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16-day World War II Memorial Tour of Europe

NORMANDY, FRANCE

The Higgins boat monument at Utah Beach

Colleville-sur-mer, france.

The American Cemetery near Omaha Beach honors over 9000 fallen soldiers

Paris, france.

The Arc de Triomphe stands at the end of the famous Champs-Élysées Avenue

Amsterdam, the netherlands.

Quaint row houses line the canals of this influential city

Antwerp, belgium.

The main city square is lined with 16th-century Flemish Guildhouses

Dachau, germany.

The memorial at Dachau Concentration Camp was designed by Holocaust survivor Nandor Glid

Munich, germany.

Get a taste of Oktoberfest all year round at the Hofbräuhaus beer hall

Caen, france.

The Caen Peace Memorial & Museum

Nuremberg, germany.

The colossal Congress Hall was built to seat the Nazi Party congress

Rhine river, germany.

This legendary waterway is lined with castle ruins, vineyards, and romantic villages

Pricing disclaimer.

  16-day tour featuring Germany, Austria, Luxembourg, Belgium, Holland and France. Revisit the dramatic history of World War II at famous battle sites, war museums and memorials. Many scenic and cultural highlights are also included, providing an enjoyable combination of learning and leisure.

Tour Year 2024

Tour itinerary.

DAY 1 - Overnight flight to Europe.

The Trip Documents will provide guidance for airport check-in and for your arrival in Europe. Relax on your transatlantic flight with the assurance that Image Tours has taken care of all the details.

DAY 2 - GERMANY . . Arrival at Frankfurt Airport – Bavaria.

Upon arrival, clear passport control and collect your luggage. Refer to the “Arrival Instructions” in the Trip Documents for directions on where and when to meet your tour manager. Settle into your comfortable motor coach on the way to your hotel in the scenic and festive state of Bavaria. Get acquainted with your fellow tour members during the “Welcome to Europe” dinner. (Dinner)

DAY 3 - GERMANY . . Nuremberg - Bavaria.

Your bus transfer into the city center introduces you to the history of Nuremberg. Hitler staged his propaganda rallies here and, after his fall, it was chosen as the location for the War Trials. You will have an opportunity to see the Nazi Party Rally Grounds, Congress Hall, and Palace of Justice where the War Trials were held. Consider the causes and consequences of Nazi Germany during a visit to the Documentation Center (visit the temporary exhibit during the 2023 renovations).  Discover the Old Town’s half-timbered buildings and gingerbread shops before returning to your Bavaria hotel for dinner. (Breakfast, Dinner)

DAY 4 - GERMANY . . Dachau - Munich - Tyrolean Village.

Travel to Dachau for a somber visit to the Concentration Camp Memorial. At the entrance, you are prompted to reflect on the incomprehensible as your tour manager translates the German phrase on the iron gate: ARBEIT MACHT FREI (Work Makes One Free). Study the exhibit recounting the “path of the prisoners” and see the site of the former barracks. Your tour continues to Munich, the elegant capital of Bavaria. Pass points of interest, such as the Hitler Building, on your way to the Marienplatz, a pedestrian-only zone where historic buildings are cleverly interspersed with modern store fronts. The centerpiece of the square is the Rathaus (Town Hall) with its captivating Glockenspiel (clock tower). Following your visit to Munich, head south into the mountain range along the German/Austrian border, where you will spend the next two nights in a Tyrolean Village. (Breakfast, Dinner)

DAY 5 - GERMANY/AUSTRIA . . Tyrolean Village.

Enjoy a relaxing day in the surroundings of your hotel. Your Alpine Village offers a variety of options for leisure activities amid the spectacular mountain scenery. Another choice is to join the full day optional Salzburg & Eagle’s Nest with Dinner  excursion (see Optional Excursions), which includes a guided visit to the Kehlsteinhaus, Hitler’s mountain hideaway, followed by an afternoon in Salzburg, known as Mozart’s birthplace and the setting for “The Sound of Music.” Spend a second night at your peaceful Tyrolean Village hotel. (Breakfast)

DAY 6 - GERMANY . . Ulm – Bad Herrenalb.

After breakfast, travel to Ulm to view the imposing Ulm Minster with the tallest church steeple in the world. This afternoon, make a stop at the grave of Erwin Rommel, the German general who was forced to commit suicide when Hitler suspected him of treason. End the day with a buffet dinner at your hotel in Bad Herrenalb, on the northern edge of Germany’s Black Forest. (Breakfast, Dinner)

DAY 7 - FRANCE . . St. Avold – Fort Hackenberg & GERMANY . . Trier.

Follow a scenic route through the Alsace Region and the Vosges Mountains. This area was the site of heavy fighting in the fall of 1944. You will make a stop at Lorraine’s American Cemetery in St. Avold, the largest American World War II cemetery in Europe. The afternoon is reserved for a tour of Fort Hackenberg, part of the Maginot Line, which was constructed between the world wars as a defense against any future German invasions. Your hotel for the next two nights will be in Trier, the oldest city in Germany, located near the three-country border of France, Luxembourg and Germany. (Breakfast, Dinner)

DAY 8 - LUXEMBOURG . . American Cemetery - Diekirch, BELGIUM . . Ardennes – Bastogne & GERMANY . . Trier.

The morning stop is at the American Cemetery in Luxembourg where General George Patton is buried. Continue into the Belgian Ardennes Region and arrive in Bastogne to view the star-shaped Mardasson Monument, a tribute to the soldiers who died in the Battle of Ardennes. You will also see the fox holes used by Easy Company, whose stories inspired the TV mini-series “Band of Brothers.” Your travels this afternoon take you to the Luxembourg National Museum of Military History in Diekirch. Trier's famous Porta Nigra provides an intriguing backdrop for your independent dinner before returning to your hotel. (Breakfast)

DAY 9 - GERMANY . . Rhine River – Remagen – Rhine-Ruhr Region.

Motor to one of the most beautiful stretches of the Rhine River where you will board a river steamer for a boat ride past endearing villages, medieval fortresses, and hillside vineyards known for producing the distinctive Rhine wines. Continue through the Rhine River Valley to Remagen to view the remains of the Ludendorff Bridge, the last standing bridge on the Rhine, which was captured by U.S. soldiers on March 7, 1945. By mid-afternoon, continue to your Rhine-Ruhr region hotel. Dinner will be served at the hotel this evening. (Breakfast, Dinner)

DAY 10 - HOLLAND . . Groesbeek – Nijmegen – South Holland.

Crossing the border, focus on sites significant to World War II liberation efforts in The Netherlands (Holland), including locations associated with Operation Market Garden. The bridge over the Waal River at Nijmegen was a strategic asset reclaimed after the historical crossing of American paratroopers. Travel Hell’s Highway and stop at the memorial in Overasselt, commemorating the site of the largest airborne operation of all time. This day will also feature a visit to one of the local museums documenting the World War II resistance in The Netherlands. Continue to your South Holland hotel for check-in and dinner. (Breakfast, Dinner)

DAY 11 - HOLLAND . . Amsterdam – South Holland.

Travel through Holland's countryside, characterized by canals, dikes and windmills, as you make your way to the dynamic city of Amsterdam. Your visit begins with a ride aboard a glass-topped boat through Amsterdam’s harbor and canals where you will see numerous bridges, boathouses and bicycles while gliding past 17th-century gabled houses. During an independent lunch, try a pannekoek (Dutch pancake) or other local specialties. This afternoon, walk to the main square, an ideal focal point for your individual exploration. Return to your South Holland hotel for dinner. (Breakfast, Dinner)

DAY 12 - BELGIUM . . Antwerp & FRANCE . . Caen.

Today consists of a full day of travel from Holland to Caen, France, with a stop in the port city of Antwerp, Belgium. Explore the central market square with its irresistible chocolate shops and convivial outdoor cafés serving Belgian Waffles. Continue the drive into France for an early evening check-in at your Caen hotel where dinner is served shortly after your arrival. (Breakfast, Dinner)

DAY 13 - FRANCE . . Normandy Landing Beaches – Caen.

The entire day is spent touring the famous Normandy Landing Beaches. From Caen, drive to the coast and stop at Pointe du Hoc to view the German fortifications. You’ll also travel to Utah Beach and Sainte-Mère-Église, the site where paratroopers landed during World War II as portrayed in the movie “The Longest Day.” Visit Sainte-Mère-Église Airborne Museum before continuing to Omaha Beach and the American Cemetery. Proceed to the artillery battery at Longues-sur-Mer. At today’s final stop in the village of Arromanches, view remnants of the artificial harbor and reflect on the sights of the day over an independent dinner. (Breakfast)

DAY 14 - FRANCE . . Caen – Paris.

Spend the morning touring the Caen Peace Memorial and Museum, established to honor the liberators, victims, and all those who continue to fight for peace. As you depart Caen, pause at the Pegasus Bridge to understand how its capture by the British 6th Airborne division was instrumental in deterring a German counterattack. Arrive in Paris by early evening and join your travel companions for a festive “Farewell Dinner” of enticing French dishes at an authentic Parisian bistro with roving musicians. The return transfer provides additional impressions of the city at dusk. (Breakfast, Dinner)

DAY 15 - FRANCE . . Paris.

The day is devoted to Paris, La Ville Lumìere ("City of Light"). On your way into the center, see the Arc de Triomphe which has been the staging area for victory parades throughout history including those following World War II. Your tour manager will also direct you to the location of other principal sights, such as the Notre Dame Cathedral, Eiffel Tower, and Louvre Museum (open every day except Tuesday). Before beginning your free time, we suggest joining the optional Seine River Cruise excursion (see Optional Excursions). Spend the evening exploring the Montmartre District, where Paris looks as it does in old paintings and artists still display their works. An uphill walk to the Sacré-Coeur Basilica rewards you with expansive views of the cityscape. Montmartre boasts excellent restaurants and characteristic sidewalk cafés perfect for an independent dinner in the French capital. (Breakfast)

DAY 16 - Daytime flight back to U.S.A.

Transfer to the Paris Airport for your return flight home. (Breakfast)

Travel Time

Overnight flight from the U.S.A. to Frankfurt.

Arrival at Frankfurt Airport . Meet your tour manager, board your deluxe motor coach and travel (1¾ hrs) through the Franconian Wine Region . After a rest stop, continue (1½ hrs) to your hotel located in the festive state of Bavaria for a "Welcome to Europe" dinner. ( Dinner )

During an introductory sightseeing (1 hr), experience the history of Nuremberg and view the site of the Nazi Party Rally Grounds, the Congress Hall, and the Palace of Justice where the War Trials were held. Return (½ hr) to your hotel in Bavaria  for dinner. (Breakfast, Dinner)

DAY 4 - GERMANY . . Dachau - Munich - Alpine Village.

Depart Nuremburg (1¼ hrs) and after a morning stop travel (1¼ hrs) to Dachau Concentration Camp . In the afternoon continue (½ hr) to the elegant Bavarian capital of Munich . Depart Munich in the late afternoon and head south (2 hrs) to an Alpine Village hotel for dinner. (Breakfast, Dinner)

DAY 5 - GERMANY/AUSTRIA . . Alpine Village.

Enjoy a day of leisure or join your tour manager for the full day optional Salzburg & Eagle's Nest with Dinner  excursion, including a guided visit to Hitler's mountain hide-a-way (1 hr), sightseeing in Salzburg (½ hr) and an authentic Austrian dinner (1 hr) before returning (1 hr) to your Alpine Village hotel. (Breakfast)

Return to Germany (2 hrs) and after a morning stop proceed (1½ hrs) to Ulm for an independent lunch and views of the imposing Ulm Minster. Next, travel (1 hr) to the Rommel Memorial. Continue (2¼ hrs) to Bad Herrenalb , on the northern edge of Germany's Black Forest. (Breakfast, Dinner)

DAY 7 - FRANCE . . St. Avold – Fort Hackenberg & GERMANY . . Igel.

Follow a scenic route (1¾ hrs) through the Alsace Region and Vosges Mountains. On to (1 hr) Lorraine's American Cemetery, the largest American World War II cemetery in Europe. From here continue (1 hr) to Fort Hackenberg , part of the Maginot Line. After a visit, continue (1½ hrs) to your hotel in Igel . (Breakfast, Dinner)

DAY 8 - LUXEMBOURG . . American Cemetery - Diekirch, BELGIUM . . Ardennes – Bastogne & GERMANY . . Trier – Igel.

It's a short ride (¾ hr) to the American Cemetery in Luxembourg . Drive (1½ hrs) through the Belgian Ardennes Region and arrive in Bastogne . In the afternoon travel (¾ hr) to the Luxembourg National Museum of Military History in Diekirch . Transfer (1 hr) to Trier , the oldest city in Germany, for an independent dinner before returning (¼ hr) to your hotel in Igel . (Breakfast)

In the morning, travel (2 hrs) to the legendary Rhine for a boat ride along one of the most beautiful stretches of the river. After disembarkation, proceed to Remagen (1 hr) to view the Ludendorff Bridge. Continue (1¼ hrs) to your hotel in the Rhine-Ruhr Region . (Breakfast, Dinner)

Cross the border (2¼ hrs) on the way to Nijmegen to focus on the sites significant to WWII liberation efforts in the Netherlands. Visit (½ hr) one of the local museums before traveling (1½ hrs) through the Dutch countryside to your South Holland hotel. (Breakfast, Dinner)

Transfer (1½ hrs) to Amsterdam where a boat ride through the canals is followed by ample free time. In the evening, return (1½ hrs) to your South Holland hotel for dinner. (Breakfast, Dinner)

A full day of travel. Head south (1¾ hrs) into Belgium to visit the historic town of Antwerp . After free time in Antwerp, drive (2 hrs) to a lunch break near the French/Belgian border. Continue (2¼ hrs) to an afternoon stop in northwestern France. Just before dinner time, arrive (2 hrs) at your hotel in Caen . (Breakfast, Dinner)

The entire day is spent touring the famous Normandy Landing Beaches , including a visit to Pointe du Hoc, Utah Beach, Sainte-Mère-Église Airborne Museum and stops at Omaha Beach, the artillery battery at Longues-sur-Mer and Arromanches (travel time between stops varies from ¼ hr to ¾ hr). Short transfer (½ hr) back to Caen . (Breakfast)

Transfer (¼ hr) to the Caen Peace Memorial and Museum for a visit and then continue (½ hr) onto the Pegasus Bridge. Stop for lunch (1¾ hrs) in the French countryside on the way (1¾ hrs) to Paris . Spend the evening in the Montmartre District, an ideal place for your independent dinner (¼ hr). (Breakfast)

A full day for individual exploration (¾ hr transfer in each direction) of Paris , during which you may wish to join the optional Seine River Cruise excursion. This evening, join your travel companions for a festive “Farewell Dinner” at an authentic Parisian bistro. (Breakfast, Dinner)

Transfer (1 hr) to Paris Charles de Gualle Airport for your flight home. (Breakfast)

Favorite Traveler Experiences

•   View Hitler’s Nuremberg Rally Grounds with solemn contemplation
•   Examine the eye-opening exhibits at Dachau Concentration Camp
•   Listen to the chiming of the Glockenspiel on Munich’s main square
•   Tour part of the Maginot Line defense structure at Fort Hackenberg
•   Explore Bastogne, synonymous with the “Battle of the Bulge”
•   Glide past castles and vineyards on a scenic Rhine River boat ride
•   See first hand the Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe in Paris
•   Take a serene boat tour through the famed canals of Amsterdam
•   Tour the Normandy Landing Beaches and Military Cemetery
•   Accommodations in Superior Tourist Class or First Class hotels
•   14 Breakfasts and 10 Dinners in addition to any in-flight meals
•   Tour Manager for the full European duration of the tour
•   Land Transportation in Europe by deluxe, air-conditioned motor coach
•   Image Tours Touroclopedia® trip preparation tips
•   Trip Documents with luggage tags, final details and travel guidance

The Availability, Departure Dates, and Rates are for illustration and planning purposes only. Since final pricing and single availability can only be confirmed with a travel agent, steps 4 & 5 of this on-line booking module is reserved for your travel agent only. (Please Call) indicates that we still have some tour availability; however, you should have your travel agent call our office to confirm air availability.

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Upcoming departures, may 08, 2024, may 23, 2024, $4,940 p.p.d.o., jun 12, 2024, jun 27, 2024, sep 04, 2024, sep 19, 2024, sep 11, 2024, sep 26, 2024, almost sold out, tour hotels.

