Yes, it's free year-round, open daily from 9am to 5pm (later in summer).
Discover Authentic Omaha Beach: A Local Travel Guide by Mercure
At Mercure, we believe you shouldn't need a guidebook to feel like you belong somewhere. That's the idea behind Discover Local: since 1973, every Mercure hotel has been built around its neighbourhood, not just dropped into it — from the décor on the walls to the flavours on the menu. Step into any Mercure and our teams are on hand with the kind of tips you won't find in a guidebook: the market stall locals queue for, the bar where nobody speaks English, the walk that skips the crowds. They live here. They know. Discover Local isn't a generic city guide — it's a short, honest list of the restaurants, markets and neighbourhoods our own hotel teams actually recommend to guests, updated as the city changes around us. Below, you'll find our picks for Omaha Beach, an interactive map to help you find your way, and answers to the questions travellers ask us most. So — where will Discover Local take you?
Our map pins local favourites such as the Omaha Beach Golf Course, the fishing port of Port-en-Bessin and Normandy cider farms, alongside our Mercure hotels.
Top 5 Things to Do in Omaha Beach
Omaha Beach
One of the five D-Day landing beaches, and the site of the heaviest American casualties on 6 June 1944. Walking the sand today, quiet and wide at low tide, is a stark contrast to what happened here.
Normandy American Cemetery, Colleville-sur-Mer
9,389 white crosses and Stars of David stand in rows above the beach, on a 70-hectare site managed by the American Battle Monuments Commission. Entry is free, and it's one of the most visited American military cemeteries anywhere in the world.
Pointe du Hoc
About 20 minutes' drive from the cemetery, this clifftop site still shows the bomb craters and German bunkers from the Rangers' assault on D-Day. The cratered landscape has barely been touched since 1944.
Arromanches-les-Bains
A modest seaside town about 20 minutes from Colleville-sur-Mer, where the remains of the artificial 'Mulberry' harbour still sit offshore. The small museum here explains how the Allies built a port from scratch in days.
Bayeux
The first major town liberated by the Allies, and one that escaped WWII bombing almost entirely, so its medieval centre is genuinely intact. It's also home to the Bayeux Tapestry, a different chapter of history entirely.
Explore Omaha Beach's Best Local Spots with Our Interactive Map
What's on the map in Omaha Beach
We've mapped local spots around Omaha Beach, from D-Day landscapes to Normandy's apple orchards.
Coast & outdoors
Omaha Beach Golf Course
The only 36-hole course in western France: two 18-hole courses, La Mer and Le Manoir, above the D-Day beaches and Port-en-Bessin. Each hole honours an American veteran or a WWII battle – and the 6th green on La Mer looks out over Omaha Beach.
Port-en-Bessin-Huppain · Golf course · Perfect for golfers
Port-en-Bessin fishing port
Normandy's leading port for small-scale fishing, famous for scallops and home to some forty traditional boats. Guided tours along the quays explain the trades and the catch – suitable for children aged three and up.
Port-en-Bessin-Huppain · Fishing port, guided tours · Great for families
Bayeux Aventure
Treetop courses for every level, paintball, a water park, giant mazes, a mini-farm and a toddlers' play area, with picnic spots and a snack bar. A full day out.
Cussy, near Bayeux · Adventure park · Made for families and groups
Farms & local produce
Ferme de la Sapinière
Cider and calvados made here for more than 30 years. Taste the spirits, vinegars and jams, follow a guided tour of how they're made, and let the kids meet the farm animals.
Normandy · Cider farm · Perfect for tasting local produce
Ferme de la Haizerie
A peaceful farm of fields, orchards and dairy cows, known for its artisanal ice creams and sorbets. It also trains and employs 14 workers with disabilities.
Normandy · Farm · Ideal for ice cream and families
FAQ
About 20 minutes by car, making it a convenient base for exploring the D-Day beaches.
Yes, they're about 20 minutes apart by road, so both fit comfortably into a single day devoted to the American sector.
Yes. The Omaha Beach Golf Course has two 18-hole courses overlooking the D-Day beaches, with holes named after American veterans and WWII battles.
Ferme de la Sapinière has produced cider and calvados for more than 30 years and offers tastings and guided tours.
Take a guided tour of the fishing port of Port-en-Bessin, or spend a day at Bayeux Aventure with its treetop courses, mazes and mini-farm.
Where to Sleep in Omaha Beach
These Mercure hotels appear on our map:
- Mercure Caen Centre Port de Plaisance
- Mercure Omaha Beach
- Mercure Cabourg - Hôtel & Spa
- Mercure Mont Saint Michel
- Mercure Granville Le Grand Large
- Mercure Cherbourg Centre Port