Last Updated: May 23, 2022
Best Beach Towns In France
The fabulous coastline of France is home to many outstanding beach towns that offer everything from excellent surfing to exciting parties. If you’re trying to decide which French coastal town should be your next destination, you’re definitely in the right place!
From the best hidden gems of the French Riviera to northern France coastal towns, this guide includes all the best coastal towns in France worth visiting. Whether you’re looking to spend your days lounging on the beach, or you’d rather be stationed somewhere that’s close to other popular tourist destinations, you’ll find plenty of interesting options in this detailed guide to all the best beach towns in France!
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Saint Jean De Luz
Saint Jean De Luz is a small coastal town in southwestern France. Situated at the border with Spain in the Bay of Biscay, the fishing port has become one of the most popular coastal towns in France. It’s got beautiful sandy beaches, an imposing 15th-century church, high-quality hotels, and a surprisingly rich history.
A lot of the residences in the town were constructed in the 17th and 18th centuries, making the town great for architecture buffs. There are quite a few interesting tourist attractions in town, including churches, museums, and botanical gardens, so there are lots of things to do and see if you’re more into active vacations.
On the other hand, Saint Jean De Luz is also a great destination for those who prefer to just spend their days on the beach sipping cocktails. It’s got some of the best resorts in France, golf courses, casinos, and a myriad of restaurants that serve traditional French cuisine.
Marseille
Marseille is the second-largest city in France, right after Paris. It’s situated in southeastern France and it borders the coastal towns of the French Riviera. This beautiful city is a great place for all tourists who wish to spend their days exploring French museums, architectural masterpieces, and all sorts of other attractions while stopping at the beach every few hours.
Whether you’re looking to stay at a seaside resort or in the city center, Marseille won’t disappoint. The city is also adjacent to Parc national des Calanques, with plenty of hiking trails and natural landmarks outdoor lovers can explore.
Additionally, Marseille is a port town with boat connections to lots of other French coastal towns. You can even get a boat ride to Corsica from here, but it’s a 12-hour journey so definitely not suitable for a quick day trip.
Biarritz
Biarritz is an elegant coastal town in southwestern France. It’s situated just north of Saint Jean de Luz in French Basque County, and it’s one of the more popular tourist destinations in this part of the country.
This is a luxurious destination, so a great place for those with deeper pockets who want to experience the appeal of the best French beach towns. The town is best known for Hôtel du Palais, an impressive hotel on the Atlantic Beach that was initially built as a summer villa for Empress Eugénie in the mid-19th-century.
The impressive royal vila is one of the most popular hotels in this beautiful town on the Atlantic coast, but it’s certainly not the only one. Biarritz is known for vast sandy beaches that are lined with luxurious hotels, French cafes, and casinos, so there are plenty of options for everyone who comes to this fabulous French beach town.
Deauville
Deauville is a resort town in Normandy and it’s one of the most beautiful coastal towns in this region. It’s been an upscale coastal destination since the 1800s, thanks to its beautiful beaches, countless golf courses, and the town’s grand casino.
The town is best known for the Deauville beach, which is a vast sandy beach with countless sun umbrellas and beach vendors. It’s one of the best beaches in France, and it’s certainly impressive enough to warrant a trip to Deauville. The expansive beach is lined with the 1920s seaside boardwalk that boasts bathing cabins, restaurants, bars, and spectacular ocean views.
In addition to the fabulous beaches and high-end hotels, visitors can also enjoy live horse races at the Deauville-La Touques Racecourse, the Belle Epoque architecture and decorations of Villa Strassburger, and chic boutiques. The boutiques are the best giveaway for the kinds of tourists that holiday in this town – Hermes, Louis Vuitton, Zadig&Voltaire, and many other luxury shops are all found in this lovely French coastal town.
Honfleur
Honfleur is a small beach town on the northwestern coast of France. It’s a developing city that’s not extremely popular with tourists, so it’s a great place for all travelers who want to experience the beautiful French coastal towns, but they like to avoid the massive crowds. Honfleur is still not too popular with tourists, which makes it one of the best hidden gems of Normandy.