NH Collection Nürnberg City

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Seminaris Hotel Nuremberg

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Landhotel Kirchenwirt

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Parkhotel Luise Bad Herrenalb

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Vienna House Easy Trier

NH Hotel Capelle

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Van der Valk hotel Ridderkerk

Mercure Caen Côte de Nacre

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Holiday Inn Express - Canal de la Villette

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Optional Excursions

OPTIONAL EXCURSIONS DETAILS

Our tours are carefully planned to offer a comfortable balance of sightseeing, entertainment and leisure time. Optional Excursions provide the flexibility to choose between leisure time or additional guided sightseeing activities. Unless otherwise noted, optional excursions must be booked with and paid to your tour manager during the tour. Prices are in U.S. Dollars. MASTERCARD®, VISA®, or DISCOVER® (no other credit cards are accepted) are recommended to avoid carrying excessive cash and exchange rate fluctuations. You must be able to present the actual card to your tour manager. If you bring a DISCOVER® card, also bring a VISA® or MASTERCARD®, as DISCOVER® is not widely accepted in Europe. Cash payments during the tour must be in Euros. Personal checks and traveler’s checks are not accepted. The operation of all excursions is subject to sufficient participation, and some excursions are subject to favorable weather conditions. Your tour manager reserves the right to make changes or cancel excursions at their sole discretion.

SALZBURG & EAGLE'S NEST WITH DINNER

Upon arrival in Berchtesgaden, Germany, you will take a bus and elevator up to the Eagle’s Nest, Hitler’s mountain hide-away. In the case of halted bus operation, we will substitute a visit to the Obersalzburg Documentation Center. After an independent lunch, become acquainted with nearby Salzburg, famous home of the “Sound of Music” and Mozart. This excursion includes a traditional Austrian dinner at an alpine village restaurant.

SEINE RIVER CRUISE

Glide along the Seine River by boat, while viewing the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, the Notre Dame Cathedral, and several other impressive sights in Paris. This excursion provides for excellent photo opportunities.

Tour Extensions

Paris post-tour extension, paris and london post-tour 3-night extension, 16-day world war ii memorial tour of europe map.

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11 Day Tour of UK, France, Belgium

England, Belgium, France

London, Brussels, Dunkirk, Lens, Ypres, Amiens, Rouen, Caen, Arromanches-les-Bains, Normandy Beaches, Paris

4 Dinners, 10 Breakfasts

Faster paces with mix of 1–2-night stays in each location. Typically features 4+ miles of walking on some days and may involve steep hills and uneven surfaces, such as cobblestones.

If you like hassle free travel with everything handled for you – looking to meet great people, eat great food, enjoy great sightseeing, and have immersive experiences, Trafalgar is for you.  From the iconic not-to-be-missed to one-of-a-kind local experiences, including Be-my-Guest dining and stays with stories, you’ll connect deeper to your destination, and every tour has at least one MAKE TRAVEL MATTER immersive impact experience included advancing one or more of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), offering you the chance to take a deep dive into culture and community. As the world’s leading tour company and trusted by more than 5 million guests, Trafalgar tours are simply the best value for your vacation dollar.

WWI & WWII Battlefields Tours

Embark on a journey to pay respects at revered World War I and II battlegrounds. Encounter the weighty significance of legendary places while uncovering the compelling chronicles and enduring impacts of war. Discover insights into these monumental and historical moments exploring the sites with an expert Travel Director.

A Multi-Country tour is an excellent way to experience several top European destinations in just one trip. Visit famous sites, wander the city streets with locals, indulge in delicious meals in family homes, and fully immerse yourself in the highlights and history of each place. The perfect sampler, Multi-Country tours are an excellent choice for first-time travelers to Europe.

Travel to the front lines of Europe, where brave soldiers once fought for freedom. On this epic battlefield tour through the countryside of Britain, Belgium and France, you’ll explore the tragedy and triumph of two World Wars.

Flexible booking 30-day deposit refund guarantee + no change fees See flexible booking terms >

Best Value Why touring is the easiest way to travel Learn more >

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Day-by-day itinerary

From tragic battles to tales of triumph, this special-interest exploration of two World Wars kicks off in the vibrant British capital of London. Meet your Travel Director and fellow companions this evening for a traditional English pub Welcome Dinner.

Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey feature on this half-day introductory sightseeing tour with a Local Specialist, which includes views of Buckingham Palace. This afternoon, we visit the Imperial War Museum, which tells the story of those whose lives were shaped by war from World War I to today. See extensive archives and recordings, as well as a Spitfire that saw action in the Battle of Britain. Maybe enjoy London after dark, spending your evening at leisure meandering along the Thames, riding the London Eye or discover Covent Garden.

See London's iconic sites with a Local Specialist. 

Iconic Experience

London City Tour with a Local Specialist

We journey by Eurostar to Brussels today. Your Travel Director will show you the city's highlights. See the Atomium, designed for the 1958 Brussels World's Fair, Mannekin Pis and the exquisite Grand Place with its opulent and ornate guildhalls. 

In 1815 Napoleon fought his famous last battle here against the Duke of Wellington. You’ll visit the battlefields and monuments and discover how th ...

Optional Experiences

Waterloo Explored

In 1815 Napoleon fought his famous last battle here against the Duke of Wellington. You’ll visit the battlefields and monuments and discover how the face of Europe was changed forever. You’ll also see the famous iron lion monument on top of the hill, which you can climb if you wish. The monument was built by the widows of veterans and you'll hear their story as you gaze at the spectacular panoramic view.

Pricing Info

How to book.

Optional experiences are enhancements to your tour and can be booked by your Travel Director while on tour.

Why not try some traditional Belgian fare in a traditional Belgian restaurant? Why not wash it down with some famous Belgian beer? Enjoy an evening ...

Brussels by Night & Dinner

Why not try some traditional Belgian fare in a traditional Belgian restaurant? Why not wash it down with some famous Belgian beer? Enjoy an evening stroll to admire the Grand Place of Brussels in the evening; bustling with life as the center of activity of town.

Today we journey to Dunkirk, where Operation Dynamo miraculously saw over 330,000 Allied troops evacuated to Britain. We stop in Fromelles, where there was a combined operation between British troops and the Australian Imperial Force, described as the "worst 24 hours in Australia's military history". After we visit the memorial at Vimy Ridge dedicated to the Canadian soldiers, who fought a battle here in 1917. This horrific battle, and the bravery of the men who fought in it, came to symbolise Canada's coming of age as a nation.

Visit Vimy Ridge Memorial and see the place that is dedicated to the Canadian soldiers who fought in battle during 1917. 

Vimy Ridge Memorial Visit

Explore Operation Dynamo, the place that saw 330,000 Allied troops evacuated to Britain when you visit Dunkirk. 

Dunkirk Visit

Discover the rich history of the British troops and the Australian Imperial Force when you visit Fromelles.

Fromelles Visit

Some of the biggest battles of World War I are explored at Ypres Salient in Belgium, where we will see such sites as Tyne Cot, Langemark and Vancouver Corner. Stop in Zonnebeke for an included visit to the Memorial Museum Passchendaele 1917, where you can see a replica trench. See Essex Farm Cemetery where over 1,200 brave servicemen are buried and where Lt. Col. John McCrae wrote his immortal poem, ‘In Flanders Fields'.

Spend the rest of the afternoon on your own and later sample one of the excellent local beers. After, make your way to the Menin Gate and witness the moving Last Post Ceremony to pay tribute to over 100,000 soldiers who laid down their lives more than a century ago.

The bloody battlefields of the Somme take center stage today. Stop at the Villers-Bretonneux memorial to the Australian soldiers who lost their lives in WWI. Carry on to Thiepval to see the poignant memorial which honours the 72,337 missing British and South African men who died with no known graves. We journey to Amiens for an evening at leisure.

See the site of the Australian soldiers who lost their lives in WWI when you visit Villers-Bretonneux Memorial.

Villers-Bretonneux Memorial Visit

Visit the memorial that honours the 72,337 unknown graves of the British and South African men who fought valiantly.

Thiepval Memorial Visit

Travel south through Normandy today. Taste the delights of the region during your MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience where sweet treats await you. Stop in Rouen for an orientation tour of this city which was captured by the French in 1204 from English possession. Next stop is Caen where you will visit the Memorial de Caen to learn about the significance of Normandy and the day that changed World War II.

Visit a confectionary factory, where you will taste sweets originally invented in the 16th century. The old industrial factory is full of life and ...

MAKE TRAVEL MATTER®

Visit a confectionary factory - Les Confiseurs

Visit a confectionary factory, where you will taste sweets originally invented in the 16th century. The old industrial factory is full of life and works especially to employ people with disabilities. Let the sweet smell of caramelised sugar welcome you in on to your guided tour!

Discover the significance of Normandy and how it changed World War II when you visit Memorial de Caen. 

Memorial de Caen Visit

Take yourself back to June 6, 1944. Imagine the terror and bravery of thousands of soldiers who landed on the beaches of Normandy to free Europe from the Nazis. This morning, journey to the historic D-Day Normandy Landing Beaches, including Juno Beach, Pointe du Hoc and Omaha Beach. Visit the American Cemetery and Memorial to learn about the Canadian, American, and Commonwealth involvement in this unbelievable battle for supremacy. Connect With Locals on a Be My Guest experience joining the Ferrut family at their equestrian center.

Join an emotive journey tracing the story of the D-Day landings and visit Omaha Beach. 

Visit the Normandy D-Day Beaches

Journey inland through Normandy today, bound for the grand boulevards of Paris. Perhaps join us for an optional visit to the glittering Palace of Versailles before arriving in the French capital.

Built for the Sun King, Louis XIV, the Palace of Versailles was the envy of every European ruler, but loathed by the French commoners, which lead t ...

Versailles Palace and Gardens

Built for the Sun King, Louis XIV, the Palace of Versailles was the envy of every European ruler, but loathed by the French commoners, which lead to the French Revolution. Step inside the opulent world of Versailles and our Local Specialist will take you through the palace’s Hall of Mirrors and State apartments. Then, enjoy free time to wander the symmetrical, tree-lined gardens.**

To truly see Paris in all its glory, you need to see it from the Seine. Enjoy a cruise along this famous river and take in unmatched views of the N ...

Seine Cruise and Paris Illuminations

To truly see Paris in all its glory, you need to see it from the Seine. Enjoy a cruise along this famous river and take in unmatched views of the Notre Dame Cathedral and the Eiffel Tower. Afterwards, we’ll drive through the City of Lights to see some of the fascinating sights this beautiful city has to offer.

Nestled in the heart of Montmartre, Nouvelle Eve has been spotlighted by ‘Emily in Paris’ and has hosted events for high-fashion icons like Dolce & ...

La Nouvelle Eve Cabaret and Dinner

Nestled in the heart of Montmartre, Nouvelle Eve has been spotlighted by ‘Emily in Paris’ and has hosted events for high-fashion icons like Dolce & Gabbana, Christian Louboutin and Vivienne Westwood. An icon of Parisian elegance for 125 years, this chic revue theater is your ticket to an unforgettable night. An a la carte meal and dazzling cabaret will bring the French Cancan to life before your eyes. Performances run from April 20 to October 26. 

Join your Local Specialist to view the remarkable church of Saint-Sulpice, then delve into the lives of Parisians, wandering through the enchanting hidden squares of one of Paris's oldest neighborhoods. Our walking tour concludes in one of the city's loveliest squares which is a real favorite among the locals. Spend the rest of the day on your own to see the sights. On our last evening together in Paris, we join our travel companions and Travel Director for a Farewell Dinner in the city.

Join a Local Specialist to discover the hidden squares and secret lanes of Paris.

Paris City Tour

Take the fastest elevator in Europe to the Panoramic Observation Deck for unbeatable views of the Eiffel Tower and all of the city’s iconic monumen ...

Montparnasse and Napoleon's Tomb

Take the fastest elevator in Europe to the Panoramic Observation Deck for unbeatable views of the Eiffel Tower and all of the city’s iconic monuments. We’ll also visit the Dôme des Invalides with our Local Specialist to see Napoleon’s final resting place.

After breakfast, we bid our newfound friends a fond farewell as our memorable holiday comes to a close.

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What to expect.

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Frequently Asked Questions

• Official Language(s) across England, France, Belgium, Netherlands: English is the dominant language in England; French is the official language of France; Dutch, French, and German are the official languages in Belgium; Dutch is the official language of the Netherlands.
• Currency used in England, France, Belgium, Netherlands: British Pound Sterling (£) is used in England and the Euro (€) is used in France, Belgium, Netherlands.
• Capital Cities: London (England), Paris (France), Brussels (Belgium), and Amsterdam (Netherlands).
• Time Zone(s) in Great Britain, France, Switzerland, Italy: England uses Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) and Greenwich Mean Time +1 (GMT+1) during daylight saving time and France, Belgium and the Netherlands use Central European Time Zone (CET), Central European Summer Time (CEST)

Passport, visa, and entry requirements for England, France, Belgium, Netherlands for US citizens.

• Passport: Your passport should have at least two blank pages for entry stamps. Your passport is valid for at least six months beyond the conclusion of your trip
• Visa Requirement: A visa is not required to enter England, France, Belgium, Netherlands
• Entry Requirements: You can see the most up-to-date entry requirements for the destination(s) you’ll visit on tour by going to getours.com/travel-requirements-restrictions .

The climate in England is generally classified as temperate maritime, characterized by mild winters and cool summers. The weather is known for its variability and can change frequently throughout the day. Rainfall is evenly distributed throughout the year, with showers being common. The western parts of the UK, particularly areas like Wales and Scotland, tend to experience higher rainfall compared to the eastern regions. The UK is influenced by the warm Gulf Stream, which helps to moderate temperatures and prevent extreme heat or cold.

France has a varied climate due to its size and geographical diversity. The northern regions, including Paris, have a temperate climate with mild summers and cool winters. Coastal areas along the Mediterranean, such as Nice and Marseille, have a Mediterranean climate characterized by hot summers and mild winters. The mountainous regions, like the French Alps, experience alpine climate conditions with cold winters and heavy snowfall, making them popular for winter sports. Western France, including cities like Bordeaux and Nantes, has an oceanic climate with mild, damp winters and mild summers. Overall, France experiences regional variations in temperature, precipitation, and sunshine hours throughout the year.

Belgium has a temperate maritime climate characterized by mild temperatures, moderate rainfall, and relatively high humidity. Winters are typically cool with average temperatures ranging from 0°C to 6°C (32°F to 43°F), while summers are mild with average temperatures between 12°C and 23°C (54°F to 73°F). Rainfall is evenly distributed throughout the year, with slightly drier months in spring and early autumn. The country is influenced by the North Sea, which helps moderate temperature extremes. Cloud cover is common, and fog can occur, particularly in the colder months.

The weather in the Netherlands is influenced by its maritime location and prevailing westerly winds. It experiences mild, wet winters with temperatures averaging around 2-6°C (36-43°F) and cool summers with temperatures averaging around 17-20°C (63-68°F). Rainfall is evenly distributed throughout the year, with slightly drier months in spring and early autumn. The coastal areas are often slightly milder than inland regions due to the moderating effect of the North Sea. The country occasionally experiences strong winds and storms during the winter months, with the possibility of snowfall, particularly in the eastern regions.

Luggage on Tour

Traveling with GET entitles each guest to travel with one suitcase not exceeding 50 lbs in weight, and no larger than 30” x 18” x 10.” Carry-on/hand luggage is restricted to one piece per person, not exceeding 12”x11”x6” to fit under your coach seat or in the small overhead compartment.

For safety reasons, small rolling suitcases are not permitted inside the coach. As our coaches have large windows, there is minimal space to store them securely overhead or under the seat. The suggested carry-on is a soft-sided bag similar to a backpack, tote bag, etc.

So your driver and the hotel porters can safely lift and transport your suitcase throughout your vacation, we strongly recommend that you test the weight of your baggage prior to travel. You should be able to lift and comfortably transport it for short distances.

Baggage allowances vary from airline to airline, and you should check with your chosen carrier for details prior to travel.

Packing Tips for Your Tour

When packing for a guided tour, it's essential to consider the local climate, cultural norms, and the activities you'll be engaging in. Here's a suggested packing list:

• Comfortable walking shoes: The UK and Europe’s cobblestone streets and uneven terrain require comfortable footwear.
• Lightweight, breathable clothing: Pack clothes suitable for the season. Bring a mix of short-sleeved tops, lightweight pants or skirts, and a few long-sleeved options for cooler evenings for the summer months, and long-sleeved and heavier layers for early Spring, Fall, and Winter.
• Layers: It's advisable to bring a light jacket or sweater and a scarf for layering, especially in Spring or Fall. We also suggest packing a portable umbrella or light rain jacket to prepare you for unexpected rain showers.
• Modest attire: In some religious sites, modest clothing is required, so we suggest carrying a shawl or scarf to cover your shoulders or legs when necessary.
• Nice evening wear: You may wish to wear a dressier outfit if you plan on dining in an elegant restaurant, for example. Smart-casual clothes are usually acceptable attire for all included daytime and evening activities throughout your tour.

