With over 4,600km of coastline, how will we ever whittle down a succinct list of the best French beaches? France offers plenty of scope for beaches and in a wide variety of locations. The Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean and English Channel all provide unique settings for the miles and miles of sandy strands, pebbled beaches and hidden coves, many of which rank among the most beautiful in Europe.
To help you narrow your criteria down a little, we’ve selected the 15 very best French beaches. They all have something special to offer and come with their own charm. Read on and then add your favorites to your must-visit beaches in France list.
Best beach for natural sculptures – Étretat in Normandy
If you love a clifftop walk with stunning views of white limestone carved by nature, then this pebbly stretch is for you. It’s one of the loveliest French beaches on the Alabaster Coast and includes three arches in the cliffs and the famous Aiguille (Needle) rock formation. Don’t miss the Belle-Époque architecture and feel in the town of Étretat itself.
Best Côte d’Azur beaches sans glitz – Menton in Provence
If you’re looking for excellent beaches on the Côte d’Azur without the usual glitz and glamour, the succession of shingle and sandy strands at Menton make a good choice. As well as good beaches, you’ll find an attractive Belle-Époque resort with Mediterranean gardens plus views of the Alps almost everywhere you look. Italy sits literally at the eastern end of the promenade and the Jean Cocteau Museum provides the culture.
Discover inland French water
As well as a very extensive coastline, France comes crisscrossed with canals and rivers so there’s water, water everywhere inland too. One of the best ways to discover the picturesque French waterways is on board a hotel barge, self-drive boat or river cruise. Take a look at what’s on offer where and start planning your water route around France.
Best pink beach – Palombaggia on Corsica
No list of the best French beaches would be complete without including a selection of those on the islands. Our first pick takes us to the largest island and specifically to its southern coast. The 2km-long Palombaggia on Corsica has soft sand with a unique pink tinge from the rosy granite rocks on the headland. The water comes in the signature Corsican blue and pine trees perfume the air. Unsurprisingly, it’s one of the busiest beaches on Corsica.
Best secret beaches in France – Calanques in Provence
The 20km of coastline between Cassis and Marseille forms part of the Calanques National Park, home to a series of small inlets, known as calanques, each home to a beach and sandwiched between tall limestone cliffs. Part of their charm lies in their inaccessibility – some are only reachable by sea – but all are worth the effort to get there. In our list of the best, we’re highlighting Calanque de Sormiou, the widest and one of the largest; Calanque d’En Vau, perhaps the prettiest French beach of all; and Calanque de Sugiton whose pebbles look out onto l’Ilot du Torpilleur, a tall rocky outcrop shaped like a naval ship.
Best seaside resort – Trouville in Calvados, Normandy
French beaches found their holiday vocation in the 19th century when taking the sea air came into fashion. Trouville is one of the country’s original seaside resorts and its magnificent promenade backed by 19th century mansions and the town’s casino takes you back in time. There are no longer bathing huts on the shore but at low tide the sands seem to go on forever. Perfect for a bracing walk before lunch or dinner at one of the Belle-Époque restaurants.
Best island sands – Plage de Gatseau on the Île d’Oléron
We move to an Atlantic island next – the Île d’Oléron, renowned in France for its many sandy beaches. But our quest for the best takes us to the southeastern corner to the prettiest beach: Plage de Gatseau. Its long pristine sands come backed by pine woods and are protected from the strong Atlantic winds and waves. Plus you have stunning views across the channel to the mainland.
Best French beach for solitude – Plage de l’Espiguette in the Camargue Regional Park, Provence
Finding a space for your bucket and spade on most French beaches is something of a challenge in the summer, but this sandy stretch in the Camargue offers space (and then some) even in August. The Plage de l’Espiguette sits at the southern end of the Camargue on the Mediterranean. Along the shoreline, you’ll discover pristine sands, lagoons, marshes and sand dunes by the dozen. And have them mostly to yourself.
Make your way to French beaches in style
Some of our luxury hotel barge vacations meander close to the French coast giving you the chance to combine the best of the stunning sea and riverscapes on the same holiday. Check out our list of destinations and pick your next barging holiday in France.
