D-Day Tour from Le Havre: Four WWII sites with expert guide

The only German gun battery still armed sits on a Normandy cliff, exactly as it was on June 6, 1944.

This D-Day shore excursion from Le Havre visits four critical WWII sites in a single day: the Arromanches 360 cinema, the Longues-sur-Mer gun battery with its original 155mm weapons still in place, Omaha Beach, and the Normandy American Cemetery. A licensed WWII expert guide leads the tour in English, and the day includes museum entry, a packed lunch from a local bakery, and guaranteed return to the ship on time.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Arromanches 3601h · entry included
2. Longues-sur-Mer1h
3. Omaha Beach1h
4. Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial2h

D-Day Normandy Shore Excursion

• Pickup at Le Havre cruise terminal
• Drive 2 hours to Arromanches 360° Cinema
• Watch 19-minute panoramic WWII film
• Visit Longues-sur-Mer German gun battery
• Stop at Omaha Beach and see Les Braves
• Lunch near Omaha Beach
• Tour Normandy American Cemetery and visitor center
• Drive 2 hours back to Le Havre
• Return to Le Havre cruise terminal

The experience

The tour opens at the Arromanches 360 Cinema, where you stand at the center of a circular room as a 19-minute film unfolds on nine surrounding screens. Original 1944 footage of the invasion intercuts with present-day images of the same coastline: the contrast between the chaos of June 6 and the peaceful green cliffs today is the single most direct way to grasp what happened here. Below the cinema, the ruins of Mulberry Harbor B remain visible in the bay, the artificial port the Allies built in 12 days to supply the liberation of France.

Longues-sur-Mer is the stop most D-Day tours skip. It is the only German coastal gun battery in Normandy where the original weapons remain: four 155mm naval guns, each weighing several tons, still pointing toward the English Channel exactly as they were positioned on the morning of the invasion. Every other battery in the region has empty concrete bunkers. Here you walk up to the actual guns that fired on the Allied fleet and the Mulberry Harbor 6 kilometers away, until British naval bombardment and air strikes neutralized the position on D-Day. The scale of the casemates and the clifftop position make the strategic importance immediate and physical.

After Omaha Beach and the sculpture Les Braves honoring the soldiers, you reach the Normandy American Cemetery, where 9,387 white crosses face the sea above the bluffs. The visitor center holds a detailed exhibition on the war. Your expert guide walks you through every stop in English, and lunch (a freshly made French sandwich from a local Le Havre bakery, bottled water, and a seasonal dessert) comes during a break near Omaha Beach. The tour departs the cruise terminal at Le Havre and returns on schedule, so you never risk missing the ship.

What’s included

• Pickup at the Le Havre cruise terminal with a representative holding a "Normandy Private Tours" sign.
• a licensed WWII expert guide in English at every stop.
• entry to the Arromanches 360 Cinema.
• access to the Longues-sur-Mer gun battery.
• a visit to Omaha Beach.
• entry to the Normandy American Cemetery and its visitor center exhibition.
• a freshly prepared packed lunch with a French baguette sandwich, bottled water, and a seasonal dessert.
• chilled water throughout the day.
• and guaranteed return to the cruise terminal on time.

Before you book

Days and timesNext departure: 1 Jan 2027

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (11 and older) · Child (under 11)

GroupUp to 23

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 6 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by Normandy Private Tours

Is this one for you?The tour involves moderate walking over uneven ground at clifftop sites and a full day away from the ship, so it suits travelers who can manage several hours on their feet and want to see the actual weapons and bunkers rather than empty sites. The fixed schedule and guaranteed return time mean you can relax without tracking the clock.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (under 11).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is the Arromanches 360 Cinema like when you arrive?

The Arromanches 360 is a circular room with no seats where you stand at the center as a 19-minute film plays on nine surrounding screens. Original 1944 invasion footage intercuts with present-day images of the same coastline, creating a stark contrast between the chaos of June 6 and the peaceful cliffs today.

Are the German guns at Longues-sur-Mer still there, or just the bunkers?

The original 155mm naval guns are still in place at Longues-sur-Mer, each weighing several tons and still pointing toward the English Channel exactly as they were on D-Day. This is the only German coastal gun battery in Normandy where the actual weapons remain. Every other battery has empty concrete casemates.

What does lunch include on this tour?

Lunch is a freshly made French sandwich from a local Le Havre bakery, bottled water, and a seasonal dessert treat. If you have dietary needs (vegetarian, gluten-free, or allergies), notify the operator at least 72 hours before the tour so they can prepare an alternative.

Will I make it back to the ship on time?

Yes. The tour is designed to match your ship's arrival and departure times from Le Havre, and the operator guarantees return to the cruise terminal on schedule so you never risk missing the ship.

How much walking is involved at each stop?

The tour requires a moderate level of physical activity and some walking over uneven ground, particularly at the clifftop sites. The tour is not wheelchair accessible, but it is suitable for all fitness levels with preparation.