The Best Beaches To Visit In France

For a little taste of paradise, a trip to Plage Palombaggia on the island of Corsica is akin to a sultry Caribbean retreat. Nestled between pine trees and lush, low-lying hills, its pristine white sand and clear waters provide an unreal oasis of calm, attracting sunbathers and surfers alike. Part of a culturally unique area of France, this beach adds to the many reasons why you should visit Corsica.

Plage Palombaggia, Porto-Vecchio, Corisca, France

Plage Hendaye is found on the Basque coast, close to Biarritz and a stone’s throw from the Spanish border. A far cry from a trashy tourist hub, Hendaye Beach mainly attracts locals with its immense sweep of smooth, flat sands. Ideal for sunbathing, sport, and family outings, Plage Hendaye is fully equipped with a surfing school and many other facilities, including public washrooms, wheelchair access to the water, and ice-cream kiosks and eateries along the boardwalk.

Plage d’Hendaye, Boulevard de la Mer, Hendaye, France

The majestic cliffs of Etretat, Normandy are nature’s own form of Gothic architecture, inspiring awe the world over for their stunning, naturally formed archways. It’s hard to imagine a more striking beauty than the sight of these cliffs against the red sky at sunset. Perch by the shore and allow yourself to be mesmerized, while the historic chateaus and churches that line Normandy’s chalky coastline transport you to another time.

Les Falaises d’Etretat, Normandy, France

Plage de Pampelonne has attracted celebrities and serial sunbathers alike for decades. This world-famous beach receives more attention from tourists, but this foot traffic has done nothing to mar the plage’s pristine shores and upscale amenities. Lined with several high-class restaurants and bars, Plage de Pampelonne offers the perfect marriage between nature and luxury, and will give you a true taste of what the Cote d’Azur is all about.

Plage de Pampelonne, St. Tropez, France

Found between the two main port cities of Marseille and Montpellier, Espiguette beach embodies the raw, natural character of the Languedoc region. Overcrowding is a rarity on Espiguette, though the tourists drawn to flashier locales are missing out: the immense dunes and vast, untouched shores you’ll find here are simply breathtaking. This beach is perfect not only for sunbathing, but for escaping the maddening crowd.

Plage d’Espiguette, Le Grau-du-Roi, France

Situated south of Marseille, l’Ile de Riou will give you the desert island experience straight out of your fantasies. An uninhabited reserve lined with crumbling white ravines and vertical rock faces, this small island is among the most beautiful sites known to avid divers and archeology enthusiasts. With downslopes dropping up to 70 meters, the sea floor is carpeted with several varieties of coral and sea sponges, and is home to a diversity of aquatic life and antique wreckage sites. Due to its relative clarity, the water around the island’s rocky coast is ideal for snorkeling and kayaking, while the rugged, low-lying mountain formations nearby offer many opportunities for hiking and rock climbing.