The town is situated at the mouth of the Seine, and it’s such a picturesque place that even Claude Monet was inspired to paint it. Also, Honfleur is just about 2 and a half hours away from Paris, so you always have the option of stopping by the French capital for a day or two.
Just because Honfleur is a small town doesn’t mean there’s nothing to do there. The beautiful beach town proudly displays its cultural heritage in many museums and galleries. It’s home to some spectacularly beautiful art, excellent French restaurants, and fabulous public gardens that are full of pretty flowers.
Saint-Malo
Saint-Malo is a gorgeous port town in Brittany on the western coast. It’s best known for its impressive old town, which is surrounded by tall, granite walls. Once upon a time, this French beach town was a stronghold of privateers, which are pirates who were approved by the king.
The beautiful town has an incredibly rich history and the countless medieval forts and ramparts are a testament to it. But that’s certainly not the reason why this is one of the best French coastal towns out of the bunch – the fabulous wild beaches, stunning English Channel views, and seafood restaurants are all just as inviting as the medieval architecture.
Another event that makes this charming town popular with tourists is the iconic single-handed yacht race. It’s as bougie as it sounds, and it takes place every four years in November. The race takes place between Saint-Malo and Guadeloupe’s Point-à-Pitre, and it’s one of the famous events that take place in Brittany.
Trouville Sur Mer
Trouville Sur Mer (which literally translates to Trouville on Sea) is a beautiful seaside town in northern France. It’s situated just east of Deauville, and it’s separated from the other coastal town just by the La Touques river.
Trouville is best known for its vast sandy beach nicknamed the queen of the beaches. Plage de Trouville is one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, and a great reason to make a trip to this part of Normandy.
The vast expanse of sand is certainly the most interesting thing about this coastal town. Trouville is often associated with French painters from the 19th century, most of whom were so inspired by the beauty of this town that they immortalized it in their paintings. Monet, Boudin, Renoir, and Dufy have all visited the town and painted there, and many of their works can be observed in the town’s museums.
That’s another interesting thing about this charming town – it remains a place for vacation, leisure, and culture. It’s home to countless casinos, celebrity vacation homes, and exciting festivals, which all make it one of the most popular northern France coastal towns.
Villefranche-sur-Mer
Villefranche-sur-Mer is a fabulous coastal town on the French Riviera. Situated just northeast of Nice, the spectacular town on the Mediterranean Sea is one of the best destinations for travelers who want to experience Côte d’Azur, but preferably without the crowds that are so common in the bigger towns.
In fact, the population of this French coastal town is steadily declining, mostly because of the increasing cost of real estate. It has an aging population that isn’t being replaced by younger people, as well as a lot of part-time residents.
The coastal town is situated between Nice and Monaco, allowing for quick and easy day trips to both destinations. It can even be considered a suburb of the greater metropolitan area of Nice, but it’s not as crowded as the central area of the famous city.
You never have to leave the town if you don’t want to because it’s got everything you need for a proper vacation. With fabulous sandy beaches, great seaside hotels, and many tourist attractions, Villefranche-sur-Mer is truly a small slice of paradise in the French Riviera.
Martigues
Martigues is a small beach town northwest of Marseille. It’s nicknamed the Venice of Provence, because of its charming canals, bridges, and docks. It’s truly a marvelous place in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, as well as a great place for a vacation if you’d rather not stay in a big city like Marseille.
You still have the option of visiting France’s second-largest city on a day trip and seeing all of its fascinating landmarks and attractions. That’s only if you get the urge to visit a big city in France – Martigues has plenty to offer to its visitors and you don’t have to leave the town in search of entertainment.
It’s got beautiful beaches, fabulous French restaurants, museums, art galleries, and botanical gardens. There are also plenty of hotels to stay at, ranging from budget-friendly establishments to luxe resorts where you will want for nothing.
Barfleur
Barfleur is a small town and fishing village in Normandy. It’s a great place to visit if your idea of the perfect French beach town includes more boats than people. During the Middle Ages, this French town was the principal point of embarkation for England, thanks to its position along the English Channel.
