When you think about going on vacation, what do you think about?
Road trips?
Going to a theme park?
Getting away for the weekend?
Staying for a week?
Maybe you think about relaxing on the sand and swimming in the water at the beach.
There are many places you could go to satisfy that beach craving.
You can go to Florida or California in the United States.
You could even go to France.
If you choose to get out and go to France for your vacation, what beaches should you go to?
Below, we will talk about the ten best beaches to visit in France.
10 Best Beaches in France
Here are the top 10 best beaches in France.
Palombaggia Beach — Corsica
Palombaggia Beach has a beautiful display of reddish rocks, turquoise blue water, and white sand.
Throughout the summer months, the beach is very crowded, especially in the middle of the day.
If you decide to take a trip to Palombaggia Beach, you should go before or after the summer months.
If you do visit Palombaggia Beach during the summer months, at least visit the beach during the morning or evening hours when it will be less crowded.
There are plenty of options for people to stay, eat, or shop on or around Palombaggia Beach.
The most common foods served at restaurants include seafood, salads, light meals, and sometimes pizza.
If you don’t want any of that, then you are out of luck.
Some of the hotels available include The Sheepfolds of Palombaggia, Hotel Ambassador Palombaggia, and Hotel Palombaggia.
Etretat — Normandy
Etretat is located in Normandy, France, which is approximately two and a half hours away from well-known Paris, France.
There are various things you can do at Etretat Beach.
Etretat has majestic cliffs and beautiful gardens that you can explore on your own or with a group.
There are various restaurants that you can eat at filled with a variety of seafood dishes and local favorites.
You can swim in the sea or relax on the sand.
This beach is a little different from the typical beach with sand.
In place of sand, Etretat Beach has pebbles that protect the beach from the consistent swells and tides of the sea.
The white chalk cliffs of Etretat have drawn many people and artists to the area, such as Guy de Maupassant and Claude Monet.
Aside from the cliff formations, Etretat is known for its beautiful sunrises and sunsets.
Antibes — French Riviera
Antibes is located between Nice and Cannes.
There are a variety of shops, restaurants, and attractions for tourists to visit and explore.
You can visit the many beaches that reach a total of 25 kilometers, where you can swim, sunbathe, and spend some quality family time.
On one side of Antibes is Marineland, which is a water park and aquarium.
At Marineland, you can see the shows where the dolphins and orcas perform, swim in the pools, or ride the waterslides.
Another popular attraction is the Picasso Museum with more than 245 of Picasso’s works of art.
You can also visit a cave with walls made out of chocolate, where you can order dessert.
Les Calanques de Cassis — Provence
The Clanques de Cassis is located in Provence, France.
The Clanques are a group of majestic white cliffs that surround the Mediterranean Sea.
There are a variety of things for tourists to do at the Calanques de Cassis.
You can swim in the sea, relax on the sand, hike the Calanques de Cassis trails, go kayaking, tour the Calanques in a sailboat, and shop at the various markets and restaurants in the town of Cassis.
The Calanques de Cassis is home to the Calanques de Cassis National Park, founded in 2012.
At the national park, you can see a variety of diverse plant and animal life.
Donnant Beach — Belle-Ile-en-Mer
Donnant Beach is a popular beach for surfing, fishing, and sunbathing.
Although Donnant Beach is good for surfing and fishing, it is too dangerous for people to swim there.
So, if you want a beach that is safe for swimming, it is a good idea to find a different beach for that.
If you are looking for a beach that is great for surfing, fishing, and sunbathing, then Donnant Beach might be a good place to visit.
There are lifeguards at Donnant Beach during the open season, so you can have peace of mind and feel safe while you are visiting.
Paloma Beach — Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat
There is a public beach called Paloma Plage and a private beach restaurant called Paloma Beach.
The beach restaurant is open for lunch from Easter through September and dinner from the last part of May through the beginning of September.
A reservation is required for the private beach and restaurant during the summer months.
Paloma Plage is considered one of the most beautiful beaches in the Riviera.
It has small waves and hills, and the beach is made up of a mixture of sand, pebbles, and gravel.
La Côte des Basques — Biarritz
La Cote Des Basques is a surfing beach.
It is known by many surfers as the birthplace of surfing in France.
La Cote Des Basques sits on the coast of France and runs right through the border of Spain.
The beach can be dangerous due to the high tide, and the sand banks are always moving.
When the tide comes in, the beach basically disappears from view.
Although it can be dangerous, the beach is a good place for beginner and more experienced surfers.
However, it is only good for beginners during low tide.
There are also lifeguards available during the season.
Porquerolles Island — Hyeres
Porquerolles Island is made up of two parts.
The southern part consists of secluded creeks and steep cliffs, while the northern part consists of five different beaches with sand and turquoise waters.
These beaches include La Courtade Beach, Le Langoustier Beach, Notre Dame Beach, Le Langoustier Black Beach, and Argent Beach.
There are lots of things to do on Porquerolles Island.
You can explore the island on a boat or go on a cruise.
You can also visit the national park, hike along the coast, and explore the sea by diving.
Bay of Mont Saint-Michel — Normandy
Mont Saint-Michel Bay is located near Normandy and Brittany.
The beach can be very dangerous if you are not familiar with the tides.
Due to the barrier of the peninsula and the shallowness of the water, the tide can come in at a fast pace and can get as high as 15 meters or more.
The tide is known to drown people if they are not careful.
It is advised not to go down to the beach unless you are with an experienced guide.
Aside from the beach, there are other fun things to do in Mont Saint Michel Bay.
You can see a variety of sea life and plants such as dolphins, seals, oysters, and the salicornia plant.
You can also explore the cultural and architectural heritage that Mont Saint-Michel has to offer.
Cap Coz — Brittany
Cap Coz sits along a straight coastline and is easily accessible.
Although this beach is a popular place for tourists to visit, it is not overly crowded, even during the busy season.
Cap Coz is within walking distance of restaurants, public toilets, and other attractions and amenities.
Unlike other beaches, Cap Coz has parking right there within short walking distance of the beach and is within walking distance from most hotels.
Cap Coz offers a variety of activities for tourists to take part in, including windsurfing, kite surfing, boating, sunbathing, and swimming.
If you are not into these types of surfing activities, then it is recommended to find a different beach to suit your interests.
France Safety Overview
READ THE FULL REPORT: France Safety Review
Safety Index:
- OVERALL RISK: MEDIUM
- TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: MEDIUM
- PICKPOCKETS RISK: HIGH
- NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: LOW
- MUGGING RISK: MEDIUM
- TERRORISM RISK: HIGH
- SCAMS RISK: HIGH
- WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW
Frequently Asked Questions
How many beaches are there in France?
There are over 30 beaches in the country of France.
Some of those beaches are more crowded than others, so it is advised to go during the non-crowded seasons.
With that said, some of the beaches listed above are not as crowded and offer a variety of things to do.
Which beach in France is the most crowded?
One of the most crowded beaches in France is Biscarrosse Beach.
What beach has the warmest water in France?
Aside from crowded beaches, there is nothing worse than showing up for your beach vacation and the water is cold.
Here are the beaches with the warmest water and the best months to visit.
The warmest water is in Antibes, with the warmer months being from May through October.
Which beach in France is the least crowded?
Some of the most secluded beaches in France include the following:
- Plage Mala
- Calanque d’En-vau
- Calanque de Port-Pin
- Plage de la Galère
