Tour duration

You are here

You are here

World War II: Battlefields of France and Belgium

10 days6 cities
FranceBelgiumLuxembourg3 countries
Tour rating: 4.82 / 5, Based on 84 Reviews
Private tour to France, Belgium, Luxembourg

Step back in time with the thematic World War II tour, dedicated to the life in France, Belgium and Luxembourg in the 1940's. Traverse monumental landmarks such as the D-Day sites in Normandy, historic quarters and museums. Tour the main attractions of Paris, Bayeux, Rouen, Sainte-Mere-Eglise and Lille, Brussels and Luxembourg. 

10 days6 cities
FranceBelgiumLuxembourg3 countries
From
 $4,095 
Paris, France
1
day
France

The French capital, Paris is the most beautiful and romantic one of all cities. Dubbed "The Capital of Fashion", it is home to the world's finest fashion designers and a breadth of iconic landmarks, paying ode to more than 15 centuries of history.

Day by day
Hotel
Day-by-day program
1
day
Arrival in Paris

Welcome to Paris! Upon arrival, your driver meets you at the arrivals hall of the airport and takes you to your centrally located hotel for check-in.

The rest of the day is free so you can start exploring the magnificent city center on your own, dine in one of the local restaurants, join one of our carefully-planned optional tours or take a good rest in your comfortable room.

No meals included.

Your choice of hotels

We carefully select hotels to ensure your amazing stay. We will recommend the best available properties for your travel dates.

Hotel Opera Richepanse, Paris

The gorgeous Hotel Opera Richepanse boasts a top location right in the center of the prestigious district of Paris. It’s just a 5-minute walk from the amazing Champs Elysees and dozens of luxury shops.

train
Paris
Bayeux
2 hrs 20 min

Make your way from the capital to the charming French city of Bayeux onboard a modern bullet train. Besides the train's fast travel time, you can make use of the departure and arrival stations locations right in the city centers.

Bayeux, France
2
days
France

Located in northwestern France, Bayeux is the gem of Normandy with numerous architectural monuments across the city, sites representing occurrences in the past, and picturesque sceneries

Day by day
Hotel
Day-by-day program
2
day
Paris in World War II Walking Tour & Train to Bayeux

Following breakfast you check out from your hotel and meet your guide in the hotel lobby, who takes you on a 4-hour walking tour of the key moments of the German Occupation in Paris.

You start your tour in the Marais Quarter to learn about the somber days of the Nazi invasion, then continue to the city’s Jewish quarter which nowadays reminds about the difficulties of life under German rule, and visit the Holocaust Museum called Memorial de la Shoah. Your guide shows you the hidden artillery impacts on historical sights and symbolic monuments such as Paris Prefecture, Conciergerie and the world-famous Notre-Dame Cathedral. You then see some of the places where the important battles took place, uncover Hitler's shocking ultimate plan for Paris and learn how the city narrowly escaped total destruction.

After the tour you return to the hotel to pick up your luggage. You driver then transfers you to the train station to board a train to the town of Bayeux in the Normandy region of France (1st class train tickets included).

Upon arrival in about two hours, you are transferred to the hotel for check-in and have the rest of the day free.

Breakfast is included.

  • Optional day tour extensions: Tour of Lyon - the Capital of French Resistance | Optional Day-trip to Reims from Paris
3
day
D-Day Tour & Airborne Museum

Prepare for an exciting day as today you go on a D-Day Tour, dedicated to the Allied invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944, for the liberation of Western Europe from Nazi Germany’s control. During the tour, you get to see places where the D-Day landings took place, the Invasion and the Battle of Normandy.

Your first stop is Sainte-Mere-Eglise which was the first liberated French cities during the first D-Day hours. Here you visit the Airborne Museum honoring American paratroopers who participated in the WWII Normandy defense. The museum's exhibits are set in four buildings and display many war items, uniforms, vehicles, and even planes, providing a better understanding of the D-Day battles from the preparation process to the toughest times during the liberation fights.

Continue to Utah Beach that marks the place where the first landings on the beach on D-Day took place, including the Infantry Divisions. You also get an insight on how strategic initiative and leadership of American forces played a role in the overall success of the defense.

Another place you see today is the Point du Hoc where the 2nd American US Rangers Battalion bravely and toughly assaulted this cliffy German strategic battle position. Today the site still holds bunkers and even pits that were formed by bombs.

Finally, you visit the 172-acre Normandy American Cemetery in Colleville sur Mer, overlooking Omaha Beach, which is the site of the final resting place of more than 9000 fallen American heroes who participated in the Normandy campaign.

