Northwestern France Road Trip Itinerary: Normandy and Brittany

Do you dream of exploring France but are not sure where to begin? This epic road trip through Northwestern France travels through the regions of Normandy and Brittany. You will visit the Palace of Versailles, Monets Garden, medieval villages of half-timbered homes, walk along white chalk cliffs, eat fresh seafood seaside, explore the Mont Saint Michel Abbey, walk the incredible walls of St Malo and so much more!  This Northwestern France road trip itinerary: Normandy and Brittany includes the best time to travel, must-see attractions, what to eat, where to stay, and the expected budget.

READ Complete Frace Travel Guide: What You Need to Know

Normandy is located in Northern France on the English Channel. The area is referred to as the Alabaster Coast and has been painted by Claude Monet, Eugène Boudin, Georges Braque, Guy de Maupassant, and Maurice Leblanc. It is also full of history, everything from WWII’s D-Day Beaches to William the Conqueror and Joan of Arc. You will find gorgeous white cliffs, pebbled beaches, charming harbors, castles, abbeys, museums, the world-famous isle of Mont-Saint-Michel, Calvados (apple brandy), and cider.

Brittany is in Western France south of Normandy along the Pink Granite Coast. There are around 800 islands in Brittany, many with elegant villas. You will also find medieval villages of half-timbered homes and stone structures similar to Normandy. Brittany has a strong Celtic culture celebrated with many festivals. This itinerary includes stops in St Malo, Dinan, and Rennes. Continue reading for amazing stops on the Normandy Coast and plan your road trip itinerary. Enjoy your time Out of the Office!

The Ultimate Northwestern France Road Trip Planner for Normandy and Brittany

When is the best time to visit Northwestern France?

The shoulder season is April to early June and September to November. This is the best time to travel due to decreased crowds and prices. The high season in France is July and August; expect crowds, high prices, and hot temperatures. Traffic will also increase with unexpected long delays. Be sure to book attractions well in advance when traveling during the high season. The low season is December and early April, crowds are low and snow is possible. Tip: If you are traveling between May and January, add an overnight stay in Chartres France, and enjoy the light festival.

What is the best way to travel through Northwestern France?

You will need to rent a car to follow this itinerary. US citizens will have no problem driving in France; however, I do suggest you rent a small car as some roads are narrow. It is possible to visit many of these locations as a day trip from Paris.

How many days do I need to see Northwestern France?

This 6-day itinerary for Normandy and Brittany is jam-packed to see the most possible in a short amount of time. You will want to add several days to the end of the itinerary to explore Paris and nearby Chateuxs. Depending on how many days of PTO you have I would recommend spending an entire day at the Palace of Versailles, yes it that incredible. That would also add more time the next day in Roune France.

How Expensive is the Northwestern France?

According to Budget Your Trip, the average daily cost of traveling in France is $249. Expect to pay $ 3,488 + airfare for a one-week trip for 2.

Northwestern France Road Trip: Normandy and Brittany Highlights

Palace of Versailles | Monets Garden | Vernon | Rouen | Cliffs of Étretat | Honfleur | Deauville | Trouville-sur-Mer | Caen | Bayeux | the American Cemetery | Omaha Beach | Mont Saint Michel | St Malo | Dinan | Rennes | Le Mans

Day-by-Day Guide for a Northwestern France Road Trip: Normandy and Brittany

ROUTE AT A GLANCE:

MILES: 750 miles

HOW MANY DAYS: 6

Day 1: Arrive in Paris

Arrive at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport in the late afternoon. Rent a car and Terminal 2E/F: Pick up your car rental at Gate 2 on the Arrivals level. There will be an outdoor parking area between terminals 2E and 2F.

Drive 1 hour to Versailles France.  Expect and budget to pay tolls, your flight was expensive and your time is too precious to spend hours attempting to avoid them. Stop for snacks, breakfast foods, and water on the way to the hotel.

