New Ways to Travel to and around Normandy

New ways to travel to and around Normandy give you some great new options if you’re planning a trip to this glorious region in 2024, the 80th anniversary of the D-Day Landings.

Soldier in 1940s uniform on old motorbike in camp with old tents all part of D-Day Festival — D-Day re-enactment © S. Frères Normandy Tourism

Travel from Southampton to Caen by air

Entrance to memorial de Caen with big concrete building on right and statue to one side of gun with twisted barrel so cannot fire. Normandy Landing Beaches — Caen Memorial © Mary Anne Evans

The Normandy-based airline Chalair has launched a new service from Southampton to Caen. Flights on a 70-seat ATR 72 aircraft. Flights are on Fridays and Sundays to September 22, 2024.

So if you want a weekend in Normandy, it’s a great fast and cost-effective way to get to Caen with both airports easy to navigate without huge crowds, and just a 40-minute flight time.

Friday flights: Southampton 10.20am; arrive in Caen at 12.15pm local time
Caen 5.15pm; arrive in Southampton 7pm local time.

Sunday flights: Southampton 5.15pm; arrive in Caen 7pm local time
Caen 4.45pm; arrive in Southampton 4.30pm local time (45 minute flight time).

Single flights are from €80.
All information on the Chalair website.

New Bus Travel in Normandy

D-Day Line Bus

American Normandy Landing Beaches Cemetery. rows of headstone; one nearest with US flag — American Cemetery © Alastair McKenzie

The new D-Day Line, operated by Nomad lines, runs between Grandcamp-Maisy in the west and Courseulles-sur-Mer in the east. Travel on it to visit Omaha, Gold and Juno beaches. Easy to use, it operates daily and regularly between 9.30am and 6pm to September 30, 2024. And don’t worry about taking photos on your mobile phone; the vehicles have USB charging points, as well as wifi and air-conditioning.
From Bayeux, take coach lines 120 and 121 to link up with the D-DAY line services.

You can buy tickets on board, though it’s cheaper if you buy in advance. Tickets are available via scanning, or at various tourist offices. A day ticket for an adult is €10 in advance, €12 on the bus.

Visit the Nomad D-DAY Line site for all information.