Getting to Normandy from Paris

The simplest way from Paris to Normandy is the train. Most routes leave from Paris Saint-Lazare and reach Rouen, Giverny, Caen, Bayeux, Le Havre, Deauville and Cherbourg directly, while Mont-Saint-Michel trips start at Paris-Montparnasse. Driving gives you more freedom on the D-Day coast, but the A13 tunnel out of Paris is closed in the Normandy direction from November 16, 2026 to the end of August 2027.

Paris to Normandy by train

For most of Normandy you start at Paris Saint-Lazare. That station serves Rouen, Le Havre, Vernon-Giverny, Lisieux, Trouville-Deauville, Caen, Bayeux and Cherbourg. It is also your departure point for Honfleur, Étretat and the D-Day beaches, which have no station of their own. The trains are TER services, run under the NOMAD Train (TER Normandie) name.

Paris-Montparnasse is the other station you may need. It serves Granville and the routes to Mont-Saint-Michel.

These are typical journey times from Paris on SNCF route pages:

Destination	Paris station	Fastest	Average	Trains a day
Vernon-Giverny	Saint-Lazare	46 min	57 min	22
Rouen Rive Droite	Saint-Lazare	1h13	1h29	33
Caen	Saint-Lazare	1h54	2h10	19
Le Havre	Saint-Lazare	1h59	2h12	16
Bayeux	Saint-Lazare	2h12	about 2h26	13
Trouville-Deauville	Saint-Lazare	2h15	2h41	8
Cherbourg	Saint-Lazare	3h07	3h20	12
Rennes (for Mont-Saint-Michel)	Montparnasse	1h25	1h45	22
Pontorson - Mont-Saint-Michel	Montparnasse	2h57	about 3h14	2, with a change

Fares vary by train and date, so check the rail operator’s site when you book. Each Saint-Lazare route in this table has direct services.

If you want a day out rather than a base, see the Rouen day trip and the Giverny day trip. Both are easy by train.

Towns without a station

Several of the places people come for are a bus ride beyond the railway.

Honfleur

Take the train to Trouville-Deauville, Le Havre or Pont-l’Évêque, then a NOMAD Car bus. Line 122 runs Caen-Deauville-Honfleur, line 111 runs Le Havre-Deauville-Caen, and line 123 runs Lisieux-Honfleur-Le Havre. A taxi or hire car also works. See Honfleur and the Honfleur day trip.

Étretat

From April to early November you can buy a combined train and coach ticket from Paris. Out of season, take the train to Le Havre or Fécamp, then a NOMAD coach. Some coaches also run direct from Paris. See Étretat and the Étretat Cliffs and Gardens.

Giverny

Take the train to Vernon-Giverny. From April to November a shuttle bus links the station with the village. You can also bike, or walk for about an hour. See Monet’s House and Gardens.

The D-Day beaches

Bayeux is the rail gateway. In its visitor advice for the Normandy American Cemetery, the ABMC describes local public transport as intermittent and suggests you arrange transport from Bayeux in advance. It also expects compulsory pre-registration for all cemetery visitors from summer 2027. The D-Day beaches day trip and Two Days in Bayeux and on the D-Day Beaches show how to fit it together.

Paris to Mont-Saint-Michel

There are two main ways to make the Paris to Mont-Saint-Michel trip by public transport.

Via Rennes. Take the TGV from Paris-Montparnasse to Rennes, then the Keolis Armor coach from Rennes bus station to the Mont. The bus station is at level 0 of the railway station, reached from the north exit. Every coach trip connects with TGVs to and from Paris, and the coach ride takes about 1h10. Keolis puts the whole trip from Paris at about 3 hours. From November 2, 2026 to March 28, 2027 the coach runs twice a day, every day. No tickets are sold on board, and booking ahead is recommended.

Via Pontorson. Take a train from Paris-Montparnasse to Pontorson - Mont-Saint-Michel, with a change on the way, then a bus for the last 9 km. In summer a NOMAD “Mont-Saint-Michel train” runs this way with a direct bus connection. All year, a TER also runs to Villedieu-les-Poêles, with an SNCF bus on to the Mont’s car park.

The tourist office lists other options, such as a TGV to Dol-de-Bretagne then a bus via Pontorson, or a train from Saint-Lazare to Caen then a TER to Pontorson. NOMAD bus line 308 links Granville and Avranches with the Mont.

From the car parks and coach stops, the free Le Passeur shuttle takes about 12-15 minutes to a point 350 m from the village. Walking along the bridge takes about 35 minutes. Keep your train ticket, because a Paris to Mont-Saint-Michel ticket used within 5 days gets you a reduced ticket for the Mont-Saint-Michel Abbey. Before you go, read the Mont-Saint-Michel guide and check the tide calendar. The Mont-Saint-Michel day trip covers the timing.

Paris to Normandy by car

The A13 and A14 motorways are the main road from Paris to Normandy. Since 2024 they have used free-flow tolling, with no barriers, on 210 km. If your car has no toll tag, you have 72 hours to pay.

The northern tube of the A13 Saint-Cloud tunnel, the way out of Paris toward Normandy, is closed from November 16, 2026 to the end of August 2027. The opposite direction stays open. Signed diversions run via the RD910 and RN118, or via the RN13 and A14, and rejoin the A13 further west. Expect longer journey times at some hours. The ABMC also flags this closure for visitors heading to the American Cemetery.

Coaches, regional tickets and train discounts

Long-distance coach companies run between Paris and Normandy. Some lines link Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport directly with Normandy’s main cities.

Once you are in the region, a few things help if you travel without a car:

• Normandy Discovery Pass: unlimited travel for two people on NOMAD trains and buses within Normandy for two days. It is valid on weekends, during French school holidays and during major events.
• Low-carbon rate: many attractions give a reduction to visitors who arrive by train, coach or bike. Show a dated train ticket to a Normandy station, a bus ticket or a photo of your bike.
• Atoumod: a journey planner that covers all the regional networks, with a free ticketing app.

Normandy Without a Car puts these pieces into a full trip.

Arriving by air, ferry or cruise ship

Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Orly are the main international airports. Normandy also has regional airports at Caen-Carpiquet, Deauville Normandie, Cherbourg-Maupertus, Le Havre-Octeville and Rouen-Vallée de Seine.

From England, Brittany Ferries sails from Portsmouth to Le Havre, Caen (Ouistreham) and Cherbourg, and from Poole to Cherbourg. DFDS sails from Newhaven to Dieppe.

Cruise passengers at Le Havre land at the Pointe de Floride terminal, 2.5 km from the city center and the station, with shuttles and a taxi rank. Routing estimates without traffic put Honfleur about 28 minutes away (23 km) and Étretat about 41 minutes (32 km) by car. Rouen Cathedral is about 69 minutes away (92 km), and Giverny about 102 minutes (140 km). From the Cherbourg cruise area, the Airborne Museum is about 36 minutes away (39 km) and Pointe du Hoc about 68 minutes (77 km). See the Le Havre cruise port day and Cherbourg.

For a full plan, start with Three Days in Normandy or Five Days in Normandy. Best Time to Visit Normandy helps you pick your dates.