This week, we’re heading to Normandy: let’s visit Caen and explore the top things to see in Caen ! The city of 100 bell towers will celebrate its 1,000th anniversary in 2025, or more precisely, the millennium since Caen was first mentioned in writing…
I discovered a refreshing getaway there, where history, the sea, the Normandy landings, sea air, and half-timbered houses all come together… So, to explore it together, I’m sharing my favorite things to see in Caen and some practical tips to visit Caen in 2 days, from its historic center to Ouistreham on the Côte de Nacre…
VISIT THE TOP THINGS TO SEE IN CAEN : PRACTICAL TIPS
How to get there ?
Caen is located 2.5 hours west of Paris by car and 3 hours from Nantes.
By train, it takes 2 hours from Paris and 4 hours from Nantes.
Caen’s city center is not huge and it is very easy to get around on foot, especially from the train station. Only the Caen Memorial is a little out of the way (a 45-minute walk), but it takes just 20 minutes to get there by bus (no. 2).
And to get from Caen to the sea at Ouistreham, it’s 20 minutes by car or bus (no. 12), and just under an hour by bike.
Where can you rent a bike to visit Caen ?
You can easily visit Caen by bike, especially if you want to go to the beach! I used the city’s bikes via the Twisto vélo app. It’s very easy to use and costs €1 per hour, so it’s very affordable for a day!
The route is completely flat, and the bikes are electric.
There are also a few bike stations in Ouistreham, and you can pause your journey to lock up your bike while you visit the lighthouse or take a break, without needing a lock!
How long does it take to visit Caen? ?
I advise you to visit Caen in 2 days and a half so that you can really enjoy it and see all the things to see in Caen. You can dedicate one day to stroll around the historic center, half a day to visit the Caen Memorial, and one day to enjoy Caen’s seaside!
Where to sleep to visit Caen ?
I stayed at The People Caen, a modern hotel chain with colorful rooms and a Floridian atmosphere. Located on the peninsula, a former industrial wasteland that has been converted, a stone’s throw from all the things to see in Caen, it has a beautiful roof terrace where you can enjoy the sunny days in Caen!
Book your hotel in Caen at the best price !
My favorite places to eat in Caen
Here are some tried and tested recommendations!
In Caen city center:
– Horace: an excellent restaurant in Caen serving refined, sophisticated dishes, located in a beautiful historic building on the picturesque Rue du Vaugueux
- Le Raphaël: modern bistronomic cuisine with breathtaking views of the port from the rooftop
– Café Amour: for a great brunch
- Deli: for a healthy and tasty lunch
Memoranda bookshop-café: for a gourmet break surrounded by books
– L’hydropathe: for tapas and drinks
Around Ouistreham : Oyat – for seafood and other local delicacies, with a sea view!
What to bring back from Caen ?
The Caen region is brimming with delicious specialties, including seafood and the famous tripes à la mode de Caen for those who enjoy offal.
For those with a sweet tooth, there are countless specialties made with Isigny cream (caramels, etc.) and apples. Cider, pommeau, calvados… You can also find falue (the local brioche) and teurgoule (a delicious rice pudding with cinnamon).
The “Made in Calvados” shop and the Caen tourist office are great places to pick up some culinary souvenirs!
VISIT CAEN : THINGS TO SEE IN CAEN HISTORIC CENTER
Things to see in Caen historic center
Practical guide: Discovery tour of Caen available to download here or pick up at the tourist office – short tour lasting 2 hours and long tour lasting 3½ hours
Partially destroyed during the war, the historic center of Caen is now a maze of radiating streets thanks to Caen stone, a white stone that glows in the sun… and has even been exported to Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace in England!
To discover the historic heart of Caen, I recommend following the route suggested by the tourist office, which allows you to explore the main buildings in Caen, and also to venture off the beaten track if you want to go further.
In addition to the buildings I mention later in this article, I really enjoyed strolling through certain streets that are full of hidden gems!
Don’t miss the picturesque Rue Froide, the superb Place Saint Sauveur with its elegant classical facades, and Rue du Vaugueux with its half-timbered houses…
A few beautiful half-timbered facades remain in the historic streets, as do elegant 16th-century mansions. Few are open to the public today, but the Hôtel d’Escoville, which houses the Caen tourist office, is definitely worth a visit!
You will also discover that Caen is historically a very student-oriented city, with numerous bookshops tucked away in its streets: it’s a paradise for bookworms!
