Easiest Beaches to Reach in Normandy
We rank the 9 easy-access beaches in Normandy. Etretat Beach (France) comes first with 4.4 / 5, followed by Plage de Deauville, Arromanches Gold Beach.
The sea reaches about 17 degrees C in season, and most of these beaches are at their best from June to September. 9 of the 9 have easy access.
1Etretat Beach
Etretat, Normandy, France · 4.4 / 5 · Easy access · about 17 °CA steep pebble beach beneath the famous white chalk cliffs and arches of the Normandy coast.
2Plage de Deauville
Deauville, Normandy · 4.4 / 5 · Easy access · about 17 °CThe beach of Deauville is a broad stretch of fine sand with a famous wooden boardwalk, Les Planches, and rows of colourful parasols.
3Arromanches Gold Beach
Arromanches-les-Bains, Normandy · 4.3 / 5 · Easy access · about 18 °CA broad sandy beach below chalk cliffs, known as Gold Beach in the 1944 landings.
4Omaha Beach
Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer, Normandy · 4.2 / 5 · Easy access · about 17 °CA long, flat, sandy shoreline in Normandy, best known as one of the D-Day landing beaches of 1944.
5Plage de Cabourg
Cabourg, Normandy · 4.2 / 5 · Easy access · about 18 °CCabourg is a belle epoque seaside town on the Normandy coast, with a very wide beach of fine sand and an iconic promenade lined with colourful cabins.
6Plage de Granville
Granville, Normandy · 4.2 / 5 · Easy access · about 18 °CGranville is a seaside town in Normandy with a sandy beach below its old town on the cliff.
7Plage de Ouistreham, Normandy
Ouistreham, Calvados, Normandy · 4.2 / 5 · Easy access · about 17 °COuistreham is a seaside town at the mouth of the Orne river, with a long beach of fine sand and a seafront promenade.
8Plage de Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer, Normandy
Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer, Calvados, Normandy · 4.2 / 5 · Easy access · about 17 °CSaint-Aubin-sur-Mer is a seaside village on the Normandy coast, with a wide beach of fine sand and a long promenade.
9Utah Beach, Normandy
Sainte-Marie-du-Mont, Normandy · 4.2 / 5 · Easy access · about 18 °CUtah Beach is a wide, flat beach on the east coast of the Cotentin peninsula in Normandy, one of the D-Day landing beaches.
Quick comparison
| # | Beach | Country | Score | Water | Best season | Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Etretat Beach | France | 4.4 | 17 °C | June–September | Easy |
| 2 | Plage de Deauville | France | 4.4 | 17 °C | June–September | Easy |
| 3 | Arromanches Gold Beach | France | 4.3 | 18 °C | June–September | Easy |
| 4 | Omaha Beach | France | 4.2 | 17 °C | June–September | Easy |
| 5 | Plage de Cabourg | France | 4.2 | 18 °C | June–September | Easy |
| 6 | Plage de Granville | France | 4.2 | 18 °C | July–September | Easy |
| 7 | Plage de Ouistreham, Normandy | France | 4.2 | 17 °C | June–September | Easy |
| 8 | Plage de Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer, Normandy | France | 4.2 | 17 °C | June–September | Easy |
| 9 | Utah Beach, Normandy | France | 4.2 | 18 °C | July–September | Easy |
How we picked these beaches
Included when our access rating is Easy (a short, flat walk or direct road access), then ranked by editorial score. See how we rate beaches for the full method.
Frequently asked questions
Which are the top-rated easy-access beaches in Normandy?
Our top three are Etretat Beach (4.4 out of 5), Plage de Deauville (4.4 out of 5), Arromanches Gold Beach (4.3 out of 5). Scores are editorial ratings from the EuroShores team.
When is the best time to visit these beaches?
Most are at their best from June to September. Water temperatures average about 17 degrees C in season. Each beach page lists its exact season.
Which of these beaches are easiest to reach?
Etretat Beach, Plage de Deauville, Arromanches Gold Beach, Omaha Beach, Plage de Cabourg and 4 more have easy access. The others need a walk, stairs or a rougher road, so check the access note on each page.