You do not need to go to the other side of the world to discover idyllic beaches. Turquoise waters, fine sandy beaches, and breathtaking scenery… here are some of the most beautiful French beaches waiting for you.
Notre Dame Beach – Porquerolles (Var)
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Notre Dame beach is one of the largest beaches on this island. Located away from the village, it is difficult to get there. It takes about 45 minutes on foot or 30 minutes by bike. It may take some time to get there, but when you arrive, you will discover a white sandy beach and translucent water.
Motor Boats are prohibited within 300 meters of the beach, so bathers can enjoy a protected swimming area.
As the beach is located away from the village, it is one of the least visited beaches of the island. So you will have the chance to enjoy this little paradise in a peaceful setting.
Calanque d’En-Vau – Marseille (Bouches-du-Rhône)
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The Calanque d’En-Vau is considered as one of the most beautiful Calanques in France. Discover its gravel beach and its calm and transparent waters.
You will have the opportunity to rent a kayak and have fun on these turquoise waters.
You can get there by car via the départementale 559 (secondary road) that goes from Marseille to Cassis, or by the GR 98 or the GR 51, long-distance hiking trails. It takes about 2 to 3 hours to get there and come back. You can also visit the Calanque by boat, but it does not coast on the beach.
Pampelonne Beach – Saint-Tropez (Var)
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Pampelonne Beach is the best-known beach on the Saint-Tropez peninsula. This beach is one of the most famous in the French Riviera and embodies the “tropezian myth”.
Here, you can rest and enjoy the sun as well as take part in water activities such as jet-ski, paddle or flyboard.
Escalet Beach – Ramatuelle (Var)
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Discover the Escalet Beach, located between Cape Camarat and Cape Taillat. Admire this beach of fine sand and rocks, surrounded by turquoise water and pine trees.
Do not forget to bring a mask and a snorkel to explore the seabed. You can also rent a kayak to sail on the translucent waters.
Calanque de Figuerolles – La Ciotat (Bouches-du-Rhône)
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Enjoy the beach at the calanque de Figuerolles, close to La Ciotat. You can get there easily going down stairs.
Relax on this rocky beach while observing the specific regional rocks and the turquoise water. You can also practise scuba diving.
In summer, to avoid the crowds, do not hesitate to get there early in the morning or at the end of the day.
Estérel beaches (Var-Alpes-Maritimes)
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Admire the red rocks of the Estérel, of volcanic origin, in the heart of small Calanques.
Organize a car ride along the Corniche d’Or and relax on the red pebble beaches, far from the bustle of the French Riviera. The beaches are often accessible by stairs.
Be careful because the beach is unsupervised.
Lavandou beaches (Var)
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Discover the 12 beaches of Le Lavandou including the Saint-Clair beach. Admire the clear water and observe the seabed. Get there early in the morning to admire the sunrise.
The Jean Blanc beach is a rocky and sandy beach, shaded by vegetation. Discover this little paradise and its clear waters. The beach is nicknamed “L’écrin d’argent” for its white sand with silver flakes.
You can also go to the Aiguebelle beach, a white sandy beach where you can enjoy the transparent water of the creeks surrounding the beach. Do not hesitate to bring a mask and a snorkel to observe the seabed.
Dune du Pilat – Bassin d’Arcachon (Gironde)
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Go and discover the Dune du Pilat, the highest dune in Europe located in the Arcachon Bay. Climb to the top of the Dune to discover this Saharan scenery on the stairs or on the sand itself for the bravest.
You can go to the Corniche beach to relax after climbing the dune. Cool off with a swim. You can go to the beach going down the stairs, or by walking down the dune if you are more athletic.
Go to the Dune at the end of the day to watch the sunset and admire the reflections on the Arcachon Bay.
Étretat Beach (Seine-Maritime)
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Discover the Étretat beach, one of the most beautiful beaches of Normandy. This pebble beach is located at the end of the main street leading to the seafront, at the foot of the cliffs of Amont and Aval.
