Europe is a giver! It keeps showering its travel devotees with sites and attractions that account for an eventful vacation! And while discussing the offerings, if it’s anything other than the medieval buildings, rustic alleys, and alpine villages, it would be the best beaches in France outlining nation’s northwestern and southern territory overlooking the trio of North Atlantic Ocean, Bay of Biscay, and the Mediterranean Sea. Making for a vital ingredient of a quintessential European holiday, these France beaches boast of the unique setting, colorful surroundings, and are dotted with stunning landforms alongside.
As you plan to embark on a memorable trip to France, these beaches would make for the perfect spot to relax, rejoice, and spend leisure moments by the beach. Moreover, you can try out some exciting water activities. All you need to do is take a plunge in the stunning turquoise waters and give these daring water sports a shot. Quite interestingly, most of the scenic beaches in France are located in the South. Thanks to the rugged mountains, national parks, and the huge fjords. Take a tour of the most sought-after France beaches!
Best beaches in France located towards south in the Mediterranean
1. Plage de la Côte des Basques, Biarritz
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Find yourself lost in the absolute wilderness of Basques coast. The unkempt surrounding, boulders, and rising tide keep appealing to the nature lover in you. And it is here that you reckon the fact that it is one of the best beaches in France to spend a memorable holiday. It is here that you can spot surfers calmly riding the playful waves and if you have timed your vacation perfectly then, you can actually spot some of your popular movie stars. Find more of peaceful surroundings.
Where: Southwest of France in the Bay of Biscay
2. Calanque d’en Vau, Cassis
One of the best beaches in South France, Calanque d’en Vau is another place that would make you feel awesome about your trip to France. The beach makes its way out of the woods and leads to an exciting trail for the avid hikers. Enclosed by rocky walls, and outlined by shimmering pristine sand, this beach offers plenty of exciting activities like boating, swimming, and beach hopping. The picture-perfect fjord is a hidden beauty that must be explored by travelers soon!
Where: South of France in the Calanque d’en Vau National Park
3. Les Calanques de Cassis, Marseille
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One of the popular south of France beaches, Les Calanques de Cassis is surrounded by magnificent surroundings and vast outdoors, the not a mainstream tourist attraction, the wonderful location of Les Calanques makes it special for hikers and nature enthusiasts. The beautiful beach in the Mediterranean is the popular French fjord with wonderful photogenic spots.
Calanques National Park area makes for the perfect surroundings for a hiking trip. Boating is another popular activity that people take up in the park area. Short boat tours and incredible views are from the turquoise waters make the place a haven for nature enthusiasts.
Where: South of France near Marseille
4. Antibes Beaches, Antibes
Antibes is a dreamy coastal town nestled between Nice and Cannes and boasts of plenty of beach attractions for tourists. Sitting pretty towards the end of Bay of Angels, Antibes is the place from where you don’t find too many pebbled beaches and more of sandy beaches – that has more of white sands.
Juan-les-Pins Beach, Plage de la Gravette, Plage Ponteil, Plage du Salis, Plage du Fort Carre, and Biot are the most popular beaches in Antibes. And these tourist places boast of private resorts as well as public places.
Brimming with medieval architecture, ancient buildings, private beach clubs, and watersports, these beaches have ramparts and bask in the glory of old world charm.
Where: South of France
5. Paloma Beach, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat
Located to the southeast of Nice, Paloma is a luxury beach destination in South France. With plenty of restaurants, eateries, bar, and clubs, this is a happening place for all the party lovers. The luxury beach is stony and presents for some exceptional views in from the coastal region. Swim under the sun or eat in a restaurant with majestic mountains in the backdrop. This is the beach to explore in the South France region.
Where: South of France
Must Read: The Moments Captured On Her Romantic France Holiday Are Better Than Your Greatest Fantasy!
6. Plage de Tahiti, Frioul Islands
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Easily accessible from Marseille, Plage de Tahiti on Frioul Island is the place where you can flock to for a subdued vacation in southern France. Being another offbeat beach in France in the Mediterranean this place experiences a moderate climate mostly during summers.
Frioul is an archipelago which had more such tiny beautiful islands that make an exceptional vacation spot for beach lovers. There are plenty of coves and beautiful fortresses around that you might be interested in exploring.
