Visit Arromanches

Arromanches by sea.

A maritime reading of 6 June 1944, complementary to the museums and memorial sites you will visit on land. What the beach alone does not tell: the arrival by water, the real scale of the remains, the silhouette of the coast as Allied soldiers saw it.

Why see Arromanches by boat

Almost all of the original elements of the artificial harbour at Arromanches — Mulberry "B", or Port Winston — lie today either at sea or within a few hundred metres of the beach. The Phoenix caissons offshore, the sixteen Beetles still visible from the shore, and three sections of floating roadway anchored nearby regain their scale and their assembly logic only when seen from the water.

No other organised tour operator currently offers this viewpoint at Arromanches. Neighbouring operators, notably at Asnelles, propose semi-rigid or kayak outings, but not a professional passenger vessel with a commented historical narration.

What you see from the water

  • The remains of Mulberry "B" in their actual layout (read more).
  • The full length of Gold Beach, the British sector of the D-Day landings, taken by the 50th Infantry Division (sector detail).
  • The silhouette of the Normandy coastline as Allied soldiers saw it on the morning of 6 June 1944.
  • The natural amphitheatre of Arromanches, which explains why this exact location was chosen for the artificial harbour.

Combining with a land visit

The D-Day Boat Tours is designed to fit within a full memorial day at Arromanches. The boat tour is a short format, compatible with the D-Day Landing Museum, the 360° circular cinema, and the open-air exhibits on the beach.

Other memorial sites within an hour's drive of Arromanches: the Caen Memorial, the American Cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer, Pointe du Hoc, the Longues-sur-Mer battery.

When to come

The 2026 programme is being finalised. Tours will run during the tourist season, with a peak around the D-Day Festival Normandy (30 May – 14 June 2026), which draws strong, predominantly English-speaking attendance to Arromanches each year.

For organised groups, school visits, memorial associations and travel agents, dedicated tours can be arranged outside the main season. Contact us.

Sources: Normandy Tourism (en.normandie-tourisme.fr); French Ministry of Culture, underwater archaeology (archeologie.culture.gouv.fr); Chemins de mémoire (cheminsdememoire.gouv.fr).