You will have the opportunity to swim as well as to practice water sports such as paddle and kayak.
Anyway, watch out and look into tide schedules. Tides can surprise you, so be careful not to get stuck between two cliffs.
Tahiti Beach – Carantec Peninsula (Finistère)
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Discover the Tahiti Beach, a beautiful sandy beach surrounded by pine trees and protected from the wind.
To get there, follow one of the coastal paths, such as the one at Penn-al-Lann, and admire the breathtaking view of the Château du Taureau, built in the 16th century, and of the Louët Island.
Espiguette Beach – Grau-du-Roi (Gard)
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The Espiguette Beach is the wildest beach of the Gard (French department). It stretches on almost 18 km. Discover the endless dunes that can reach up to 10 meters.
The beach is renowned for the quality of its water.
You can also walk to the Espiguette lighthouse, which is almost 27 meters high.
But be careful because a part of the beach is reserved to naturists. So do some research in order not to be surprised.
Pont d’Arc Beach (Ardèche)
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Go to the Pont d’Arc, a natural gateway to the Ardèche Gorges and discover a breathtaking scenery.
You can rest on one of the two sandy beaches while admiring the rocky landscape and the vegetation.
Plage des Dames – Noirmoutier (Vendée)
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Located in the northeast of the island of Noirmoutier, the Plage des Dames is recognizable by its restaurants and bathing booths along the beach. These wooden booths have been carefully preserved and bring a beautiful charm to this place.
Surrounded by Holm oaks, relax in this little piece of paradise, which looks like a postcard.
You will have the opportunity to have a drink or a meal in one of the island’s cafes or restaurants, with a view of the sea. You can also rent a paddle, a catamaran or a sailing dinghy.
Beaches of the Chausey Islands (Manche)
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Go and discover the white sandy beaches of the Chausey Islands and enjoy this idyllic place. The Port-Marie and Port-Homard beaches are big touristic beaches, but you can also find small, less touristic, beaches which are often used by inhabitants to moor their boats.
You can observe the sandbanks as well as the isolated and wild islets at low tide. At high tide, the water is rather rough and cold so be careful.
Paloma Beach – Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat (Alpes-Maritime)
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Paloma Beach in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat is nestled in a small cove surrounded by greenery. It offers a breathtaking view on the cliffs of Beaulieu-sur-Mer and Eze.
Some very famous people have come to relax on this beach such as Sean Connery, Elton John and Tom Cruise. This beach was named after Paloma Picasso, the daughter of the famous painter Pablo Picasso, who often spent time with his family in this little paradise.
You can also eat at the Paloma Beach restaurant and taste various fish and seafood dishes.
A part of the beach is privately owned: Paloma Beach.
Herlin Beach – Belle-Île en Mer (Morbihan)
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Discover Herlin Beach and the surrounding high cliffs. At very high tide, the beach is almost split in two by the rocky outcrop.
The beach is rather visited but it is quite large. It is also supervised. Still, be careful of the dangerous currents.
Beaches of the Lérins Islands (Alpes-Maritimes)
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Discover the beaches of the Lérins Islands, 15 minutes away by boat from Cannes. Discover small coves and sandy and pebble beaches on the Sainte Marguerite island, the largest of the Lérins islands. Admire the turquoise water and the vegetation of the island.
Do not hesitate to wear water shoes when bathing to avoid hurting yourself on the large stones in the water.
Saint Guirec Beach – Ploumanac’h (Côtes-d’Armor)
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Discover the Saint Guirec Beach, surrounded by large pink granite rocks which are typical in Brittany. There, you can discover the Oratory and the Chapel, as well as eat in restaurants and stroll on the shops near the beach.
You can swim at low tide as well as at high tide and the beach is supervised in high season.
The words in brackets in the subtitles correspond to the French departments
I aim to share my tips and recommendations for the beautiful country of France. My goal is to help you plan your next adventure, whether it’s a weekend getaway or a once-in-a-lifetime trip. From finding the best hotels and restaurants, to discovering unique activities and sights, I’ve got you covered!
