Juno Beach, one of the five Allied landing beaches in Normandy, was where Canadian forces came ashore on D-Day, June 6, 1944. It was built into the plan for Operation Overlord as the sector between the two British beaches — Gold to the west and Sword to the east — and it saw some of the heaviest fighting of the invasion. You can still walk along the same stretch of sand where Canadian soldiers landed under intense fire and began their advance inland through the villages of Courseulles-sur-Mer, Bernières-sur-Mer, and Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer. Today, you’ll find memorials, preserved German bunkers, and the excellent Juno Beach Centre Museum honoring Canada’s vital role in the Normandy landings and the liberation of Europe. Here’s my guide to visiting Juno Beach, Normandy, what happened here, what you can see today, and how to plan your visit.
THIS POST MAY CONTAIN COMPENSATED AND AFFILIATE LINKS MORE INFORMATION IN OUR DISCLAIMER
You’ll find Juno Beach along the Normandy coast, right by the harbor town of Courseulles-sur-Mer. This was where the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division and the 2nd Canadian Armored Brigade landed on D-Day, fighting their way through mined beaches and fortified German defenses to secure ground between the British sectors of Gold and Sword. The Canadians advanced further inland than any other Allied force on June 6, 1944. Today, you see traces of that morning both at the beach and in the surrounding villages. In this guide, I’ll take you through what happened here on Juno Beach, the places you can explore today, and how to make the most of your visit.
PRACTICAL TRAVEL TIPS
- 🛡️ Get Travel Insurance: Civitatis includes medical expenses, repatriation, theft, luggage delays. No deductibles or upfront payments. Get a quote here.
- 🛏️ Sea view? Laundry? Private bath? Book a Room.
- 🔌 Be ready for the plug, socket & power situation.
- 📶 Internet, maps and data on the go. eSims for Travel
A Brief History of Juno Beach and WWII
Juno Beach was one of five landing zones chosen for the Allied invasion of Nazi-occupied France, known as Operation Overlord. It was assigned to the Canadian 3rd Infantry Division and 2nd Armored Brigade, supported by British Royal Navy ships and the Royal Canadian Air Force. The goal was to capture the beach, link up with British forces on Gold and Sword Beaches, and move inland toward Caen. It was built into the invasion plan as a critical midpoint — the success of the entire Normandy landings depended on it.
#1 DAY TRIP
See All the Major Canadian Sites & Memorials
From Juno Beach to the amazing Juno Beach Center here, this is the best way to see the beaches, sites and memorials. This tour will take you to all the key spots with the minimum of downtime. Superb guides, excellent drivers and highly recommended.
When the first wave came ashore around 07:35 on June 6, 1944, they faced heavy German fire, underwater mines, and strong tides that made the approach especially dangerous. More than a thousand Canadians were killed or wounded that day, but by nightfall, they had pushed nearly ten miles (sixteen kilometers) inland — further than any other Allied force on D-Day.
Timeline of Events
- 06 June 1944, 07:35: First wave of Canadian troops from the 3rd Infantry Division land on Juno Beach.
- 06 June 1944, 08:00: Heavy resistance from German defenses slows progress near Courseulles-sur-Mer.
- 06 June 1944, 09:30: Tanks from the 2nd Canadian Armored Brigade reach the seawall and begin pushing inland.
- 06 June 1944, 12:00: Bernières-sur-Mer and Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer are captured after fierce fighting.
- 06 June 1944, 21:00: Canadian troops secure their inland objectives, linking with British units from Gold and Sword Beaches.
- 07–10 June 1944: Canadian forces consolidate their positions and prepare to advance toward Caen
- 13 June 1944: Battle of Le Mesnil-Patry marks the next major engagement for Canadian troops inland.
What to See at Juno Beach
The Juno Beach sector covers several miles (around ten kilometers) along the Normandy coast, centered around Courseulles-sur-Mer. And you don’t need to trek, or drive miles to see this part of the D Day Landings history, the locations are relatively close. That said, the most convenient way to see them is to self-drive (or take a specific tour focused on the Canadian sites).
Read my guides to visiting the other beaches – Utah Beach, Omaha Beach, Gold Beach, and Sword Beach.