I stayed at the Ibis Versailles Château. It was both inexpensive and in a great location. The property has paid onsite parking and allowed me to remain in the garage the next day while I visited Versailles. After checking into the hotel, head to Quartier Saint-Louis for dinner.

Day 2: Palace of Versailles, Monets Garden, and Rouen France

8 am Palace of Versailles

Purchase the first entrance online well in advance and arrive early. 10 million people visit the Palace of Versailles each year. More people visit Versailles every year than the Eiffel Tower. It was the third most visited monument in the world in 2018. Why? A visit to the Palace of Versailles is like stepping into an extravagant fairytale. Palace rooms are furnished with period decor, antique furniture, paintings, and ceiling murals Everything is either gilded with fine gold, jewel-encrusted, or velvet lined. Hint, go straight to the Hall of Mirrors as soon as the doors open to get a photo without the crowd.

READ A Perfect Day Trip to the Palace of Versailles

12:30 Monet’s Garden

Purchase your timed entry ticket to Monet’s Gardens well in advance. Tour Monet’s Garden and home. See the famous lily pond and walk across the bridge you have seen so many times. Plan to spend about 2 hours here. You can also visit Monet’s Home and Garden as a day trip from Paris. Be sure to spend some time exploring the village of Giverny.

3 pm Vernon France

Vernon France is a 15-minute drive from Monet’s Garden and a great place for an afternoon coffee break. The 14th-century Normandy village is known for its old timber mill hanging over the Sienne River and 233 half-timbered houses on old cobble-stoned streets. Vernon is 43 miles Northwest of Paris making it an easy day trip Don’t miss Maison du Temps Jadis, the oldest building in the city, and Rue Potard, the oldest street in town.

5 pm Rouen France

Rouen is the capital of Normandy and is famous for being the city where Joan of Arc was tried and executed. Additionally, Claude Monet often spent time painting the city. Rouen France is full of pedestrianized cobblestone streets, medieval architecture, timber-framed houses, and Gothic churches with towering spires and clock towers. Stop by the tourist center for a DIY 2-hour walking tour map. If you did not rent a car, Rouen is an easy day trip from Paris by train.

Rouen France Highlights:

• Wander the medieval quarter
• Photograph the Gros Horloge (astronomical clock) and climb to the viewing deck
• People watch in the Place du Vieux Marché (old market square)
• Visit the gorgeous Notre-Dame Cathedral and the Gothic Church Of Saint-Maclou
• Photograph the city from Rouen Panorama De La Côte Sainte Catherine
• Visit Eglise Jeanne d’Arc (Joan of Arc Church)
• Learn about Joan of Arc at the interactive Historial Jeanne d’Arc (Joan of Arc Museum)
• Browse the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Rouen fine art from the 1500s-1900s
• Check out the architecture of the Palais de Justice (Rouen Courthouse)
• Take a walk or boat trip down the Seine River

I stayed overnight at the Clos de la Vaupalière. I chose the hotel due to its location just outside of the city. It was inexpensive and offered free parking. Google Maps did not do a good job of directing me, if you choose to stay here be sure to ask the hotel to send you directions. Also, get gas tonight, tomorrow is an early start and a long day.

Day 3: Beach Villages: Cliffs of Étretat, Honfleur, Deauville and Trouville-sur-Mer France

7 am Check out of the hotel in Rouen and drive 1.5 hours to the Cliffs of Étretat.

8:30 am Cliffs of Étretat: Frances White Cliffs

The Cliffs of Étretat on the English Channel are white chalk cliffs with several arches carved erosion. The best way to view the cliffs is by a coastal walk to the Chapel of Notre-Dame-de-la-Garde and from the seaside promenade. While in the area be sure to visit the Etretat Gardens and stroll through the garden of emotions taking photos of the faces. The gardens are also the perfect overview of the needle of the white chalk cliffs. If time allows, stop by the historic center for a snack and wander the half-timbered buildings of galleries and boutiques. Note: purchase your ticket to the Etretat Gardens online for 10 am entry.

