6 Days in Paris Itinerary: Paris, Normandy & Rouen Family
Planning 6 days in Paris and Normandy? This family‑friendly itinerary covers Paris, Rouen, Caen, the D‑Day Beaches, Mont‑Saint‑Michel, and Versailles — with tips for trains, hotels, tours, and what I wish I knew before our trip. If you’re looking for a simple, stress‑free way to explore France, this guide walks you through everything step‑by‑step. We did this trip in May of 2025, and it was one of my families favorite adventures together.
Our family at Mont St Michel
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💡Want to book your own France adventure with points? Check out my guide to saving big on Paris and Normandy travel -> European Family Vacation Points and Miles
Quick Overview
Trip Length: 6 days
Destinations: Paris, Rouen, Caen, Bayeux, Mont‑Saint‑Michel, Versailles
Best For: First‑timers, families, history lovers
Transportation: Train + metro + walking
Best Time to Visit: April–October
Trip Style: Fast‑paced, culture + history
Where We Stayed (and What We Recommend)
Day 1: Paris to Rouen — How to Get There + Where to Stay
We landed in Paris after a long flight from Nashville, Tennessee, ready to kick off our 6-day France adventure. Instead of navigating trains right away, we opted for a taxi from Charles de Gaulle Airport to Gare Saint-Lazare—an easy choice for four tired travelers. The ride cost about €60 and saved us the hassle of transfers.
At the train station, we planned to buy tickets to Rouen using the SNCF Connect kiosks, but for reasons unknown, the machines didn’t cooperate. We ended up waiting in line to speak with a ticket agent. In hindsight, we could’ve booked online or through the SNCF app, but with potential delays at immigration, I didn’t want to commit to a departure time too early.
The train ride to Rouen took under two hours and was smooth and scenic. Once we arrived, we made the 15-minute uphill walk to our hotel: the Hyatt Place Rouen, our home base for exploring Normandy.
After a long day of travel, we briefly rested. We headed to the restaurant at 7, when it opened for dinner. Our dinner was good and fresh. Three of us had Filet Mignon and one had the lamb. We all agreed it was excellent. It was raining this evening, so we all decided to rest up for the next few days.
🍷Our Review for Hyatt Place Rouen
Tours We Recommend:
D‑Day Beaches Tour
Mont‑Saint‑Michel Day Trip
Versailles Skip‑the‑Line
Seine River Cruise
Louvre Guided Tour
Day 2: Exploring Rouen — What to See & Do
The next day, we got up around 8 in the morning. We enjoyed the breakfast buffet at our hotel (19 euros a person), then headed out to the city center of Rouen. The Nutella crepes were a huge hit with our family.
We spent the day exploring Rouen. Mondays are not the best days to visit Rouen, but it was the day we had available. We made the most of it. Our family loved the vibe of this small town.
Sculpture of Joan of Arc who was burned at the stake here in Rouen
What We Packed for Paris & Normandy
Portable fan (you mentioned this!)
Travel umbrella
Crossbody bag
Portable charger
Packing cubes
Comfortable walking shoes
Travel adapters
Find these and more on my Amazon Essentials for Paris and Normandy
Day 3: D‑Day Beaches Tour from Caen
On day 3, we caught an early train from Rouen to Caen. We had booked a D-Day beaches tour with the Caen Memorial Museum.
We arrived early in Caen to drop off our bags at our hotel, the Hôtel La Fontaine Caen Centre, and then head out for the tour. Caen is a more industrial city than Rouen. When we got off the train, my son commented, “This is so different from Caen.“ I will mention that I looked at staying in Bayeux for the next two nights. It seemed a more charming choice. However, they are only 20 minutes apart by train, so either would work for this portion of the trip.
Our hotel in Caen I found through internet searches. The only hotel chain I recognized was Best Western, so I went off TripAdvisor reviews. We picked the Hôtel la Fontaine Caen Centre.
We usually stay in fancy hotels, so I was a little nervous when I walked up. However, this place was great. The owners (brothers) were so nice and accommodating. My French is not great, and they both spoke perfect English. We ended up with two rooms here for our family. We bought one deluxe and one standard. We ended up giving the Deluxe to our boys so they could spread out. Here is a pic of the standard room. We added breakfast to our booking, and they had a great spread in the mornings.
🍷Our review of Hotel Fontain Caen Centre
👉Our full review of our D-Day Beaches Tour - Experience the D-Day beaches tour in Normandy, France
Standard room the deluxe definitely had more room and a couch
Day 4: Mont‑Saint‑Michel Day Trip from Bayeux
We had an early train to Bayeux to catch our next tour. On this day, we were heading to Mont St. Michel. Spoiler alert! It was excellent. Money and time well spent.
🧭 How We Booked This Tour
We booked our Mont St. Michel day trip through Viator. It includes round-trip transportation from Bayeux, a guided walk through the abbey, and free time to explore the island.
💡 Why we loved it:
Easy pickup from the train station
Knowledgeable guide with great historical context
Plenty of time to wander and grab lunch
🎟️ Booking tips:
Reserve early—this tour fills up fast, especially in summer
If you're staying in Caen, take the early train to Bayeux
Bring layers—it gets windy on the island!
Bayeux was a charming city. It would have been a great place to stay. However, I am still glad we stayed in Caen since we wanted to return to the Caen Memorial Museum. The train makes it easy to access one town from another.
Day 5: Caen Memorial Museum + Return to Paris
We explored the Caen Memorial Museum. We spent several hours here. I have more information on the museum here, including using the bus system. I will say the museum was fantastic, and we are glad we spent the day here. After we finished up at the museum, we took a train back to Paris. We had booked the Paris Hilton Opera House due to its location close to the Gare du Lazare. Our tired feet were thankful we had planned this out ahead of time. It was the perfect location for this trip.
🍷Our review of Hilton Paris Opera House
Day 6: Versailles Day Trip from Paris
On our last day, we headed to the Palace of Versailles. From Gare Du Lazare we took the Rer-C line straight to Versailles. It was 2.50 a person each way. We did pay a $2.00 for the cardboard ticket in addition to the fare. If we had iPhones we could have bought them with our phone for everyone but the Android app does not have that feature. This was my second time in Versailles. However, my first visit in spring. We had perfect weather, a spring day in May. I encourage you to read more about it here. I consider it a must-do day trip from Paris.
Final Thoughts
This 6‑day Paris and Normandy itinerary is perfect for families who want a mix of history, culture, and iconic French experiences. With trains, tours, and hotels that are easy to navigate, this trip is absolutely doable — even if it feels intimidating at first. If you’re planning your own France adventure, I hope this guide helps you feel confident and excited for what’s ahead.
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About the Author
Julie is a travel‑hacking expert and the founder of NO POINT LEFT BEHIND, a resource for families who want to turn everyday spending into unforgettable trips. She shares practical guides, points strategies, and real‑life travel experiences to help you maximize every dollar. Stay connected — follow Julie on Facebook for fresh travel tips and join the Travel Hacking Moms Facebook Group to be part of a supportive community of travelers learning together.
Happy Traveling!
Julie