Best picture-postcard beach – Crozon Morgat in Brittany
Brittany is home to some of the most beautiful French beaches so choosing the best was never going to be easy. Our pick takes us to Crozon Morgat on the Crozon peninsula. Morgat itself ranks as one of the prettiest fishing ports in northern France – think colorful cottages, bobbing boats and cobbled streets. All looking onto a wide sandy beach whose eastern orientation means it’s protected from the brunt of the wild Atlantic. Take a walk south for the equally pretty pebbles at the Île Vierge.
Best big beach in France – Grande Plage de Saint Jean-de-Luz
The name gives it away and the Grande Plage certainly provides plenty of space along its long, yellow sands. Unlike other Atlantic beaches in France, its waters are calm thanks to three breakwaters and the waves are what you’d call gentle rather than rollers. This makes it one of the most family-friendly beaches in the area and among the most popular in the summer. And when you tire of the sand and the salt, the lovely Saint Jean-de-Luz sits just behind you.
Best car-free and smoke-free beach – Plage de Notre Dame on Île de Porquerolles
We head offshore again for our next pick of the best French beaches and to the little island of Porquerolles, 8km from Hyères off the south coast. The island boasts plenty of pretty beaches, but one of the loveliest is Plage de Notre Dame in the northeast. The horseshoe bay is sandy all the way around and backed by pines. You’ll need to get here by bike or boat since Île de Porquerolles is car-free (and non-smoking outside its main town). You won’t, however, find it people-free in the summer – these island sands rank among the busiest in the area.
Best surfing in France – Plage Lacanau near Bordeaux
The French Atlantic coast comes flanked with miles of golden sands where the surf’s up almost always. The huge waves are perfect for riding and this coastline has some of the best surfing spots in the world, including Lacanau. Here, just a short distance from the Garonne River estuary, the sands stretch for a full 14km. This means finding space for your towel and picnic hamper is never a problem even at the height of the summer.
See Bordeaux in style
One of the best ways to appreciate the stunning Bordeaux landscapes and city itself (and find the wine for that beach picnic) is on a Bordeaux river cruise. Experience the best of the Garonne River estuary as you glide from Bordeaux to Blaye and back again.
Best sandy peninsula – Cap Coz in Brittany
We’re back in Brittany for our next best beach in France and in one of the most sheltered spots along the rugged coastline. The Cap Coz peninsula in the south offers sandy beaches the whole way around. The Plage de Cap Coz proper stretches for over 1km and its calm waters make it a favorite with families. Walk along the beach and then take the walkway around the peninsula to explore the sands on the north side.
Best beach of sand and forest – Conche des Baleines on the Île de Ré
The popular Île de Ré island provides another of the best French beaches. In the far north lies the long sandy bay known as the Plage de Conche des Baleines. Flanked by Lizay Forest, the long beach still has several war bunkers and a good stock of shells. Climb up to the viewing platform at the top of the lighthouse in the summer for views that stretch far into the horizon. If you’re looking for fewer people, head north around the top of the island to the equally lovely Trousse-Chemin whose crescent-shaped bay has sands and shells, but without the crowds.
Best beach for people watching – Plage de Pampelonne in St Tropez
The French Riviera offers possibly the chicest beach experience in the world. These sands ooze glitz and glamour and attract the world’s rich and famous. You’ll find one of the best examples at St Tropez whose sands at Pampelonne are the place to see and be seen. The beach also offers all the ingredients you’d expect to find on the Côte d’Azur coast – an impossibly turquoise sea, sparkling white sands and a succession of fashionable beach clubs. And at 5km long, there’s more than enough room for anyone who’s anyone.
Best surfing vibe – Plage de la Côte des Basques in Biarritz
This long sandy beach with panoramic views of the Pyrenees and Spanish coastline lays claim to the first surf club in France. Like most Atlantic beaches in France, Plage de la Côte des Basques has perfect surf and attracts thousands of board-riders every year. The first to discover the waves’ potential was script-writer Peter Viertel in 1956. He imported the Californian surfing culture into Biarritz, home to the iconic Waikiki Surf Club and the rest is, as they say, history.
Combine canals, rivers and the sea
Why not take to the French waters on your next holiday? Explore a river or canal and then relax by the sea on one of the French beaches in this list. Get in touch for suggestions on the best itinerary and destination to suit you.
Handy app
If you want information about the best French beaches at your fingertips, the pavillon bleu association provides a free app. The app locates the blue-flag beaches and marinas, and provides essential information about each one.
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