12:30 pm Honfleur France: Atlantic Coast Fishing Village

Leave the Cliffs of Étretat at 11:30 and make the 1-hour drive to Honfleur France. Honfleur is a French coastal town with a historic harbor full of narrow timber-framed buildings and old churches reflecting on the water. The village is a popular stop during a road trip on the Normandy coast.  In addition to the beach and harbor, there are many museums, salt cellars, and an old town to explore. Relax in an outdoor café or grab picnic supplies from a market and lunch in Jardin des Personnalités daydreaming of Monet painting this landscape years ago. Be sure to sample Calvados (Brandy) before leaving the area.

3:30 pm Deauville and Trouville-sur-Mer France: the Parisian Riviera

Deauville and Trouville are the closest beach areas to Paris and are known as the Riviera of northern France. Deauville France is a 30-minute drive from Honfleur. You will find a seaside resort full of golden sand beaches, colorful umbrellas, boutiques, a casino, polo matches, horse racing, and many festivals including the Deauville American Film Festival held at the end of September. While Deauville is upscale, nearby Trouville-sur-Mer is trendier. Trouville-sur-Mer is a fishing village known for its seafood, fresh fish market, beach, and impressive villas,

It is important to note this is a popular area and finding parking was extremely difficult. So much so that I missed my last stop for the day and added a day to this itinerary. Be aware and be patient. I highly recommend having dinner at the fresh fish market in Trouville-sur-Mer before moving on for an overnight in Caen.

Day 4: Caen, Bayeux, and the American Cemetery

Spend the morning exploring Caen France. Caen France is located in the middle of Normandy and is known for being William the Conqueror’s hometown.   

Caen France Highlights:

• Browse the famous Museum for Peace
• Visit Caen Castle and St Peter’s Catholic Church
• See the stone houses in the Vaugueux neighborhood
• Explore the shops around Le Clou De Girofle
• Visit Caen’s two abbeys, the Abbaye aux Hommes and the Abbaye aux Dames

11 am Bayeux France

Bayeux was the first town to be liberated by the Americans on D-Day. Today you will find a medieval old town with waterwheels beside the River Aure, half-timbered houses, cobbled streets, a gorgeous cathedral, a famous tapestry, galettes, and cider. It is a 30-minute drive from Caen and worth a short stop to stretch your legs and take a walk around.

Bayeux France Highlights:

• Visit Notre-Dame Cathedral
• Browse the Saturday morning at Saint Patrice Square
• Take a walk along the River Aure and photograph the waterwheels
• Stroll through the Botanical Gardens of Bayeux
• Watch lace making at the Conservatoire de la Dentelle
• Learn more about D-Day at the Memorial Museum of the Battle of Normandy
• Pay your respects at the Bayeux War Cemetery
• See The Bayeux Tapestry of the Norman invasion of England and the Battle of Hastings
• See Bayeux porcelain and lace at the Baron Gérard Museum
• Visit the cider houses and mills on the Cider Route

1 pm Omaha Beach and the American Cemetery

The Normandy American Cemetery is another 30-minute drive from Bayeux. Watch the video presentation on the D-Day landings before touring the cemetery. The cemetery is on a bluff overlooking Omaha Beach; there are over 10,000 service members commemorated or memorialized at the Normandy American Cemetery. Visit the 5 nearby D-Day landing beaches: Omaha, Juno, Gold, Utah, and Sword.

Choose a hotel near Mont Saint Michel. I stayed in Bayeux France. I did not like the hotel and it was a 1.5-hour drive in the morning. There are several inexpensive properties about 30 minutes away, check ibis Pontorson Baie du Mont-Saint-Michel.

