Normandy: A French Road Trip From Paris
The Normandy region is easily accessible from Paris, and therefore is perfect for a little weekend getaway. You can get there by train or car, although I would suggest the latter if you don’t want to stay at the exact same location the whole time. The region is quite vast, and there’s a whole part that’s actually not located near the ocean (eg. the cities of Rouen, Évreux & Saint-Lô), but what we were looking for is obviously to be by the water.
In this blog post, I’ll share an itinerary for first-timers that want to get the best of the North Atlantic coast within just two days. Obviously, it is preferable to spend a little bit more time to explore this area as distances are quite significant, but if you’re short on time and just want to see the highlights, then this itinerary is for you.
Normandy
Two-Day Road Trip
Day 1: Étretat
This small town is located about 2.5 hours from Paris. I would suggest getting there on a Friday evening to make sure you can enjoy your Saturday fully, but it’s also an option to leave Paris early in the morning on a Saturday. Étretat is very well known for its majestic chalk cliffs and arches. There is a beautiful little hike that I suggest doing either at sunrise and/or sunset. My favourite part goes from Étretat beach to Cap d’Antifer, although I also recommend climbing up to the other side of the beach near Porte d’Amont to enjoy another stunning view over the arches.
What to do:
Do the cliff walk between Porte d’Amont and Plage du Tilleul
Get your tan on at Plage d’Étretat
Try to find the cave at Pointe de la Courtine
Visit Les Jardins d’Étretat
Where to eat? La Flotille, where they serve fresh fish and seafood!
Day 2: Honfleur, Deauville, Mont Saint-Michel
Wake up early and get ready to hit the road on an empty stomach. First stop will be the cute town of Honfleur, located about 30 minutes from Étretat. If you get there around 9am, you’ll have the place almost to yourself, and will be able to contemplate some beautiful lighting in the old port. Once you’re done walking around, it is time to indulge in some tasty Sunday brunch. After you’re done eating, you will want to head to Deauville to hit the beach. You’ll have to drive for another 30 minutes or so, then park the car at one of the numerous beach parking lots. Deauville beach is huge so there is plenty of space. The architecture of the houses is really stunning and there are cute cabanas and umbrellas everywhere on the beach. I suggest spending no more than 2 hours there before heading to your final destination: Mont Saint-Michel. Indeed I found it best to visit Mont Saint-Michel later during the day as it seemed less crowded. This place is so unique and deserves spending long hours to observe the rhythm of the ocean at low tide and high tide. I also recommend that you take time to walk around the old town and climb to the top of the hill to visit the abbey. There are nice restaurants where you can also enjoy some good food with a great view over the bay.
