France might be small, but it features wonderful beaches. France borders two major bodies of water: the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterannean Sea. These miles of beaches in France are filled with delightful small villages and larger, bustling cities. Make plans for a vacation that mix the allure of France and the relaxation of the water by visiting these top beach destinations.
This charming Aquitaine village has much to commend it: it is a few minutes from Spain and close to the Pyrenees, it is in the heart of the ever-interesting Basque Country, and it is filled with adorable and unique Basque architecture. This is easily one of my favorite destinations in France. You get the shops, markets and cafes of a city, but it is still a relatively small town. Parking is hard (almost impossible) to come by, though.
Just a few minutes away from Nice, this beach is sandier, quieter and less jam-packed with tourists than its more high-profile neighbor. There is only a handful of shops and cafes here, but sunbathing is much more pleasant. Beautiful mansions loom overhead, and there is a delightful market here. You can always hop the train and be in Nice (for shopping and so on) in five minutes.
Just a short distance from the lovely and hip Languedoc capital city Montpellier, this beach resort is filled with things to do: water sports, nature hikes (with over 10 miles of pedestrian paths), and several great spots for day trips. Take the kids to the water park, play golf or play tennis. Take trips into the Camargue to see flamingoes, white horses or black bulls.
This wonderful peninsula near Bordeaux promises beach on two sides (with the ocean to the west and a bay to the right). This is a great destination if you are looking to get away from it all, relax at quiet beaches, indulge in surfing, fishing or swimming, and want to remain close to a busy city. Most of the hotels are two-star, but there are a couple upscale four-star campgrounds as well.
This cute fishing village is filled with museums, historic buildings and beachfront (from both the sea and the lagoon). The port's brightly-painted rowhouses make for great photo opportunities. Visit Mont Saint Clair for stunning panoramic views on the city and the sea. This is a great travel base for visits to Agde, Montpellier, Beziers and Nimes.
Many people have heard of Perpignan, just a short distance from here, but Argeles sur Mer is far cozier and more relaxing. It has a cute downtown with cafes and shops. It features a long stretch of beach along France's famous Cote Vermeille (Red Coast) and it is a short drive to Spain.
