Best Sandy Beaches in Normandy
We rank the 8 sandy beaches in Normandy. Plage de Deauville (France) comes first with 4.4 / 5, followed by Arromanches Gold Beach, Omaha Beach.
The sea reaches about 18 degrees C in season, and most of these beaches are at their best from June to September. 8 of the 8 have easy access.
1Plage 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.
2Arromanches 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.
3Omaha 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.
4Plage 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.
5Plage 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.
6Plage 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.
7Plage 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.
8Utah 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 | Plage de Deauville | France | 4.4 | 17 °C | June–September | Easy |
| 2 | Arromanches Gold Beach | France | 4.3 | 18 °C | June–September | Easy |
| 3 | Omaha Beach | France | 4.2 | 17 °C | June–September | Easy |
| 4 | Plage de Cabourg | France | 4.2 | 18 °C | June–September | Easy |
| 5 | Plage de Granville | France | 4.2 | 18 °C | July–September | Easy |
| 6 | Plage de Ouistreham, Normandy | France | 4.2 | 17 °C | June–September | Easy |
| 7 | Plage de Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer, Normandy | France | 4.2 | 17 °C | June–September | Easy |
| 8 | Utah Beach, Normandy | France | 4.2 | 18 °C | July–September | Easy |
How we picked these beaches
Included when the shoreline is mostly of this type, then ranked by our editorial score. See how we rate beaches for the full method.
Frequently asked questions
Which are the top-rated sandy beaches in Normandy?
Our top three are Plage de Deauville (4.4 out of 5), Arromanches Gold Beach (4.3 out of 5), Omaha Beach (4.2 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 18 degrees C in season. Each beach page lists its exact season.
Which of these beaches are easiest to reach?
Plage de Deauville, Arromanches Gold Beach, Omaha Beach, Plage de Cabourg, Plage de Granville and 3 more have easy access. The others need a walk, stairs or a rougher road, so check the access note on each page.