Accessories

• Sun protection: It’s always recommended to carry sun protection, including a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen.
• Daypack or tote bag: A small backpack or tote bag will be handy for carrying essentials during your explorations.
• Travel adapter, voltage converter, and charger: Ensure you have the appropriate adapters for power outlets and a charger for your electronic devices. (See Electricity, Adapters & Air Conditioning

Miscellaneous Items

• A camera: There is an abundance of stunning scenery and historic sites you’ll want to capture. To ensure that you don't miss a single moment, it's important to have a trustworthy camera at your disposal. You can also use the camera on your phone , but you might want to zoom in or capture moving objects. A camera is your best bet for this.
• A new, blank journal to document your trip. Don't know your travel journal style? Find out here !
• A small travel alarm
• A travel iron if you like your clothes to be pressed
• A washcloth and carry bag
• A travel pillow

Electricity

• American appliances run on 110 volts, while European, UK, and Ireland appliances run on 220-230 volts.
• All of Europe operates on the same two round-pronged outlets (Type C) except for the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland , which operate three flat rectangle-pronged outlets (Type G).
• Adapters allow American-style plugs with two flat prongs to fit into British or Irish outlets, which take three rectangular prongs, or continental European outlets, which take two round prongs.
• If your devices use a different voltage or plug type, you will need a plug adapter and/or voltage converter to use them in Europe. You will need a plug adapter and voltage converter to use your appliances in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland.
• We recommend purchasing an adapter with a voltage converter so you can pack less. Also, pick up any necessary adapters or converters for your electronic devices before departing on your guided tour and bringing them with you.

Hair Dryers in Your Hotel

Hair dryers are common accessories in hotels. Should you want to bring your own, though, you will need to bring an adapter and voltage converter or make sure it is dual voltage by checking the label for INPUT AC 120V - 240V or a switch that can be set to 125V or 250V. Many devices have this feature, so it's worth checking before you travel. If you specifically need a hair dryer during your trip, but can't find one in your hotel room, you can inquire with the hotel staff. Many hotels will be able to provide a hair dryer upon request, either at the front desk or through housekeeping.

Air Conditioning

• Air conditioning is commonly available in European and UK hotels, restaurants, and public spaces, especially in major cities and tourist areas, but it is worth noting that the settings will differ from what you are used to in the USA.
• However, it's important to note that not all accommodations or historic buildings may have air conditioning, particularly in more traditional or rural settings.
• Most hotels in Europe can provide a portable fan for additional room cooling if requested. Your Travel Director will be on hand to assist you throughout your trip.

Traveling by coach

Our modern air-conditioned coaches have been selected with your comfort in mind. Your Travel Director will familiarize you with all the onboard features, including a washroom fitted for your convenience and comfort. Regular stops are made to stretch your legs, take refreshments, fill up your water bottles, and use the facilities.

Airport transfers

Airport Transfers for Europe flights not arriving to or departing from London Airport transfers to and from the airport on the first and last days of your tour are complimentary only if:

• You are traveling on a tour operated by Trafalgar, Insight Vacations, or Luxury Gold
• Your flight times coincide with the shuttle-coach transfer timings

Airport Transfers for Europe flights arriving to or departing from London Airport transfers to and from the airport on the first and last days are complimentary only if:

• You booked your land tour and flights as a land/air package through GET. If you book your flights independently via London Heathrow, you can *purchase a transfer through us.

To enable you to personalize your tour experience, you will find a number of Optional Experiences designed to complement the itinerary. These are designed to offer a deeper insight into the culture and character of the areas to be visited and provide some wonderful highlights for your travels. The optional program is designed to let you experience more of what interests you and to get the most from your vacation without replacing or overlapping with anything included in an itinerary.

The majority of Optional Experiences will be offered to you by your Travel Director at the beginning of your trip. Some may be subject to change, depending on the time you are traveling or local circumstances, including weather and days of the week. Your Travel Director will provide further information.

Usually, most Optional Experiences will be priced in the local currency, but please read through the details of individual optional experiences for specific information. Exact payment options will be advised locally by your Travel Director/Local Representative for each Optional Experience, but in many cases, cash, Visa, MasterCard, and American Express are all accepted.

It is recommended to have travel insurance that covers medical expenses while abroad.

In order to ensure a healthy and enjoyable trip, we strongly suggest that you pack a plentiful supply of any medication you may need while on vacation. Here’s what you need to know about traveling with medications .

Prior to traveling, please notify GET of any disability requiring special assistance or any specific dietary needs that you may have, and we will strive to accommodate these.

When traveling with GET, baggage handling at hotels, service charges, and tips for hotel wait staff (for included meals) will all be taken care of by your Travel Director. There are, however, a few instances where individual tipping is welcome.

Local Specialists

It is customary to show appreciation for the insights, stories, and know-how shared with you by the Local Specialists, and we suggest a gratuity of €1-2 (Euro) or £1-2 (Pounds) per person per half day.

Your Coach Driver and Travel Director

The trip cost does not include gratuities for your Travel Director and Driver. At the end of your trip, you may express appreciation to your Travel Director and Driver for their excellent service and the personal attention you received. Gratuities are given at the discretion of each guest, and a suggested amount per person/per day is listed in your travel documents.

For your convenience and ease, there is an option to pre-pay gratuities for the Travel Director and Driver at the time of booking.

Hotel services

Tipping hotel staff for room service delivery is customary if a charge needs to be added to the bill.

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• London at War 2024
• World War One – The Western Front
• The Holocaust in Poland
• The Battle of the Bulge (+ Hürtgen Forest)
• Private & Customized Tours
• Other Services

World War II

World war ii tours, choose from three exciting world war ii tours.

Our WWII guided tours include Normandy, Berlin and Battle of the Bulge. Click on the name of a tour below to reveal more information about each tour.

On June 6, 1944, the picturesque coast of Normandy became the scene of the largest and most complex military operation in world history. On that day alone over 130,000 Allied soldiers, supported by over 6,000 ships and 12,000 aircraft, attacked beaches whose names have become legendary; while 24,000 more troops entered the battle by glider and parachute.

Over the next eleven weeks, fierce combat raged across a once-bucolic Normandy landscape. By the end of the battle in August, the Allies had won a key success that would put them on the road to eventual victory over Nazi Germany.

Come with us and visit the places where brave men fought for freedom, and where the history of the world was changed forever.

Click here for Normandy tour details to learn whats included, travel information, and to get a glimpse of some of the many places we will visit during our tour. 

We are pleased to announce that we are again offering a tour of ‘Battlefield Berlin.’ Our weeklong visit will primarily focus on three crucial aspects of the city’s recent past. You will walk the same streets as some of the most detestable villains of the modern age as we discuss Berlin’s role as capital of the Third Reich and witness the legacy of their crimes at places like Sachsenhausen concentration camp. As that regime collapsed, the city became a battlefield. There, in the last days of April 1945, teenage boys and old men fought the Red Army street by street while their Führer issued orders to long-destroyed units from his underground bunker just off Wilhelmstrasse and a terrified civilian populace merely tried to survive.

Click here for tour details to learn whats included, travel information, and to get a glimpse of some of the many places we will visit during our tour. 

The Battle of the Bulge was the largest engagement ever fought by the United States Army, and it resulted in the defeat of Germany’s last reserves. The war in Europe would end less than four months later.

Our most recent tour concluded on October 24th 2015. Visit our Battle of the Bulge page here for a recap and slideshow of our recent tour. Please  Contact us for upcoming tour dates.

Questions? Ready to book a tour? Contact us

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Second World War Expert Led Battlefield Tours

Each of our expert led Second World War tours are distinctive and will resonate at different levels as we explore the locations, stories and significance of a war that defined a generation. We combine the battlefields with important cultural sites and monuments, offering a comprehensive tour led by our expert guides , all of whom are either authors, historians or ex-military personnel.

Many of those participating will have relatives who fought or died in the locations we visit – which makes these battlefield tours all the more realistic and poignant. We encourage those with family connections to bring the stories with them and share them with other participants – thus ensuring a ‘living history’ experience.

All of our forthcoming Scheduled Second World War Tours are listed below.

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Second World War Tours - Future Planning

We intend to run all of the following tours in the near future. Final dates and prices are yet to be confirmed. Register your interest and we will contact you as soon as these tours become available.

We will stay at 3, 4 and 5 star accommodation, allowing you to relax in comfort after a day of discovery and learning. Alongside our expert guide there will be a dedicated tour manager who will take care of all of the headaches of travel, freeing you to fully enjoy your holiday.

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Band of Brothers Tours

Bringing history to life.

If you are looking for military historical tours in Europe, we are the best local experts you can find. In terms of World War II tours, no one comes even close to offering the quality you get from us. Our Tour Directors and local guides are professionals who have perfected their craft. All our hotels and restaurants are tried and true, and our local knowledge is evident and all of our staff speak fluent English. Our secure and guaranteed payment systems allow you to shop online with the utmost confidence. Once you book your trip, we will guide you through everything related to your tour, from what travel documents you need and what to pack to a recommended list of books to read and movies to watch before your departure. We are not an assembly line company focused on mass production – our goal is to give you a once in a lifetime experience.

BAND OF BROTHERS TOUR

This is an adventure designed for your bucket list and your pocket book. Feel the sands of the landing beaches between your toes, stand at the very foxholes where heroes fought for your freedom and breathe the Alpine air at Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest.

The ultimate trip through the American WWII effort: our Band of Brothers Tour is an epic journey from Normandy to Hitler's Eagle's Nest via the battlefields of the Battle of the Bulge in the footsteps of the famous Easy Company.

80th ANNIVERSARY BULGE TOUR

Remember the bloodiest battle for the American forces in World War II. On this tour you can see where the brave soldiers held their ground during the siege of Bastogne, and experience the citizens “throwing nuts” to commemorate their liberators.

THIRD REICH TOUR

Numerous historical sites tell the tales of the rise, the fall and the aftermath of Hitler’s Third Reich on this tour. Join us at the epicentre of WWII, where the Führer rallied followers, commanded armies, held events and eventually met his demise.

BRITAIN AT WAR TOUR

Hit all the essential sites on this streamlined 10-day tour combining the air war related sites with the iconic vehicles on display at the Bovington Tank Museum and finishing off with a cultural intake of the prehistoric monument of Stonehenge.

BEACHES OF NORMANDY TOUR

Our signature tour gives you an opportunity to thoroughly explore the beaches and the sites of Normandy connected to the D-Day landings. This tour is designed for people who want to enjoy military history and culture alike on their vacation in Normandy.

Our first-class historical tours take you on a journey through iconic World War II sites around Europe, as well as the most emblematic moments of American heroism of the time. From the Normandy beaches to Bastogne and the Bavarian Alps we guide you through the significant events and experiences of the war that changed the world. Band of Brothers Tour is a registered brand and protected trademark in the European Union by Beaches of Normandy Tours.

The first days of the tour dive into all five landing beaches, with a special focus on the American landing sectors. We then head east through the Ardennes to Belgium, where passengers can crouch in the foxholes of Bois Jacques and learn about the vehicles that defined the Allied war effort during the Battle of the Bulge and the Siege of Bastogne. Our journey ends in Germany, where we learn about the context of the Nazi regime, a sobering visit to the very first concentration camp of Dachau and we top off the tour with a day trip to the Bavarian Alps, where we visit the famous Eagle's Nest on top of the Kehlstein mountain.

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A Self-Guided WWII London Tour: 8 Top WWII Sites in London

History buffs will love London, England for its incredible wealth of WWII history. Check out this detailed travel itinerary to take a self-guided WWII London tour of the best WWII sites in the city!

Thanks to my brother, Ryne, for writing this post! He’s been living in England on his own, and he has tons of great stories to share.

London is an amazing city, a crossroads of global cultures and truly one of the world’s most influential metropolises. Anything you could want you’ll find in London  — hipster music, Victorian architecture, flashy modern buildings, and any type of food that you can dream up from around the world.

Another thing it has in droves: history! You could fill pages with the history that London has to offer , but today I want to focus on one of my favorite topics — London’s WWII history. Let’s explore some of the top WWII sites in London on this self-guided WWII London tour.

Post Contents

Self-Guided WWII London Tour Itinerary

With two World Wars and countless other wars and conflicts, Europe is full of scars of history to keep any war enthusiast busy.

I’m blessed with a rare opportunity to be stationed at a Royal Air Force base not far from London, so I decided to take advantage of it with a quick day trip to the capital city for my own personally-created “WWII History Tour of London”.

Because there are so many WWII historical points to see, I’ve meticulously planned out this route in order to fit it into one day . This self-guided tour will take you from West to East across the city. Read to the end of this post for a map of the route!

1. Bomber Command Memorial

The first stop is the Bomber Command Memorial near Hyde Park.

Hyde Park Corner has a number of monuments related to various wars and military organizations, including the Royal Artillery Memorial and the Wellington Arch . Across the square sits the Bomber Command Memorial .

The Bomber Command Memorial is dedicated to the airmen who manned and supported bomber missions during the war , and the 55,537 who lost their life doing so. While the fighter aircraft protected the homeland, the bomber crews ventured out over enemy territory to project the full power of the Royal Air Force (RAF).

I spent a few moments pondering the incredible sacrifice that these airmen made and reflecting on the oath I’ve taken to do the same to protect my own country. As I walk back through the Arch toward the Tube station, I hope that a world war never forces me to make the same sacrifice, but that if it does, I’ll have the courage to do so with the honor that these airmen did.

2. Victoria and Albert Museum

Our next stop is the Victoria and Albert Museum . You may wonder what an art museum has to do with WWII history.

Well, it’s actually what’s outside the museum that counts. During a campaign known as the Blitz, the German Luftwaffe (air force) peppered the UK with over 30,000 tons of bombs, killing over 40,000 citizens.

London took the brunt of the attack with over 70 individual raids on the city. The raid decimated the city and the country as a whole, but the British citizens carried on through it all with their characteristic toughness and steadfast demeanor.

Most of the damage has been repaired or torn down with time, but it just so happens that one bomb landed outside the Victoria and Albert Museum . Being dedicated to history, they decided to leave the damage as an exhibit .

To find the bomb damage, walk down the left exterior side of the building. It’s hard to know what you’re looking for until you suddenly see chunks of stone missing from the side of the building and damage to the railing. As you walk further, the damage increases.

Stand for a few moments and take an opportunity to ponder both the immense power of the bombs to cause damage to such a solid stone structure as well as the feeling of what it must have been like to live through such attacks night after night.

Related tour: Private Guided Tour of The Victoria and Albert Museum

3. No. 8 Lord North Street Air Raid Shelter

Our next stop is related to that feeling of living through the attacks. Head off the beaten path to Lord North Street.

You’ll find yourself in a quiet neighborhood secluded from the hustle and bustle of tourists just a few streets over. There, just to the left of Number 8 Lord North Street , is a fairly well-preserved air raid shelter sign pointing down to the basement.

For the eight months of bombing raids, the citizens of London dealt with the ever-present threat of attack. Any normal night could change in an instant when the air raid siren wailed.

When that happened, citizens across the UK took whatever shelter they could  — a crude bunker dug in the back garden, a basement, or even an internal closet (as little protection as that provided).

In London, community air raid shelters were set up across the city . The most famous were simply Tube stations that allowed hundreds of citizens to sleep on the platform after train services had ended for the night. Others were set up in private basements. There used to exist signs across the city guiding the way to the nearest station, but they are fast disappearing as they become painted over or destroyed.

The sign at No. 8 Lord North Street is one of the few left in the city. The private home is clearly no longer open to shelter-seeking strangers, but it’s incredible that they’ve kept the sign preserved.

4. Churchill War Rooms

The Churchill War Rooms is an immense museum dedicated to the wartime Prime Minister Winston Churchill , his life, his time in office, and his command of the British war effort in WWII.

Even more amazing, it’s located in the exact underground bunker used by his War Cabinet while planning the war . The underground labyrinth of rooms is amazing, even if it doesn’t appear strong enough to withstand a bomb hit (I question the term “bunker” for this particular location…but it’s still incredible to see first-hand where the decisions were made).

There is so much history here that you could easily spend hours (as my sister can attest to after my dad and I forced her to accompany us as we spent 2 hours picking through every morsel of history available).

Also in this area is a Monument to the RAF , located just north of Westminster Pier, if you’re interested in taking a short detour.

Related tour: Historical London Walking Tour in Westminster & Churchill War Rooms Entry

5. St Clements Danes

Our next stop is St Clements Danes Church , dedicated as the “Royal Air Force Church” .

St Clements Danes Church sits in a traffic island in the middle of the busy London street known as The Strand.

Designed by Sir Christopher Wren (who also designed St Paul’s Cathedral) and originally built in 1682, St Clements Danes was all but destroyed in 1941 by bombs from the Blitz.

In 1958, the restored church was re-consecrated as the official church of the Royal Air Force . It now serves as both an active church as well as a memorial to RAF airmen who have given their lives in service of their country.

6. St Paul’s Cathedral

Just a short walk from St Clements Danes is another famous church that was central during the Blitz bombings: St Paul’s Cathedral .

The cathedral is so famous and such a powerful British symbol, that Winston Churchill ordered it protected at all costs in order to preserve the morale of the British people.

Since Churchill’s orders were followed, the cathedral itself doesn’t really have any war scars.

Related tour: St Paul’s Cathedral Admission

7. Firefighters’ Memorial

On either side of St Paul’s Cathedral there are more gems to be found.

On the southern side stands the Firefighters’ Memorial . A simple statue of men battling a blaze, the memorial serves to honor the firefighters who extinguished the flames caused by Blitz bombing and helped the city survive.

