The 10 best beaches in France

This is one of those beaches that makes you think, ‘Surely it doesn’t look like that in person?’ But it does. This is the ultimate destination for a romantic holidays, surrounded by towering cliffs and characterised by a series of narrow limestone coves. The beach stretches across 20 kilometres of coastline between Cassis and Marseille, and if you’re up for a hike, you’ve got to check out Calanque D’en-Vau, an isolated little cove which is definitely worth it. 

Why we love it: you’ll never, ever tire of the mere setting. En Vau’s calanque location is magical.

Picture a silky strand flanked by pink granite cliffs and framed by sweet-scented pine trees – up the beauty tenfold, then you’d get Corsica’s most famous beach. Compared to something from the Caribbean, Palombaggia, a small slice of paradise just 10 kilometres from the ritzy town of Porto-Vecchio, also draws surfers who come to ride the waves on windy days.

Why we love it: warm, clear water surrounded by those cliffs? There’s absolutely nothing not to like about Palombaggia.

Beach clubs, beautiful white sand and boho vibes are on offer at this world-famous strand in chic and sunny Saint-Tropez, a resort basically synonymous with one Brigitte Bardot. These days the A-listers you can expect to spot rubbing sun oil on their buff(ish) bodies include Bono, Leonardo DiCaprio and Naomi Campbell.

The bopping Île de Ré might be better known, but if you want to discover one of France’s best-known beach secrets, take the spectacular bridge over to Ré’s sister island Oléron. The second-largest island in France feels like heaven, with its kilometres of sandy beaches backed by grassy dunes and sweet-smelling pine forests, but the lovely shell-strewn Plage de Gatseau near Saint-Trojan-les-Bains easily wins Oléron’s coveted ‘best beach’ title.

Famed for its wind and kite-surfing, this family-friendly, five-kilometre-long stretch of pristine coastline near Marseille is also home to pretty pink flamingos and other rare birds. With its talc-fine sand, warm shallow waters and undulating grassy dunes – alongside the unique sandy isthmus known as a ‘double tombolo’ – this expansive beach is ideal for families with toddlers. 

The waters may be chilly, but where Brittany lacks the warmth of the south, its tranquil swimming spots and postage-stamp sea caves compensate with sheer, heart-stopping charm. There are plenty of pristine beaches near the region’s former sardine fishing port at Morgat, but with its gleaming pebble beach and always-clear waters, the aptly named île Vierge (‘Virgin Island’) is our favourite. 

It is like turning the clock back when you visit the favourite summer hideout of madeleine-loving Marcel Proust: Cabourg’s elegant seafront promenade overlooked by formal gardens and imposing villas is straight out of an old-time movie. You might not see bathing belles in stripy bloomers on this well-groomed Normandy beach, but some of that charm still hangs in the air.

Just a ferry away from chic Hyères, Porquerolles island feels like a living, breathing portrait of French seaside life back in the ’70s. A protected area for the past 45 years, this pretty island is car-free, and even smoking is banned, so you’ll need to set out on foot to find the soft sands and balmy blue seas of Notre Dame, the island’s most scenic plage.

In-the-know French beach-goers go west to the pine-clad Atlantic Coast if they fancy a super-chilled spot to surf or sunbathe. The best is Lacanau-Océan near wine-loving Bordeaux: a dazzling 14-kilometre-long stretch of foreshore shaded by trees and framed by rolling grass-studded dunes. 

Grab your swankiest swimwear and get ready for some celeb-spotting at this sophisticated Côte d’Azur beach named for Picasso’s daughter Paloma. You’ll be mingling with the moneyed beach-goers as you strut your stuff on this hip strip of sand. But it’s easy to understand the appeal: backed by beautiful gardens and reached via a rocky staircase, this upmarket resort is mind-blowingly picturesque.