Day 5: Brittany France: Mont Saint Michel, St Malo, Dinan

7 am Check out of the hotel and drive to the Mont St Michel

Parking is 10 euro. Park the car and get in line for the shuttle, shuttles begin running at 7:30. Be sure to purchase the first entry into the Abbey at 10am to avoid the crowds. Wifi is not reliable, download maps and print your ticket at home. Take photos from the bridge as you approach the city gate. Enter the gate onto Grande Rue and walk uphill to the Abbey, you can explore on your way back down. Once you reach the top of the hill you will see a steep staircase of stairs, climb them to enter the Abbey. Plan to spend 3-5 hours at Mont St Michel.

9 am Mont Saint Michel

Mont St Michel is a medieval village full of narrow streets leading uphill to a fairytale abbey at the top of the rocky island. This tidal island is cut off from the mainland at high tide. It is gorgeous and a bucket list item for many people. In fact, 2.5 million people every year, up to 15,000 per day.  Mont Saint Michel is one of the most famous French monuments and a UNESCO World Heritage site.  It holds historical and religious significance and is unique in that the island can only be accessed during low tide.

READ Day Trip to Mont Saint Michel France from Paris

Noon St Malo France

Leave Mont St Michel and drive 1 hour to St Malo. St Malo France is located in Brittany and is best known for its city walls and having the biggest tides in Europe. St Malo is the best place to experience the Brittany coast and was named the nicest beach in France in 2018. Once the home of pirates and later destroyed during WWII; St Malo was rebuilt between 1948 and 1960. Jacques Cartier’s expedition to Canada began at St Malo. Allow 3 hours to walk the city walls and stroll the inner city. Note: St Malo is a popular destination, expect to wait for parking. There are many parking lots situated outside the city walls. They are all gated and open with a timed ticket. You will insert the ticket and pay at the gate when departing.

St Malo France Highlights

• Walk the city walls, a 1.2-mile loop
• Learn about Saint-Malo’s WWII history in the museum at Château de Saint-Malo
• Stop by Saint-Malo Cathedral and admire the stained glass
• Eat galette (buckwheat crepe) and Kouign Amann (salty butter cake)
• Buy salted butter caramel souvenirs
• Walk out Môle des Noires and take a photo looking back at the city
• Relax in the sun on Bon Secours Beach
• Head to Plage de Bon Secours for a swim in a protected tidal swimming pool
• Walk out to Grand Bé during low tide
• Photograph Fort National from the city wall
• Visit the 600 species of fish and turtles at the St Malo Aquarium
• Spend a few hours on the water during a boat trip in the Saint-Malo Bay
• Watch the sunset from Sillon Beach
• Visit the Etoile du Roy, a floating pirate ship museum
• Hike a section of GR-34 along the coast
• Check out the nearby Les Rochers Sculptes (sculpted rocks)
• Eat oysters in nearby Cancale, Brittany’s oyster capital

4:00 pm Dinan France

Leave St Malo and drive 40 minutes to Dinan France. Dinan France is designated a Ville et Pays d’Art et d’Histoires (City and country of art and history). You will find a medieval town with 1.8 mile-long ramparts, cobbled streets of over 130 lopsided half-timbered houses, a port full of restaurants along the Rance River, a castle, and beautiful squares and shopping streets.

Note: Park near the Le Vieux Pont and walk up the historical Rue du Petit Fort. Explore the area around Place des Merciers before making your way back to the car. Have dinner at one of the restaurants on the River Rance. Dinan France is the city that most surprised me and I wished I had more time to explore.

Dinan France Highlights

• Shop for souvenirs on the medieval Rue du Jerzual or Rue du Petit-Fort
• Walk the walls from Jerzual Gate to Le Bignon-Guy
• People watch in Place des Merciers
• Learn the history of Dinan at the museum in the history of Dinan
• Climb the Tour de l’Horloge (clock tower)
• Grab a Kouignn-Amann (butter cake) from La Maison De Tatie Jeanne
• Head to Rue du Quai and enjoy a cocktail next to the River Rance
• Stop by La Maison De Tatie Jeanne for a coffee and Kouignn-Amann (butter cake)
• Enjoy the view of the River Rance from St. Catherine Tower or behind the Basilica of Saint-Sauveur
• Purchase picnic supplies at Les Halles (food hall) and enjoy them in Jardins Anglais
• Stop for a cocktail along Rue de la Cordonnerie
• Hike to the Abbey Saint-Magloire de Léhon

I stayed overnight at the Ibis Styles Dinan Centre Ville. I chose the hotel due to the price, nearby inexpensive paid parking, and nearby restaurants. The location ended up being perfect and I had a great view of a city square outside my room.

