Major city · France
Bayeux
Give Bayeux two nights: one full day for the tapestry site and cathedral, one for the D-Day beaches by car or guided tour. Without a car, the beaches need a tour or a long day out.
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- EUR
- Best months
- May–Sep
- avoid Jan–Feb (cold, wet, some sites on reduced hours)
- Airports
- CDG · ORY
- Nights
- 2
Rules in force · 8Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
- Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
- Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
- France and Monaco ↗France has run temporary identity checks at its internal Schengen land borders since 2015; carry a passport or EU/EEA national ID on trains and buses from Italy, Spain, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland and Luxembourg.
- France and Monaco ↗Nights in France and Monaco draw on the same Schengen 90-in-180-day allowance as the rest of the area; Monaco does not reset or pause it.
- France ↗France is in the Schengen area. Check the entry rules for your passport on official sources; the EU's Entry/Exit System registers non-EU visitors' fingerprints and photo at the first Schengen border, and further pre-travel authorisation rules are being introduced.
- France ↗TGV (including the low-cost Ouigo) and Intercités night trains need a seat reservation: a rail pass alone does not let you board.
- France ↗Paris, Lyon and other large cities run low-emission zones that require a Crit'Air sticker on cars; check before you drive a hire car or your own car into a city.
- France ↗Carry your passport or national ID card: police can ask for identification, and hotels register foreign guests.
Bayeux is a small Norman town that survived 1944 almost intact, so its medieval centre and cathedral still stand. It holds the Bayeux Tapestry and the largest British and Commonwealth war cemetery in France, and it is the usual base for the D-Day landing sites — Arromanches is about 10 km north, the American cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer about 25 km. Most travellers use it as a two-night base rather than as a town in its own right.
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Bayeux, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the euro (EUR, €).France-wide
- SIM or eSIMOrange, SFR, Bouygues Télécom and Free sell prepaid SIMs in their shops and at tabacs; ID is required to register.France-wide
- Tap waterTap water is safe everywhere unless signed otherwise.France-wide
- TippingRestaurant: Service is included; leave 5–10% in cash for good service.France-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets C/E. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 230 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.France-wide
- SafetyBayeux is a low-crime small town and safe to walk at night.
- RestroomsParis has free automatic public toilets (sanisettes); elsewhere use cafés (buy a coffee), museums and stations, where some charge €0.50–1 (≈ US$1–2).France-wide
- Emergency numbers112 European emergency number · 15 ambulance (samu) · 17 police (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysMany national museums close on Monday (Orsay, Versailles, Rodin) or Tuesday (Louvre, Pompidou's temporary sites).France-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportCDG Paris Charles de Gaulle (Rail via Paris Saint-Lazare; allow 4–5 h door to door).
- Getting aroundThe town centre is a 10-minute walk from the station, mostly along one main street that changes name as it goes; streets are narrow and cobbled…
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- CoffeeCoffee or a pastry at a boulangerie€2–5 (≈ US$3–6)
- Sit-down mealDinner, mid-range restaurant€25–40 (≈ US$30–50)
- BeerBeer in a bar / bottle from a supermarket€5–8 (≈ US$6–10)€2–3 (≈ US$3–4)
- Museum or sight ticketCathedral entryFree
- Budget bedHostel or budget double, a night, per person€30 (≈ US$35)
- Mid-range bedTwo-star or three-star double room, a night, per room€120 (≈ US$140)
- High-end bedTwo-star or three-star double room, a night, per room€220 (≈ US$300)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget €60 (≈ US$70) · Mid €110 (≈ US$130) · High €200 (≈ US$250)
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- CDG Paris Charles de Gaulle (Rail via Paris Saint-Lazare; allow 4–5 h door to door) · ORY Paris Orly (Same rail route via Paris Saint-Lazare)
Weather and climate
Bayeux: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
8°C46°F
3°C37°F
13 rd
Feb
9°C48°F
3°C37°F
11 rd
Mar
12°C54°F
4°C39°F
11 rd
Apr
14°C57°F
6°C43°F
10 rd
May
18°C64°F
9°C48°F
9 rd
Jun
21°C70°F
12°C54°F
8 rd
Jul
23°C73°F
14°C57°F
8 rd
Aug
23°C73°F
14°C57°F
8 rd
Sep
21°C70°F
12°C54°F
9 rd
Oct
17°C63°F
9°C48°F
12 rd
Nov
12°C54°F
6°C43°F
13 rd
Dec
9°C48°F
4°C39°F
13 rd
High / low °C°F · rd = rain days
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
The town centre is a 10-minute walk from the station, mostly along one main street that changes name as it goes; streets are narrow and cobbled, so wear flat shoes. Trains from Gare de Bayeux reach Caen in about 20 min and Paris Saint-Lazare in about 2 h 20 min. Buses (Nomad lines 114, 120, 121) link Caen, Arromanches and Grandcamp-Maisy but run a handful of times a day and less on Sundays. For the D-Day beaches, a car or a guided minibus tour is the practical option.
