What better way to spend your time than visiting the beautiful beaches of France? France has a culinary scene that you are bound to enjoy as well.
Ensure you see the mesmerizing and sparkling Mediterranean coastlines. Gather your sunscreen and prepare yourself for a good time on the beach.
The best beaches combine France’s incredible architecture, cuisine, and history to create a fantastic holiday destination. Below is a list of the eight best beaches in France you should visit:
Suggested: Best Beaches in Spain
Best Beaches in France MAP
Palombaggia Beach – Corsica
Palombaggia brings an image of a silky strand framed by pine trees with a sweet scent and flanked by pink granites. The beach offers a paradise feeling and is only 10 kilometers from Porto Vecchio town.
It has more than 1.5 kilometers of unique white sand to enjoy. The beach also has turquoise waters and is very safe for kids. The young kids can enjoy cooling off in the shallow waters.
Moreover, the stunning pink granite does not work for aesthetic purposes only but can also protect young children from solid waves. The granites ensure that the waves remain gentle no matter how strong they are.
The beach also has the safety bonus of having lifeguards full time and it’s good to know that the southern side of Palombaggia Beach is less crowded and quieter.
Espiguette Beach
Espiguette beach is considered by many tourists to be the most beautiful beach near Montpellier, and we agree. It is located east of Le Grau de Roi. Behind the shore there are impressive dunes.
There are a few beach bars on this 18 km long beach, but no major restaurants nearby (one of the best may be near the large parking lot at the lighthouse at the end of Espiguette).
Technically, you can reach the beach from Montpellier by public transportation. From Montpellier, you can take a commuter train to Le Grau de Roi.
Most parts of the beach are much easier to reach by car. You can either take the D66 out of town toward Montpellier Airport and Arena, or head north toward Lunel and then follow signs for Le Grau de Roi and Aigues-Mortes. After leaving Arena, continue towards Carnon and Palavas before turning onto the D62 to La Grande Motte.
After La Grande Motte, follow the signs to Le Grau d Roi. You should take the bypass road that runs along the Etang after Le Grau de Roi, even if you are not actually going to Le Grau de Roi. Behind the campsites, the amusement park, and the Camargue stables, continue following this road. After that, you will see a sign to “l’Esiguette”.
Enjoy a few hours in the August sun here. The beach is busy this month, but it is absolutely spacious, with safe, shallow waters and refreshments nearby. The parking is reasonable for what you get here, and every time you walk through the entrance in the dunes, it’s like a dream with a huge school of little fish rolling with the gentle swell, it’s just wonderful.
Les Calanques of Cassis
The beach is an inlet between Cassis and Marseille. You can easily reach it through Parc National des Calanques Marseille. It is an excellent choice for nature lovers.
The beach has 15 calanques that you can enjoy. If you are new to France, you probably wonder what a calanque is. It is an inlet with a steep wall created along the coast of the Mediterranean and is typical for its white rocky cliffs. It has a beautiful scenery palette of whites, blues, and greens that blend perfectly under the sun.
The Calanques cover the coastline, a distance of 20 kilometers between Cassis and Marseille. The best is that the Calanques can only be explored by sea or foot. Hiking at the Calanque can take about 2hours.
It offers fantastic opportunities such as exciting scuba dives, rock climbing, and stunning hikes. You can also enjoy the Les Calanques de Cassis by enjoying a boat tour or a catamaran for a whole day to explore the area. During the boat ride, you will have stops where you can go snorkeling and swimming.
Plage du Donnant
It is found in South Brittany in Belle-Ile-en-Mer. It is renowned in France as a surfing beach, and the sand also has a lineup of picturesque cliffs. The sand is coffee-colored, making it extraordinary, and also, the guests can enjoy swimming in the crystal-clear waters.
However, it would be best if you only swam in the areas designated for swimming. The beach has lifeguards to ensure that the guests are safe and the rules set out for beach rules. Note that it does not permit frisbees, boomerangs, kites, and other similar activities as they can bother guests.
The beach offers a charming holiday experience through features such as a bustling marina, restaurants, art exhibits, and artisan stores.
The sardine-fishing center of the 19th century has a Poulains Lighthouse that was built in 1867. The lighthouse also features art exhibitions.
Paloma Beach
Paloma Beach was named Paloma after Picasso’s daughter. The jewel in the French Riviera is located in Saint Jean Cap Ferrat in Alpes-Maritimes. The beach became an icon of the area in the 1920s and is a popular spot for many celebrities.
It is known for its relaxed life and 1960s vibes with narrow streets, boats, traditional houses, and wooden platforms. It is expensive and comfortable but without any modern glamour.