In a beautiful bit of artistic vision, the men in the statue point their fire hose straight at St Paul’s, forever watching over the venerable landmark.

8. Christchurch Greyfriars Church

On the northern side of the St. Paul’s, just one block away, sits a less fortunate place of worship.

The 18 th century Christchurch Greyfriars Church was completely gutted by bombing . The incomplete shell that remains surrounds a simple, yet beautiful, garden oasis in the busy city.

Self-Guided WWII London Tour Map

You can plot out this whole tour on Google Maps. Use the map below for the tour exactly as outlined in this post, or customize it to your liking.

You can click the star icon at the top of the map to save it to your favorites and open the route in your own Google Maps app.

Though there are plenty more historical sights to see in this magnificent city, this is where we complete our long tour of WWII sites. If you find yourself with a day to explore London, I highly recommend you take yourself off the beaten track and get to know some of the fascinating WWII history that London has to offer!

Top WWII London Tours (for when you want a guided tour)

Sometimes you just want a hassle-free guided tour, and we totally get it! Check out these great options for guided WWII history tours of London:

• Small-Group Wartime London Walking Tour
• Historical London Walking Tour — Westminster & Churchill War Rooms
• World War II History in London Private Guided Tour
• Winston Churchill and The Battle Of Britain — Full Day Private WW2 Tour

Historic Hotels to Stay at in London

Really dive into London’s WWII history on your trip with a stay at any of these historic hotels:

• The Dorchester — considered the safest building in London with its “bomb-proof” construction, Dwight Eisenhower took a suite here and made it his headquarters. Many other prominent political and military figures stayed here during the war.
• The Savoy — Churchill often took his cabinet to lunch at this hotel. The hotel was bombed during the Blitz but not have to close.
• The Ritz — Churchill, Eisenhower, and Charles de Gaulle met in at this hotel to discuss operations during WWII.

Where to Stay in London

Find the perfect place to rest your head on your visit to London, from the top rated accommodations to unique stays you can’t get anywhere else.

• Top Hotel: Hotel 41
• Great Value: The Belgrave Hotel
• Unique Stay: Shangri-La Hotel at The Shard

Save on London’s Top Attractions

Want to save big on London’s top attractions ? With the Go City London attraction pass, you can save up to 55% on the cost of entrance tickets to museums, tours, and attractions all around the city! This is the perfect companion to your WWII London tour!

Visit bucket list attractions, enjoy top tours, and discover hidden gems handpicked by local experts. With one price and one pass, you have everything you need right on your phone.

Get your Go City London attraction pass here.

More London Travel Tips

See more of what London, England has to offer with these fantastic itineraries:

• 2 Fun-Filled Days of Sightseeing in London, England
• Visiting the Tower of London
• Where to Eat in London, England

Ready to visit London, England? Plan your trip with these tips.

• Book Your Flight: Find the cheapest flights using Skyscanner , my favorite flight search engine.
• Find Accommodation: You can find top hotels in London using Booking.com.
• Start Packing: Check out my packing list resources so you’re prepared for your trip.
• Get a Guide Book: Check out the guide books from  Fodor’s ,  Lonely Planet , or  Rick Steves for in depth info about traveling to London.
• Save on Attractions: Save up to 55% on admission to London’s top attractions using the Go City London pass.

Did you find this self-guided WWII London Tour itinerary helpful? What are your must-see top WWII sites in London, England? Comment below!

Ryne is a US Air Force officer, travel-lover, and history buff. He lived in multiple locations around Europe for 5 years and considers London his favorite city.

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• Tours 8-day 80th ANNIVERSARY BULGE TOUR 9-day BAND OF BROTHERS TOUR 11-day BAND OF BROTHERS TOUR 12-day D-DAY ANNIVERSARY TOUR 12-day D-DAY LUXURY TOUR 6-day BEACHES OF NORMANDY TOUR 6-day AMERICAN NORMANDY TOUR 11-day WAR IN POLAND TOUR 11-day THIRD REICH TOUR 10-day BRITAIN AT WAR TOUR 11-day ITALIAN CAMPAIGN TOUR 12-day WORLD WAR I TOUR

80th ANNIVERSARY BULGE TOUR

Remember the bloodiest battle for the American forces in World War II. On this tour you can see where the brave soldiers held their ground during the siege of Bastogne, and experience the citizens “throwing nuts” to commemorate their liberators.

• Day 8: Departure

BAND OF BROTHERS TOUR

This is an adventure designed for your bucket list and your pocketbook. Feel the sands of the landing beaches between your toes, stand at the very foxholes where heroes fought for your freedom and breathe the Alpine air at Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest.

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The ultimate trip through the American WWII effort: our Band of Brothers Tour is an epic journey from Normandy to Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest via the battlefields of the Battle of the Bulge in the footsteps of the famous Easy Company.

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Celebrate the linchpin moment in World War II on our D-Day Anniversary Band of Brothers Tour that visits the iconic sites and commemorates American heroes. This special 12-day trip only happens once per year, on the anniversary of D-Day.

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Honor the Greatest Generation at the annual D-Day anniversary ceremonies on the luxury version of our Band of Brothers Tour. Visit iconic sites while you enjoy your 5-star hotel rooms and appreciate the services the best local restaurants can offer.

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Our signature tour gives you an opportunity to thoroughly explore the beaches and the sites of Normandy connected to the D-Day landings. This tour is designed for people who want to enjoy military history and culture alike on their vacation in Normandy.

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AMERICAN NORMANDY TOUR

This is designed for people who want to combine culture and military history on their vacation in Normandy before or after the high season. It studies American operations during D-Day and explores exemplary cases of the heroism of American soldiers.

WAR IN POLAND TOUR

Explore the sites of the greatest atrocities unleashed by Nazi Germany on Poland and the peoples of Europe in WWII. Discover the rich history, the finest acts of selflessness that took place and the indomitable spirit of the Polish people on this 11-day tour.

THIRD REICH TOUR

Numerous historical sites tell the tales of the rise, the fall and the aftermath of Hitler’s Third Reich on this tour. Join us at the epicentre of WWII, where the Führer rallied followers, commanded armies, held events and eventually met his demise.

BRITAIN AT WAR TOUR

Hit all the essential sites on this streamlined 10-day tour combining the air war related sites with the iconic vehicles on display at the Bovington Tank Museum and finishing off with a cultural intake of the prehistoric monument of Stonehenge.

• Day 10: Departure

ITALIAN CAMPAIGN TOUR

Spend 11 unforgettable days exploring the stunning landscapes and iconic sites of the Italian Campaign. Discover a vast array of unique WWII vehicles and incredible cultural artifacts.

WORLD WAR I TOUR

Spend 12 days with us on this special 110th Anniversary World War I tour, that takes you off the beaten track. Learn about the military operations of the Great War and experience the iconic locations and items, such as trenches, weapons and tanks.

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Discover the European sites of World War II with this 10-day itinerary. Follow in the footsteps of the Allied forces, from the beaches of D-Day to the heart of Berlin, and into Poland to witness the destructiveness of the Nazi regime. 

Itinerary highlights

Visit World War II sites of great historic significance: the beaches of Normandy, the Anne Frank house, and the dreaded Auschwitz extermination camp.

Normandy, France

Operation Overlord: Start of the Allied invasion

On June 6 th 1944 (known as D-day), the Allied Forces launched a full scale assault on the beaches of Normandy.

Visit the impressive Utah Beach museum , built on the exact spot where the first American troops landed.

Check out the Airborne museum in Sainte-Mère-Église , the French village that was the first to be liberated by paratroopers.

Ardennes, Belgium

Battle of the Bulge: A cold counter offensive

On December 16 th 1944, the Nazis started their last great offensive in the Ardennes region in Belgium.

Check out the Mardasson Memorial in Bastogne , dedicated to the American troops who liberated the city.

Learn all about the Battle of the Bulge in the Bastogne War Museum.

Arnhem, the Netherlands

Operation Market Garden: A bridge too far

On September 17 th 1944, the Allies attempted to cross the Rhine, but failed to take the last bridge in Arnhem.

Follow the Liberation route to see the John Frost bridge and other battle sites in and around Arnhem.

Take a 1 hour trip to Amsterdam to visit the famous Anne Frank House and the Resistance Museum .

Berlin, Germany

The Battle of Berlin: Road to victory in Europe

On May 7 th 1945, World War II ended in Europe with the unconditional surrender of Nazi Germany.

Visit the Humboldthain Flak Tower , the last remaining anti-aircraft tower that was built to defend Berlin.

Walk through the blocks of the impressive Holocaust Memorial and take a trip to Sachsenhausen concentration camp.

Warsaw, Poland

Operation Tempest: The tragic fate of Warsaw

On August 1 st 1944, the Warsaw Uprising started. It would end with the near-obliteration of the city.

Visit the Warsaw Uprising Museum to learn more about the dramatic events that took place here.

Walk through the remains of the Warsaw Ghetto , which was burned down after the Jewish revolt of 1943.

Krakow, Poland

The Holocaust: The Nazis' final solution

On January 27 th 1945, Russian troops liberated Auschwitz, where over 1.1 million people were killed.

Take half a day to explore Auschwitz and learn about one of the darkest pages in history.

In Krakow, visit the factory of Oskar Schindler , who managed to save the lives of over 1,000 Jewish workers.

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15 Must See World War II Sites in Europe

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For those who are constantly glued to the World War II documentaries on the History Channel and have read countless books and articles about Allied tactics and strategic movements on the European fronts, a visit to Europe is the next step in your historical education. Personally seeing and physically standing on the many sites that were significant to that time will provide an unparalleled perspective and insight into the facts you already know about the war, as well as offer new information that is sometimes hard to come by from secondary sources. So for all the history buffs out there, here are 15 sites significant to the Second World War that, ranging from inspirational to overwhelming, are worth visiting in Europe:

15. Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp, Germany

This work camp just outside of Berlin is found about three km from the location of the first ever Nazi concentration camp known as Oranienburg (now destroyed). The camp became the center of Nazi operations and is now a museum detailing the life of the inhabitants, both officers and detainees in a number of exhibits. Visitors can also see the special exhibition dedicated to the Oranienburg camp found in the museum’s permanent exhibit, and walk the ground of the camp for an incomparable lesson in the severity of the Nazi aggression.

14. Arnhem Bridge, Netherlands

This bridge became well known after the strategic operation known as Operation Market Garden, whereby the Arnhem Bridge was the last in a string of strategic points targeted for takeover by the Allied forces. Successful up until that point, the Allies were unable to capture the bridge in the September 1944 Battle of Arnhem, an event that later became the subject of several books and the Hollywood film “A Bridge Too Far.” Surviving the September battle, the bridge was destroyed by Allied troops in October of the same year to help curb the transport of German supplies. In 1949 the bridge was rebuilt in the same style, and in 1977, renamed “The John Frostburg” in honor of the British commander that defended it in the September battle.

13. Oskar Schindler’s Enamel Factory, Krakow, Poland

As many who have read the Thomas Keneally’s novel “Schindler’s List” or seen the Spielberg movie of the same name know, Oskar Schindler was a Nazi Party member who saved hundreds of Jewish lives through political bribery and Jewish employment at his enamel and munitions factories. The administrative building of the enamel factory still stands today, and houses the Krakow Museum of Contemporary Art, as well as the Historical Museum of the City of Krakow, which is mainly devoted to the Party member and the lives of “his Jews.” This museum is must-see for anyone who wants to learn more about the life of a man now largely regarded as a hero.

12. Humboldthain Flak Tower, Germany

Originally constructed as a solution to air-strike vulnerability, German Flak Towers were domineering concrete complexes that sheltered anti-aircraft guns and protected ammunition from falling bombs. The towers operated in pairs, one a gun tower (Gefechsturm or G tower) and the other a command tower (Leitturn or L tower). Their heavily reinforced structure also served as bomb shelters for civilians as well as an extremely effective defensive center, with a radar dish that could detect bombers from over 50 miles away, eight 128-mm cannons with a firing capacity of 48 shells per minute and a number of other smaller cannons scattered around the tower. Many of the towers have since been destroyed or converted, but the one remaining in Berlin is open to visitors.

11. Vel D’Hiv Monument, France

Though the actual building of the Velodrome d’Hiver (indoor cycling track) was destroyed and replaced by government buildings, visitors can still stand on the spot, commemorated by a plaque, where in July of 1942, Jewish families in France were rounded up by the French police and forcibly herded into the Velodrome. It is there that over 13,000 citizens waited in deplorable conditions (without food, water or washroom facilities) for days before being dispersed among various concentration camps. A memorial to the victims was erected in the city in 1993, with the French Government issuing a public apology at a memorial service at the site in 1995.

10. Oradour-Sur-Glane, France

This small village in western France is memorialized as the site of one of the largest Nazi massacres on French soil. On June 10, 1944 SS officers stormed the village and killed the vast majority of residents, some 642 men, women and children, before largely destroying the area. Though officially rebuilt a few km north, the French government ordered the original site to be untouched and to stand testament to the horrors committed there. Visitors can walk through the ruins of the ghost town and pay their respects at the onsite memorial.

9. Umschlagplatz, Warsaw, Poland

During German occupation, the German-named Umschlagplatz (“reloading point”) was the Square in Warsaw used to round up Polish Jews and organize their deportation from the Ghetto to the Treblinka concentration camp. People waited in hordes for hours until enough detainees were rounded up to fill the train cars, with any signs of resistance resulting in instant death. Today, the site of the former Square is home to a memorial constructed in the image of train cars, erected to pay tribute to the countless lives doomed (and lost) on these very premises.

8. Warsaw Ghetto, Poland

In the beautiful Polish city of Warsaw, there still stands a testament to the largest and deadliest Nazi-created Ghetto in Europe. By the deadline of October 15, 1940, the city’s large Jewish population was forcibly required to move into an 18 km area which enclosed 73 of the city’s 1800 streets, and was divided into the “small” and “large” ghettos linked by a wooden bridge. At highest capacity, the Ghetto housed about 380,000 people, translating to about eight residents per room. Today, the site is commemorated by “The Footbridge of Memory” which denotes the location of the original bridge between the two Ghettos, several monument and memorials. The area also still contains chunks of the original separating wall as well as decrepit residential buildings which have stood untouched for the past seven decades.

7. The Wolf’s Lair, Poland

This major complex hidden among a dense Masurian forest was Hitler’s first headquarters on the Eastern Front, and became his most frequently inhabited hideout (he spent about half the war here). Originally built for the impending invasion of the Soviet Union, the property became a sort of small town consisting of shelters, barracks, two airfields as well as a power and rail station. Despite being heavily reinforced and highly secure, this was also the site of the infamous July 1944 assassination attempt of Hitler by Claus Von Stauffenberg. The premises were vacated and destroyed by German officials in January of 1945 and remained untouched by the Polish Government until the fall of Communism. Today, the site is in ruins but has become a popular tourist attraction with a handful of hotels and restaurants now available in the remote area.

6. Bletchley Park, England

Featured in the film “The Imitation Game,” Bletchley Park in Buckinghamshire was Britain’s central site for code breaking during the Second World War. As the location of the Government Code and Cypher School (GC&CS), it became the largest and most successful institution in penetrating secret Axis communications, most famously of the German Enigma and Lorenz ciphers. Analysis now suggests that the efforts conducted on these premises shortened the war by about 2 years, and the school is now an educational and historic attraction commemorating the accomplishments of the institution.

5. Fuhrerbunker, Berlin

Now largely destroyed, this bunker was located under the former Reich Chancellery building in the heart of the city, and is the site where Hitler spent the last few weeks of the war, married Eva Braun and committed suicide in April of 1945. Located 11.5 feet below ground level, the bunker was a system of 30 small rooms protected by 13 foot thick concrete walls with an exit point in the Reich Chancellery gardens. Today, the site looks inconspicuous enough as a quiet residential neighborhood, and is largely unmarked save the small plaque and information board that denotes the location and provides a schematic diagram of the bunker.

4. Cabinet War Rooms, England

Partially restored and opened as a museum to the public in 1985, the Cabinet War Rooms were originally a secret complex under the basement of the Treasury. The bomb blitz of December 1940 forced the complex to be reinforced as a bomb bunker, becoming the main strategic headquarters for the War Cabinet (consisting of Prime Minister Churchill and several Conservative and Labor Party ministers). Today visitors can descend below the streets of Westminster and check out the various rooms of the complex as they would have existed during the war, and of especial significance, the Map Room, which remains exactly as it was when the premises were closed and vacated in August of 1945.

3. Auschwitz- Birkenau, Poland

Originally built in 1940 as a detention center for political prisoners, Auschwitz-Birkenau became the Nazi’s most gruesome legacy—the largest death camp and the primary site for the “Final Solution.” Located on the site of a former military base just outside of Krakow, Poland, the complex was regarded as the ideal location to carry out Nazi atrocities because of its proximity to the rail lines used to transport prisoners. Liberated on January 27, 1945 by the Soviet Army, estimates suggest that upwards of 1.1 million deaths were carried out on the property. Today, Auschwitz is a harrowing museum complex not for the faint of heart. While undeniably an important site to see, visitors are urged to check out the museum website ( http://visit.auschwitz.org/ ) to familiarize themselves with the rules, entry pass guidelines and capacity restrictions before their visit.