1. Juno Beach Centre and Bunker Tour
The Juno Beach Centre is the heart of this site, built by Canadian veterans and their families to honor the soldiers who landed here and the country they represented. Inside, you’ll walk through exhibits that trace Canada’s journey through the Second World War — from the outbreak in 1939, through the Battle of the Atlantic, the home front, and finally the Normandy landings. You can still see uniforms, personal letters, and film footage that bring individual stories to life.
But for me, the Bunker Tour is a must-see — it’s the only way to step directly inside the German defenses that once guarded this beach. It’s an extra cost, (about 3 euros more), and you can only visit with a guide, but its worth it.
The tour takes you beneath the dunes into a network of original concrete bunkers that formed part of the Atlantic Wall. You can still see the firing slits aimed at the sea, the narrow passageways, and even the steel doors used by the German troops stationed here. The guide explains how these bunkers were built in 1943 and how Canadian engineers captured them on D-Day. You MUST prebook it. We traveled in the offseason and booked the day before (how lucky were we to get on it!!), but do check HERE and book it if you can.
- Address of Juno Beach Centre: Voie des Français Libres, 14470 Courseulles-sur-Mer, France
- Cost of Juno Beach Centre: Adults €9.50; combined museum and bunker tour €12.50
- Opening hours of Juno Beach Centre: Daily, 10:00–18:00 (hours vary seasonally)
How long to spend at Juno Beach Centre: 1.5–2 hours for the museum; add 45 minutes for the bunker tour.
Website: https://www.junobeach.org
How to get to Juno Beach Centre: In Courseulles-sur-Mer, 12 miles (19 kilometers) north of Caen; paid parking nearby
Map location of Juno Beach Centre: https://maps.app.goo.gl/5yBY3Zb7DwNsAnyp7
2. Juno Beach Area Memorials
You’ll find a series of small but meaningful memorials lining the promenade and dunes around the Juno Beach area. They’re spread out across a short stretch of beach, and you can easily walk between them in under an hour.
Juno Beach Signal Monuments
Similar to the Signal Monument on Omaha Beach, there are two of these Signal Monuments here at Juno. (there are ten in total on the Normandy Beaches). There’s one here at the beach and another next to the House of Canadians. They’re shaped like the prow of ship, with a base in the shape of a V to signal victory. They were inaugurated in 1950.
Royal Canadian Navy Memorial
This simple monument honors the sailors who died or disappeared while serving with the Royal Canadian Navy during the landings and throughout the Battle of the Atlantic.
4th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment Memorial
You can’t miss this memorial – it’s a 40mm Bofors anti aircraft gun, here to remember the Artillery Regiment who provided air defense to the Canadians here.
Memorial to Canadian Gunners
Dedicated to the artillerymen who supported the landings at Juno Beach, its another gun, A 25 pound field gun.
Churchill A.V.R.E. Tank and Memorial
This original Churchill A.V.R.E. tank was one of the Hobarts’ “funnies” tanks developed by the British to breach beach defenses. The tank that’s here landed on D Day, losing most of its crew who died or were wounded. There’s more on the Churchill AVRE tank here.
Monument to Polish Soldiers
This small granite monument remembers the Polish troops who fought in Normandy later in the campaign, helping to close the Falaise Pocket.
Memorial to the Canadian Infantry
Erected to honor the infantry regiments that landed across Juno Beach, this monument lists the units that took part in the assault.
- Address of Juno Beach Area Memorials: Promenade des Français, 14470 Courseulles-sur-Mer, France
- Cost of Juno Beach Area Memorials: Free
- Opening hours of Juno Beach Area Memorials: Open year-round
- How long to spend at Juno Beach Area Memorials: 45 minutes–1 hour
- How to get to Juno Beach Area Memorials: Walkable from Juno Beach Centre; free parking at the center.
