D-day 80th Anniversary: everything you need to know for your trip to Normandy!

2024 marks the 80th anniversary of D-Day — i.e., the historic Allied invasion of Normandy during World War II. This momentous occasion commemorating a pivotal moment in the history of the world will see international ceremonies, commemorative events, and educational opportunities near and far —but especially so throughout Normandy, France itself. So whether you're a history buff, a veteran, a family member paying respects, and/or simply a curious traveler — Normandy, the people of France, and the world at large beckons you to witness this significant milestone first-hand. And since there are a lot of logistics involved — AXA is honored, humbled, and privileged to do its part to help get you there. 

• What is D-Day and when is its 80th anniversary?
• Where will the international ceremony take place in 2024? 
• How to get to Normandy 
• What documents do I need to celebrate D-Day 2024 in France? 
• How can AXA help? 
• 10 Interesting Facts about D-Day

What is D-Day and when is its 80th anniversary?

Just in case, let’s start with a quick refresher course on some world-defining history. In the early hours of the morning of June 6th, 1944 — at the peak of WWII — an armada of 7,000 ships with some 133,000 men on board approached the coast of Normandy, France. 

In the coming hours, Allied forces — consisting mainly of the U.S., Great Britain, and Canada (but an array of other countries too) — would launch what’s now known as the largest amphibious invasion in the history of warfare. 

Codenamed Operation 'Overlord', the Allies’ airborne forces would parachute onto the beaches of Normandy and various other drop zones across northern France. And by that same evening, more than 156,000 Allied soldiers would be on Normandy soil. 

This, in turn, would mark the start of a long and costly campaign to liberate north-west Europe from Nazi occupation — thereby changing the course of the war, history, and the world as we know it forever. 

It would take another three months of battles to liberate Normandy (and then Paris and —eventually— the rest of Europe). But the initial landing of the Allies on the beaches of Normandy on the morning of June 6th would later and forever become known as “D-Day.” 

And, thus, the momentous commemoration of the 80th anniversary of D-Day falls on Thursday, June 6, 2024.

Where will the international ceremony take place in 2024?

The Battle of Normandy, meanwhile, is the official name given to the fighting in Normandy between D-Day and the end of August 1944. During the battle, the Allies had code names for the five beaches along the 50-mile stretch of the Normandy coast: Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno, and Sword. 

The official international ceremony for the 80th anniversary of D-Day on June 6th will take place on the most famous one of these beaches — that is, Omaha Beach in the town of Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer. 

French President Emmanuel Macron and other global heads of state are expected to be in attendance. As well as veterans, family members, and thousands of others. 

However, technically speaking — the event isn't open to the public. And due to security considerations, access to the beach may be restricted on D-Day 2024. 

Nevertheless, there is a giant public picnic planned afterwards. As well concerts, fireworks, and much, much more. 

PRO-TIP: There are obviously plenty of celebrations planned for this momentous day — and the days surrounding it — both in Normandy and around the world. But here are three of the official local organizers who can tell you more about what to expect in Normandy itself: 

• American Battle Monuments Commission 
• D-Day Memorial Parade and Ceremony 
• Normandy Tourism 

And if you can’t make it to Omaha Beach on June 6th, 2024 — fear not. There’s plenty more to see and do as well!

Other places to visit

For example, from June 1st to the 16th, commemoration ceremonies, parades, picnics, reenactments, fireworks, concerts, and plenty more will be taking place along the stretch of the Normandy coastline. And this includes across all five landing areas for the Allied troops in 1944 — that is, not just Omaha Beach but also Utah Beach, Gold Beach, Juno Beach, and Sword Beach. 

Among these festivities — according to Forbes — is “a 30-minute light and sound show on May 31st (across all five beaches simultaneously), an International Peace March on June 1st (from Utah Beach to Carentan), and the parachuting in of hundreds of international soldiers above Sainte-Mère-Eglise.” 

Moreover, the U.S. will hold its own ceremony at the Normandy American Cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer. 

