Visiting the D-Day Beaches — Omaha Beach

Omaha Beach today is well known to those in the U.S. (especially). If you have only one day in Normandy, you may want to head right here. Do keep in mind, though, that D-Day involved five beaches. Their code names: Omaha, Utah, Gold, Juno, and Sword. If you can, visit all of the beaches for a full overview of the landings.

D-Day Landing Map

On June 6, 1944, the Allies landed along about 50 miles of beaches to set in motion the liberation of Europe from the Nazis. There were five separate landings to Operation Overlord by American, British, and Canadian troops involving 160,000 soldiers. Here’s a map from HistoryExtra.com to give you a good idea of the beaches.

Map © Paul Hewitt, Battlefield Design – www.battlefield-design.co.uk

I was able to travel to France on an amazing trip to visit all 5 of the beaches in 2019. For a history buff like me, this was an unforgettable experience. I would like to share with you about all 5 beaches, starting with Omaha.

The Battle at Omaha Beach

Historians agree that the landing on the stretch of about 5 miles that is Omaha Beach was the most difficult of a day of unimaginable difficulties. Why? This beach turned out to have the largest number of German troops. Allied bombing runs failed to take out German strong points. The beach was riddled with mines and obstacles. Also, stormy weather and navigation issues led to men drowning before they could even reach the beach.

Those who gained the beach faced a fortified sea wall and high bluffs from where German artillery rained down on them.

The battle on Omaha was so severe that U.S. Lieutenant General Omar Bradley considered retreat back to England. But slowly and steadily men clawed through the sand and sprinted and ran into enemy fire, making it to the refuge of the seawall. By the end of this Day of Days, the Americans claimed a toehold of about 1.5 miles of France.

Colleville-sur-Mer Cemetery

The focus of a visit to Omaha Beach today is the vast cemetery that is the final resting place of almost 10,000 American soldiers who gave their lives in the battle for Normandy. Overlooking the beach, the rows of graves attest to the price paid for liberation in one small corner of the world. It’s overwhelming to walk here.

The sea of white crosses and stars extends every direction. It’s hard to look around at such loss of life. When you think how many of these lads were teenagers, transported across the English Channel in a rocky vessel, landing in a country where they had never set foot, and then their lives were cut short – it’s too much to comprehend.

A look at the names — so many names — makes your experience here more personal.

The Flag Ceremony and Reflecting Pool

At the end of each day, the American flag flying here is lowered in a respectful ceremony. A reflecting pool is nearby.

You will notice a tall, dark sculpture called “Spirit of American Youth Rising from the Waves.” Also in this area are large maps of the battles of World War II.

The Omaha Beach Museum

A small, excellent museum is next to the cemetery. It offers displays of uniforms, and military vehicles. The Jeep may inspire you to tour the D-Day beaches in a 1943 Jeep,, an unforgettable experience. The museum also displays objects of civilians caught in the battles. I found the teddy bear especially poignant.

There are also examples of the metal objects strewn on the beach by the Germans and known as “Rommel’s asparagus.”

I would allow about an hour to take in this museum. If your time is limited, see the outside cemetery and beach first. If time allows, end your visit at the museum.

The Monument of the Brave at Omaha Beach

At the far west end of Omaha Beach, in Vierville-sur-Mer, you’ll find an imposing sculpture called The Brave. The artist, Anilore Banon, said he created this to honor the courage of the men – sons, husbands, and fathers – who faced danger and often sacrificed themselves in the hope of freeing the French people. These “wings of hope” remind us all to stand strong for freedom and to speak up against all forms of inhumanity.

When You Visit Omaha Beach Today

If you go to Normandy and visit Omaha Beach today, you can walk on these beaches and try to imagine the events of June 1944. You can feel the sand between your toes, the waves lap at your feet. Around you, children will be playing, families will be out for a stroll, enjoying the sun and the sea. We are all living a life of freedom now, and it’s only right to remember those who gave their last full measure of devotion to make this possible.