2. Musee de la Reddition, France

This red brick schoolhouse just northwest of the Reims train station is the historic site where, in the early morning of May 7, 1945 high officers from the German army met with officers of the Allied forces and signed the declaration of unconditional surrender, ending the second world war in Europe. Now known as the Lycee Roosevelt, the property was being used as the headquarters of Supreme Allied Commander in Europe, General Dwight D. Eisenhower, and the room where the signature took place, the map room, remains perfectly preserved behind a glass panel and comprises the museum now called the Musee de la Reddition.

1. Normandy, France

It is on this stretch of beaches on the Normandy coast where the infamous D-Day Landings of June 6, 1944 took place, changing the course of the war to favor the Allies. The five beaches—Sword, Juno, Gold, Omaha and Utah—were where the forces of the French, British, Canadian and American armies successfully landed and commenced an operation that changed the tide of WWII in Europe. Today, visitors can pay their respects to the sacrifices made by these troops at the various memorials found on the beaches, at the military cemeteries of each army and learn more about the operation and strategy at the various museums and information centers.

Like this? Check out  10 Significant World War II Sites to Visit in Germany

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Road Trip Normandy WW2 Sites

Article written by Elisa - Travel Writer & Local in France This article may contain compensated links. Please read disclaimer for more info.

Exploring the Normandy Landing Beaches & Other Key WW2 Sites in France

The coast of  Normandy , in  Northern France , is a pilgrimage site for people interested in World War 2 and history in general. It is incredible to think that much of the chapter that shaped Western Europe as we know it today happened in this region in France. We are talking, of course, about the Landing on the Beaches of Normandy  and the battles that followed, one of the most momentous chapters in modern history that led to Western Europe’s liberation from the Nazis.

People visiting Normandy can still see the Normandy landing beaches and other key WW2 sites in France on a day trip or, even better, on a Normandy road trip. This trip to the D-day landing sites can be emotionally exhausting, but it is essential to keep this chapter of our history alive in our memories so it will never be repeated.

This 3-day Normandy road trip from Caen to Sainte-Mère-Église covers the landing beaches in Normandy and other important WW2 places to visit in France. This road trip to the Normandy WW2 sites, map included, is a good itinerary for those who love history, sightseeing, and natural sites.

This 3-day itinerary around the Normandy landing sites is one of the best road trips in France . Read more about road-tripping in France:

Road Trip Normandy Landing Sites Overview

• Start:  Caen
• Finish:  Sainte-Mère Église
• Duration:  3 days
• Suggested Route:  Caen – Bayeux – Sainte-Mère Église
• Total distance:  165 km, 3 hours drive in total
• Regions covered:  Normandy
• Best for:  history, nature, sightseeing

Road Trip Normandy WW2 Sites Map

Click here to view this WW2 Sites France Map on Google

Landing Beaches in Normandy – Road Trip Itinerary 3 Days

This Normandy road trip starts from Caen. If you want to visit Paris before taking a self-drive vacation to Normandy in a hire car, you can travel from Paris to Caen by train and pick up your rental car in Caen. Check out our best tips for car rental in France .

Click here to rent your car in Caen

Day 0 | Arrival in Caen

The first stop of this road trip to the WW2 sites Normandy is  Caen , where you will spend two nights. For your stay in Caen, we recommend the Hotel Best Western Plus Le Moderne , which is beautiful, comfortable, and very central. This hotel is located a few minutes walk from the Château Ducal and the Caen Abbey.

Click here to book your stay at Hotel Best Western Plus Le Moderne

Day 1 | Caen

Morning in Caen

Day 1 of this Normandy road trip visits Caen. On this day, you only need the car to travel to the Caen Memorial Museum, which is outside of the city center.

Caen  is the third-largest city in the region of Normandy, after Le Havre and Rouen. At only 2 hours from Paris and connected to England by the ferry line Caen – Portsmouth, its strategic position makes Caen a great place to start your Normandy WW2 sites road trip.

Caen is the city of William the Conqueror and the City of a Hundred Bell Towers . However, the city was badly damaged during the Battle of Caen in WW2, and many of these churches were destroyed.

At dawn on 6 June, the bombing of towns in Normandy began. The Allies’ objective was to destroy the towns to obliterate all communications and slow down German reinforcements. On the morning of 7 June, about ten of Lower Normandy’s towns, including Caen, Lisieux, Coutances, Saint-Lo, and Vire, had been wiped from the map.

Today the reconstructed Caen is a lively and vibrant city. There are many fun things to see and do in Caen, especially if you are interested in history and architecture.

Apart from the Caen Memorial Museum (more on this below), the list of must-sees in Caen includes:

• Caen’s Citadel, built by William the Conqueror in the 11th century
• Château Ducal
• Musée des Beaux-Arts
• Church of St. Pierre Caen
• Abbaye-aux-Hommes, in Norman style, was founded by William the Conqueror in the 11th century. It hosts King William’s tomb
• Abbaye-aux-Dames
• Beautiful traditional architecture, timbered houses built in the 15th century

Afternoon at Caen Memorial Museum

Caen’s Memorial Museum  is one of the musts of any Normandy WW2 Sites trip. If you decide to visit the   D-Day Sites on a day tour from Paris , this is usually the tour’s first stop.

This Memorial and ‘Museum for Peace’ displays a vast collection of objects and documents related to the Second World War, mainly focusing on French and European content. The museum was built above  General Richter’s command bunker , which is today restored and open, so visitors can also see how was the daily life of the German soldiers in the bunker during the occupation.

Among the different exhibition rooms, there’s one dedicated to D-Day and another one devoted to the invasion of Caen. There’s also a short documentary about the D-Day landings replayed every 30 minutes, which is interesting and, at the same time, heartbreaking.

Don’t miss the  three memorial gardens  dedicated to the three leading allied nations involved in liberating France. They are located at the back of the museum, in front of the German bunker entrance.

DAY 2 | D-Day Landing Sites

The Normandy Landing Sites are some of the most important World War 2 sites in France. There are four Normandy Landing Beaches (Juno, Omaha, Gold, and Sword) plus the landing site of Pointe du Hoc.

From Caen, drive along the D79 to  Courcelles-sur-Mer  to explore the tranquil sand dunes of Juno Beach. Juno Beach was the codename for one of the main Landing Beaches in Normandy that was stormed by Canadian troops.

Juno Beach was one of the best-fortified sites after Omaha Beach. The delay of the tanks and the bombardments, which had left most of the German positions intact, led to high Allied losses in the first waves of assault. By midday, the division had disembarked entirely and, early in the evening, controlled Saint-Aubin-Sur-Mer. The following evening, the Canadian forces (21,500 survivors) joined forces with the British troops who had captured Sword Beach.

Every day, from 1 April to 31 October, the on-site  Juno Beach Center  offers 45-minute guided visits by Canadian guides through this historic site. During the tour, visitors can see firsthand the evolution of the Atlantic Wall defenses throughout the early 1940s and, of course, Juno Beach. The guides also show and explain how these defenses were overcome by the Canadian soldiers who landed on 6 June 1944.

This guided tour is also the only way to visit the German Command Post and the Observation Bunker.

Arromanches-les-Bains and Mulberry Harbors

After Juno Beach, head west along the D514 to  Arromanches-les-Bains  to visit Gold Beach –  which the British attacked on D-Day – and the  Musée du Débarquement .

The  Musée du Débarquement  details how the artificial Mulberry Harbors (temporary ports for the offloading of cargo crucial to the invasion) were engineered. Dioramas, models, and two films explain the logistics and importance of the artificial harbor of Port Winston in Gold Beach.

A good alternative to the Musée du Débarquement is Arromanches 360 Circular Cinema , a nine-screen cinema covering a 360º field of vision. Inside, visitors can watch a film about the Battle of Normandy. The cinema is located on the Arromanches clifftops not far from the Liberators Museum – Normandy 1944 – Click here to buy your tickets now

Omaha Beach

Omaha Beach   is one of the Normandy Landing Beaches stormed by the American troops and the one where the soldiers suffered the worst losses on D-Day.

Before the landings, the bombardments proved ineffective in wiping out many German positions dotted along the slopes above the beaches beyond Colleville-sur-Mer, Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer, and Vierville-sur-Mer. Some 1,800 GIs died in the waves or on the sand mown down by German bullets and shells – hence the beach’s nickname  Bloody Omaha .

Almost 2,300 more soldiers had been more or less seriously wounded and were evacuated by an unceasing shuttle of landing craft between the beach and the ships offshore, where they were given initial treatment before being transferred to hospitals in Britain.

Despite heavy losses, small groups of Americans made it up the slopes and took German positions from behind, so some gains were made, if at a high human cost.

Omaha Beach is a long beach with many memorials along the shore. The memorial  Les Braves is is located in Omaha Beach, while the Wounded Soldier Memorial (pictured above) is located at Sector Charlie.

Pointe du Hoc

La Pointe du Hoc  is the highest point between Omaha Beach to the east and Utah Beach to the west. La Pointe du Hoc was one of the key German fortified sites along the Normandy coast and was equipped, at that time, with extensive heavy artillery; that’s why Pointe du Hoc was considered the most dangerous mission of the D-Day Landings.

La Pointe du Hoc was the scene of a daring assault in the early hours of 6 June 1944. On that day, 225 US Army Rangers scaled the perilously steep 30m-high cliffs with the help of cords, ladders, and grappling irons to capture the site. Once they reached the top, the soldiers discovered the guns had been moved inland, so they set off to find and disable them while successfully enduring enemy counterattacks.

By the time the force was relieved on 8 June, only around 90 men had survived.

Today La Pointe du Hoc is a lovely place, even if the landscape remains scarred by the events of 1944. The hills and valleys that you can see in the picture above are holes and craters made by the bombs’ explosion. Amongst this particular landscape, visitors can still see the ruins of some German bunkers.

The First American War Cemetery Memorial in France

On the way back to Colleville-sur-Mer to visit the Normandy American Cemetery, take a short stop at Vierville-sur-Mer to see the Memorial of the  first American War Cemetery in France .

The text on the stone memorial reads:  “This marks the site of first American Cemetery in France World War II since moved to American Cemetery N:1

1st Infantry Division, 29th Infantry Division, 5th Engineer Special Brigade, 6th Engineer Special Brigade”

Normandy American War Cemetery and Memorial

The World War II Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial  is one of the most moving WW2 sites in France. It is situated on a cliff overlooking Omaha Beach and the English Channel in Colleville-sur-Mer, Normandy. Here, we are on American soil because the French government granted this land to the United States of America forever.

The cemetery contains the graves of 9,387 American military dead, most of whom gave their lives during the landings and ensuing operations of World War 2, and it is the most visited cemetery managed by the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC).

On the walls of the semicircular garden on the east side of the memorial are inscribed the names of 1,557 Missing Americans who gave their lives in their country’s service but whose remains were not located or identified.

The memorial consists of a semicircular colonnade with a loggia at each end containing maps and narratives of the military operations. At the center is a bronze statue titled  ‘Spirit of American Youth.’ An orientation table overlooks the beach and depicts the landings at Normandy.

Day two of this road trip to the Normandy D-day sites ends at Bayeux, where you will spend one night. For your night in Bayeux, we recommend Clos de Bellefontaine B&B , a beautiful 19th-century private mansion set in a beautiful 2,000m2 park, with private parking on-site. Clos de Bellefontaine is located 200m from the Bayeux Tapestry.

Click here to book your stay at Clos de Bellefontaine B&B

Day 3 | Bayeux – Other Normandy WW2 Sites

Morning in Bayeux

Day 3 of this road trip explores Bayeux and other Normandy WW2 sites. Bayeux  was the first city to be liberated in mainland France. The city was very fortunate to avoid most of the destruction and tragedy that other towns in Normandy suffered following D-Day. For a very brief moment, Bayeux was the capital of Free France, and General Charles de Gaulle came to give a stirring speech here on 14 June 1944. Bayeux’s War Museum and the British Cemetery commemorate the sacrifices made in these parts.

Other interesting attractions in Bayeux include:

• Bayeux Cathedral, consecrated with the presence of William the Conqueror
• The Bayeux Tapestry

The  Bayeux Tapestry , a 70-meter-long and 50cm high embroidery, is an invaluable record of the conquest of England’s throne by William the Conqueror in the 11th century. It is listed in UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register. The incredible Bayeux Tapestry depicts the clothes, castles, ships, and living conditions in the 11th century.

Afternoon at German War Cemetery at La Cambe

On the way to Sainte Mère Église from Bayeux (N13), take a short stop at La Cambe to visit the  German War Cemetery . The Kriegsgräberstätte has 21,160 graves. The hill in the middle of the cemetery is a mass grave with 296 casualties.

La Cambe was originally the site of a battlefield cemetery created on 10 June 1944 during the Battle of Normandy. American and German soldiers, sailors, and airmen were buried in two adjacent fields.

Following the end of the war in Europe in May 1945, the American Battle Monuments Commission began exhuming the remains of American service members and transferring them to their final resting place in accordance with the wishes of their families. Two-thirds of the fallen soldiers were transferred from this site back to the United States, while the remainder were re-interred at the new American Cemetery and Memorial at Colleville-sur-Mer, overlooking the Omaha Beach landing site.

The sign in front of the cemetery reads: ‘ The German Cemetery at La Cambe: In the Same Soil of France.

Until 1947, this was an American cemetery. The remains were exhumed and shipped to the United States. It has been German since 1948 and contains over 21,000 graves. With its melancholy rigor, it is a graveyard for soldiers, not all of whom had chosen either the cause or the fight. They too have found rest in our soil of France.’

Afternoon at Sainte-Mère Église

The last stop of this road trip WW2 sites, France, is the town of  Sainte Mère Église , which gained a place in history on D-Day as one of the first towns to be liberated. This was achieved through the efforts of American paratroopers who were dropped into Sainte-Mère-Église on the night of 5 June 1944.

One of the paratroopers, an American named John Steele, got his parachute caught on the church steeple and remained suspended for several hours until he was cut down and taken prisoner by German troops. Days later, he managed to escape from the Germans, and he returned to his regiment and survived the war.

To commemorate this event and the liberation of the town, a paratrooper effigy remains hanging from its white parachute near the windows of the bell tower (see picture above).

In Sainte-Mère Église, don’t miss the Airborne Museum dedicated to the memory of paratroopers of the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions of the United States Army who parachuted into Normandy on the night of June 5–6, 1944.

This Normandy WW2 Sites road trip ends here. If you have some extra days in France, you can consider this Brittany road trip , which covers pretty medieval villages, natural sites, and world wonders.

D-Day Landing Sites – Historical Background

The Normandy Landing operation was the largest seaborne invasion in history. The invasion took place on Normandy’s beaches on Tuesday, 6 June 1944, by the Allies. The operation, known as D-Day , was the beginning of the liberation of German-occupied France (and later Europe) from Nazi control and laid the Allied victory foundations on the Western Front.

The planning of the Normandy invasion was begun in 1943 by the US, Canadian and British governments. The French resistance also had an essential role in this operation. The main constraints for this operation’s success were the weather, the tides, and the logistics (shipping of soldiers, machines, and guns from the US and Canada to the UK).

On the other side, the Germans were expecting an invasion from the sea, and of course, they were prepared. Adolf Hitler placed German Field Marshal Erwin Rommel in command of German forces. He was also in charge of developing fortifications along the  Atlantic Wall  in anticipation of an Allied invasion.

The first twenty-four hours of the invasion will be decisive. . . . [T]he fate of Germany depends on the outcome. For the Allies as well as Germany, it will be the longest day — Field Marshal Erwin Rommel, 22 April 1944

Your task will not be an easy one. Your enemy is well-trained, well-equipped, and battle-hardened. He will fight savagely. But this is the year 1944! The tide has turned! The freemen of the world are marching together to victory! I have full confidence in your courage, devotion to duty, and skill in battle.

We will accept nothing less than full victory! Good luck! And let us all beseech the blessing of Almighty God upon this great and noble undertaking. — Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, Supreme Allied Commander, 6 June 1944

We have a sufficiency of troops; we have all the necessary tackle; we have an excellent plan. This is a perfectly normal operation which is certain of success. If anyone has any doubts in his mind, let him stay behind. — Gen. Bernard L. Montgomery, commanding Twenty-first Army Group.

The supreme battle is underway. It is, of course, the Battle of France and the Battle for France. For the sons of France, wherever they are, and whoever they are, the simple and sacred duty is to fight the enemy by all means at their disposal. — Gen. Charles de Gaulle, 6 June 1944

After many losses from both sides, the Normandy landing sites were all taken, and the Allied Forces connected on 12 June. Casualties were very high, and towns and cities were heavily destroyed. This was the price to pay in Normandy for our freedom.

Museums, memorials, war cemeteries, and other WW2 sites in France offer visitors a glimpse of this terrible chapter in our history. There’s a huge amount of documentation and collection of memories here, so we don’t forget.