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Arromanches-les-Bains
goDoor to door: About 45 min by bus
Nomad line 121 bus, or about 15–20 min by car on the D516
Mulberry harbour remains and the 360° cinema; bus runs only a few times a day, so fix your return.
Caen
goDoor to door: About 20 min by train
TER train from Gare de Bayeux
William the Conqueror's castle and the Normandy memorial museum; easy half day.
Normandy American Cemetery, Colleville-sur-Mer
cautionDoor to door: About 45 min by car
Car on the N13 then D517/D514, or a guided minibus tour
Free entry, open daily except 25 Dec and 1 Jan; buses 70 and 75 run very infrequently.
Honfleur
cautionDoor to door: About 1 h 15 by car
Car via the A13, or train to Caen then bus
Better as a stop on a Normandy road trip than a return day from Bayeux.
Mont-Saint-Michel
overnightDoor to door: About 2 h
Car via the A84, about 1 h 45
Too far for a comfortable return day; sleep on the bay or in Avranches.
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Centre-ville (Rue Saint-Jean and around)
Walk to the tapestry site, cathedral and restaurants; 10 min on foot from the station.
Near the station (Place de la Gare)
Cheapest beds and easiest with bags; 10 min walk to the centre.
Ring-road edge (Boulevard d'Eindhoven)
Campsite and free parking; 20 min walk along the River Aure, unlit at night.
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- €60–90 (≈ US$70–110) excl. bed
- Mid
- €90–150 (≈ US$110–180) excl. bed
- High
- €150 (≈ US$180)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Two-star or three-star double room1 × 2 nights × €120 | €240 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × €110 | €440 |
| Battle of Normandy Museum entry2 × €8 · check | €16 |
| Guided D-Day minibus tour, half day2 × €60 · check | €120 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × €15 | €30 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | €85 |
| Trip total≈ €233 per person per day, bed included | €931≈ US$1,100 |
2026 estimate in euros; long-distance travel and tours excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee or a pastry at a boulangerie | €2–5 (≈ US$3–6) |
| Lunch menu (plat du jour) | €14–20 (≈ US$17–25) |
| Dinner, mid-range restaurant | €25–40 (≈ US$30–50) |
| Beer in a bar / bottle from a supermarket | €5–8 (≈ US$6–10) / €2–3 (≈ US$3–4) |
| Cathedral entry | Free |
| Battle of Normandy Museum entry | €7.50 (≈ US$9) adults, €5 (≈ US$6) students (check) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- The Bayeux Tapestry display is closed for renovation until 2027 and the tapestry has been moved to London: check the official museum site before you book travel.
- Buses to the beaches are few and timed for school and work journeys; a missed bus can strand you for hours.
- The river path from the campsite to town is unlit; carry a torch after dark.
- Many shops and restaurants close one or two days a week outside summer; check before walking out.
Emergency numbers
- European emergency number
- 112
- Ambulance (SAMU)
- 15
- Police
- 17
- Fire
- 18
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
BayeuxBayeux
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
À cette adresse, s'il vous plaîtTo this address, please
Emergency
- European emergency number112
- Ambulance (SAMU)15
- Police17
- Fire18
Embassy
No embassies in Bayeux; the US, UK, Canadian, Australian and Irish embassies are in Paris. The US also has a consulate general in Rennes.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Train Bayeux → Caen, TER: about 20 min; fare check
- Train Bayeux → Paris Saint-Lazare, TER: about 2 h 20; fare check
- Nomad bus Bayeux → Arromanches, line 121: about 45 min, few services; fare check
Say or show
- Bonjour — Hello (bon-ZHOOR)
- Merci — Thank you (mair-SEE)
- C'est combien ? — How much is it? (say kom-BYEN)
- L'addition, s'il vous plaît — The bill, please (la-dee-SYON seel voo PLEH)
- Parlez-vous anglais ? — Do you speak English? (par-lay VOO on-GLEH)
- Où est la gare ? — Where is the station? (oo eh la GAR)
Tourist office: Bayeux Bessin Tourisme, Rue Saint-Jean, 49.2769, -0.7009.
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Bayeux. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: May–Sep · avoid Jan–Feb (cold, wet, some sites on reduced hours) · month by month →
- 2 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 5 day-trips, door to door
- 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- An airport-to-bed path that says whether a late landing still works
- Walking clusters with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Field-verified times and fares