After the tour your guide-driver takes you to your hotel for check-in.

Breakfast is included.

Your choice of hotels

We carefully select hotels to ensure your amazing stay. We will recommend the best available properties for your travel dates.

Villa Cambette, Bayeux

The beautiful Villa Cambette boasts excellent service and a great location within walking distance from Bayeux’s main sights. It’s a small hotel, offering as little as three comfortable guestrooms.

car
Bayeux
Rouen
1 hr 40 min

Have a memorable time during your quick car journey in Northern France. Your experienced driver takes you to the lovely city of Rouen, passing scenic panoramas along the way.

Rouen, France
1
day
France

Visit Rouen, the capital of the Normandy region. The city is beautifully situated along the River Seine providing picturesque sceneries and plenty of areas for strolling around after actively exploring the wonders of the city.

Day by day
Hotel
Day-by-day program
4
day
Tour of Bayeux & Transfer to Rouen

Following breakfast you check out, meet your guide-driver and continue your comprehensive D-Day touring.

You start today's exploration from a short walking tour of Bayeux, a typical yet special Normandy town which boasts well-preserved 15th-century buildings. You walk along the old streets, see the Cathedral (from the outside).

Then you visit the Memorial Museum of the Battle of Normandy, considered among the top D-Day Landing and Operation Overlord museums dedicated to the combat in this French region. Among the exhibits you see today are military equipment, weapons, uniforms, plus you learn more about both the battles and the preparations for it.

Other sights planned to be visited today are the German World War II Longues-sur-Mer coastal defense artillery battery, as well as the Arromanches.

After the tour you are transferred to Rouen for check-in and have the rest of the day free.

Breakfast is included.

Your choice of hotels

We carefully select hotels to ensure your amazing stay. We will recommend the best available properties for your travel dates.

Hotel Mercure Rouen Centre Cathedrale, Rouen

Located in the middle of the peaceful pedestrian area, the Mercure Rouen Centre Cathedrale is a beautiful property and a great place to stay during your Rouen visit. All rooms are comfortable and offer great amenities.

train
Rouen
Lille
2 hrs 40 min

Enjoy the charming sights in France during train travel through some of the most picturesque sceneries in the country. The comfortable modern trains provide with necessary amenities, such as power sockets and luggage compartments, as well as plenty of legroom for your convenience. 

Lille, France
2
days
France

Being the capital of the Hauts-de-France region only 15 km (9 miles) from the border with Belgium, hospitable Lille is a popular destination for France travel. Apart from being in demand among French alumni and students, it is a historic hub which brings immense inspiration.

Day by day
Hotel
Day-by-day program
5
day
Rouen Sightseeing

After breakfast you check out and meet your guide who takes you on a 3-hour walking sightseeing tour of Rouen. You see the soaring Notre-Dame Cathedral which is the tallest cathedral in France, the Saint-Maclou church and churchyard, the the Gros Horloge or Clock Tower in the beautifully restored medieval quarter, the Renaissance Parlement de Normandie as well as the old marketplace and the futuristic St. Joan of Arc church, erected in honor of Joan of Arc who was executed in this city.

During the tour you also learn about the tragic fate of the city during the Second World War when approximately 45% of Rouen was destroyed. Your guide shows the area between the Seine River and the Rouen Cathedral which burned for 48 hours in June 1940 as the Nazis did not allow firemen access to the fire. You also explore other areas and sights which were destroyed in 1944 before and during the Battle of Normandy.

After the tour you return to the hotel, pick up your luggage and have a transfer to the train station. Upon arrival to Lille in about 3 hours, your driver transfers you to your centrally located hotel for check-in.

Breakfast is included.

6
day
Lille City Tour & Optional Trip to Dunkirk

Following breakfast you meet your private guide in the hotel lobby and start a walking tour around the capital of the French Flanders. Today you learn the legend of its foundation, the secrets of the Euralille-towers construction and discover the mystical historical districts.

You also explore the path around the Citadel of Lille dedicated to the people who have been executed by the Nazis as resistants.

Later you head for a suburb of Lille to explore the Museum of the Resistance focused on the Resistance in Northern France during the German occupation. This museum is set in a 19th-century fort which was occupied during WWII and was actually a German base in the early years of the war. The museum has numerous interesting exhibits, including those connected to the life of the famous British SOE agent Michael Trotobas who was among the people who led the Resistance against Nazis movement in Northern France. Public transport to travel between the sighs with your guide is included.