Day 6: Rennes and Le Mans

8 am Check out of the hotel in Dinan France and drive 1 hour to Rennes

9 am Rennes France

Rennes France is the capital of Brittany. You will find timber-wood architecture mixed with Gothic cathedrals, Baroque stone facades, an art deco swimming pool, street art, pedestrian streets, and small squares. Do not leave this city before you eat a crepe, galette-saucisse (sausage wrapped in a buckwheat galette), and Kouign-Amann (butter and sugar layered cake). Rennes France is a two-hour trip on a high-speed train from Paris.

Rennes France Highlights:

• Enter the city through the Portes Mordelaises, the medieval city gate
• Wander the 286 half-timber buildings in the old town
• People watch in the city’s main square, Place des Lices
• Shop the Marché des Lices Saturday market
• Check out Les Halles market, the fresh food market
• Go to the library in The Champs Libres for a panorama view of the city
• Visit the Saint Pierre Cathedral
• Browse the art of Leonardo da Vinci, Rembrandt and Donatello, Botticelli, and Michelangelo at Musée des Beaux-Arts
• Learn the history of Brittany at the Musée de Bretagne
• Check out the 15th Century timbered homes around Place Ste-Anne
• Stop at Place de la Mairie to see the Opera House
• Visit the Pantheon in the Town Hall
• Take a guided tour of the Brittany Parliament building
• Stroll through the garden at Palais Saint-Georges
• Have a picnic next to the water lily pond in Parc du Thabor; visit the waterfall, orangery, and aviary while there
• Cool off in the art deco Saint-Georges swimming pool
• Take a walk along the River Vilaine or bike the Canal d’Ille-et-Rance

2:30 pm Le Mans France

Leave Rennes at 1 pm and drive 1.5 hours to Le Mans. Le Mans France is famous for its 24-hour race, but is there anything to do in the city when the race isn’t scheduled? YES, yes there is. The Cité Plantagenêt (old town) is full of timber homes, palaces, and cafes. Roman ruins, they miss the cobble-stoned alleyways lined with half-timbered houses. And, they haven’t a clue about the fabulous medieval architecture. over 100 timber-framed houses. 2.5 hours from Paris in the Pays de la Loire region in northwestern France

Le Mans France Highlights:

• See the Gallo-Roman Walls and 11 remaining towers
• Wander the many streets of Cité Plantagenêt (old town) starting on Rue de la Rene-Berengere
• Photograph the Maison de la Tourelle and the doorway of the Maison d’Adam et Ève at 69 Grande-Rue
• Visit the Le Mans Cathedral and Abbaye de l’Epau
• Check out the La Nuit des Chimères light displays during the summer months
• Attend the Le Mans 24 Hour in mid-June
• See cars that have completed the Le Mans 24 at Musée des 24 Heures du Mans
• Explore the Donjon de Ballon castle and gardens

6 pm Return to Paris France

Return the rental car to the Charles de Gaulle Airport. Take the train line B to Gare Du Nord station in Paris. This is a direct route and should take about 40 minutes. I stayed at the Hotel Albert 1er Paris, a 7-minute walk from the train station. I chose the property based on location and price. It is next to the train and metro stations with many restaurants nearby.

READ 100 Things to Do in Paris France, a Bucketlist City

Be sure to check the France Office of Tourism website for upcoming festivals, special events, and what’s happening during your stay.

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