Normandy is a name you know, but even French locals would admit that there are parts they’ve left unexplored.

Roman history, WWII history, and everything before and after are on display at the museums and in the medieval town squares. French food, like the stinky Livarot cheese, and drink, such as cider and perry, will fill any spaces left on your schedule and in your stomach.

But what to do in Normandy besides the highlights? How about windsurfing, zoo hopping, and learning how to cook in a Michelin-starred restaurant?

Here’s your guide to the Normandy, France, you thought you knew.

Image Credit: Getty Images, dutchphotography. Image Location: Church of St-Pierre, Caen, Normandy, France

A quick trip by train from Paris to Normandy means you can juggle multiple day trips or spend a few nights roaming around the region.

Our favorite things to do in Normandy might be yours, too: scoping out medieval buildings, taking in a bit of WWII history, and eating French food like it’s going out of style.

Things to do in Normandy for foodies

If you’re all about the tastes of yesterday, La Couronne in Rouen is the oldest inn in France, and by default, the oldest restaurant in the country. A formal dinner is fine, but a quick ‘taste of Normandy’ menu for lunch lets you try duck maki, butternut squash velouté, and clementine gratin.

In Normandy, 19 restaurants have a single Michelin star; we’d recommend Jean-Luc Tartarin in Le Havre for your seafood fix and Le Jardin de Plumes near Claude Monet’s home for a taste of local farms.

At Le Jardin de Plumes, you and a partner can team up with the kitchen staff to prepare lunch. Return home with more culinary confidence by heading to Pays d’Auge to learn how to make your own organic apple juice and calvados at Chateau du Breuil.

Image Credit: Getty Images, Michael Mulkins. Image Location: Omaha Beach, Normandy, France

Things to do in Normandy outdoors

You’ve spent your time in Paris indoors; explore Normandy beyond the walls of its museums and restaurants. A low-impact activity is cider tasting in an orchard, but let’s think bigger.

Normandy is a surprisingly excellent spot for a European surf trip. On the beaches alone you can hike, horseback ride, and ride a fat bike. The waters are prime for windsurfing, sea kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding, and trying your hand at sailing (or just watching the Rolex Fastnet Race offshore).

Not interested in the shoreline? Cycling, mountain biking, and rail biking will get you through the interior at whichever speed and elevation you prefer. Play a round of golf in the Meanders of the Seine Regional Natural Park, learn to play polo in Deauville, or walk portions of the Normandy cheese route to combine fresh air, fitness, and fromage.

Related: Europe's best destinations for extreme sports

Apple Cider. Image Credit: Getty Images, barmalini

Fun things to do in Normandy

Fun is subjective, so we’ve picked three cities that offer a range of things to see and do in Normandy, France, no matter your interests.

Visit the Gothic church in Rouen

Before your eyes glaze over another trite suggestion to “visit the gothic cathedral in the city center”, Rouen’s church is something extra special, as it was painted by Claude Monet. That checks off your “see a church + art museum” itinerary line, leaving you to do alternative activities like an escape room on the site where Joan of Arc was imprisoned or catch a concert on the Seine at Le 106.

Discover Bayeux's lacey past

Taking the Le P’tit Train tour around the historical center will help you quickly see Bayeux’s hallmark sites. The guide will insist you enter the Bayeux Cathedral to see the famous Bayeux Tapestry, but why not look at something that was actually made in Bayeux? The Lace Conservatory showcases Bayeux’s history of lace-making traditions. For the kids (or kid at heart), head just outside of the city to the Bayeux Aventure leisure park with a petting zoo and zorb hills.

Learn about Caen Castle

Caen’s Vaugueux neighborhood and marina are perfect, if not predictable, places for you to spend your day. Caen Castle is one of the largest castle fortifications in Europe; that, along with the Mémorial de Caen WWII museum are the big draws. For a change of scenery, get sporty with a Stade Malherbe Caen football match and watch harness races (or maybe even take a lesson) at the Hippodrome.

Image Credit: Getty Images, Atlantide Phototravel. Image Location: Rouen, Normandy, France

Things to do in Normandy for families

Normandy’s beaches, outdoor activities, and museums make it a smooth visit for families. Traveling by train with children of any age will find something to smile about:

  • Zoo de Cerza in Hermival-les-Vaux has 1,000 animals,
  • Overlord Museum in Colleville-sur-Mer has a cool collection of WWII tanks
  • Wandering without worry is possible in the forests of Orne and on the beaches of Calvados

What to know about Normandy, France

From A to Z, including D-Day.

Where is Normandy in France?

Normandy is located in northern France, holding hands with the Hauts-de-France region to its northeast and the Brittany region to its southwest.

What are the major cities in Normandy?

Normandy is a breathtaking region of France, and if you need proof, make your first stop Mont Saint-Michel. Caen, Le Havre, and Rouen will also show you why Normandy’s cities shouldn’t be skipped.

What is Normandy, France, known for?

Normandy is one region of France that’s known by many for entirely different reasons. Normandy’s beaches played a pivotal role in World War II, though many others know these shores only for their oysters.

Mont Saint-Michel is a fairytale-like abbey that you’d believe a Disney princess lives in. The oldest restaurant in France is in Rouen, the region's capital, as is the site where Joan of Arc was killed.

How to get to Normandy from Paris by train?

Getting from Paris to Normandy by train is hardly a chore. Visiting the coast or the interior cities is an easy day trip from Paris thanks to fast, cheap routes from Paris St-Lazare and Paris Montparnasse stations:

Looking for what WWII museums and monuments to explore in Normandy? Download the Trainline app and start planning your journey. We’ve got your D-Day dossier right here, including how to get to the beaches of Normandy by train.

Header Image Credit: Getty Images, Samitdoc. Image Location: Mont Saint-Michel, Normandy, France

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