After the tour you return to the hotel and have the rest of the day free. Alternatively, you may take an optional tour to Dunkirk.

  • Optional tour: Optional Trip to Dunkirk from Lille
    Following breakfast you meet your private guide, take a 30-minutes train ride and head for Dunkirk. Upon arrival, you explore the city center which has been almost totally destroyed during the German occupation.

Breakfast is included.

Your choice of hotels

We carefully select hotels to ensure your amazing stay. We will recommend the best available properties for your travel dates.

4-star hotel

Enhance your travel with staying in a remarkable 4-star property. As always, the location near all top landmarks, excellent quality service, and top-notch amenities are an indispensable part of your stay. The gallery demonstrates the examples of 4-star hotels we offer to our guests.

train
Lille
Brussels
40 min

Traveling by train is one of the easiest ways to explore Europe. Hop onboard a modern train heading towards Brussels after exploring the beautiful sights of France, and reach your destination in less than an hour.

Brussels, Belgium
1
day
Belgium

The capital of Belgium and the European Union, Brussels, is a perfect blend of the old and the new, offering travelers much to discover.

Day by day
Hotel
Day-by-day program
7
day
Reminders of World War II in Brussels

In the morning after breakfast you check out, and your driver transfers you to the train station. You take a train to Brussels and after about 40 minutes arrive in the capital of Belgium. Upon arrival, you're transferred to your centrally located hotel.

Later the same day, you meet your guide in the hotel lobby who takes you on a 4-hour walking tour of the legendary landmarks and impressive monuments of Brussels. Among the sights you marvel at are the medieval majesty of the Market Square and the remarkable facade of the City Hall. The world-famous Manneken Pis is naturally on the program too!

During the tour you also see the traces of the World War II in Brussels. You walk along Rue de Lenglentier where you see a commemorative plaque reminding us of the Jewish people of the Marolles neighborhood, victims of Nazism and racism. You proceed to the National Memorial for Jewish Martyrs in Belgium. The walls are covered in 23,838 engravings of the names of Jewish Belgians who were deported to Mechelen between 1942 and 1944. You also visit the Royal Museum of the Armed Forces and Military History containing an enormous collection of weaponry, tanks, warplanes and military uniforms.

If time allows, you move to the "Shooting Enclosure" located in the Schaerbeek municipality of the Brussels-Capital Region. Originally this site was a training zone for military units stationed in Brussels. During World War II 261 members of the resistance were shot by the Nazis here. Nowadays it is a small cemetery where the bodies of 365 Belgian heroes from both the World Wars are buried. After the tour you return to your hotel and have the rest of the day at your leisure.

  • Optional tours: Belgian Waffle Workshop, Brussels | Beer Tasting Tour, Brussels | Chocolate Tasting, Brussels

Breakfast is included.

Your choice of hotels

We carefully select hotels to ensure your amazing stay. We will recommend the best available properties for your travel dates.

Radisson Blu Royal Hotel, Brussels

Get inspired by the modern art deco flair of Brussels and enjoy a memorable experience in the central Radisson Blu Royal Hotel. Take advantage of the various hotel's amenities including 3 top-notch onsite restaurants, well-fitted rooms, renovated conference rooms, and a fitness center among others.

train
Brussels
Luxembourg
3 hrs

Take a train from the capital of Belgium to the charming microstate of Luxembourg. The modern train offers comfortable seats and boasts fast travel times.

Luxembourg
1
day
Luxembourg

One of the most interesting European microstates, petite Luxembourg, attracts interest thanks to its renowned landmarks

Day by day
Hotel
Day-by-day program
8
day
Luxembourg Sightseeing & Visit to American Cemetery

Today you check out from your hotel and your driver transfers you to the train station. After a 3-hour ride, you arrive in lovely Luxembourg City, the capital of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, where your driver brings you to your centrally-located hotel for check-in.

Later the same day you meet your private guide in the hotel lobby and start your walking tour around the main attractions of Luxembourg City.

You explore the Old Town, see the Grand-Duke Palace, the Monument of the Millenium, the Constitution Square and the town square called Place Guillaume II (no entrances are included). You also walk along the "Le Chemin de la Corniche" promenade which is called "Europe's most beautiful balcony". It winds along the course of the 17th-century city ramparts with views across the river canyon.

Your next visit on the tour today is to the Luxembourg American Cemetery and Memorial. You get to see the 17-acre burial grounds located in the surroundings of woods, pass the memorial chapel and pylons. You get to learn about the battle movements and see the names of the brave people of the American army and air forces, such as the final resting place of General George S. Patton, and others who lost their lives in the service of their country during the World War II battles, including the Battle of the Bulge. The taxi fare for the return trip to the cemetery with your guide is included.

