Guidebook for Caen
Food Scene
Great décor. Traditional dishes and organic ingredients. Friendly, quirky, oh so British! Great cocktails and organic beers.
52 locals recommend
Dollys
16-20 Av. de la LibérationGreat décor. Traditional dishes and organic ingredients. Friendly, quirky, oh so British! Great cocktails and organic beers.
Le Bouchon Du Vaugueux
12 Rue GraindorgeSmall, with great cuisine.
Friendly, fast service lively scene and good lunchtime menu. Also very good for coffee or a drink in the day and jazz on Friday evenings.
6 locals recommend
Le Bistrot du Palais
2 Rue Guillaume le ConquérantFriendly, fast service lively scene and good lunchtime menu. Also very good for coffee or a drink in the day and jazz on Friday evenings.
La Buona Tavola
47 Rue Saint-SauveurVaried menu, vegetarians catered for, intimate atmosphere.
Drinks & Nightlife
La Tour Solidor
24 Rue ÉcuyèreRelaxed and easy.
Sightseeing
William the Conqueror is buried here and many English lords as well! It is a magnificent building and there are organ recitals held here as well as the daily church services and Sunday Mass.
113 locals recommend
Men's Abbey
Esplanade Jean-Marie LouvelWilliam the Conqueror is buried here and many English lords as well! It is a magnificent building and there are organ recitals held here as well as the daily church services and Sunday Mass.
The abbey that William's wife, Mathilde had built and where she is buried. It is fascinating if you enjoy history and you can see around the council buildings which adjoin it and walk through the lovely park with a panoramic view of the city
91 locals recommend
Abbey of Sainte-Trinité, Caen
Place Reine MathildeThe abbey that William's wife, Mathilde had built and where she is buried. It is fascinating if you enjoy history and you can see around the council buildings which adjoin it and walk through the lovely park with a panoramic view of the city
The castle houses 2 museums of Normandy history and an art gallery, le Beaux Art, as well as having battlements from which you can look down on the city and the Church of St Pierre. The Café Mancel next to the art gallery serves delicious food and cocktails wand has a garden at the back with strange and wonderful sculptures in it of mythical beasts
234 locals recommend
Caen Castle
The castle houses 2 museums of Normandy history and an art gallery, le Beaux Art, as well as having battlements from which you can look down on the city and the Church of St Pierre. The Café Mancel next to the art gallery serves delicious food and cocktails wand has a garden at the back with strange and wonderful sculptures in it of mythical beasts
Pegasus Bridge, famous during the D-day landings, is here and all along the coast to the west of Ouistréham are the different landing beaches, Sword, Juno etc and the coastal towns that boast excellent restaurants and interesting sights as well.
78 locals recommend
Ouistreham
Pegasus Bridge, famous during the D-day landings, is here and all along the coast to the west of Ouistréham are the different landing beaches, Sword, Juno etc and the coastal towns that boast excellent restaurants and interesting sights as well.
This small town has a Basilica which houses the Black Virgin, discovered in a fiels a couple of centuries ago and the focus of an annual pilgrimage.
11 locals recommend
Douvres-la-Délivrande
This small town has a Basilica which houses the Black Virgin, discovered in a fiels a couple of centuries ago and the focus of an annual pilgrimage.
Parks & Nature
A large nature reserve next to the horse race track, with a pond and paths where joggers go running. The river Orne runs along the south side.
14 locals recommend
La Prairie
A large nature reserve next to the horse race track, with a pond and paths where joggers go running. The river Orne runs along the south side.
A profusion of different plants and secret paths. A small maze and a huge rose garden, some goats, sheep, hens etc and views over the whole of Caen
98 locals recommend
The Hill of Birds
Avenue de l'Amiral MountbattenA profusion of different plants and secret paths. A small maze and a huge rose garden, some goats, sheep, hens etc and views over the whole of Caen
Ancient and exotic trees, shrubs and flowers, a greenhouse with different climates - tropical, desert, temperate and cold, a dovecote and many specimens of local plants.
62 locals recommend
Caen Botanical Garden
Place BlotAncient and exotic trees, shrubs and flowers, a greenhouse with different climates - tropical, desert, temperate and cold, a dovecote and many specimens of local plants.
Arts & Culture
A trip through the history of the conflicts of the 20th century with artefacts, sound effects, films, and documentation which is continually being updated. Terrifying and gripping, the cafe/restaurant provides a welcome rest.
447 locals recommend
Memorial de Caen
Esplanade Général EisenhowerA trip through the history of the conflicts of the 20th century with artefacts, sound effects, films, and documentation which is continually being updated. Terrifying and gripping, the cafe/restaurant provides a welcome rest.
Interesting history of Normandy from the stone age up to the 2nd World War.
25 locals recommend
Musee de Normandie
Interesting history of Normandy from the stone age up to the 2nd World War.
Host to national and international companies, the Théâtre de Caen presents plays, opera, dance, circus and concerts with free performances in the theatre foyer at weekends.
24 locals recommend
Théâtre de Caen
135 Bd Maréchal LeclercHost to national and international companies, the Théâtre de Caen presents plays, opera, dance, circus and concerts with free performances in the theatre foyer at weekends.
Essentials
Open from 8 in the morning til 1 and from 4pm til 8pm and Saturday and Sunday morning. Great if you've forgotten to buy milk or coffee!
Coccimarket
6 Pl. Mgr des HameauxOpen from 8 in the morning til 1 and from 4pm til 8pm and Saturday and Sunday morning. Great if you've forgotten to buy milk or coffee!
Getting Around
The trams cross Caen and run frequently. They are not expensive if you buy a ticket of 10. You need to buy your ticket at the stop before you board. There are also buses throughout the city. There are bikes which can be hired from stands around the city and which are free if you put them back on any stand within 20 minutes. Look for the Véol sign.
Avis Location Voiture Caen
44 Pl. de la GareThe trams cross Caen and run frequently. They are not expensive if you buy a ticket of 10. You need to buy your ticket at the stop before you board. There are also buses throughout the city. There are bikes which can be hired from stands around the city and which are free if you put them back on any stand within 20 minutes. Look for the Véol sign.