit the beaches and museums with my children or grandchildren?

Yes of course, and most museums and remembrance sites are committed to sharing this period of history in a way that’s suitable for children and teenagers. You’ll find full information here . However, please be aware that some images and exhibitions in museums may be disturbing for younger children.

Where can I find a guide?

You can book an official English-speaking guide for a private tour of the D-Day Landing Beaches and sites here .

You can also take group tours with several companies such as Normandy Sightseeing Tours , Beaches of Normandy Tours , Gold Beach Company , Bayeux Shuttle , HQ Company Tour , Normandy D-Day Tours , Bayeux Sightseeing Tours …

When is the best time to visit the Landing Beaches this year?

The beaches and cemeteries can be visited year-round, although January can be challenging as many museums and restaurants are closed that month. Early June will be very crowded and most accommodation is already fully-booked, so we recommend visiting a little later that month or throughout the summer, when there will still be many events going on. Weather is fair in Normandy from early spring to end autumn, and can even get pretty hot during the summer.

I don’t have car, how can i get to the Landing Beaches and visit the major sites?

You’ll find comprehensive information and insights on ways to visit the D-Day Landing Beaches without a car on this webpage .

How do I request a sticker for the Restricted travel zone on 6th june?

You will need a sticker if you are:

    • Guests of hotels, B&Bs or campsites located within the RTZ

    • Involved in day-to-day economic and social life who will be circulating the RTZ on 6th June, 2024 (taxis, public services, coach operators, company vehicles, etc.)

All pass requests must be sent to this address:  [email protected]

Opening of the new D-Day Museum in Arromanches

Updated on 11 July 2023

Sea kayaking amid iconic D-Day landmarks

Updated on 26 January 2024

the D-Day Landing Beaches with children

Don’t miss.

The D-Day Landing Beaches D-Day 1944 Visitor Guide D-Day sites and museums

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Are you already in Normandy?

Plan what to see and do while you’re here by visiting normandy-secrets.com, which lets you in on all of the local secrets and hidden gems in the immediate vicinity!

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