- Map location of Juno Beach Area Memorials: https://maps.app.goo.gl/N99q1XH3NqA9mNV96
3. The Cross of Lorraine at Juno Beach
You’ll find the Cross of Lorraine near the promenade at Courseulles-sur-Mer, just behind the dunes that once witnessed the D-Day landings. This tall granite monument, shaped in the distinctive double-barred cross of the Free French Forces, marks a defining moment in France’s modern history. It was here, on June 14, 1944 — just eight days after the landings — that General Charles de Gaulle set foot on French soil for the first time since 1940. His arrival symbolized the return of French sovereignty and unity after four years of occupation.
The monument honors the Free French and their role in the liberation of France, while its position facing the sea recalls the long road back to freedom.
- Address of The Cross of Lorraine: Promenade des Français, 14470 Courseulles-sur-Mer, France
- Cost of The Cross of Lorraine: Free
- Opening hours of The Cross of Lorraine: Open year-round
- How long to spend at The Cross of Lorraine: 15–20 minutes
- How to get to The Cross of Lorraine: Located along the Juno Beach promenade, a short walk east from the Juno Beach Centre; parking nearby
- Map location of The Cross of Lorraine: https://maps.app.goo.gl/awvN7emHAppRK2sK9
4. The Canadian War Cemetery
You’ll find the Canadian War Cemetery just a few miles inland from Juno Beach, near the quiet village of Bény-sur-Mer. It was established by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission after the Normandy campaign and is the final resting place of 2,048 Canadian soldiers who died during the D-Day landings and the fierce fighting that followed. Walking through its rows of perfectly aligned white headstones, you can still feel the weight of what was achieved here — each one marking a young life cut short in the fight for freedom.
The cemetery is surrounded by trees and gardens, carefully tended year-round. The maple leaves engraved on many of the headstones instantly connect this place back to Canada, thousands of miles away. Many of those buried here fell on June 6, 1944, during the first hours of the landings, while others died in the push south toward Caen in the days that followed. The central stone of remembrance bears the inscription “Their Name Liveth For Evermore,” and the Cross of Sacrifice rises high above the plots, casting its shadow across the lawns.
- Address of Canadian War Cemetery: 1 Route de Reviers, 14470 Bény-sur-Mer, France
- Cost of Canadian War Cemetery: Free
- Opening hours of Canadian War Cemetery: Open daily, dawn to dusk
- How long to spend at Canadian War Cemetery: 30–45 minutes
- Website: https://www.cwgc.org
How to get to Canadian War Cemetery: 3.5 miles (6 kilometers) southwest of Courseulles-sur-Mer via D170; free parking on-site - Map location of Canadian War Cemetery: https://maps.app.goo.gl/cW3AEACAxscxCu7ZA
5. 1944 Radar Museum
A short drive from Juno Beach, the 1944 Radar Museum at Douvres-la-Délivrande provides a fascinating look at the German radar network that once monitored this stretch of the French coast. It was built between 1942 and 1944 as part of the Atlantic Wall defenses, and you can still walk through several of the original bunkers and radar buildings. The museum does an excellent job explaining how radar technology worked during the war and how it shaped the German response to D-Day. Your ticket comes with a free audio guide.
You can still see the massive concrete structures, original equipment, and even a reconstructed Würzburg radar antenna. The outdoor area includes two radar stations connected by underground tunnels, which you can walk through on a guided visit. It’s a quiet, lesser-known site, but it gives an entirely different perspective on the D-Day story — one from the eyes of the defenders.
- Address of 1944 Radar Museum: 2 Route de Basly, 14440 Douvres-la-Délivrande, France
- Cost of 1944 Radar Museum: Adults €7.50
- Opening hours of 1944 Radar Museum: Daily, 10:00–18:00 (closed Mondays in winter)
- How long to spend at 1944 Radar Museum: 45 minutes–1 hour
Website: https://www.museedelaradarde1944.fr - How to get to 1944 Radar Museum: 7 miles (11 kilometers) east of Courseulles-sur-Mer via D7; free parking
- Map location of 1944 Radar Museum: https://maps.app.goo.gl/K2ZZ61X6Z23BgSSC6
Recommended Itinerary and Route for Visiting Juno Beach
You can easily explore Juno Beach and its surrounding sites in a single, well-paced day. The best way to do it is by car, as most of the key places — the Juno Beach Centre, memorials, and the Canadian War Cemetery — are spread across a few miles of coastline and countryside. Parking is simple and free at nearly every stop. You can also join a guided D-Day tour from Bayeux or Caen, which often includes Juno along with Sword and Gold Beaches. If you’d rather go at your own pace, I recommend starting early at the museum before the groups arrive, then working your way along the beach and inland.
