From charming villages with half-timbered houses, to the dramatic white cliffs of Étretat or from the picturesque harbour of Honfleur to the D-Day landing beaches there is a lot to explore in Normandy on a budget. If you don’t have unlimited time for a trip to Normandy our tips might help you to save some money while enjoying this amazing region of France.
Getting there and getting around
Just like almost anywhere in Europe, travelling with a campervan is probably one of the cheapest ways of getting around in Normandy on a budget. If you are driving from the UK you have a couple of options to cross the channel. The most well known way is to take a ferry or the Channel Tunnel between Dover and Calais. However from Calais you would have to drive for a few more hours to Normandy. To save fuel or if it’s just simply more convenient, take Brittany Ferries from Portsmouth to Ouistreham near Caen. And after a few relaxing hours spent in your very own cabin you can start exploring Sword Beach (one of the five landing beaches) only a few minutes after the ferry docked in France. Alternatively, from Portsmouth you can also take Brittany Ferries to Cherbourg or Le Havre.
There are plenty of aires (a designated area where campers and caravans can spend a night usually free of charge) and campsites dotted around in Normandy. The campsites are usually open from April and many of them slightly cheaper outside of the high season which is normally between June and August.
WW2 sites
On the 6th June 1944 the Allied troops pushed ashore on the beaches in Normandy, and while thousands of young men died during the fights and the human suffering was far from over, the liberation of Europe from Nazi occupation had started.
There are some great museums and memorials where you can learn more about those troubled times. Some of these charge an entrance fee and if you want to visit several sites it can quickly add up. The good news is that there are so many sites you can see for free that a week long holiday wouldn’t be enough. If you want to experience Normandy on a budget why not start exploring the landing beaches and visit the American cemetery. In the cemetery’s visitor centre you can learn a lot about D-Day for free.
There are numerous concrete bunkers built by the Nazis as part of the ‘Atlantic wall’ that you can visit for free along the shore. Explore the massive cement casemates in Longues-sur-Mer or some of the concrete bunkers in Pointe du Hoc. Driving along the coastline is probably one of the best ways to visit many historical sites.
Cheese
No, you are not mistaken, you can find cheese names on the map of Normandy. Camembert, Livarot and Pont l’Evêque are the places where some of the tasty cheese varieties originated. You can pay for a guided tour to learn about the cheese production in Camembert or go to Graindorge Factory in Livarot for a free self-guided tour. It is guaranteed that you will buy some cheese in the factory’s shop at the end of the visit. Picnic spots are easy to find so why not grab some fresh baguette from a bakery to go with the cheese and your snack or lunch is sorted.
If you want to eat some good local dishes and look for restaurants where the locals eat. In France restaurants often offer a menu that includes a starter and main or main and dessert for a set price. For a better deal dine at lunchtime as the lunchtime menus are often cheaper than the evening meals.
Walking
To walk off the extra pounds that you gained by eating all that cheese with fresh baguette and flaky pastries go for a walk near Étretat. Framed by white cliffs the town’s beach attracts people all year round therefore parking in town can be tricky and pricey. There is a large and free car park (Parking Valleuse d’Antifer) just a couple of kilometres outside of town. Park there and then walk to the coast where you join the trail. As you follow the path to Étretat, there are myriad opportunities to marvel at the dramatic coastline from the clifftops.
These handy tips might help you create wonderful memories while you are travelling in Normandy on a budget.