After the tour you return to your hotel and have the rest of the day free.

Breakfast is included.

Your choice of hotels

We carefully select hotels to ensure your amazing stay. We will recommend the best available properties for your travel dates.

4-star hotel

Enhance your travel with staying in a remarkable 4-star property. As always, the location near all top landmarks, excellent quality service, and top-notch amenities are an indispensable part of your stay. The gallery demonstrates the examples of 4-star hotels we offer to our guests.

car
Luxembourg
Brussels
2 hrs 10 min

Enjoy the breathtaking views passing by outside the car window as one of our local drivers takes you to the beautiful city of Brussels. On your way there, you will pass numerous scenic landscapes and picturesque valleys.

Brussels, Belgium
2
days
Belgium

The capital of Belgium and the European Union, Brussels, is a perfect blend of the old and the new, offering travelers much to discover.

Day by day
Hotel
Day-by-day program
9
day
Battle of the Bulge Tour

Following breakfast you meet your guide-driver and embark on a day-trip to the heart of southern Belgium.

In less than an hour you arrive in Bastogne located close to the Luxembourg border and start the tour dedicated to the exploration of the place where the German artillery initiated the Battle of the Bulge during World War II. Together with your private guide, you visit the Mardasson Memorial honoring the memory of American soldiers killed during World War II's Battle of the Bulge, proceed to the Bastogne War Museum which is also focused on the Battle of the Bulge. Here you have a great opportunity to get a better understanding of the last major German offensive campaign on the Western Front.

After the tour you are transferred to your Brussels hotel for check-in.

Breakfast is included.

10
day
Departure from Brussels

This is the last day of your tour dedicated to the Second World War. After breakfast your driver transfers you to the airport for your flight back home. We wish you a safe flight and hope to work on your future trips!

Breakfast is included.

  • Optional tours available: Tour to Waterloo, Belgium | Tour to Liege, Belgium | Day Trip to Ypres, Belgium | Tour to Mons, Belgium
Your choice of hotels

We carefully select hotels to ensure your amazing stay. We will recommend the best available properties for your travel dates.

4-star hotel

Enhance your travel with staying in a remarkable 4-star property. As always, the location near all top landmarks, excellent quality service, and top-notch amenities are an indispensable part of your stay. The gallery demonstrates the examples of 4-star hotels we offer to our guests.

What's included

  • Accommodation in 4* or boutique centrally located hotels in Paris, Bayeux, Rouen, Lille, Brussels and Luxembourg;
  • Delicious breakfasts at the hotels;
  • Airport transfer and all transportation according to the itinerary with private drivers;
  • 1st class train tickets Paris - Bayeux, Brussels - Luxembourg;
  • 2nd class train tickets: Rouen - Lille, Lille - Brussels;
  • Professional licensed English-speaking guides;
  • Entrance tickets to: Airborne Museum, Memorial Museum of the Battle of Normandy, Museum of the Resistance in Bondues, Bastogne War Museum;
  • Belgian chocolate tasting;
  • Support line during the trip.

Note: We include 1 vehicle for your arrival and departure transfers. If multiple vehicles are required additional transfer costs will apply.

Not included: international flights, multiple arrival/departure transfers, visas, other meals not mentioned in the program, optional tours and services, all personal expenses.

Read more Collapse

Tour Highlights

  • Visiting the Holocaust Museum called Memorial de la Shoah in Paris
  • Entrance to the Airborne Museum in Sainte-Mere-Eglise
  • D-Day Tour in Normandy with visits to the Normandy American Cemetery and the Utah Beach
  • Exploring the Memorial Museum of the Battle of Normandy in Bayeux
  • Seeing the Citadel of Lille and the Museum of the Resistance
  • Brussels city tour with the Royal Museum of the Armed Forces and Military History
  • Exploring Luxembourg and the Luxembourg American Cemetery and Memorial
  • Battle of the Bulge tour in southern Belgium with a visit to the Mardasson Memorial and the Bastogne War Museum

What To Know

  • French breakfast is not as heavy as other European breakfast meals, it usually includes sweet pastries, toast, fruit, yogurt, cereal
  • Tipping in French restaurants might be included in the bill, "service compris" (tip included) or "service non-compris" (tip not included), but in any case, if you liked the service you can leave few Euros on the table either way
  • Most communication equipment takes 220/110 volts, you will need an adapter plug (type E) to make your plug fit into the socket