The small town is mostly a port and doesn’t have as many impressive beaches as some other popular French beach towns. If your idea of a nice beach vacation doesn’t include miles and miles of soft sand, then this beautiful town is still an option worth considering.
But if you want loungers on sandy beaches and servers that bring ice-cold cocktails to your loungers, you’re better off heading somewhere else.
Cancale
Cancale is a commune in Brittany best known for being the birthplace of
Seafood lovers will absolutely enjoy it in this town, considering it’s long been known for its excellent oysters and shellfish. Cancale has even been voted as a remarkable site of taste because of the incredible seafood, and exploring the many local restaurants is certainly one of the best things to do in this lovely French beach town.
The second best thing to do in Cancale is to explore its many sandy beaches while admiring the spectacular vista of Mont Saint-Michel. The tiny island is visible from the coast of Cancale, and it’s truly an astonishing sight.
Cassis
Cassis is a fishing port on the Mediterranean coast of southern France, best known for its many pebbly beaches, narrow inlets, and tall limestone cliffs. Everything about the scenery of this French beach town is dramatic, but the pretty views certainly aren’t the sole reason for its popularity.
Pastel-colored buildings line the sidewalks of this beautiful coastal town, and they’re full of fabulous French cafes and restaurants. There are also quite a lot of local vineyards nearby that produce local Cassis white wine, making the town a great destination for those who enjoy wine tastings.
The rocky cliff of Cap Canaille boasts some of the most scenic hiking trails in the area. Perched atop the Mediterannean Sea, Cap Canaille offers mesmerizing panoramic views and some truly exciting hikes.
Sète
Sète is an important port city in Southeast France. It borders the Étang de Thau saltwater lagoon, which is known for its incredible biodiversity. The lagoon is considered the second largest lake in France, and it’s a truly impressive sight in Sète.
This beach town is known for long sandy beaches, excellent restaurants, and good snorkeling opportunities. But it has so much more to offer to its visitors, especially those who want to explore the hidden gems of this charming beach town.
Mont St Clair is a 600-foot peak in the heart of Sète, and it’s one of the top attractions in town. Climb to the top of the hill to experience some of the best panoramic views of this beautiful beach town, but also to see a primitive 19th-century chapel known for the murals inside it.
It’s also worth noting that this beach town is in close proximity to several nature preserves and nature parks, so there’s plenty to explore if you’re always in the mood to go wandering around the great outdoors.
Pigna
Pigna is an old village built into the mountainside in Corsica. The French island is considered to have the best and most beautiful beaches in the entire country, at least among the French. This mountainous village slowly descends to the sandy shores, offering spectacular views of the tall cliffs and turquoise waters.
The village is very popular with campers, thanks to the abundance of campsites and budget accommodation. If you want to experience the remarkable beauty of the Corsican landscape on a budget, Pigna is certainly one of the best places on the island for you.
The small village also offers hotel accommodation, but they’re nowhere near as luxurious as the hotels of the
Étretat
Étretat is a small beach town in northern France, best known for the dramatic white cliffs. They’re called the Étretat Chalk Complex, and some of its cliffs are up to 90 meters tall. It’s also possible to observe all sorts of rock formations in the complex, some of which reach an impressive height of 70 meters above the sea.
Another famous fact about this coastal town is that it is the last place where The White Bird was seen back in 1927. Shortly after, the first plane to attempt a non-stop flight between Paris and New York disappeared somewhere over the Atlantic Ocean, and its whereabouts remain one of the biggest aviation mysteries even today.
There’s a monument to the flight in the town, as well as a museum that details the tragic events. In addition to the fascinating history, this beautiful French town also boasts many hiking trails, scenic viewpoints, and vast pebble beaches.
About the Author Anna Timbrook
Anna is the co-owner of expert world travel and can't wait to share her travel experience with the world. With over 54 countries under her belt she has a lot to write about! Including those insane encounters with black bears in Canada.
