Bayeux in a day
Plans for one day in Bayeux: the Commonwealth war cemetery and memorial and the Museum of the Battle of Normandy, the Norman cathedral and its crypt, the old town along the Aure with its watermills and Rue Saint-Jean, then the Baron Gérard Museum of Art and History and the botanical garden. The Bayeux Tapestry Museum is closed for renovation until about October 2027, and the Tapestry is on loan to the British Museum in London from 10 September 2026 to 11 July 2027. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 1 days
Bayeux in 1 day
Day 1
Bayeux War Cemetery and Memorial
The largest Commonwealth Second World War cemetery in France, with the memorial to the missing of the Normandy campaign across the road.
Museum of the Battle of Normandy
Museum of the summer 1944 fighting in Normandy, from the landings to the end of the battle, with tanks, maps and films.
Bayeux Cathedral
Norman Romanesque and Gothic cathedral consecrated in 1077 in William the Conqueror's presence, with a crypt of fifteenth-century angel frescoes.
Old town and the Aure river mills (Rue Saint-Jean)
Walk past half-timbered houses, stone mansions and old watermills along the little Aure river to the shops of Rue Saint-Jean.
MAHB – Baron Gérard Museum of Art and History
Museum in the old bishops' palace beside the cathedral, with paintings, Bayeux porcelain and the town's bobbin lace.
Jardin botanique de Bayeux
Quiet botanical garden on the edge of town, known for its enormous old weeping beech, a protected remarkable tree.
When to go to Bayeux
May to September is the main season, with the longest museum hours. Around 6 June the D-Day anniversary brings ceremonies, veterans' events and crowds, so book rooms early. Normandy weather changes fast at any time of year, so bring a rain jacket.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Bayeux on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Bayeux on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Bayeux on GetYourGuide
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for France from Airalo
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Tips for Bayeux
- The Bayeux Tapestry Museum is closed for renovation until about October 2027, and the Tapestry is on loan to the British Museum from 10 September 2026 to 11 July 2027.
- Bayeux is the usual base for the D-Day beaches: minibus tours leave from town, or see the Normandy D-Day Beaches guide to plan your own day.
- The war cemetery and memorial are places of remembrance: keep voices low and dress respectfully.
- The museums close over lunch from October to April, and the Battle of Normandy museum closes for about two weeks in early January.
- The old town is small and flat, so walking is easiest; the station is about 15 minutes on foot from the cathedral.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Bayeux Cathedral: Mbzt, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Bayeux War Cemetery and Memorial: K72ndst, CC BY 3.0
- MAHB – Baron Gérard Museum of Art and History: Andy Li, CC0
- Museum of the Battle of Normandy: M.Strīķis, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Old town and the Aure river mills (Rue Saint-Jean): Mairie de Bayeux, CC BY-SA 4.0
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
