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Beach · Bayeux, Normandia
Omaha Beach
One of the five landing beaches of 6 June 1944, between Vierville-sur-Mer and Colleville-sur-Mer, where American troops suffered the heaviest losses on D-Day.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Omaha Beach
Omaha Beach is the code name given by the Americans to one of the five landing beaches in Normandy on 6 June 1944. It lies between Vierville-sur-Mer, Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer and Colleville-sur-Mer, at the foot of cliffs and hills that the Germans had fortified.
It was here that the Allies suffered their heaviest losses of the day, earning the beach the nickname "Bloody Omaha." Troops landed at low tide, with hundreds of meters of open sand to cross under fire.
Today it is a wide, peaceful beach with holiday homes. On the sand at Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer stands the steel sculpture Les Braves, a tribute to the soldiers, and there are monuments and remains of bunkers along the coast.
Since July 2026, the five landing beaches (Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword) and the Pointe du Hoc are part of the UNESCO World Heritage.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
About 45 minutes to 1 hour to walk the sand and see the monuments.
Best time
At low tide, when the beach becomes very wide and you can get a sense of the distance the soldiers crossed. Check the tide table before you go.
How to get there
It's about 20 km from Bayeux. By car, head to Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer or Vierville-sur-Mer, where there is parking close to the sand.
Tip
Combine the visit with the Cemitério Americano, a few minutes' drive away, and the Pointe du Hoc, about 10 km to the west.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Omaha Beach
Where is the sculpture Les Braves located?
On the sand at Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer, at Omaha Beach.
Can you go into the sea at Omaha Beach?
It's a regular beach, with swimmers in summer. The English Channel water is cold even in the warm months.
Which beaches are the D-Day beaches?
Utah and Omaha, by the Americans; Gold and Sword, by the British; and Juno, by the Canadians.