If you’re craving a beach vacation, France might not be the first country you think of—especially if you’ve only ever been to Paris. Thailand…of course. Greece? Definitely. You might even choose Australia, Hawaii or Mexico.
On the other hand, you need only have stepped foot on the French Riviera for a moment or two to know just how serious a beach destination France is. In fact, Nice’s Promenade des Anglais might just be my favorite city beach in the entire world.
But I’m getting ahead of myself. My guide to the best beaches in France, by design, does not list off every single beach in every single region of France. The intent, instead, is to point you in the direction of the crème de la crème, so that you can focus the rest of your trip on all the other things France does exceptionally.
France Has an Insane Amount of Coastline
As I mentioned in the intro to this piece, it would be unbelievably long if I did a truly comprehensive run-down of best French beaches. France’s coastline is around 5,500 km long in Metropolitan France (so, what most people think of as “France”) alone, to say nothing of all the amazing beaches located in the country’s many overseas territories. However, because France is so often interchangeable with Paris for many travelers, this reality can get overlooked.
On the other hand, the other reality is that while many travelers do know the French Riviera, they are either unaware of or uninterested in some of France’s other amazing coasts, from the northern ones along the Brittany and Normandy regions, to the west coast (roughly from La Rochelle in the north down to Biarritz in the South). This is to say nothing of the island of Corsica or the fake “beach” along the Seine River in the heart of Paris.
My Favorite Beaches in France
Plage d’Éretrat, Éretrat, Normandy
Maybe it was the fact that I was coming out of my jet-lagged stupor, or maybe it was the objective reality of the beauty in front of my face. Regardless, seeing the city of Éretrat appear through the white chalk cliffs of the Normandy‘s Alabaster Coast was the first “wow” moment of what is at the time of this writing my most recent trip to France, to say nothing of what an excellent beach Plage d’Éretrat itself is.
Promenade des Anglais, Nice, Côte a’Azur
It isn’t surprising that the next entrance on my round-up of beautiful beaches in France is located on the Côte d’Azur, which more than lives up to the English translation of its name, i.e. the Azure Coast. What might surprise some people, however, is that I’m listing Nice‘s de-facto city beaches, namely the Promenande des Anglais. It’s objectively excellent, of course, but also wins major points for convenience.
La Grande Plage, Biarritz, Pays Basque
The Grand Plage of Biarritz also earns points in these regards—living up to its name; and convenience. Well, at least if you plan to be in the French Basque Country (or absent that in Bordeaux, but with access to a car). Convenient or not, Biarritz’s beaches are its crown jewels, glittering diamonds atop the tiara of what might low-key be the most beautiful medium-to-large city in France. Just exquisite.
Calanque de Sormiou, Marseille
It might surprise you to learn that even a single contender for best French beach is located in Marseille, given that own city’s questionable reputation. Perhaps even more shocking than this is the fact that I actually considered including city beaches instead of this one. However, even if the beaches of Les Calanques themselves are on par (or maybe even slightly less stunning) than some of their urban counterparts, the feeling of seclusion and the hike to get there elevate them.
Plage du Ponteil, Antibes, Côte d’Azur
Last but not least is the main beach of Antibes, which I think might actually be my favorite single town or city along the French Riviera, apart from Nice itself. Actually, it’s not really “last”; I could extend this list to include 10 or even 20 beaches, and still not have an exhaustive run-down. However, we’re going to stop here (and I recommend that you literally stop here, if you’re in the area) because I’d rather curate options for you than make you sort through a sprawling collection yourself.
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Does France or Italy Have Better Beaches?
The term “Italian Riviera” is not quite as prominent in popular culture as the French Riviera, but that doesn’t mean Italy’s beaches aren’t in the same league as France’s. In fact, Italy has an ace up its sleeve: Its own “riviera” can include not only the stretch of coastline just down the way from Cannes, Nice and Menton (in other words, Cinque Terre), but also the Amalfi Coast between Salerno and Sorrento.
I’ve actually written an article on this blog’s mother site, Leave Your Daily Hell, on this very topic. However, I do warn you that in some sense, it might end up disappointing you. Just as I haven’t definitely named a single best beach in France here, I avoid stating once and for all whether France or Italy has better beaches.
Other FAQ About the Best Beaches in France
Which part of France has the best beaches?
The Côte d’Azur (also known as the French Riviera) has the largest number of amazing beaches in France. From Saint-Tropez in the west, to Menton in the east, and all the way along the coast for more than 100 km, you’ll not only find some of the best French beaches, but many of the best beaches anywhere in the world.
What are some hidden gem beaches in France?
Honestly, I feel like some of France’s hidden gem beaches are “hiding” in plain sight. Planning to visit Mont Saint-Michel? Drive a few hours up the coast to the town of Éretrat, which is ensconced amid the white cliffs of the Alabaster Coast. Another amazing beach that relatively few travelers visit is the main city beach of Biarritz, in the French Basque Country.
Which coastal town in France is considered the nicest?
When it comes to cities on the coast of France, Nice is probably the most convenient place to base yourself for a few days; there are over a dozen amazing beach towns (including Villefranche-sur-Mer, Beaulieu-sur-Mer and Menton) within easy day-trip distance. Other well-regarded coastal idylls in France include La Rochelle on the west coast, and Éretrat in Normandy.
The Bottom Line
Many travelers will be surprised by my round-up of the best beaches in France. For some, the surprise is more existential—they simply didn’t know that France was a beach destination at all. In other cases, my choices might seem puzzling. Normandy and Biarritz…really? If you’re in the second group, I welcome your disagreement; those of you in the first group are more my target audience anyway. In all cases, my goal is for you to consider France’s amazing beaches in the context of the country’s other destinations. Need personalized guidance about how to strike the best balance? Commission a custom France itinerary, and let me sweat the details.