So, what are you waiting for? Book this road trip to the D-Day Landing Sites today!

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It is said that those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it. We preserve the memory of some of the world’s most well-known historic events on our battlefields tours, from the American Civil War to the battles of the World Wars.

See the battlefields of WWI and WWII

Our World War I and World War II battlefields tours take you to the most horrific frontlines. We’ll gain a deep insight as we journey to the D-Day Normandy Landing Beaches, Vimy Ridge, Dunkirk, Fromelles, Gallipoli, the Somme and the Ypres battlefields. Your Local Specialist Guides and Travel Directors will share incredible stories as we pay tribute to the millions of brave souls who lost their lives in the World Wars.

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Our historical travel tours take you to the battlefields of the United States, where you’ll discover the dark history of the American Civil War. Explore the museums and memorials of Washington, D.C, then experience the real thing with the “Siege of Yorktown” and the bloody battlefields of Gettysburg. Discover the devastation of the civil war and see where Abraham Lincoln called for "a new birth of freedom".

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How many wars has europe had.

Europe has been involved in hundreds of wars over the years, including more than 100 wars in the 20th and 21st centuries alone. Two of the most horrific wars include WWI in which an estimated 37 million people perished, and WWII where the number of estimated deaths ranges from 60 to 80 million people, including military and civilian casualties.

What was the last religious war in Europe?

The Bosnian War lasted from 1992 until 1995 and was one of the last ethnically-rooted wars in Europe. It began when fighting broke out between the multiethnic population of the former republic of Yugoslavia. Around 100,000 soldiers and civilians died in the war, and it led to the genocide of at least 25,000 Bosnian Muslims, known as Bosniaks.

What were the major battles in Europe during WW2?

The Second World War was one of the deadliest events in human history, with hundreds of battles that claimed millions of lives. Some of the most major battles in Europe during WWII were the Battle of the Bulge in Belgium, the Battle of Berlin, the Battle of Britain, Operation Barbarossa, and the Battle of Stalingrad in Russia.

Which European country has had the most battles?

Known as the ‘Battlefield of Europe’, Belgium has had more battles than any other country in Europe. Almost every big power of Europe has fought on its land since the Roman Empire, with historic battles such as the Battle of Waterloo, and the battles of WWI and WWII, including the Battle of the Bulge and the Battles of Ypres.

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During the Second World War, the Germans took four years to build the Atlantic Wall. On four beaches it held up the Allies for about an hour; at Omaha it held up the U.S. for less than one day.

– STEPHEN E. AMBROSE

Founded by the late Stephen E. Ambrose, our company was developed from his research and work. He combined his input, passion and knowledge to create WWII tours that celebrate the American spirit.

Today, Stephen Ambrose Historical Tours continues to preserve his legacy with our WWII tours and expand the carefully conceived and executed heritage itineraries inspired by his life’s work.

Our historians are experts in their field and world-renowned authors. Their years of extensive research and interviews with hundreds of WWII, Band of Brothers and D-Day veterans on the battlefields on which they fought add a personal dimension to our tours that no other company can offer. It is a highlight to hear them tell these stories of America’s heroes at the very places where they occurred. These harrowing tales of bravery and courage capture a moment in time.

We invite you to travel with us through the battlefields of Europe and the Pacific. Here our historians will share these remarkable narratives that have changed the course of history. It is their passion and enthusiasm that leave our fellow travelers with memories of a lifetime.

World War II Tours

D-day to the rhine tour.

Our D-Day Tour was designed by Stephen E. Ambrose, who first led this WWII tour in the late 1970s, and further developed by our historians. The itinerary is based on thousands of hours of interviews with D-Day veterans, studying of the battlefields, and other World War II research. Thanks to their experience with the terrain and its history, we are able to present a D-Day Tour that is unmatched in its authenticity.

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Operation Overlord

The Operation Overlord Tour covers the planning and launch of the D-Day Invasion. It is a great choice for people who want to visit England and the Normandy beaches on a shorter tour than D-Day to the Rhine.

Ghost Army of WWII: Secret War Tour

Follow along the path of the 23rd Headquarters Special Troops, the extraordinary deception soldiers better known as the Ghost Army. Led by the producer of the award-winning PBS documentary, The Ghost Army , you will visit many World War II sites on a route that closely follows our D-Day to the Rhine Tour (two tours in one!), to offer a wider context for the story of these heroes.

In Patton’s Footsteps Tour

Led by the author of Patton’s Photographs: War as He Saw It , we visit the sites and battlefields significant to Patton’s Third Army, including Normandy, Brittany, Mont-St-Michel, the battlegrounds of Falaise Pocket, the German border, and the Battle of the Bulge, to understand how this maverick general helped win the war in Europe.

Italian Campaign Tour: Sicily to Rome

Sometimes referred to as “the Forgotten Campaign,” the Allied effort in Italy was actually of terrific significance. The campaign became a proving ground for Allied capabilities on sea, land, and in the air. Amphibious landings with Higgins crafts on the beaches of Italy provided crucial training for the Normandy invasion. Proceeding to fight and push the Germans north, the Allied forces in Italy created another front for Hitler, dividing his defense of the Reich. Bonus? The food and scenery are bellissimo!

Iwo Jima: War in the Pacific Tour

Our Iwo Jima: War in the Pacific Tour is a transformative experience! Travel with our historians to the islands where the battles raged during the War in the Pacific, where “Uncommon valor was a common virtue.”

WWII: Poland & Germany Tour

We begin in Gdansk, Poland, where the first shots of WWII rang out. We then wind our way on to Ketrzyn, Warsaw, Krakow, Oswiecim, and Zagan, where some of the fiercest battles of the war were fought, before finishing at the site of the war’s end, Berlin, Germany. Guests who have traveled on this tour rave about the charm of these historic cities and towns, the warmth of the people, and the many outstanding restaurants.

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Plan Your Visit

Hours and information.

Museum Exhibits and Museum Store Open daily, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Closed Mardi Gras Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day.

Please note that the Museum closes at 5 p.m., so visitors who arrive after 3 p.m. should expect an abbreviated visit. All ticket sales are final and no refunds offered. Tickets expire after their assigned date.

Beyond All Boundaries Daily showings, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Shows start at the top of the hour.

Freedom Theater Daily showings, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Shows run twice an hour..

The American Sector Restaurant & Bar Open daily, 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Jeri Nims Soda Shop Open daily, 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

* Click here to purchase tickets for visitors with accessibility needs prior to your visit.

Click here for more Information about Museum access for visitors with accessibility needs.

The Museum's paid parking garage located at 1024 Magazine Street. This portion of Magazine Street is a one-way, and the garage is located on the left side. If full, there are several paid lots in the neighborhood not owned by the Museum with varying fees.

Housed in four buildings, each arranged around central themes of the war, Museum exhibits offer visitors an opportunity to experience the war through the eyes of the men and women who lived it. Interactive features, oral histories, and personal vignettes add a meaningful perspective. 

Expressions of America

Expressions of America  is a first-of-its-kind nighttime sound and light experience celebrating the power of individual Americans to impact the world around them during a time of monumental conflict.

Museum Campus Guide

Designated by Congress as the official WWII museum of the United States, The National WWII Museum is located in downtown New Orleans on a seven-acre campus, where seven soaring pavilions house immersive historical exhibits, on-site restoration work, a period dinner theater, and restaurants.

Accessibility

The National WWII Museum is committed to making its galleries, exhibits, pavilions, and programs accessible to all visitors.

Liberation Pavilion

The Museum’s highly anticipated final permanent exhibit hall, Liberation Pavilion, is now open. Over two floors of exhibit space, Liberation Pavilion explores the end of World War II, the Holocaust, the postwar years, and how the war continues to impact our lives today. The third-floor theater features a brand-new cinematic experience focused on what was at stake during World War II, the meaning of Allied victory, and subsequent generations’ responsibility to defend democracy, protect freedom, and advance human rights.

Itineraries

Full-day Itinerary (Recommended)

Two-day Itinerary

Half-day Itinerary

WWII Travel Intinerary - Drive Back to Houston

WWII Travel Intinerary - Drive Back to Dallas/Fort Worth

Priddy family foundation theater.

The Priddy Family Foundation Freedom Theater on the third floor of Liberation Pavilion offers audiences a multimedia experience focused on what was at stake during World War II and the meaning of Allied victory. The production, developed by The Hettema Group, highlights how freedom almost vanished from the world in the 1930s and 1940s, efforts to protect and promote freedom during and after World War II, and how each generation has a responsibility to defend democracy, protect freedom, and advance human rights. At a pivotal moment in the show, the theater audience platform itself rotates.

Museum Campus

Designated by Congress as the official WWII museum of the United States, The National WWII Museum is located in downtown New Orleans on a six-acre campus, where six soaring pavilions house historical exhibits, on-site restoration work, a period dinner theater, and restaurants. 

Expressions of America  is a first-of-its-kind nighttime sound and light experience celebrating the power of individual Americans to impact the world around them during a time of monumental conflict. Available exclusively at The National WWII Museum in New Orleans,  Expressions of America  immerses audiences in written words, songs, and personal reflections of the everyday men and women who served our country in every way imaginable during World War II.

Experience the Victory

Travel to The National WWII Museum in New Orleans to explore, remember, and reflect on World War II through exclusive access to the Museum’s campus. Multiple departure dates are available.

Due to ongoing construction on the Museum’s main entrance, guests must enter through a temporary entrance on Magazine Street near the Soda Shop.

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Band of Brothers® Tours

This tour is special. There is nothing else like it.

– Major Dick Winters, The Commander of Easy Company

This is the best Band of Brothers® Tour you can take. Our founder, Stephen E. Ambrose, wrote the book. We meticulously crafted the ORIGINAL Band of Brothers® Tour based on the recollections of the paratroopers themselves and the extensive research of Dr. Ambrose and the editors of Military History Quarterly and World War II magazines.

Anybody that has come along since then is just copying us.

For more information, read: Dick Winters and How the Band of Brothers® Tour Began >

About our Band of Brothers® Tour

Immortalized by the Stephen Ambrose bestseller, “Band of Brothers,” and brought to millions more in the epic Steven Spielberg/Tom Hanks HBO miniseries of the same name, the men of Easy Company were on an extraordinary journey during WWII. From D-Day to V-E Day, the paratroopers of E Company, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, participated in some of the war’s most critical battles and proved to truly be a company of heroes.

Our Band of Brothers® Tour follows the path of Easy Company from its training bases in Toccoa, Georgia, and England into combat in France, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg and on to final victory at Berchtesgaden, Germany, Adolf Hitler’s Alpine retreat. You’ll stand in the very foxholes and precise locations where the men of Easy Company fought in some of the most climatic battles of World War II.

This tour is the ultimate Band of Brothers® Tour, an experience unparalleled in its accuracy and insight.

There will be some free time to relax, shop and do your own exploration in some of Europe’s most charming villages and cities, while evenings will be spent over delicious dinners where you can recount the day’s events with your fellow travelers as you, too, become a Band of Brothers.

The optional pre-tour extension is only offered a few times per year. It starts in Atlanta and includes a visit to Camp Toccoa at Mt. Currahee. Here, you will see Easy Company’s training grounds before returning to Atlanta. There is no group flight; Toccoa Extension guests must book their own trans-Atlantic flights. SAHT will instruct Toccoa Extension guests on a specific flight to purchase (ATL to LHR).

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• Optional Toccoa Extension : Begin your once-in-a-lifetime experience where the men of Easy Company began—at the training camp in Toccoa, Georgia
• Aldbourne, England : Visit the site where the men of Easy Company did their pre-invasion training
• Beaches of Normandy : More than 75 years after the invasion, Utah and Omaha beaches remain hallowed ground
• Brecourt Manor in Normandy : See the actual site where the men of Easy Company silenced the Nazi artillery on a VIP tour
• Sainte-Mère-Église : Learn the true story of what happened at Sainte-Mère-Église in Normandy
• St. Catherine’s Church : Tour the church where Dick Winters went up into the steeple and spotted a German tank column
• Explore Operation Market Garden in the Netherlands : Site of the famous bridge over the Rhine, the Bridge of Nijmegen, that was the objective of Operation Market Garden
• Bastogne and the Battle of the Bulge in Belgium and Luxembourg : Site of the epic eight-day stand against the Germans in December 1944
• Hitler’s Alpine Retreat : Proceed to the war’s end and final victory at Berchtesgaden
• Zell Am See : See where the men of Easy Company celebrated the anniversary of their jump into Normandy by parachuting into the waters of Zeller See Lake

Day-By-Day Itinerary

Day 1 tour group: flight to london; extension group: arrival in atlanta.

Tour-only Guests : Take overnight flight to London Heathrow. Assuming your departure is from the USA, you should board your overnight flight to London Heathrow, landing on Day 2.

Extension Guests : Arrival in Atlanta. The tour begins in Atlanta with an informal Welcome Reception where participants will have an opportunity to get acquainted with each other and meet the historians and tour staff. A brief overview of the legacy of Easy Company will set the stage for the days ahead.

DAY 2 Tour Group: Arrival in London; Extension Group: Toccoa

Tour-only Guests : Arrive at London Heathrow. You will arrive in London this morning. Hotel accommodations will be provided at a Heathrow airport hotel. Standard check-in time is 3 p.m. No group activities this day, but staying near the airport where the tour bus driver will be, will put you in the right place for Day 3.

Extension Guests : Toccoa: Birthplace of the 506th. Ask any of the original members of Easy Company what made the unit so special and they will answer: “Toccoa.” This training ground in the north Georgia woods was where the bonding process of the 506th began. As it did for so many of the men of Easy Company, our tour of Toccoa will begin at the train station where recruits for the 506th first arrived. The station also houses the Stephens County Historical Society, the 506th Museum, and the unique collection of artifacts and memorabilia from Camp Toccoa.

Following lunch, we travel to the site of the Camp and then proceed up Mount Currahee, the 1,000-foot mountain the men of the 506th ran daily for training. Here they drew their inspiration and motto “Currahee,” an Indian word meaning “We Stand Alone.”

We end the day with airport dropoff to take an overnight flight to London. (Note: All extension guests must be on the same flight from ATL to LHR. SAHT will announce which flight guests should book in your welcome package.)

DAY 3 England, Prelude to Invasion

Tour-only Guests : Meet the bus driver and your fellow tour-only guests for breakfast before picking up the extension guests at the airport.

Extension Guests : After arriving in London, the extension guests will meet the bus and tour-only guests. As a united group, we start the tour!

All Guests: After our arrival in London, we will visit Littlecote House, the historic English manor that was headquarters for the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment for the six months prior to the invasion. We will tour Aldbourne, the tiny Wiltshire village that was the home of Easy Company, and visit many of the buildings used by the men of Easy as they prepared for the greatest invasion in history. When in the village we will have an opportunity to enjoy a traditional lunch in the same pubs frequented by the men of the Easy Company.

DAY 4 Crossing the Channel

We begin our day in Portsmouth with a visit to the award-winning D-Day Museum and Southwick House, the elegant country house which became the location of the Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force. In the months leading up to D-Day, Southwick House became the headquarters of the main Allied commanders: Allied Supreme Commander, General Eisenhower; Naval Commander-in-Chief, Admiral Ramsay; and the Army Commander-in-Chief, General Montgomery. Large wall maps that were used in planning D-Day are still in place in the house, with markers showing the positions of the involved forces at the moments of the first landings. After our visit to Southwick House, we board the cross-channel ferry to France.

DAY 5 Fortress Europe

At the start of the invasion, several members of Easy Company landed in and around Ste-Mere- Eglise, including Richard Winters, Carwood Lipton, and Bill Guarnere. Here we begin our historical tracings of the 506th in France. This is where Dick Winters took command after the tragic death of Lt. Thomas Meehan. From Ste-Mere-Eglise we follow the route Lieutenant Winters and a handful of men took on the first night of the invasion to Brecourt Manor. In 1944, the manor was the site of a German battery that threatened the invasion beaches at Utah.

From the manor, we proceed to Utah Beach and the Utah Beach Museum. From Ste-Marie-du-Mont, we will travel past Dead Man's Corner, and into Carentan, the Norman town that was one of the Allies' earliest objectives. We will see the site of Easy Company's battle as they entered the town on June 12, and the square from which General Maxwell Taylor presented awards to his men for their gallant performance during the invasion.

DAY 6 Normandy Coast

Rising early the next morning, we will drive to Omaha Beach where the Americans took the German fortifications after a stupendous fight. The six-mile-wide invasion beach is surrounded by cliffs that made the landing and attack extremely difficult. Landings here were necessary in order to link with British landings to the east at Gold Beach with the American landing to the west at Utah Beach, thus providing a continuous foothold on the Normandy coast. Very little went as planned during the landing at Omaha Beach. Many landing crafts missed their targets throughout the day. German defenses were strong and inflicted heavy casualties on US troops. Losses were especially high in the first wave of landings; there were 2,400 casualties on Omaha Beach alone. We will study the battlefield and hear accounts of the action, cross the beach, analyze the maps and imagine the courage that saved our freedom that day.