The British Normandy Memorial in France (at Ver-sur-Mer), meanwhile, has a memorial service planned too. 

And the Canadian Government also has an array of events planned for both Canada and France as well. 

And here’s a few more key destinations to consider: 

• Normandy Landing Museum in Arromanches-les-Bains 
• Utah Beach Landing Museum 
• Pegasus Bridge 
• Sainte-Mère-Église Airborne Museum

 PRO-TIP 2: France’s Official Tourism Board website has plenty of info on the more than a hundred celebrations in store too — including a full program of events (in both French and English simultaneously). 

So, again, even if you can’t make it to Omaha Beach itself on June 6th, there’s plenty to discover near and far — both before and after D-Day itself.

How to get to Normandy

If, however, you are intent on getting to Normandy, you do have a number of different options. 

For example, the French rail network SNCF connects Paris to major Normandy cities like Caen and Bayeux — just a couple of hours by train, and with some beautiful scenery on the way to boot. 

If you’re going by air — sans parachute, that is — international airports in Caen, Deauville, and Rennes offer connections from various European cities. 

And numerous tour operators offer private tours to D-Day beaches and historical sites too — many of them departing from Paris. So Google away. 

Meanwhile, if you’re planning a road trip — “to travel in Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer on June 5th and 6th, you will need a pass,” according to the Normandy Tourism website (if you scroll down a bit). And a sticker. But they can tell you more about that. 

IMPORTANT HEADS-UP: Incidentally (and to quote Forbes again), ”two of France's biggest tourist draws of the summer collide on the morning of Thursday, May 30th, 2024 as the Olympic Flame passes across Omaha Beach.” In other words — and to put it lightly — it’s going to get a bit crowded. So consider yourself duly warned.

What documents do I need to celebrate D-Day 2024 in France?

In terms of paperwork, citizens of the three major Allied forces — fortunately — don’t actually need that much. 

That is, for U.S. Citizens, all that’s required to enter France (and Normandy) for D-Day is an itinerary and a valid US passport (with at least six months remaining validity beyond your travel dates). 

• For Canadian citizens — a valid Canadian passport. 
• And for British Citizens — a valid British passport. 

But note that you should also: 

• Not come up as “reported for non-admission” in the Schengen Information System (SIS) 
• Not pose a threat to the public order, internal security, public health, or international relations of any of the countries Schengen 
• And have sufficient resources* (cash, bank cards, etc.)

 *The amount of resources required per day in France varies as follows: 

• If you're staying at someone's place and have proof of an acceptance certificate (aka a attestation d'accueil): €32.50/day of stay. 

And, finally, your stay in France (and/or the Schengen Area) should not exceed 90 days. 

PRO-TIP 3: Double-check — along with the above resources — with France’s Official Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs website just in case too. As it’s going to be a busy summer for France…

Who needs a visa for D-Day 2024?

That said, keep in mind that France also made history 41 years after D-Day by becoming one of the founding five member countries of the Schengen area. And as such, non-Schengen nationals and/or citizens of any country that has not signed a visa waiver agreement with the European Union need to have a Schengen visa to enter its borders. 

This includes citizens of all countries from Africa, most of Asia and the Middle East, China, Russia, India, and many more. 

Moreover, for stays of longer than 90 days — even the Allies will need a visa. 

But fear not — AXA can help you figure out who needs a Schengen visa for D-Day 2024 (and who doesn’t) in no time!

How to get a tourist visa for D-Day

And if you do indeed know that you need a tourist visa for D-Day, AXA will gladly help you apply for a Schengen visa to France in no time too. As well as familiarize you with the Schengen visa requirements, types of Schengen visas, and Schengen visa costs. 

PRO-TIPS 4, 5, and 6: We can also help you get a Schengen tourist visa for France specifically from the U.K., from the U.S, and/or even from India.

How can AXA help?

But perhaps the best way AXA can help make your once-in-a-lifetime trip to Normandy (and/or France in general) for D-Day more enjoyable is by doing what we do best. And that is — by providing you and your loved ones with affordable, top-quality travel insurance for France. 