Begin at the Juno Beach Centre, where you’ll get a firm understanding of Canada’s role in the Normandy landings. Spend time in the museum’s galleries before joining the bunker tour, which is, in my view, the most unique part of the experience. Afterward, walk the promenade to visit the Juno Beach Area Memorials, where you can still see the exact sectors of the beach where the Canadian regiments came ashore. Stop for lunch at a café along the seafront — the town has a few spots where you can sit outside and look directly over the sand that once saw the landings.
In the afternoon, drive the short distance to the 1944 Radar Museum in Douvres-la-Délivrande to see how German radar operated during the invasion. Then, end your day with a quiet visit to the Canadian War Cemetery at Bény-sur-Mer.
Suggested One-Day Itinerary:
- 09:30 – Arrive in Courseulles-sur-Mer and visit the Juno Beach Centre
- 11:00 – Join the guided Bunker Tour beneath the dunes
- 12:30 – Walk along the promenade to the Juno Beach Memorials
- 13:30 – Lunch at a seaside café in Courseulles-sur-Mer
- 15:00 – Drive to the 1944 Radar Museum in Douvres-la-Délivrande
- 16:30 – Visit the Canadian War Cemetery at Bény-sur-Mer
Where to Eat and Drink near Juno Beach
After a morning spent along the beach and museum, Courseulles-sur-Mer is the perfect place to relax over lunch or dinner. The town has several small cafés and bistros right along the seafront, many with outdoor terraces where you can sit with a drink and look out toward the landing beaches. You’ll find plenty of local seafood on the menu — oysters, mussels, and the day’s catch straight from the nearby fishing boats.
La Pecherie
5 Quai du Petit Enfer, 14470 Courseulles-sur-Mer, France
Google Maps https://maps.app.goo.gl/iTtU9TdEBgZ1vEe86
You’ll find this restaurant just by the harbor, a short walk from the Juno Beach Centre. This long-running restaurant is known for its fresh seafood platters and traditional Norman dishes like moules marinières and sole meunière. It’s lively but never rushed, and it feels fittingly local.
Les Alizés
1 Quai Est, 14470 Courseulles-sur-Mer, France
Google Maps https://maps.app.goo.gl/digf9fTANFGmQQjF9
Right on the waterfront, this small brasserie is one of my favorite places for a glass of wine and a seafood platter. It’s especially nice in the evening, when the sun sets over the port and the fishing boats return. Each of these spots is within easy walking distance of the main Juno Beach sites, so you can plan your meals around your visit without needing to drive.
Where to Stay to Visit Juno Beach
Staying near Juno Beach gives you time to explore the museum, the memorials, and the nearby countryside without feeling rushed. Courseulles-sur-Mer and the surrounding villages have a good mix of small hotels, B&Bs, and self-catering apartments — most within a few minutes’ drive of the beach. I’ve picked four places that stand out for location, comfort, and consistently great reviews. All are close to parking, restaurants, and the main D-Day sites.
La Cremaillère – Located right on the seafront in Courseulles-sur-Mer, less than half a mile (0.8 kilometers) from the Juno Beach Centre. Rooms are bright and modern, and many have sea views. It’s an easy, comfortable choice with free cancellation and a restaurant on-site. Pick your room here.
Hotel de Paris – This budget-friendly hotel sits in the center of Courseulles-sur-Mer, about a ten-minute walk from the beach. It’s simple, clean, and friendly — perfect if you just want somewhere central to sleep between sightseeing stops. Read more reviews here.
Ferme de la Rançonnière – A restored 13th-century farmhouse in Crépon, around 7 miles (11 kilometers) from Juno Beach. It’s peaceful and atmospheric, with rustic beams, stone walls, and a very good restaurant. This is a great option if you’re looking for a scenic stay with character.