Today the American Cemetery stretches along the bluff overlooking Omaha Beach. It covers 172 acres and contains the remains of American military dead, most of whom were killed during the invasion of Normandy and ensuing military operations in World War II. The names of the Americans who lost their lives in the conflict but could not be located and/or identified are inscribed on the walls of a semicircular garden at the east side of the memorial. We will spend some time at the cemetery to pay our respects. In the afternoon we will visit the bridge over the Caen Canal, today called Pegasus Bridge after the symbol of the British airborne forces. Pegasus Bridge, captured by a glider-borne company of the 6th Division British Airborne Troops, was the first engagement of D-Day, and the turning point of World War II.

DAY 7 Remember September

Today we will study Operation Market Garden, the largest airborne operation of the war. In broad daylight, the 101st Airborne Division parachuted into the Netherlands in a bold strike in order to seize bridges across rivers and adjacent canals from Belgium to Arnhem. From there we will head to Son, the location of the 506th’s drop zone and the bridge over Wilhelmina. Under the command of Colonel Sink, their mission was to capture the bridge over the Wilhelmina Canal and then advance south to Eindhoven. We will then follow the company's route into Eindhoven and visit Saint Catherine's church where many of the original liberators gathered in September 1944. Our last stop of the day will be the Veghel battle site, where all of the 101st Airborne Division fought to keep Hell's Highway clear of enemy troops.

DAY 8 Where They Stand

Our travels continue along Hells Highway, the route followed by the British XXX Corps as it attempted to reach its embattled 1st Airborne Division, in Arnhem. Our travels will also take us to the famous bridge over the Waal River that was a key objective of Operation Market Garden, the Bridge at Nijmegen. Following lunch at the De Westerbouwing restaurant, which in 1944 was a German observation position, we travel to the Island, a 5-kilometer strip of land between the Neder Rijm and the Waal and the northernmost point of Allied territory. While at the Island, we will visit the E Company positions during the month-long stalemate at the end of Operation Market Garden.

After a stop at Tor Schoonderlogt, a farm which was the 2nd Battalion Headquarters, we will visit Easy Company's jump-off point for Operation Pegasus, a mission to rescue trapped British paratroopers. We will walk the site of the fight at the Crossroads, where E Company attacked and destroyed a company of elite SS soldiers, preventing over 300 German soldiers from joining an attack on the 506th regimental headquarters. You will stand in the very spots where American and German forces stood, and will understand what Stephen Ambrose meant when he said that the best way to understand history is to study the places it was made.

DAY 9 Bastogne

Our next stop is Bastogne, Belgium, the site of the division's epic eight-day stand against the Germans in December 1944. Along the way, we stop at the American Battle Monuments Commissions Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial at Margraten to pay our respects at the graves of Easy Company men killed in the Netherlands and Belgium. In Bastogne, we visit the Battle of the Bulge Museum and General Anthony McAuliffe's headquarters during the siege.

DAY 10 The Bois Jacques and Beyond

Saturday starts with a visit to the Bois Jacques, Halt Station, and Easy Company's foxholes overlooking the village of Foy. From Foy we will follow the company's route through Recogne, stopping to visit the German cemetery, Cobru, Noville, and Luzory. We conclude our day at the American Cemetery in Luxembourg, where General George S. Patton is buried with members of his 3rd Army.

DAY 11 The Last Patrol

From Bastogne, we head to Fort Simserhof, a beautifully preserved Maginot Line fortification, and a visit to the Muse de la Fortification du Simserhof. Our day concludes with a visit to Hagenau, the site of some of Easy Company's final battles and several daring patrols.

DAY 12 Why We Fight

On April 29, 1945, as they advanced into the Bavarian Alps, Easy Company liberated a satellite of the Dachau concentration camp at Landsberg. We will visit Dachau, the site of some of the most nefarious acts of and against humankind during the war, as we travel south through Bavaria. Constructed in a disused gunpowder factory, Dachau was the first concentration-style camp after which all subsequent concentration camps were modeled. In total, over 200,000 prisoners from more than 30 countries were housed in Dachau, with at least 30,000 registered prisoners are believed to have died in the camp and its subcamps: notably Jews, resistance fighters, clergymen, politicians, communists, writers, artists, and royalty. The second camp liberated by British or American forces, Dachau was one of the first places where the west was exposed to Nazi brutality.

DAY 13 The Eagle’s Nest

Our study of Easy Company battlefields ends at Adolf Hitler's Alpine retreat at Berchtesgaden, where we will visit the Eagles Nest and the remains of the vast Nazi Party complex liberated by Easy Company in May 1945. Eagles Nest was built as a 50th birthday present to Hitler from the Nazi party. Perched at 6017 feet, the Eagle's Nest and the road network leading to it were considered feats of engineering as they were completed in only 13 months' time in 1937-38.

DAY 14 Points

As it did for the men of Easy Company, our travels will end at Zell am See and Kaprun, Austria, where they celebrated the anniversary of their jump into Normandy with a parachute drop into the waters of the Zeller See Lake. In the evening we will have a final special banquet, where we can reflect on our trip and the Band of Brothers®' role in securing victory in Europe.

DAY 15 Going Home

Drop off at Munich Airport.

• May 3 - 17, 2024 Sold Out!
• May 3, 2024 Toccoa Extension Sold Out!
• May 4 - 18, 2024 Sold Out!
• May 10 - 24, 2024 Sold Out!
• June 14 - 28, 2024 (two seats left)
• June 21, 2024 Toccoa Extension
• June 21 - July 5, 2024 Sold Out!
• June 28, 2024 Toccoa Extension
• June 28 - July 12, 2024 - Waitlist Only!
• July 12 - 26, 2024 - Waitlist Only!
• July 19 - August 2, 2024 - Waitlist Only!
• September 11, 2024 Toccoa Extension
• September 11 - 25, 2024 - Waitlist Only!
• September 12 - 26, 2024 - Waitlist Only!
• September 20 - October 4, 2024 - Waitlist Only!
• September 27, 2024 Toccoa Extension
• September 27 - October 11, 2024 (two seats left)
• October 4 - 18, 2024 (two seats left)
• May 9, 2025 Toccoa Extension
• May 9 - 23, 2025
• May 16 - 30, 2025
• June 13 - 27, 2025
• June 20, 2025 Toccoa Extension
• June 20 - July 4, 2025
• July 11 - 25, 2025
• July 18 - August 1, 2025
• September 11, 2025 Toccoa Extension
• September 11 - 25, 2025
• September 12 - 26, 2025

Recommended Reading

Band of Brothers by Stephen E. Ambrose

Tour Includes

• Full-time Tour Historian 24/7
• Full-time Tour Manager
• First class accommodations in 3- and 4-star hotels
• Rooms with private bath or shower, hotel taxes, porterage and service charges
• Touring by first class air-conditioned motorcoach
• Channel crossing to Normandy via ferry
• All breakfasts, some lunches, most dinners
• All entrance fees to museums and attractions
• Educational road book full of maps and historical information
• Guests are responsible for booking their own flights, although SAHT is happy to assist and advise.
• Toccoa Extension guests must book the specific flight as instructed by SAHT for the Atlanta to London leg on Day 2.

Activity Level

As with all of our tours, we prefer to spend our time on the battlefields. There will be some museum stops, but please be prepared to walk on sandy beaches and cobblestone streets. There is a fair amount of walking, especially in Normandy.

Photo Gallery

• Chris Anderson
• Matt Broggie
• Jonathan Carroll

TRIP COST $7,190

Prices are per person based on double occupancy. If rooming alone, there is a single occupancy supplement of $1,900.

TOCCOA EXTENSION: $800 per person based on double occupancy; $250 single occupancy supplement. Trip cost does NOT include trans-Atlantic flights. Please note the Toccoa extension is not offered on each departure.

Our Guests’ Reviews

There are 19 reviews for ' Band of Brothers® Tours '. Add your review

Ambrose tour with Chris Anderson and George Luz Jr.

I can’t imagine anyone anywhere who could provide a more enjoyable and informative event (it’s far more than a tour). This tour is non pareil for sure. Chris and George were delightful and incredibly knowledgeable as both had many interactions with “the men” of the 506th. Thanks for a memory of a lifetime!

Exceeded expectations!

Day 14 of my Band of Brothers tour – Points (Going Home).

What an amazing two weeks! I thought I knew the story of the Band of Brothers. I have seen the complete series countless times. I have read the book by Stephen Ambrose several times. I have read just about every book authored by historians and/or by the men from Easy Company. This tour gave me a perspective that none of those stories could.

On this tour, I was able to walk the ground and see where the history actually took place. I was at Camp Toccoa and went to the top of Mount Curahee. I was at Brecourt Manor and saw where the German guns were located. I saw the tree line that Winters and Compton used to attack each gun. We were explained the tactics used and why. I was able to look down on Foy from the Bois Jacques. I saw the remnants of Easy Company fox holes. We were taken into Foy and were told how the battle progressed. We saw battle damage on buildings that were a direct result of Easy Company fire. We stood on the bank of the river in Haguenau where Easy’s last patrol crossed. I sat in the main hall of Hitler’s Eagles Nest.

But our trip wasn’t just about Easy Company and all they accomplished. I saw the D-Day planning maps at Southwick House. I saw Pegasus Bridge where the first Allied soldiers landed on D-Day. I walked the ground of Pointe du Hoc and marveled at how the US Rangers could have scaled the cliff. I saw French fortifications on the Maginot line. I visited US cemeteries at Omaha Beach, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg. We even stopped at a German cemetery outside of Bastogne.

There are so many more examples that I could go on of how special this trip was. I met some great people, stayed at some amazing hotels, and ate wonderful food.

If you have an interest in Easy Company, this trip through Stephen Ambrose Historical Tours is the only way to go. Our historian Matt and tour coordinator Connie did an amazing job of making this trip a once in a lifetime experience. It exceeded all expectations. I would travel again with Stephen Ambrose Tours in a heartbeat. After each day, I didn’t think the next day could be better but unequivocally it was. If this trip would have ended after just the first few days, where we studied all aspects of the Overlord invasion, I would have felt that it was worth every penny.

We traveled 1,873 miles, through 8 different countries during the 14 day tour. I have memories of a lifetime. I will pass on my experiences to anyone who will listen because history has to be retold so it does not repeat itself.

There are a lot of other “Band of Brothers” type tours out there but, this is the ORIGINAL one. Developed by Dr. Ambrose who met and traveled with the men from Easy Company. Dr. Ambrose walked the actual ground with Dick Winters and the other members of Easy so every aspect of tour was correct. Don’t be fooled by imitations. Chose the first and the finest!

Band of Brothers tour: 7-21 July 2023

The best trip that I’ve ever taken : Bar none. Chris Anderson, George Luz and Klaus the bus driver where 3 of the best team members ever. I don’t know, but I think Chris knows everyone in Europe whom has anything to do with BOB’s. George Luz had first hand experience, because he is the son of George Luz an Easy Company member. Because Chris and George have had many experiences with the men of Easy Company, it made all the difference in this tour. I could go on for hours and hours talking about this tour, but if you are a history buff it is something that you need to make your best efforts to try and make it happen.

Best of the Best!

This was my third SAHT tour with Chris Anderson and it far exceeded my expectations. Just when I think it can’t get any better, Chris puts it over-the-top. With his firsthand accounts from the dozens of Easy Company survivors that he personally knew as well as his personal friendship with Major Dick Winters, he brings the events to life and you can’t help but feel that you’re actually there as an eyewitness. Chris has developed unique and personal relationships with the de Vallavielle family at Brecourt Manor (behind Utah Beach), the Overveld family at the drop zone in Son, Holland and other contacts on the tour that will leave you with memorable experiences that NO other guide can offer. He is a master historian and storyteller that is not afraid to show his true emotions as he shares the well documented accounts through seven countries and 3,000 miles of travel. Oh, and don’t miss the Toccoa extension; even if you have to make a separate trip, do it BEFORE you take the tour with Chris.

Band of Brothers - October 2022 - Unforgettable, Outstanding, and Fun!

This was our first Stephen Ambrose tour, and we wanted to go with Chris Anderson, because we enjoy his History Happy Hours each Sunday. Having a cursory knowlege of the subject area, we really didn’t know what to expect, but having said that, the context, knowledge base, details, locations, and Chris’s personal relationship with most of the Easy Company men all added to the fantastic experience. We were able to go to places along the route that were not seen by many tours based on the personal relationship that Chris has with many of the “locals.” Keith Smith, tour manager for this trip took constant care of all of us, and our driver, Klaus, maneuvered our tour bus into every nook and cranny on the way. Food was exceptional as were the majority of the accommodations. This is a tour that will touch everyone’s hearts and minds — the bravery of the 101, et. al. No one should hesitate to take this tour … get on the list! We have already booked tours for 2023!

Best Trip I Have Ever Taken

I took the trip in May 2016 as a birthday gift to celebrate my 5oth year of life. I took along a buddy of mine who knew very little about the Band of Brothers series or World War II. I was surprised how much he enjoyed the tour as well. It was no doubt the best trip I’ve been on. It was well worth every penny I spent, and actually exceeded expectations! Ron Drez was our guide and we couldn’t have asked for a better one. He was so knowledgeable with so many stories. He made the trip so special. Every day was a new adventure. I would suggest starting the trip in Toccoa, GA. It is longer and more money but worth it. It’s been almost 6 years later and I still have great memories of this tour! Simply the best!! I would go again, it was that good!

The Best Tour by far.

My dad and I travelled from Australia to do this tour back in 2005. We had Easy Co veterans Forrest Guth and Buck Taylor on the tour with us. Chris Anderson did an amazing job. The tour was an experience that I will never forget. I can not recommend it highly enough. Thanks Chris and team.

Band of Brothers

Best trip I have ever been on! You really can’t appreciate what our boys did for us until you go on this trip and actually see where they had to go and the hardships they had to endure

Band of Brothers Historical Tour

This tour was beyond our expectations. My husband’s Dad trained at Camp Toccoa and participated in the forced march from Toccoa to Atlanta. Even though he was transferred to the 502nd at Fort Benning, we were able to visit each place he jumped and fought. For my husband to be at the jump zone where his Dad landed 75 years earlier was an unforgettable experience. The celebration of liberation in Eindhoven was another experience we shall never forget. To actually visit the places I had taught about for so many years made this the trip of a lifetime. I only wish I had taken this trip earlier to share with my students and my father-in-law!

Over the years I have taken many tours but without question the origianal Band of Brother’s tour I took in 2013 was the best historical tour I’ve ever experienced. Ron Drez was our leader and he did a masterful job of weaving the experiences of Easy Company losing sight of the bigger picture. One can not walk away from the tour without a deep understanding and lasting admiration of leaders such as Richard Winters. What leadership! On more than one occasion I’ve been tempted to repeat the experience.

Band of Brothers Tour

I had been thinking about this tour for some time & Dave Meyer decided to join me. Chris Anderson & George Luz Jr. made it a truly unforgettable experience with the research & personal contact with the Easy Company guys. We were hoping for a good trip but had a great tour filled with some extras we did not expect that are much appreciated. We had a super group & met some new friends that made it even more special. A big thanks to Chris, George & our driver Henny for a memory of a life time tour. We will recommend SAHT to anyone thinking about this tour, could not be better.

Band of Brothers - September 2018 - Wonderful Tour

This was absolutely the trip of a lifetime. I have wanted to do this tour for years and I finally set aside the time to do it. Chris Anderson, George Luz, Jr. and Henny (our great driver) made the tour truly unforgettable. Every day was a new adventure for me and my wife – – made even more special by the personal experiences relayed to us by Chris and George because of their friendships with the men of Easy Company (and George’s stories of his dad). Thanks to Chris, George and Henny for a job that went “above and beyond the call of duty.” For my fellow tour guests (who are now my new good friends)… “What time is it?”….

Band of Brothers Tour Sept 2016

This was as amazing trip and opportunity to learn more about Easy Company. This was my third trip with Stephen Ambrose Tours and was the best of the trio. Our group was wonderful and resulted in a couple of friends we still remain in contact with. The historian was Ron Drez, his knowledge of the Band of Brothers and their story was second to none. At every stop on the tour Ron was able to relate the story in a way that painted a picture that even someone with only a casual knowledge of history, could follow along. All accommodations and meals were first class and impeccably arranged. I highly recommend SAHT to all that our looking to learn more about the Band of Brothers. Looking forward to my next trip with them, this time for the 75th anniversary of DDay.

The tour and our June 2018 guides

An experience of a lifetime. Not just information. An exercise of the heart as well, that lingers long in its memories. Great that teenagers were along with their parents as well as old geezers like me, and a group in the middle whose parents or grandparents had participated in WWII. Chris Anderson & George Luz were the perfect team of guides. Chris the historian who interviewed Stephen Ambrose and Easy Co’s survivors and George the son of an Easy Co soldier depicted in the book and HBO series

I’ve wanted to take this trip ever since Stephen Ambrose lead it. When Mike and I first started talking about it and researching options he mentioned another company, but to me there was only one choice: Stephen Ambrose wrote the book on the Band of Brothers. I regretted not being able to make the trip with Ambrose but still felt the group he started would provide the best tour. The trip was better than I ever hoped for – the personal stories and insights, and the passion for the men of Easy Company, that George and Chris shared with us could not have been duplicated by any other team. I am very grateful! I still believe taking the trip with Ambrose would have been wonderful, but recognize that Band of Brothers was a book project for him. Chris and George literally grew up with them. No other team can match that! My wife and I are planning to take the tour together in 2019, maybe 2020, provided that Chris and George are still leading it as a team. It has been my stories about the two of them that convinced her to go.

