When planning a summer vacation in France, finding the perfect stretch of coastline or a pretty secluded beach is an essential part of any successful itinerary, and there are plenty of destinations to choose from in the north, west, and south of France.
From Nord-Pas de Calais along the English Channel to the Mediterranean hotspots of Provence-Alpes-Maritimes-Côte d’Azur and the Antibes peninsula, this country is home to some of the most beautiful beaches in Europe.
Whether you are traveling south of the French Riviera, along the western Bay of Biscay, or along the northern coast of Normandy, you are sure to find a fantastic beach getaway.
Nord-Pas de Calais, Canal de la Mancha
Most tourists arrive in Calais or Dunkirk in the English Channel and head south, ignoring the nearby sandy beaches in favor of more secluded destinations along the Opal Coast.
The Opal Coast stretches for 75 miles (120 kilometers) from the northern border of Belgium to the Somme estuary and includes a long headland, perfect for cliff walks. Here you will find places like Cap Blanc Nez and Cap Blanc Gris (White Nose and Gray Nose), each with concrete bunkers built during WWII.
Along the coast, resorts like Wimereux, the vast expanse of Berck-Plage (which has a fabulous balloon festival every April), and Mers-les-Bains offer swimming for the hardy and plenty of sand and shrimp sports for the More smalls. Le Touquet-Paris-Plage is an elegant resort with casinos and horse riding, and the ‘Pearl of the Opal Coast’ also has a large sandy beach that stretches down to the mouth of the Authie River.
At Dunkirk, you can see the beaches where the remnants of Operation Dynamo from WWII during the evacuation of Allied soldiers in May 1940 lie half buried in the sand. Plus, exploring Le Touquet-Paris Plage offers a number of non-beach attractions in case the weather isn’t conducive to a day on the sand.
The French Riviera, the Normandy coast
Normandy’s long and varied coastline, along with its history, makes it a great destination for summer holidays and is easily accessible from the UK or Paris. The Cote Fleurie includes smart Deauville and more laid-back Trouville, followed by a long coastline stretching west past Dieppe to Le Treport, two of the best-known English Channel destinations in Northern Europe.
Normandy’s southernmost beaches, famous for the World War II D-Day landings, stretch from Utah Beach at St. Vaast-la-Hougue to Ouistreham, just north of Caen. Once witness to the carnage of WWII, today the long sandy stretches are perfect for sand castle builders.
To the west, the rocky Cotentin peninsula, with the port of Cherbourg at its tip, juts out over the English Channel. Around the north coast of Cotentin, you will eventually reach Le Mont St-Michel, one of the largest holy sites in France and Europe. Travel a little further north towards Avranches, which is a good place to stay to explore the beaches of the western Cotentin peninsula.
Brittany, the Cote Sauvage and the Pink Granite Coast
The second most popular beach destination for French holidays after the Mediterranean, Brittany has enough coastline to accommodate the influx of visitors each summer. With 1,243 miles (2,000 kilometers) of coastline, Brittany is in the most northwestern part of France, with beaches along the English Channel and the Bay of Biscay.
The Pink Granite Coast in northern Brittany features cliffs that plunge into the sea, while the westernmost points of Finistère offer Atlantic breakers that challenge surfers. Southern Brittany features the Cote Sauvage (Wild Coast), whose mix of fierce seas and calm inlets offers something for everyone, young and old, sports enthusiasts and laid-back vacationers.
The French Atlantic and the Bay of Biscay
From St-Nazaire to the Spanish border, the long coast of the French Atlantic is a long stretch of beautiful sandy beaches, long waves and plenty of sun on the Bay of Biscay.
The Vendée beaches draw crowds in July and August for yachting and high-speed sailing. Surfers flock to shore, and some of the major surfing competitions are held here, such as the AQS World Ranking Series. The large city of Nantes has access to beaches at places like Les Sables d’Olonne, as well as some of the best entertainment, dining and accommodation in the country.
There are more than 100 beaches in Charente-Maritime and each one offers something different and special for visitors. Islands such as Noirmoutier and Ile de Re offer elegant alternatives to traditional beach destinations, while Ile d’Aix is a magnificent oasis without traffic. Meanwhile, the Cote Sauvage beaches are the place for bodyboarders and surfers, and the Gironde estuary has Michelin-rated sandy beaches that are sheltered from the powerful waves of the Atlantic.
If you get tired of the beaches, then La Rochelle and Rochefort offer fun diversions. Further south, chic Biarritz combines sophisticated nightlife with some of the best surf on the coast. Further south are the quieter but equally coveted and elegant cities of St-Jean-de-Luz and Hendaye .
Naturists also flock to these western beaches, attracted by resorts such as Montalivet (where the international naturist movement began) and Euronat, which are two of the largest naturist centers in France.
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Western Mediterranean and Cote Vermeille
The most popular beaches in France and much of Europe are along the beautiful blue coast of the Mediterranean. The Mediterranean coastline stretches across the south of France, from the Basque Country and the Pyrenees alongside Spain to the Italian border. Here you will find long stretches of sandy beaches, but also small entrances that offer private escapes.
The western part of the Mediterranean coast is shaped like an arch that begins in the Basque Country, in the Pyrenees, the mountain range that separates France from Spain, just below Perpignan. From Cote Vermeille, you can travel along the coast in Herault and through cities such as Montpellier, Nimes, Arles, and Avignon before continuing on to Marseille.
Around Marseille is the mysterious Camargues area, where cities like Aigues-Mortes feel like walking back in time, and to the east is the naval port of Toulon and the wonderful Iles d’Hyeres, offering white sandy beaches far away. from the crowds. Here you will also find Cap d’Agde, the best known naturist complex in France.
The French Riviera and the Côte d’Azur
The eastern Mediterranean coast is often referred to as the French Riviera, Cote d’Azur, or Provence-Alpes-Maritimes-Côte d’Azur (PACA), but whatever you call it, this stretch of beaches is one long playground. Stretching from St. Tropez through the elegant coastal cities of Cannes, Antibes and Nice, the eastern Mediterranean coast is the most popular destination for French tourists and citizens.
Although pressure from high property and land prices has driven villas along the coast, occupying part of the coast, there are still some small, hidden beaches if you are looking for an intimate getaway during your trip. Small towns like Villefranche-sur-Mer cling to the rocky landscape, offering unique accommodations with views of the coastline. Further east, Monaco bustles with nightlife, and the French Riviera ends in the more conservative town of Menton.
