France’s 3427km-long coastline is dramatically diverse and raises the curtain on so much more than flopping on sun-kissed sands or sipping cocktails beachside. Hike along a sentier du littoral (coastal footpath) perfumed with sea salt and herbal scrub, admire stunning surroundings afloat or marry the old-school “sun, sand and sea” formula with one of the nation’s incredible top sights. Here’s our pick of the best beaches in France.
The beaches in this article were visited and recommended by the writers of Lonely Planet’s France guidebook.
1.Plage de Wissant, Côte d’Opale
Best beach for dramatic coastal scenery
Named for the interplay of grays and blues in the sea and sky, this stretch of the English Channel coastline from Calais to Boulogne-sur-Mer is an artistic masterpiece. Cap Blanc-Nez yields brilliant views of the Bay of Wissant, the distant white chalk cliffs of Dover in England, and rolling Flemish countryside beyond. Down at the water’s edge in Wissant, the wide-at-low-tide beach is perfect for an invigorating dip – or simply for watching the enormous tidal range do its thing.
Planning tip: Walk the Sentier du Cap Blanc Nez, a 6.5km signposted loop starting from the Cap Blanc Nez car park (D940). Allow 1 hour and 30 minutes.
2.Deauville and Trouville-sur-Mer, Côte Fleurie
Best beaches for old-school glamour
During France’s Belle Époque, writers and artists like Marcel Proust and Eugène Boudin flocked to these dreamy Norman shorelines on the English Channel, which inspired them and were believed to restore health. The mid-19th-century sea-bathing craze led to the construction of stunning seaside villas along the beautiful, blooming shore. Today, Deauville caters to the celebrity jet set, with luxury shopping and high-end restaurants, while Trouville is more laid-back and family-friendly.
Detour: Around the streets of Trouville, keep an eye out for the street art of the famed late artist Miss Tic, known for poetic lines graffitied next to dark-haired women.
3.Étretat, Côte d’Albâtre
Best beach for iconic cliffs
The beach here, on the Alabaster Coast of the English Channel between Le Havre and Fécamp, is almost secondary to the cliffs that frame it. Étretat’s staggering arches have been sculpted over millennia by winds and the whims of the sea, and immortalized by Monet over 80 times. The Falaise d’Aval and the adjacent aiguille (needle) are the most iconic – a needle shooting from the water alongside an arch – while the Falaise d’Amont offers a bird’s-eye view of it all. Hikes here are choose-your-own-adventure: opt for the steep steps to the neo-Gothic Chapelle Notre-Dame-de-la-Garde for a peaceful (yet windy) picnic, or tackle the intensive 5-hour Roc Vaudieu Loop.
Planning tip: Parking in the village itself is limited and can be a nightmare even in low season. Head for Parking de la Gare near the train station (around €8) for easy cliff access without the hassle of finding a spot in town.
4.Île de Ré
Best beaches for a cycling holiday
This island idyll off the Atlantic Coast near La Rochelle morphs from a tranquil escape into a high-octane microcosm of Paris in summer, so consider carefully when you go. The call of the wild harks back centuries: salt is harvested from ancestral salt pans, farmers work potato fields and oyster beds, and distillers craft gin and vodka from foraged seaweed. The island’s wilder southern shoreline cradles its best golden-sand beaches, including surfing and sailing hub Plage de Gros Jonc. Grab a bicycle – the island is flat – and enjoy the ride.
Planning tip: Hotels and self-catering options are limited and expensive. Consider camping or day-tripping by bus from La Rochelle. Reserve bikes ahead in July and August.
5. Grande Plage, Biarritz
Best beach for surf culture
Biarritz’s main golden-sand beach on the Atlantic Coast has been much-loved since the days of Napoléon II and Empress Eugénie, and today it’s the pulsing heart of France’s surf scene. Its companion beaches each have their own character: Plage de la Côte des Basques is a surfers’ and sunset lovers’ favorite, fringed by trendy bars, while Plage d’Ilbarritz comes alive on the summer terrace of beach bar Blue Cargo and a dance floor after dark. Plage de l’Océan, backed by protected sand dunes, is the wildest of Anglet’s back-to-back swathes of sand.
Detour: Head 2km south to Cité de l’Océan, a sea-themed attraction where you can join a VR shark-study expedition or catch cetaceans in 4D. Save with a combo ticket (from €28).