Fantastic, Excellent, Outstanding....

I was on the June 2016 tour…Fantastic, Excellent, Outstanding are just some of the terms that come to mind when I remember this tour.

We stayed in very nice hotels, the bus was first rate (especially our driver Henne…the man could drive a bus anywhere). The historian/guide Chris Anderson was informative, knowledgeable and most importantly cared deeply about the subject (he also had some great back stories to tell). Our logistics Guide Matt Brogge did a fantastic job (he had us running like a well oiled machine).

I’ve read comments from people who have not taken this tour and they seem to believe that this tour is a victory lap for Easy Company, 506th PIR, 101st Airborne. It is not that at all.

While the tour does concentrate on Easy Company it does not skimp or leave out other units who were involved in action in the areas where you will visit. For example, standing on Omaha Beach at the Vierville Draw and looking at the terrain and the defensive positions that had to be taken and overcome, will fill you with awe for the men of the 29th Infantry Division who assaulted the beach.

Following Easy Company will give you a good idea of what the average combat infantry man went through. This tour put into perspective the large scale of the war and also the personal human toll paid for in blood by common everyday Americans. (Not a very easy thing to do, in my opinion)

I would not mess around with any other tour company, if you want a fantastic experience, tour with this group. They hit the ball out of the park!

Thanks again, Chris, Matt and Henne! (I am already looking at my next tour)

A bucket list trip

We took this trip in 2015. It was an awesome trip and we are so thrilled we did it. I highly recommend this particular tour. I’m sure we went places and saw things other tours are not able to do. It was a bucket list trip and totally worthwhile. Loved it! The promotions are not hype. Accommodations, food, transportation all as advertised.

The best trip we have ever taken

We have both traveled a great deal, in this country and abroad, and this (Band of Brothers tour with Stephen Ambrose Historical Tours) was truly the best trip we have ever taken. Our historian was an incredible guide and wealth of information. We feel truly blessed that we had such a wonderful team and such a memorable experience.

Unforgettable experiences

Each day was filled with unforgettable experiences. The details about the places and events made the tour so memorable and I learned so much.

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DESTINATION: WWII

A World War II Travel Blog

22 Unforgettable WWII Sites on Oahu: Museums, Ruins, Memorials, & More

Last Updated: January 6, 2024 //  by  Ashley Smith Leave a Comment

When people think of visiting WWII sites on Oahu, they probably don’t get much farther than Pearl Harbor. And while I’m definitely going to talk about the many amazing Pearl Harbor sites in this post, I’m also going to point out several more you should visit the next time you’re in Hawaii.

The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor launched the U.S. into war, and throughout the rest of it the island of Oahu stood on alert. As a result, there are tons of WWII sites on Oahu – museums, defense ruins, crash sites, cemeteries, and many more. Here are the 22 Oahu WWII sites you should consider adding to your travel itinerary.

Table of Contents

Map of WWII sites on Oahu

This map contains all the WWII sites on Oahu I mention in this post. To save this map:  Click on the star ⭑ next to the map’s title to save in your Google Maps.  To use this map:  When you get there, open Google Maps on your phone, click “Saved” at the bottom, then click “Maps.”

Pearl Harbor WWII sites on Oahu

I talk about all of these in depth in my many posts about Pearl Harbor , so I’m just going to briefly summarize them here. For more details, please click that link above to dig into all my Pearl Harbor content.

1. Pearl Harbor Visitor Center

The Pearl Harbor Visitor Center is the main hub for visiting Pearl Harbor and the home base of the Pearl Harbor National Memorial (and National Park site).

Besides the usual “visitor center” stuff, there’s also a couple of Pearl Harbor museums, a memorial theater that shows a great documentary, and a gift shop. This is also where you board the boat to visit the USS Arizona Memorial.

2. USS Arizona Memorial

This is the site people most think of when they think about “visiting Pearl Harbor.” This memorial sits over the sunken remains of the USS Arizona , a battleship the Japanese sunk during the Pearl Harbor attack and where 1,177 men died as a result.

3. Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum

Next door to the Visitor Center is the Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum (also known as the Bowfin Museum). It’s the home of the USS Bowfin , a WWII-era submarine, as well as an indoor museum and large collection of outdoor artifacts, all telling the story of submarine warfare.

4. Battleship Missouri

The USS Missouri was a WWII-era battleship that not only saw service in the Pacific but also served as the location for the surrender ceremony that ended World War II. It was on the main deck of this ship that Japan officially surrendered to the U.S. You can take guided tours of the ship as well as explore it on your own.

5. Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum

Near the Battleship Missouri is the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum which focuses on the “air” portion of the Pearl Harbor attack, since the Pearl Harbor attack was, by and large, an air raid. Check out their fantastic collection of WWII-era aircraft, visit the famous hangars, and take an unforgettable tour atop the Ford Island Control Tower .

6. USS Oklahoma Memorial

Outside the entrance to the Missouri is the USS Oklahoma Memorial. This memorial honors the 429 men who died aboard the USS Oklahoma when Japanese fighters sunk it on December 7, 1941.

7. Ford Island Historic Trail (military access only)

If you have military access, you can explore the Ford Island Historic Trail, a walking trail around Ford Island that stops at many historically-notable spots. You’ll see tons of memorials, original buildings, and even some strafing marks from Japanese machine guns that still remain here.

8. USS Utah Memorial (military access only)

While on Ford Island, also check out the USS Utah Memorial which honors the 58 men who died when it was sunk during the Pearl Harbor attack. You can still see much of the rusted ship sticking out of the water.

This was a super brief summary of what the Pearl Harbor sites are all about, but there’s really so much more to learn about them. Check out my Pearl Harbor page or pick up one of these great Pearl Harbor books to learn more.

Oahu WWII sites: Museums

In addition to the museums at Pearl Harbor, here are two more great World War II museums worth visiting on Oahu:

9. US Army Museum of Hawaii

This free museum is located at Fort DeRussy, inside Battery Randolph, a former coastal artillery fortification. (You can still check out the guns mounted in their original spots.) This museum covers the entire timeline of the U.S. Army here in Hawaii, but for obvious reasons a great deal of it still focuses on the WWII-era.

Given how crowded and hot Pearl Harbor can be, I found this to be a much more enjoyable place to learn about the Pearl Harbor attack and see some awesome artifacts. They do a great job of making the information easily understandable and relatable.

Out front there’s a large collection of WWII tanks and other vehicles. Inside, you’ll also find the “Gallery of Heroes” which honors recipients of the Medal of Honor and the Distinguished Service Cross (or the Navy or Air Force Cross.)

This museum is free to visit and they even validate parking in the lot across the street. Get more information on the U.S. Army Museum of Hawaii here .

10. Tropic Lightning Museum

The Tropic Lightning Museum is dedicated to the work of the 25 th Infantry Division in the Pacific theater and the histories of Wheeler Army Airfield and Schofield Barracks, where the museum is located.

Seeing as how this museum is located on an active military base, be sure to have your photo ID and car registration and insurance information available. (Or rental car agreement if you’re visiting.) Get more info on the visitor requirements here .

One of the most popular WWII sites on Oahu— the Brewseum —was a combination WWII museum and taproom and a favorite of many. That is, until it closed permanently after the fallout of 2020. They have since relocated to Durango, Colorado where you’ll soon be able to visit the all-new Home of the Brave Museum & Brewseum. You can check their website for updates here .

Oahu WWII sites: Cemeteries

While on Oahu, pay can your respects to those who gave their lives in World War II at these cemeteries:

11. National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl Cemetery)

Just outside downtown Honolulu you’ll find the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (commonly referred to as ‘Punchbowl Cemetery’ due to its location within the Punchbowl Crater).

This massive burial and memorial site opened in 1949 and contains the graves of those who died serving in the U.S. military in the Pacific (both in WWII and the Korean War, and now the Vietnam War also). Along with dozens of WWII Medal of Honor recipients and hundreds of unidentified Pearl Harbor victims, civilian war correspondent Ernie Pyle is also buried here .

In addition to the burial sites, this cemetery also contains a grand memorial atop a massive hill . This memorial includes huge mosaic maps that detail the biggest military achievements of the Pacific war, large walls that feature the names of the missing (18,095 of them from WWII alone), and a memorial chapel. There are also several smaller World War II memorials scattered throughout the cemetery.

You can find all the visitor information you need for the Punchbowl Cemetery here .

12. Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery

Across the island in Kaneohe you’ll find the Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery. It opened in 1991 and contains the graves of about 10,000 Pacific war veterans from World War II, the Korean War, and others. They also host regular Memorial Day ceremonies. Visitor information here .

13. Oahu Cemetery

Oahu Cemetery in Honolulu contains three Commonwealth graves ; all of them were from the UK, worked aboard the HMS Victorious, and died in April 1943.

Oahu WWII sites: Memorials

Besides the many memorials at Pearl Harbor and in the cemeteries, you can also find several World War II memorials around the island of Oahu. Here are a few to keep your eyes peeled for:

14. Haleiwa Beach Park War Memorial

If you’ll find yourself up on the North Shore in historic Haleiwa, be sure to stop by the memorial at Haleiwa Beach Park. There’s free parking all around it and easy beach access. (And probably a sea turtle or two waiting for you.)

15. Pacific War / Iwo Jima Memorial (military access only)

For those of you with military access, head over to the Marine Corps Base Hawaii in Kaneohe to check out the Pacific War Memorial—probably more familiar to you as a replica of Joe Rosenthal’s Iwo Jima flag raising memorial. Though a little different from than the original in Arlington, Virginia , the sentiment is the same—a celebration of Allied victory in the Pacific and a memorial to lives lost. It’s surrounded by a “Walkway of Honor.”

Because this memorial is located on an active military base, you do need military access to see it. (It’s located just inside the main gate to the left.) More information here .

16. Eternal Flame of the Armed Forces at the State Capitol

Outside the state capitol building in Honolulu stands the Eternal Flame of the Armed Forces. It was erected in 1972 to honor the victims of the Pearl Harbor attack as well as all men and women from the state of Hawaii who have served in the armed forces of the United States.

It was designed by Hawaiian sculptor and veteran Bumpei Akaji who fought in Italy in 1943 with the 100th Battalion of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. This memorial was dedicated in 1972 and replaced an earlier memorial which was moved to Kee’hi Lagoon.

17. Kee’hi Lagoon Memorial

Established in 1949, the Kee’hi Lagoon Memorial is actually a large memorial park, the centerpiece of which is the memorial obelisk, “dedicated to the living, in memory of our fallen comrades who gave their lives to our country” in the Pacific theater during World War II. More information here .

18. Catalina crash site memorial

Up on the top of Makapu’u Point you’ll find a memorial dedicated to those killed in a plane crash near this spot in 1942. To get to this memorial, you’ll need to hike up the Makapu’u Lighthouse Trail (full guide in that link). This is an easy and incredibly worthwhile hike, especially at sunrise.

As the memorial states:

Not far from here, on April 5, 1942, nine American naval aviators perished in the service of their country. They crashed their Consolidated “Catalina” PBY-5A Serial 2487 seaplane, returning from 12.5 hours of patrolling the waters around Hawaii for enemy forces. They crashed trying to land in foul weather and darkness, mistaking the Makapu’u light for Barbers Point light and hit the hillside during a low altitude circling maneuver.

Oahu WWII sites: Pillboxes and other war-era ruins

Besides all the ways the war’s events have been memorialized around the island, some of the most interesting WWII sites on Oahu are the actual remnants themselves. All over Oahu you can find pillboxes, batteries, and other war-era ruins to explore. Here are a few of the many:

19. WWII bunkers at Kualoa Ranch

If you have plans to visit Kualoa Ranch for say, a Jurassic Park tour or other movie sites tour , you’ll be pleased to know that a visit to a WWII bunker is in your future! In fact, it’s one of the highlights.

Once aboard your tour vehicle, you’ll drive through the forest to get to the valley, the likes of which are full of mostly hidden WWII bunkers . My tour guide made sure to point these out to us and give us a lot of background information on how Kualoa Ranch was utilized during World War II.

The first stop on your tour is going to be Battery Cooper. This former WWII bunker has since been used as a movie set and is now a museum of sorts, filled with tons of former sets and movie memorabilia.

They bring you here to check out the movie props, but the interior of the building is full of war history. There are several informative posters and archival photos on the walls that detail how Battery Cooper (and others at Kualoa Ranch) was used during the war. The movie props are meh, but the war history is an awesome and unexpected surprise.

You can check out all of the available Kualoa Ranch tours here on Viator and here on Get Your Guide . I personally took the Jurassic Adventure Tour since I’m a huge dino dork.

20. Pillboxes, bunkers, batteries

To see some of the neatest WWII sites on Oahu, you might have to do a little bit of hiking. WWII-era pillboxes, batteries, and bunkers abound on this island and to try and name them all would be nearly impossible.

But, I was able to get to a handful of them on my latest visit to Hawaii. If you can, check out these most popular and most easily accessible WWII pillboxes :

• Lanikai pillbox
• Peace pillbox
• Makapu’u Point pillboxes
• Diamond Head pillboxes
• Pink pillbox

For more on hiking to these awesome WWII pillboxes, you can check out my guide to WWII hikes on Oahu here or click the links for each of the above.

21. The Koko Head Railway

If you read my WWII hiking guide mentioned above, you’ll already know about this one, the craziest hike of them all— the Koko Head Railway .

The Koko Head Railway is a former railroad track the U.S. Army built up the side of the Koko Head Crater to move materials, people, and supplies between their base at the bottom and the operations and defense installations at the top.

Today, the defense center is gone but the railway remains and is now a popular hiking and fitness trail. It consists of 1,048 railroad ties that climb nearly vertical up the side of the crater. I know that sounds daunting, but once at the top you have tons of WWII history to explore.

The leftover rusted remains of the gas-powered railway are still here. As are the bunkers and lots of other random equipment. Be careful around here (maybe get your tetanus shot before you fly to Hawaii?) but do make the trip up if you can! More information about hiking the Koko Head Crater trail here.

22. Corsair plane crash site

If you have scuba diving plans for your Hawaii trip, be sure to check out one of the most unique of the WWII sites on Oahu­—the underwater crash site of a WWII Vought F4U Corsair plane .

Located about three miles off the southeastern shore of Oahu, this WWII plane sits at a depth of 110 feet below the surface. The plane is pretty well intact and is said to be a playground for large eels, rays, octopuses, a curious WWII buffs. If you’d like to see it for yourself, contact your preferred dive shop.

The plane made an unplanned water landing after running out of fuel, shortly after the end of the war. The pilot survived the crash , made it safely to shore, and lived happily ever after.

WWII sites on Oahu you need military access to visit

The following is a list of WWII sites on Oahu you need military access in order to visit . As a civilian, you can’t visit these on your own, but you can as long as you have a military chaperone (like I did).

• Ford Island Historical Trail
• USS Utah Memorial
• Pacific War Memorial

There is one exception to this however. Even though Ford Island in general is off-limits to non-military personnel, you can still visit as a civilian under one condition. If you’d like to see the USS Utah Memorial and the other cool WWII sites on Oahu along the Ford Island Historical Trail, you can book yourself a spot on the Ford Island Bus Tour .

This is a free tour provided by the National Park Service and is available to everyone, regardless of military access. Get more information about the Ford Island Bus Tour here .

To visit the other WWII sites on Ford Island without military access—the Battleship Missouri, the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum, and the USS Oklahoma Memorial—you can and must take the free shuttle bus from the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center . If you do have military access, you can drive yourself to these sites and park for free.

More info for your trip to the WWII sites on Oahu

• Hotels : Read reviews and book your room here on Booking.com (But Hotels.com and Expedia usually have good deals too.)
• Rental car : Check out the  best rental car deals on Oahu  here so you can drive yourself to all these sites.
• Sightseeing : Pick up your  Oahu GoCity pass  here and you can potentially save lots of money.
• Trip planning : Don’t forget to pick up a  Hawaii guidebook  for the rest of your trip and this pocket size  USA customs and culture guide  if you’re coming to us from abroad.
• More Hawaii : Check out all my  Hawaii blog posts  here.

Like this post? Have questions about visiting the WWII sites on Oahu? Let me know in the comments below. Have fun in Hawaii!

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About Ashley Smith

Ashley is a World War II historian and travel expert who has visited 32 countries. She specializes in quick trips throughout Europe and the Americas with a focus on World War II museums, memorials, battlefields, and other sites of interest. Originally from Memphis, TN, she currently lives in Boston with her husband and two feline commanders.

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