Walk the beach
Walk the sand and dunes in front of the Juno Beach Centre, where Canadian troops came ashore.
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Juno Beach
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One of 178 Things to Do in France
In short
Canadian troops landed on Juno Beach on D-Day, 6 June 1944, along about 9.7 km of the Calvados coast between Gold and Sword. The sand is free to walk at any hour, and the Juno Beach Centre at Courseulles-sur-Mer tells Canada's war story on seasonal hours, with sales ending 45 minutes before closing. Two to three hours covers beach and museum.
Juno Beach is the Canadian D-Day landing sector on the Calvados coast of Normandy, running about 9.7 km from La Rivière to Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer past Courseulles-sur-Mer and Bernières-sur-Mer. The beach is free at any time, and the Juno Beach Centre at Courseulles tells Canada's part in the war. It suits Canadian visitors, history enthusiasts and families touring the landing beaches.
The Canadian assault on 6 June 1944
Juno was one of the five Allied landing sectors, between the British Gold and Sword sectors; its name followed the initial letter of the naval task force assigned to it. The 3rd Canadian Infantry Division led the assault with the 2nd Canadian Armoured Brigade, Royal Marine Commandos and a Royal Navy task force, against units of the German 716th Infantry Division. Allied losses that day numbered 961, including 340 killed.
The division's objectives included Carpiquet airfield and the Caen to Bayeux railway. They were not reached, but the 9th Brigade ended 6 June about 4.8 km from Caen, the deepest advance of any Allied unit that day.
Juno among the six UNESCO components
In July 2026 the World Heritage Committee, meeting in Busan, inscribed "The D-Day Landing Beaches, Normandy, 1944" on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Juno is one of six components, with Utah, Omaha, Gold and Sword beaches and the Pointe du Hoc.
Courseulles' Juno Beach Centre and its galleries
The centre opened on 6 June 2003, founded by veterans and volunteers, and stands behind the dunes at Courseulles. Its galleries cover Canada's war effort and the landings, and a temporary exhibition, Mon enfance 1939-1945, on wartime childhood, opened on 7 February 2026. The ticket, about €13.50 for an adult in 2026, includes a guided tour of Juno Park, where remains of German Atlantic Wall bunkers survive. The centre has announced the Concordia project to extend its building and create a new memorial park.
In 2026 the centre opens at 9:30 from March to October, closing at 19:00 from May to August and 18:00 in spring and autumn; from November to December it opens 10:00 to 17:00. It is closed in January and on 25 December. Reduced and family rates are available.
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Juno Beach Centre official websiteNormandy Tourism
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Key information
🎖️History: Canadian landing sector on D-Day, 6 June 1944
📏Sector: About 9.7 km, La Rivière to Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer
🏛️Museum: Juno Beach Centre, opened 6 June 2003
🎟️Entry: Beach free; museum ticketed
💰Currency: Euro (€ EUR)
🕕Time Zone: CET (UTC+1) · CEST (UTC+2) in summer
Explore the area
Juno Beach Centre 0.2 km
Bernières-sur-Mer 3 km
Gold Beach (Arromanches) 13 km
Caen 18 km
Caen railway station 19 km
✦
Plan your visit to Juno Beach
Dates, opening hours and how to get there are below. Booking ahead secures your preferred day.
Highlights Include:
On the beach
- Dunes and seafront of Courseulles-sur-Mer
- Remembrance and Renewal statue
- German bunker near the dunes
Juno Beach Centre
- Exhibits on Canada's war effort
- The landings of 6 June 1944
- Guided tour of the bunker site
Along the coast
- Bernières-sur-Mer and Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer
- Memorials of the Canadian regiments
- Coast road to the other landing beaches
What They Offer
Entry
Beach free at all times Juno Beach Centre: paid ticket with museum and guided bunker tour
Visit duration
Allow 2–3 hours for the beach and museum
Visit duration
2–3 hours with the museum
Timed entry required No
Juno Beach Centre
The museum covers Canada before, during and after the war, with a guided tour of the bunker site outside.
Drive the landing coast
Follow the coast road to Gold, Sword and the American sectors further west.
Accessibility
The seafront paths at Courseulles are flat. Ask the Juno Beach Centre about access to the bunker tour, which crosses uneven ground.
Age limits
None; swimming is possible in summer; check tides and lifeguard cover, as the tidal range is large.
What to pack
Windproof layer, water, sun cream
What to wear
Comfortable walking shoes
Not allowed
Climbing on memorials, removing objects from the beach or dunes
Amenities
Juno Beach Centre with shop, car parks, seafront cafés in Courseulles-sur-Mer; cafés and car parks near the seafront
Tips for visiting Juno Beach
- Visit the Juno Beach Centre first for context, then walk the sand in front of it.