Le Petit Voilier Apartment – A modern, self-catering apartment near the marina in Courseulles-sur-Mer, about a mile (1.6 kilometers) from Juno Beach. It’s well equipped and ideal for families or longer stays, with easy parking and a supermarket nearby.
Each of these accommodation options puts you close to the heart of Canada’s D-Day story — and within easy reach of Gold and Sword Beaches if you plan to explore further.
Books to Read about Juno Beach and WWII
Reading about Juno Beach before or after your visit gives you a deeper sense of what happened here — not just the military tactics, but the human stories behind them. I’ve chosen a few books that really bring the Canadian experience in Normandy to life.
- Juno Beach: Canada’s D-Day Victory – June 6, 1944 – Mark Zuehlke
A detailed and highly readable account of the landings from the Canadian perspective. Zuehlke draws heavily on soldiers’ diaries and letters, making it both personal and vivid. - D-Day: The Battle for Normandy – Antony Beevor
Beevor’s classic account of D-Day covers all five landing beaches but includes a particularly strong section on the Canadians at Juno. His research and storytelling make it one of the most comprehensive single-volume histories of the invasion. - Fields of Fire: The Canadians in Normandy – Terry Copp
A ground-level look at what Canadian troops faced once they moved inland from Juno Beach. Copp’s use of firsthand reports and photographs helps you understand the scale and cost of the fighting. Available on Amazon.
Movies and Documentaries about Juno Beach and WWII
Watching films or documentaries about the Normandy landings before your visit might help you visualize what those first hours on June 6, 1944, might have felt like. While many focus on the American and British beaches, several excellent documentaries and films capture the Canadian story at Juno and the broader context of D-Day. Here are a few worth watching.
Storming Juno – 2010
A gripping Canadian docudrama that follows three soldiers — an infantryman, a tank crewman, and a paratrooper — through their experiences on D-Day. It was filmed on location in Normandy and gives an authentic sense of what the landings at Juno were like. Available on Amazon Prime.
Normandy: The Great Crusade – 1994
Narrated entirely through letters and diary entries from Allied soldiers, this documentary gives a personal and emotional overview of the invasion. The segments covering Juno Beach highlight the Canadian landings with real footage and testimonies.
Saving Private Ryan – 1998
Although centered on Omaha Beach, this film remains one of the most realistic depictions of what the first wave of landings looked and sounded like. Watching it before visiting gives you a sense of the chaos and courage all along the Normandy coast that day. Available on Amazon Prime.
WWII Sites around the World
We can’t claim to have visited every single WWII site around the world, but we’ve explored quite a few of them, admittedly we haven’t written about them all, but here are our guides to those that we have documented.
- Dunkirk & Operation Dynamo (France): What to see, how to visit.
- Utah Beach and the Normandy Landings (France): Where to stay, what not to miss.
- Omaha Beach and the American Cemetery (France): What to see
- Gold Beach – the British Sector – here’s what to see and how to visit.
- Juno Beach: The Canadians and D Day.
- Sword Beach Guide + Pegasus Bridge
- Kanchanaburi and the Death Railway in Thailand: What to see
- Hellfire Pass the the Building of the Death Railway (Thailand): Here’s what to see
- Thanbyuzayat Thai Burma Death Railway (Myanmar): How to get there and what to see
- The Sandakan Memorial, Borneo: (Malaysia): What happened here, why to visit.
- Sandakan to Ranau: the Death Marches (Malaysia): What happened here
- Penang: Malaysia & WWII: Exploring the War Museum.
- Labuan Island: Exploring WWII (Malaysia): Here’s what to see
- Kota Bharu: Did WWII in Asia start here?
- Nagasaki: (Japan): The peace park, the hypocenter and what to see here.
- Hiroshima: The bomb dome and peace park (Japan): What to see
Final Words on Exploring Juno Beach
Juno Beach is today one of the most meaningful places in Normandy — not only for Canadians, but for anyone who wants to understand the courage and sacrifice that defined D-Day. Walking the beach where the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division came ashore, you can still sense the scale of what they achieved on that June morning in 1944 and visiting the Juno Beach Center will help you to understand the role the Canadians played here.
ASocialNomad is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, and amazon.ca. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