But Caen is not just a historic city: it is also a maritime city, and Caen’s marina reminds us that the sea is not far away! The seagulls that fly tirelessly over the city and the boats moored in the center will transport you to another world as soon as you arrive in Caen…
The Abbaye aux Hommes, one of the top things to see in Caen
Practical information: check opening hours here – €6 (guided tour: €9), free for Caen residents and under-18s
An architectural masterpiece in Caen, the Abbaye aux Hommes is a must-see if you want to visit Caen in 2 days! The Abbaye aux Hommes was founded in 1063, in rather surprising circumstances… Following his marriage to Matilda of Flanders, his fifth cousin, William the Conqueror negotiated nine years of forgiveness from the Pope, which took the form of two abbeys, the Abbaye aux Hommes and the Abbaye aux Dames.
Both were built in the 11th century under the auspices of William and Matilda, and located opposite each other on the map of the city of Caen.
I strongly recommend choosing the guided tour to explore areas that are inaccessible during self-guided tours and learn some fascinating anecdotes about the history of the place… The convent buildings and the superb cloister, largely rebuilt in the 18th century, have had several lives since the Revolution: high school, hospital, town hall…
Today, it is a small haven of peace steeped in history, right in the center of Caen. Right next door, you can also discover the sober and elegant Saint-Étienne Church, which houses the tomb of William the Conqueror.
Visit the Abbaye aux Dames
Practical information: open every day from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., except weekends when it is open from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. – free admission
The second abbey in Caen is the Abbaye aux Dames, founded in 1060 by Matilda of Flanders.
Less impressive than its “male” counterpart located a few kilometers away, it nevertheless offers a beautiful church and monastic buildings that were remodeled in the 18th century and now house the regional headquarters and some wonderful temporary exhibitions!
The setting is ideal for showcasing the works, and the exterior also offers a beautiful view from the adjoining d’Ornano Park.
Visit Caen castle, one of the top things to see in Caen
Practical information: park open from 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. – free for all, except museums. 17-minute show (reservations recommended, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., one show per hour, free until December 31, 2025)
Caen castle is definitely a must-see if you visit the top things to see in Caen ! Although only a few buildings remain of Caen Castle, its walls are among the largest in Europe! Built by William the Conqueror (him again!) around 1060, this ducal castle, which later became a royal fortress, is now a historic park enjoyed by Caen residents and visitors alike!
You can climb up to the terraces and towers of the enclosure to admire the panoramic view of Caen’s historic center, as well as the remains of the keep, or visit the museums (Fine Arts and Normandy) located there.
And to celebrate Caen’s millennium, don’t miss the Salle de l’Échiquier, which hosts a colorful immersive show! It retraces the epic history of the city through the major dates and events that have marked Caen over the last 1,000 years…
Visit the Caen memorial, a must-see in Caen
Practical information: €20.80 (reduced rate: €18.50, students and Caen residents €6) + €5 with the temporary exhibition
The Caen Memorial is obviously one of the best things to see in Caen! This famous museum is as rich as it is captivating, covering several historical periods! It not only covers the 1944 landings and the Battle of Normandy, but also the entire Second World War and the Cold War.
The ambition of its founder, former mayor of Caen Jean-Marie Girault, to remember and write about peace, has been beautifully achieved. For Caen and its region paid a heavy price for liberation during the Battle of Normandy, particularly the civilians of Normandy…
The tour route, the films shown, and the scenography really allow you to easily immerse yourself in everyday life during those periods, particularly through the many objects on display! Some are particularly impressive, such as the Soviet fighter plane or the Enigma coding machine. Others, more innocuous at first glance, are just as poignant.
I really enjoyed revisiting those years, as dark as they were, in a way that was much more vivid and tangible than history books allow.
And as an added bonus, you can also enter the bunker, a former German command post on which the site is built and which has been preserved.
THINGS TO SEE IN CAEN : OFF TO THE SEA !
Ouistreham and the sea aren’t always on the list of things to see in Caen, and yet! For this second day in Caen, let’s cycle straight to the Côte de Nacre, and in particular to the city of Ouistreham!
Pegasus Bridge
To get there, take the greenway that runs alongside the canal from Caen to the sea. The first section of the Vélofrancette cycle route, this route takes you to the sea in less than an hour from Caen city center. And there are a few gems along the way!