Where: South of France
7. Prado Beach, Marseille
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Located in the South France region Prado Beach in Marseille region is an ideal place for a family vacation. Take a leisure stroll along the Mediterranean coast, go for a sailboard, kayak, or snorkel, Prado Beach offers a range of activities to the adventure lovers. There is an open parkland Parc Balnéaire right there by the beach where travelers prefer to relax in the wide open.
There are even plenty of fun rides to enjoy a day out at the park. Annual Festival of the Wind is celebrated in September and is a prime attraction here attended by over 1,00,000 kite makers. Also, the stadium by the beach keeps organizing programs and sporting events like beach rugby and volleyball.
Where: South of France
8. Palombaggia, Corsica
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Umbrella-shaped pines, majestic cliffs, golden sand, and crystal clear blue water makes Palombaggia the most stunning beach in Corsica and one of the best beaches in France. You can take up plenty of water activities of your choice that includes the likes of windsurfing, jet-skiing, kayaking, and pedal boating. Beach bars and other guided excursions like boat trips to Porto-Vecchio and nature reserve islands Cervicale and Lavezzi are the most talked about highlights of the place.
Where: South of France on Corsica Island
Best beaches in France located near Paris
9. Étretat, Normandy
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Beaches adorned with jagged cliffs adorn the Normandy beach primarily known for its natural attractions. White boulders and wonderful structures from the medieval times make this place the most scenic structure in the North France region. Located at a 2-hour drive from Paris, the Etretat beach could be the ideal getaway in the quiet outdoors of North France.
Where: Northwest of France
10. Deauville Beach, Normandy
One of the best beaches in France that flaunts its broad walk, Deauville Beach in Normandy must be on your bucket list. The golden sands, and made even prettier by the setting sun is something that every romantic couple finds interesting. Dotted with beach umbrella and huts, the beach can be considered as a top priority for a laid-back vacation in North France. This beach is a 2.5-ride from Paris.
Where: Northwest of France near Paris
Further Read: 27 Incredibly Charming Places To Visit In France
These beaches are vast, seamless, and continue to remain gorgeous! So, how many of these beautiful beaches are you planning to include in your itinerary?
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Frequently Asked Questions About Beaches In France
How many beaches does France have?
There are more than 30 beaches in France. France has a coastline spanning about 5 800 km.
Which is the most popular beach in France?
The Paloma Beach set in the Cap Ferrat peninsula is one of the most popular beaches in France. Some of the most famous beach resorts in France are set nearby this popular beach itself.
Is there a beach in Paris?
There is no natural beach in Paris as this city is not located on the coast. You will, however, find a manmade beach on the banks of the Seine as part of the artificial ‘Paris Plages’ made by the locals. In addition to the one on the Seine, you’ll find another manmade ‘Paris Beach’ a few kilometers away from the city on a canal.
What is the closest beach to Paris France?
Deauville is certainly not France’s warmest beach destination, but it is one of the chicest and closest to Paris. Approximately 2 hours by direct train from Paris, Deauville and neighboring city Trouville have long been the beach destination for Parisians, comparable to what the Hamptons are to New Yorkers.
How far is Paris from the ocean?
Paris is about 3,966 km away from the Atlantic Ocean.
Which is the longest beach in France?
Côte d’Argent is the longest unbroken beach in France that stretches for 230 km south from the Gironde estuary. It’s a beautiful beach backed by dunes and western Europe’s largest forest. Since it is still uncommercialized, this coastline is rather secluded and untouched.
How far is Nice from Paris?
Nice is about 686 km away from Paris. The driving distance between the two cities is about 933 km. In fact, taking an action-packed road trip from Paris to Nice is among the best things to do in Nice.
Does Bordeaux have a beach?
Yes, Bordeaux has plenty of beaches. In fact, it is famous mostly for its beautiful beaches and these take up a stretch of about 130 kilometers of Bordeaux’s coastline.
A perpetual nature seeker, Amit is on a mission to explore the best of planet Earth. Much famed as the Whistling Hound, Amit’s is currently based out of Wroclaw in Poland, and is experiencing the best of his life in Eastern Europe and Scandinavia.
