Do You Really Need a Car in Normandy? An Honest Rural Answer

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First published: December 2025

If you’re wondering whether you really need a car in Normandy, you’re not alone. It’s one of the most common questions people ask when planning a stay in rural France — and it’s usually asked with a hopeful edge.

So let’s answer it properly. Honestly. Without pretending rural France works like a city, and without glossing over the reality either. 🌿

The Short, Honest Answer

If you’re staying in rural Normandy — particularly in the Manche — having a car makes life easier.

Why Is That the Case in Rural Normandy?

That doesn’t mean it’s impossible without one. But it does mean you’ll need to plan, adapt, and sometimes embrace a slower rhythm.

This is rural France. Space and privacy to be you is the point of a holiday here.

Villages are small. Distances are real. And that sense of space — the thing people come here for — is exactly what makes transport work differently.

Living Here vs Visiting Here

I’ll be upfront: for me, living here, driving is a must.

I didn’t drive when I lived in London. I didn’t even have a licence (ask me to show you my licence if you don’t believe me — I only passed my test in October 2015, and couldn’t even drive here for a year, so I really do know what I’m talking about with this blog!).

I didn’t need a car. My line used to be: “Some people are born to drive, others are born to be driven.” 😉

Buses, trains, tubes and trams were on my doorstep. If I wanted to go somewhere, I just went.

Normandy doesn’t work like that.

Living here without a car would be doable — just about — but it would make everyday life far more complicated than it needs to be.

Visiting, though, is different from living.

Getting Here Without a Car

You can reach Coutances by train, which connects the town to the wider Normandy rail network and onward to Paris.

These are regional services rather than commuter trains running every few minutes, but they are reliable.

From Coutances, reaching us in Nicorps involves a short taxi ride.

This is actually part of what makes staying here special.

We’re close enough to life to be accessible — but far enough away to feel like a genuine escape from it. 🌳

Taxis: Possible, but Pricey

Taxis do exist locally, but they’re not plentiful — and they’re not cheap.

They work well for planned journeys such as arrivals, departures, or the occasional outing.

They’re not designed to replace a car for day-to-day exploring.

Alternatives That Can Help (If You’re Flexible)

Ride-sharing with BlaBlaCar

BlaBlaCar is widely used in France and is a genuinely normal part of how people travel between towns.

Drivers already making a journey offer spare seats, passengers book via the app, and costs are usually very reasonable.

It’s commonly used by locals, students and commuters — not just tourists — which makes it feel practical rather than novel.

For visitors, it can work particularly well for longer journeys between towns or cities, especially if you’re travelling light and have some flexibility with timing.

It’s not a replacement for having a car at your disposal, but as a way of bridging bigger gaps, it can be surprisingly effective.

Hitchhiking — and Why Rezo Pouce Exists

Hitchhiking is genuinely common in rural Normandy.

It’s not unusual to see someone waiting at the side of the road, thumb out, hoping to get partway along their journey. I’ve had more than one dull grocery run improved by picking someone up and taking them a little further on their way.

Of course, traditional hitchhiking also has its downsides — uncertainty, safety concerns, and reliance on chance.

That’s why Rezo Pouce exists.

Rezo Pouce is a friendly, organised and safer alternative to traditional hitchhiking. Users register via an app, and lifts take place from dedicated, clearly marked pick-up points rather than random roadside spots.

Both drivers and passengers are logged in the system, which adds reassurance and accountability.

It’s mainly used by locals for short journeys between villages and nearby towns, and it now operates across the wider area.

It’s still lift-sharing — just with structure, visibility and more peace of mind.

Bike hire

Bikes can be hired from Coutances, which works well if you’re happy staying relatively local and enjoy slow travel.

Quiet lanes, Voie Verte routes and gentle countryside make cycling a realistic option for some visitors.

But Here’s the Truth Most Guests Discover

Many guests don’t actually want to be out every day.

They come to disconnect.

They come for quiet mornings, long breakfasts, reading in the garden, working on a novel, working remotely in a beautiful setting, or simply letting the days unfold rather than filling them.

Cocooning at the Gîte

Our gîte is designed for exactly this kind of stay.

You don’t need to be constantly on the move to enjoy your time here. In fact, many guests tell us their favourite days are the ones where they don’t leave at all.

Cooking, reading, chatting, feeding the llamas, watching the animals, wandering the fields, or simply doing nothing — properly nothing — becomes the holiday. 🦙💚

Food Without a Car (Clear Expectations)

For guests who don’t want to cook at all, we can provide a home-cooked meal or a simple snack delivered to the gîte, as long as it’s booked in advance.

It’s designed to make settling in easy, especially for car-free arrivals or late travel days.

To keep things calm and manageable, grocery delivery to the gîte is available (on arrival only) and must be booked in advance.

What Most Guests Actually Do

In reality, most guests choose one of three approaches:

• They arrive with a car and enjoy full flexibility.
• They arrive by train to Coutances, then hire a car or bike for part of the stay.
• They arrive without a car and deliberately embrace a slower, more contained holiday.

All three work — as long as expectations match reality.

So… Do You Really Need a Car in Normandy?

If you want total freedom and easy exploration, a car makes rural Normandy simpler.

If what you’re really craving is quiet, space, and a break from constant movement, you may find you don’t miss it as much as you expect.

This is rural France.

It asks a little more planning — and gives a lot back in return. 💚

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