The beach is located in a cozy place where one can enjoy the view of its impeccable features. The rocky cliffs shield the area from intense sun rays and wind. You can enjoy the view of the surface of the deep blue sea, yachts, beaches, and villas. All is covered in lush greenery and vineyards.
At Paloma Beach, you can get a chance to meet celebrities and the panoramic view of the mesmerizing beach. The beach is covered by a limestone cove that makes the waves gentle, and thus, you can enjoy swimming in the clear waters.
The beach contains rocky portions underneath that commonly shelter sea bream, starfish, and seagrass meadows if you are a keen snorkeller.
The impeccable beach contains fine pebbles, which give dark sunbeds a seamless look. It has no loud parties with drunk people. Instead, it brings a contemplating and tranquilizing atmosphere. Guests can hire equipment such as yachts, piers, skis, water bikes, and sun-lounger umbrellas.
Porquerolles Island – Hyeres
The Porquerolles Island is found near Hyeres, just a ferry away, on the North East coast of France. It is described that it seems to be coming directly out of a bounty advertisement.
The beaches there are fairly remote and offer terrific views of the turquoise waters from several bays. It is a perfect place to enjoy the Mediterranean sea, whether you go for a boat ride in the waters or on the sandy shores.
Bike riding is allowed on the sandy paths because this mode of transport ensures a cleaner environment compared to cars.
Painted fishing ships move around the translucent waters while the sweet scent of eucalyptus and pine trees blows over the beaches. Porquerolles Island has grown to be among the most magnetic spot in France.
Deauville Beach
Deauville Beach has a 1.5 km beachfront and can be found in Normandy, specifically in Calvados. It is the closest beach to Paris, making it the seaside for the wealthy and high society.
The stylish atmosphere of the beach has made it popular with both the locals and tourists. The beach resort has unique shorefront entertainment, luxury hotels, and classy golf courses.
It offers many significant attractions, such as marinas, racecourse, elegant golf courses, galleries, harbors, villas, grand sumptuous hotels, a conference center, chic boutiques, and a grand casino.
Also, there are great dining and shopping options to select from. While still on Deauville Beach, ensure you walk the famous boardwalk and take many photos.
It is an excellent place for young adults, old couples, and young families with children. The large open spaces will assist in pacification and relaxation. It also offers the opportunity to participate in outdoor games and sunbathe to your liking.
Moreover, Deauville being a place of the elite allows the comfortable life of people to progress, but it never overcrowds.
The beach’s soft golden sand is decorated by colorful umbrellas that make it more stunning. Some of the beach cabins were even named after directors and actors.
Cote de Granit Rose
Cote de Granit Rose is a stretch of coastline between Plestin les Greves and Louannec. It is among the most extraordinary coastlines in the whole of Europe and offers unique and memorable moments.
The coastline curves to join islets and islands with the help of its sandy shores lined with beautiful wine trees. It has some amazing features like granite rocks rose pink in color.
The granites light up when the sun’s rays touch them. You can enjoy your time at the beach by guessing the shapes that the granite rocks are making.
It is an excellent place for hikers or people looking to spend a family holiday with its safe sand and incredible turquoise sea. The beach includes various attractions such as cycling, sailing, excellent camping facilities, swimming, ice cream parlors, museums, golf courses, boutiques, horse and pony riding, aquaria, and family-friendly restaurants.
Pampelonne Beach
Pampelonne Beach is one of the most popular and longest beaches found near Saint Tropez. The ultra-exclusive beach is more than 5 km long and offers high possibilities of you meeting with famous people and A-listers.
A-listers popular for visiting the Pampelone Beach include Naomi Campbell, Bono, Leonardo Dicaprio, and Brigitte Bardot. The beach has a glamorous atmosphere brought about by the movie star guests it gets.
It is also a fantastic choice if you wish to have a relaxed day. The elegant beach has sparkling seas, white sands, and thrilling water sports to match the energy of a luxurious dream.
The beach has the choice of selecting between sitting in private sun lounges or public areas. You can enjoy your time at the beach club using the comfy sun loungers and eating mouth-watering meals in the private section.
Either way, as long as you are in Pampelonne beach, you can find a nice spot to enjoy the sand without the price tag.
The perfect time to enjoy a good time at Pampelonne Beach is at the end of September. At this time, it is usually off-season and, thus, less crowded. The fabulous beach gets to brag about the exclusive bars and clubs.
Do not expect common goods like beach balls and watermelons to be sold here. Instead, sellers might nag you to buy a glass or two of champagne or pay for a foot massage.
Final Thoughts
France can fulfill your holiday dreams with its multiple beaches lining in Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, and the English Channel. If you are ready to enjoy the sea and sun, choose one of the eight suggested beaches to get the privilege of enjoying the fabulous French Rivera and everything the French coastline has to offer.