After 10 kilometers, the first of these gems comes into view: a curious bridge spanning the canal… This is the famous Pegasus Bridge, with its striking appearance, as it is actually a drawbridge! Its capture was one of the most strategic victories on the D-day, on June 6, 1944. So don’t miss it if you visit the top things to see in Caen.
Next door, the charming Café Gondrée, still in its original state, is just as steeped in history. It was the first house to be liberated in 1944… Don’t hesitate to step inside for a quick coffee and a trip back in time!
Climb up to the Ouistreham lighthouse
A few kilometers further on, the sea comes into view! But even more impressive is the Ouistreham lighthouse, which towers over the port. I recommend climbing its 171 steps to admire the panoramic view 38 meters above!
On one side, you will see the English Channel stretching as far as the eye can see, Ouistreham beach, and Sword beach, the famous D-Day landing beach… On the other side, the beautiful Orne estuary and the Pointe du Siège, which vibrates to the rhythm of the tides.
And in the center, the Caen Canal to the sea, ending at the port of Ouistreham, which welcomes boats crossing the English Channel.
Enough to keep your eyes wandering for long minutes!
Stroll around pointe du Siège
You can even take a walk or bike ride to the Pointe du Siège. I really enjoyed the walk through this protected natural area of the Orne estuary, which is classified for its flora and fauna. You can admire the dunes and beaches, as well as the salt marshes covered with glasswort and other plant species.
At low tide, a few boats appear to be stranded in the Orne estuary, which is almost dry… They bear witness to the daily metamorphosis of the place…
Just a stone’s throw from Caen, it really feels like you’re in a whole other world!
Admire Sword beach & Ouistreham
Practical info : Ouistreham map to download here; Fish market open from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Next stop on our seaside trip: exploring Ouistreham! You can stroll around the town, visit the fish market (it looks delicious!), and enjoy the beautiful Riva Bella beach! Riva Bella, also known as Sword Beach, was one of the landing beaches in 1944.
And just like Utah Beach, which I discovered on the east coast of the Cotentin Peninsula, I was struck by the beauty of this beach, which contrasts with the harshness of the operation that led the British army and French commandos (under the command of Commander Kieffer) to land here to liberate western Europe.
Today, history seems far away, but a memorial still stands there, now accompanied by charming beach cabins.
The pretty houses of Lion-sur-Mer
Finally, to extend your walk along the seafront, I invite you to take the path that runs along the seafront towards the west. Along the way, you can admire the sea stretching as far as the eye can see, and on the landward side, the pretty villas of Lion-sur-Mer.
These elegant seaside residences, built in the 19th century, have the privilege of overlooking the seafront! You will see that they display an astonishing diversity of styles, which is well worth a detour!
THINGS TO SEE AROUND CAEN
If you want to visit all the top things to see in Caen, don’t forget the region is full of gems to discover ! Here are my top picks :
– Bayeux (25 minutes away): famous for its tapestry, Bayeux is also a charming medieval town, close to the D-Day beaches.
– Cabourg and the Côte Fleurie (30 minutes away): between Deauville and Cabourg lies the Côte Fleurie, which offers a beautiful succession of seaside resorts with elegant architecture and sandy beaches… A very pleasant destination for a weekend, which you can discover in my article The Côte Fleurie: visit Cabourg, Deauville, and Houlgate.
– The other D-Day beaches (40 minutes away): Arromanches and the other D-Day beaches await you if you want to extend your discovery of Calvados at the heart of history.
– Honfleur (50 minutes away): Honfleur was a real favorite in Normandy! Like the Impressionist painters, I loved the charm of this small historic town, where colorful half-timbered houses, an old basin, and slate-roofed houses form a superb Normandy postcard. Read my post about the 3 Top Things to See in Honfleur – A Local’s Guide
– The Pays d’Auge (30 minutes away): the countryside around Beuvron-en-Auge is absolutely beautiful! The pretty flower-filled village, listed as one of the “most beautiful villages in France,” resembles a veritable Norman museum with its rows of pretty half-timbered houses.
– The east coast of the Cotentin Peninsula (1 hour away): Starting at Utah Beach, the east coast of the Cotentin Peninsula has many surprises in store, including the 5 must-see sites on the east coast of the Cotentin Peninsula.
This blogpost follows an invitation from Calvados Attractivité. However, I remain entirely free to express my own opinions and am completely sincere in my recommendations! A huge thank you to Marie, Alix, and all the service providers for their valuable advice and their passion for their beautiful region!
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