Why people love visiting historic Caen
Enjoy the area's monuments, history and museums and make a vacation rental your home during your stay in Caen. Well known for its beaches, local tours and parks, this walkable city won't disappoint. Many of our vacation rentals offer full kitchens, spacious living quarters and sometimes even a hot tub—perfect for a relaxing getaway.
Conquering Caen—an ideal French vacation for history buffs
Caen's most famous former resident, William the Conqueror, built Chateau de Caen, the city's beautiful 11th-century castle. One of the largest castles in Western Europe, it's also home to the Museum of Fine Arts of Caen, the Museum of Normandy, and simply stunning gardens featuring living plants from the Middle Ages. A Caen vacation rental is a great base for a trip to the Caen Memorial Museum, one of the finest war museums in France. Don't miss its 3 memorial gardens; the American, the British and the Canadian, which are dedicated to the countries who helped liberate France.
Chateaux and abbeys, it's medieval mayhem in Caen
Caen is a buzzy, vibrant city, which is as pretty as a picture thanks to an abundance of medieval architecture. The narrow cobbled streets are lined with stylish boutiques, cozy bars, and chic cafes. After a day of exploring Caen's historic sights, the crumbling chateaux and ornate abbeys, you can experience fine Normandy cuisine in one of the charming restaurants in the Vaugueux Quarter. A Caen vacation rental is also a popular base for exploring the beaches of Normandy, and the emotive sites of the Normandy Landings during WWII.
Sizzling summers and chilly winters, Caen has it all
This stretch of France's northern coast experiences all 4 seasons. Although not quite as balmy as the country's Mediterranean coast, it does see its fair share of sunshine in the summer months. The busiest time to visit is between June and September, when Caen vacation rentals get snapped up quickly. Saying that, it's a great city to visit at anytime of year, but especially in spring, when the flowers are in bloom. For the widest choice of accommodation, come in winter, when the mercury drops towards freezing and rain clouds are a frequent visitor, so pack an umbrella.
The Normandy coast is heaven for hikers and bikers
A 7-mile drive from the Normandy coast of France, Caen is a charming medieval city simply crammed with a mix of ancient and modern history. It also makes a great base for the many hiking and cycling trails that Normandy has become famous for in recent years. The region has more than 2,000 miles of long-distance walking trails, so it's worth packing your good boots. If you're looking for a leisurely, yet scenic stroll, you can do far worse than taking one of the coastal paths which run along the coast and dip down to some of the beaches.
Transportation to and around Caen
Fly into Caen (CFR-Carpiquet), the closest airport, located 4.3 mi (6.9 km) from the city center. If you can't find a flight that's convenient for your trip, you could also fly into Deauville (DOL-Normandie), which is 26.6 mi (42.7 km) away.
If you'd prefer to travel by train, the main station serving the city is Caen Station.