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Getting to the D-Day Beaches from Paris

You have several options if you are traveling from Paris to the D-Day Beaches.

By train, journey either to Caen or Bayeux. Trains leave from the Paris Saint-Lazare station. The trip is about two to two-and-a-half hours.

Book your train tickets with Rail Europe for easy and reliable service. 

Rail Europe partners with more than 230 train services such as SCNF, DB, and Swiss train lines. So, you can always find the transportation you need for your trip.

If you drive from Paris to Bayeux or Caen, allow about 3 hours. Take A13 to Caen or A13 and A84 to Bayeux.

I can recommend renting with Auto Europe

I’ve learned that the easiest way to get from Paris to Bayeux is to train to Caen, then rent a car. The car rentals are conveniently right across the street from the train station in Caen. Then drive about 20 minutes to Bayeux. I have driven from Paris, but driving in the city can be crazy. I actually went around the Arc de Triomphe in a circle several times before finding the right exit street. And I haven’t wanted to repeat that adventure!

Where to Stay Near Omaha Beach

To stay near the D-Day Beaches, you can stay in Bayeux as your base. Bayeux is a charming town in Normandy, France, known for its well-preserved medieval architecture and its famous Bayeux Tapestry. It’s also the closest town to Omaha Beach. I have stayed here and loved the town, the food, and the people.

When staying in Bayeux, you have various accommodation options ranging from hotels to guesthouses and bed-and-breakfasts. You may want to opt for a hotel in the city center. That way, you are close to the sights as well as plenty of dining and shopping choices.

My favorite hotel is the Hotel Churchill. It’s in a historic building in the heart of the town. It offers comfortable and well-equipped rooms, with amenities like free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, and private bathrooms. Some rooms may offer views of the city or the courtyard. And the hotel has a bar and lounge area where guests can relax and unwind. A tasty breakfast is served in a pleasant room. I found the front desk staff to be very helpful with planning your day and finding a restaurant for dinner.

Book the elegant Hotel Churchill — the perfect base for exploring the D-Day Beaches.

Do You Want to Book a Tour?

You can visit Omaha Beach on your own. This is not difficult if you have a car. Or you may opt for a tour instead. I have visited the beaches both with and without tours. If it’s your first visit, a tour may give you lots of information and stories of the war that you wouldn’t otherwise get.

If you are coming as a day trip from Paris or wanting the enriched experience of a tour guide, here are good options. 

Overlord Tour: Overlord Tour is one of the most highly regarded D-Day tour operators in the region. They offer small group tours with knowledgeable guides who provide detailed historical information about the events of D-Day. I went on the British Beaches tour and found the guide to be knowledgeable and engaging. I toured on a shuttle with seven other people. We enjoyed conversing about WWII. It was a totally positive experience. 

D-Day Battle Tours: D-Day Battle Tours is the company I toured with in a WWII-era Jeep. While my tour was in the Utah Beach area, this company also offers guided tours of Omaha Beach. My guide Monica kept up a running commentary as we drove along the Normandy lanes. You can choose from private and public tours. I can highly recommend this company.

Bayeux Shuttle: Bayeux Shuttle offers half-day and full-day tours of the D-Day landing sites, including Omaha Beach. They provide transportation in comfortable minibuses and provide experienced guides. They also run tours of the D-Day Beaches from Paris.

Or book with respected Viator tours.

Learn more about the D-Day Beaches in Normandy

Visiting the D-Day Beaches: Utah Beach

Visiting the Five Normandy D-Day Beaches

Visiting the D-Day Beaches: Gold, Juno and Sword

Riding a Jeep Through Normandy

Read about Pointe du Hoc on D-Day. It’s in between Omaha and Utah Beaches.

Visiting Pointe du Hoc, Site of World War II D-Day Battle

Learn more about Normandy

The Old Harbor of Honfleur

Reasons to Visit Normandy France

Reasons to Visit Bayeux France

Tour the American D-Day Beaches as part of tracing the path of Easy Company in WWII with the National WWII Museum.

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