Villas in Normandy

For villas in Normandy, the Côte Fleurie around Deauville, Trouville and Cabourg suits most people. It has long sandy beaches, good restaurants and Honfleur nearby. The west Cotentin coast around Barneville-Carteret and Agon-Coutainville is quieter, with dunes and big tides. This is a green, changeable northern coast rather than the Mediterranean, and most visitors arrive by ferry and drive.

Where

Villas: 495
From, per week: £210
Cheapest month: September
Nearest airports: Most people don't fly. Brittany Ferries sails from Portsmouth to Caen (Ouistreham) and Cherbourg, and DFDS from Newhaven to Dieppe. From Calais it is around three hours' drive to Deauville. If you do fly, Paris is the usual choice, followed by a drive of two to three hours.

Where to stay in Normandy

Deauville and Trouville (Côte Fleurie)

This is where most of our Normandy villas are. Deauville has a wide sandy beach with its famous boardwalk, Les Planches, plus smart shops and a racecourse; Trouville, across the river, is a busier fishing town with a fish market. Honfleur's old harbour is around 20 minutes away. The Caen (Ouistreham) ferry port is around 45 minutes away, and Calais about three hours.

Best for: Couples and families who want a smart resort with a sandy beach

Not for you if: You want somewhere quiet: Deauville fills with Parisians at weekends and in summer.

Cabourg, Houlgate and Villers-sur-Mer

Cabourg has a long sandy beach, a seafront promenade and the Grand Hotel made famous by Marcel Proust. Houlgate has Belle Époque villas, and the Vaches Noires cliffs between Houlgate and Villers-sur-Mer are known for fossils. Blonville-sur-Mer and Auberville are quieter neighbours. The Ouistreham ferry port is around 20 minutes from Cabourg.

Best for: Families who want long sandy beaches and a classic seaside promenade

Not for you if: You want a warm sea: the Channel stays cool even in August.

The west Cotentin coast (Barneville-Carteret, Portbail, Bretteville-sur-Ay, Denneville, Saint-Germain-sur-Ay)

A long, quiet coast of dunes, sandy beaches and tidal estuaries known locally as havres. Barneville-Carteret has a small harbour and cliff walks around Cap de Carteret, while Portbail and the villages around Saint-Germain-sur-Ay are quieter still. The tide goes out a long way. Cherbourg ferry port is around 35 to 50 minutes away.

Best for: Space, dunes and long, empty beaches

Not for you if: You want restaurants and nightlife nearby: villages here are small and many places close outside summer.

Agon-Coutainville to Granville (Pirou, Créances, Gouville-sur-Mer, Hauteville-sur-Mer, Saint-Pair-sur-Mer)

Agon-Coutainville is the main resort, with a long beach and a lively centre in summer, and Pirou has a medieval castle. Further south, Saint-Pair-sur-Mer sits next to Granville, the walled port town where boats leave for the Chausey islands. Mont-Saint-Michel is around 45 minutes to an hour away. The Cherbourg and Caen ferry ports are both around an hour and a half.

Best for: Beach holidays within reach of Mont-Saint-Michel

Not for you if: You want to swim at any time of day: tides here are huge, and at low water the sea is far out.

The D-Day beaches (Courseulles-sur-Mer, Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer, Commes, Isigny-sur-Mer)

A small choice of villas close to the landing beaches. Courseulles-sur-Mer is home to the Juno Beach Centre; Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer is on Omaha Beach, near the American Cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer; Commes is next to the harbour at Port-en-Bessin. Bayeux is a short drive, though its tapestry is on loan to the British Museum until July 2027. The Ouistreham ferry is around 30 to 45 minutes away.

Best for: History lovers visiting the landing beaches and Bayeux

Not for you if: You want a wide choice of villas: there are only a few here, so book early.

When to go to Normandy

June to September is the main season. July and August are the warmest and busiest months, with French school holidays filling the resorts, and the sea stays cool all summer. June has the longest days, though the D-Day anniversary on 6 June brings crowds to the landing beaches. The weather is changeable in every season, so plan for some rain. Spring and autumn are quieter and good for walking and history, but many small restaurants and seasonal businesses close in winter.