- Tickets stop selling 45 minutes before closing, so arrive early in the afternoon.
- Join the guided tour of Juno Park, led by Canadian guides, to see the Atlantic Wall remains.
- Remember the centre closes for all of January.
- Bring a windproof layer, as the Channel coast is often breezy.
Driving
Courseulles-sur-Mer is about 20 km north of Caen. Follow signs for the Juno Beach Centre, which has parking near the beach.
Public transportation
Trains run to Caen, 19 km away; regional buses serve Courseulles-sur-Mer.
Address
Juno Beach is centred on Courseulles-sur-Mer, on the Calvados coast. The Remembrance and Renewal statue and memorials to the Canadian regiments stand along the sector. Bernières-sur-Mer is 3 km east and Gold Beach at Arromanches 13 km west.
Opening Hours
- MondayOpen 24 hours
- TuesdayOpen 24 hours
- WednesdayOpen 24 hours
- ThursdayOpen 24 hours
- FridayOpen 24 hours
- SaturdayOpen 24 hours
- SundayOpen 24 hours
- May – August9:30 AM - 7:00 PM
- March, April, September, October9:30 AM - 6:00 PM
- February, November, December10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
- JanuaryClosed
Last entry: None (open access)
The beach is always open. The Juno Beach Centre closes in January and on 25 December.
The beach has free access at all times. Seasonal hours below are for the Juno Beach Centre museum; ticket sales stop 45 minutes before closing.
Special events
Commemorations are held each year around 6 June for the anniversary of the landings, and the Juno Beach Centre runs events such as guided walks for the European Heritage Days in September.
Best times to visit
Morning, before tour coaches arrive at the museum.
Best days to visit
Weekdays outside the June anniversary period are the quietest.
Best months to visit
May, June and September give mild weather; early June is busy with anniversary events.
Admission tickets
Entry is free.
Juno Beach: free access to the beach
The beach is free; the Juno Beach Centre museum sells its own tickets.
- Free access to the beach and seafront
- Museum tickets sold separately at the Juno Beach Centre
Admission
Free entry: no ticket or booking is needed.
Visitor policy
Cancellation and prepayment
No booking is needed; access is free.
Children and admission
Children are welcome on the beach. The museum offers reduced and family rates.
Groups
Groups visiting the museum should book with the Juno Beach Centre in advance.
Pets
Check local beach rules for dogs; ask the museum before bringing a dog inside.
Photography
Personal photography is welcome. Drone flights must follow national drone rules and local restrictions.
Bags
No restrictions on the beach.
Smoking
Do not leave cigarette ends on the beach.
Accepted payment
The beach is free. The museum sets its own payment methods.
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Travelers are asking
Yes. The Juno Beach Centre at Courseulles-sur-Mer tells the story of Canada's part in the war, with a guided tour of the bunker site. Ticket sales stop 45 minutes before closing.
Yes. The beach and seafront are open to everyone, free, at any time.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What to know before visiting the Canadian landing beach.
General
Yes. The beach is public and free at any time. The Juno Beach Centre charges about €13.50 for an adult in 2026, with the guided bunker tour included.
The 3rd Canadian Infantry Division, supported by the 2nd Canadian Armoured Brigade, Royal Marine Commandos and a Royal Navy task force.
Yes, it is a normal seaside beach in summer. Check local signs for tides and lifeguard cover.
Yes. It was inscribed in July 2026 as part of "The D-Day Landing Beaches, Normandy, 1944".
Mon enfance 1939-1945, on wartime childhood, opened on 7 February 2026.
Juno Beach is in France. The street address and directions are under How to get there on this page.
bookingMentor lists 5 places to stay in France. Rooms start from $230.00 (USD) a night.
Timing & weather
In 2026 it opens at 9.30am from March to October, closing at 7pm from May to August and 6pm in spring and autumn. November and December hours are 10am to 5pm. Closed in January and on Christmas Day.
Around two hours for the museum and Juno Park tour, plus time on the beach.
On 6 June 2003. It was founded by veterans and volunteers.
The best months to visit Juno Beach are May, June and September. The best days and times of day are covered under When to visit on this page.
Booking
The 9th Brigade ended the day about 4.8 km from Caen, the deepest advance of any Allied unit.
Allied losses on 6 June numbered 961, including 340 killed.
Getting there
Take the train to Caen, then a regional bus to Courseulles. Caen is about 19 km away.
Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) is the airport for Juno Beach, about 222 km away in a straight line.