If you need a Schengen visa, having a proper travel insurance plan is a mandatory requirement. Moreover, that plan must meet the following criteria: 

• Guarantee minimum coverage for at least €30,000 in medical expenses 
• Cover any expenses that might arise in connection with repatriation for medical reasons 
• Cover you in all member states of the Schengen Area 
• Cover you during the entire duration of your trip and stay in the Schengen Zone.

And all three AXA plans — Low-Cost, Europe Travel, and Multi-Trip — meet the requirements above. 

But even if you don’t need a visa for D-Day, the 24/7 support, medical coverage, and countless other benefits that AXA provides are never a bad call. 

Of course, June 6th, 2024 is a day of celebrating and commemorating humanity, victory, and peace on Earth. However, with all the festivities planned for Normandy and Paris this summer, some added peace of mind definitely can’t hurt. And knowing that you’re in good hands with AXA is sure to make the day — and your trip to France in general — that much more smooth and stress-free. 

So learn more about (and compare) our 3 comprehensive plans today. With your health and security taken care of, you can commemorate 80 years of victory with one less thing to worry about.

10 Interesting Facts about D-Day

And now here are a few more curious historical bits about June 6th, 1944 to help us all commemorate this year: 

•  Before June 6th,1944 there were actually many D-Days. But this one was so momentous that it has been used to refer solely to the beginning of Operation Overlord ever since. 
   
• The initial D-Day for Operation Overlord was set for June 5th; however, the U.K. postponed it due to bad weather. 
   
• The entire bottom half of England was transformed into one large army camp in preparation for the attack. 
   
• Along with the U.K., the U.S., and Canada, other allies included Australia, Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Greece, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, and Resistance fighters in Denmark and France. 
   
• Special equipment — such as landing crafts with ramps that dropped down into the sea — had to be invented for the attack (since it was the first of its kind). 
   
• Fake news was abundant as the Allies tried to conceal the coming attack from German intelligence. They leaked fake plans, set up fake camps, and sent fake coded radio messages. In fact, on the morning of June 6th, in order to mislead the Nazis, the Allied forces even bombed the French city of Calais — some 200 miles north of Normandy. 
   
• A total of 4,414 Allied troops were killed and another 5,000 wounded on D-Day. Another 73,000 Allied forces were killed and 153,000 wounded in the ensuing Battle of Normandy. And nearly 20,000 French civilians also lost their lives in the battle. 
   
• D-Day was the largest naval, air, and land military operation in history. 
   
• Upon hearing of D-Day on her secret radio, Anne Frank wrote “Hope is revived within us… It gives us fresh courage, and makes us strong again”. 
   
• The ‘D’ in ´D-Day’ — a term used by the Armed Forces to refer to the beginning of an operation — actually stands for ‘Day.’ Meaning “D-Day” is just short for ‘Day-Day.’ 

Happy 80th Anniversary of D-Day, everybody, from everyone here at AXA. 
And bon voyage! 

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FAQ 

Is France part of the EU? 

Yes. Along with being a founding Schengen State, France is one of the members of the European Union. 

What currency is used in France? 

France is a member of the Eurozone — and its currency is, therefore, the Euro (€). 

How long does it take to get a French visa? 

As a general rule of thumb, Schengen visa applications are processed within 15 days (including for France). However — though not common — depending on your particular case, it can take up to 45 days. 

Can I work in France with a Schengen Visa? 

No. While you can use your Schengen Visa for a business trip, to work full or part-time you’ll need a residence permit and national France work visa. 

What happens if I overstay my visa in France? 

The consequences of overstaying your visa range from paying a fine, deportation, jail time, or even being banned from ever visiting France again. Fortunately, AXA is happy to help you avoid all of them. 

Are there any COVID restrictions for entering France? 

No. As of late 2022, all COVID restrictions for visiting France have been lifted. But you should double-check the COVID section of France’s official Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs website for the latest info just in case.