Omaha Beach, what to know, see and visit?

Omaha Beach is one of the 5 landing beaches in Normandy, a 7-kilometre long beach that was the scene of a bloody day on 6 June 1944. Its nickname was “Bloody Omaha”, because nothing went according to plan. Omaha beach, along the Atlantic Wall, is where the brave men of the 1st American Infantry Division “Big Red One”, so called because of its badge: the red 1 on a gold background, and those of the 29th Infantry Division landed in the “Dog Green” sector amidst minefields and German machine guns. There were countless casualties on these shores.

Now a place for relaxation and water sports, this beach stretching from Vierville-sur-Mer to Colleville-sur-Mer has not forgotten its past, and has much to offer: museums, history and places of remembrance (Monument Signal at Les Moulins), sand yachting, fishing at low tide, walks along the cliffs… Just like Utah Beach, or Gold Beach.

A place to visit with family or friends during your holiday, whether to learn more about this period and this decisive battle, enjoy moments of relaxation, sporting activities or the beauty of the landscape.

Sites and memorials at Omaha Beach

Erroneous information about the German troops in place, low weather and rising tide, bombing of German positions missed by the British air force, poor preparation of the soldiers and landings too far away…

The difficulties on Omaha Beach that day were so great that 1,000 people were killed and 2,000 wounded or missing on the beach alone. Numerous sites pay tribute to the soldiers who went missing that day.

1 – Normandy American Cemetery

At the heart of the American cemetery in Colleville-Sur-Mer, the Visitor Centre invites visitors to gain a better understanding of what happened on 6 June 1944 at Omaha Beach through an exhibition and film. Admission is free.

Covering 70 hectares above Omaha Beach, 9,387 American soldiers are buried here, along with as many white crosses, an impressive reminder of the sacrifice of all those young lives. The tour lasts around 1? hours and includes the cemetery, the chapel, the memorial and the garden of the missing. Admission is free.

2 – Omaha Beach Memorial Museum

This museum tells the story of the D-Day landings and of those who took part in this historic moment through photos, videos and archive documents, but you will also find personal effects that belonged to the soldiers, uniforms, weapons and vehicles. The visit lasts 1 hour and is suitable for children.

Price of admission to the Omaha Beach Memorial Museum

• Adults: €7.20

• Children (aged 7-15): €4.20

• Students (aged 16-25): €5.80

Museum open from February to November.

3 – Overlord museum – omaha beach

This museum retraces the essential phases of the D-Day landings in a particularly realistic setting, displaying weapons and military vehicles from the period. A rich and unique collection. The museum is located next to the cemetery at the roundabout.

Prices for the Overlord Omaha Beach Museum

• Full price: €9.00

• Reduced rate: €7.00 for children aged 10 to 17, disabled persons, teachers, military personnel, unemployed persons and students.

• Free admission – 10 years, veterans, press, military personnel in uniform on presentation of proof.

4 – D-Day Omaha Museum

This 3,000 m2 museum exhibits a large number of original items patiently unearthed over time by an enthusiast for this period of history; equipment used during the landings and objects dating from the war: armoured turret, LCVP barges (landing craft, barges), sabotage equipment, the famous Enigma machine, shells, cannons, tanks, engineers, etc.

All on display in what was once an American military hospital built in the aftermath of D-Day.

This private museum is open: April/May/September: 10.30am to 6pm

June/July/August opening times: 10am to 7pm

Price of the D-Day Omaha Museum

• Adults: €6.50

• Children (aged 8 to 15): €3.50

• Reduced rate (military personnel, students, journalists, disabled on presentation of card): €5

5 – The Maisy battery

This is one of the German batteries used by enemy troops to fire on the Allied soldiers who landed on the beaches of Utah and Omaha.

The tour continues along nearly 3 kilometres of trenches and tunnels where 6 artillery platforms were built to defend the coast. It takes between 45 minutes and 1 hour to visit the whole site free of charge, and it is possible to book a paid guided tour.

6 – The Liberation House

This house was the first to be liberated on 6 June 1944 in Saint-Laurent Sur Mer. It is run by the association “Les Fleurs de la Résistance” (Flowers of the Resistance). By appointment only, you can discover the testimonies of veterans, members of the Resistance and civilians involved in the liberation, in particular that of Captain Roger Guattary and his French fighting men who intervened on the night of 5 to 6 June 1944 at OMAHA BEACH. This file was kept secret for 70 years.

7 – The German military cemetery

21,200 German soldiers are buried here, and an exhibition tackles the delicate subject of the complexity of war and the human side of war…

Price: free.

8 – The Pointe du Hoc site

This site features 11 visitor attractions and 7 points of interest in different sectors relating to an assault led by Allied troops on the morning of 6 June 44, who had to contend with the German fortifications and batteries in place at the time of the landings.

The mobile application created for this site will help you discover and understand what was at stake in the capture of this site.

Price of the visit: free.

Other activities at Omaha Beach

1 – Fat bike tour Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer

Whether electric or basic, a fat bike is a great way to discover Omaha Beach in a different way, as you ride through the sumptuous countryside and learn about its history.

You can also hire all-terrain electric scooters from the age of 14 in SAINT-LAURENT-SUR-MER.

2 – Kayak trip to Pointe du Hoc

At the foot of the cliffs, you’ll have an unbeatable view of the colonies of seagulls that have taken up residence on this magnificent landscape, as well as an unrivalled view of the Omaha Beach site.

Among all the activities available on the site, you will also find :

• Longe côte, paddle, catamaran, kite, sand yacht, U.L.M., paragliding, horse riding…

There’s no shortage of tourist and sporting activities, ideal for discovering these places steeped in history with family or friends.