Best Sandy Beaches in France

We rank the 34 sandy beaches in France. Palombaggia (France) comes first with 4.8 / 5, followed by Plage Notre-Dame, Saleccia.

The sea reaches about 21 degrees C in season, and most of these beaches are at their best from June to September. 22 of the 34 have easy access, and 8 are hidden gems.

Save on Pinterest

1Palombaggia

Corsica, France · 4.8 / 5 · Easy access · about 24 °C

Red granite boulders, parasol pines and soft pale sand — Corsica's most photographed shoreline.

2Plage Notre-Dame

Porquerolles Island, Provence, France · 4.8 / 5 · Moderate access · about 22 °C

A wide, gently shelving sand beach on car-free Porquerolles, with shallow turquoise water backed by pines and a national park setting.

3Saleccia

Agriates, Corsica, France · 4.8 / 5 · Moderate access · about 23 °C

A long white-sand beach with shallow turquoise water on the wild Agriates coast of Corsica, far from the nearest road.

4Dune du Pilat

Arcachon Bay, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France · 4.7 / 5 · Moderate access · about 19 °C

A huge sand dune beside the Atlantic at the mouth of Arcachon Bay, with wide beaches and views across the water.

5La Courtade Beach

Porquerolles Island · 4.7 / 5 · Moderate access · about 21 °C

A long sandy bay on the car-free island of Porquerolles, with very clear turquoise water and woodland behind the beach.

6Plage d'Argent

Porquerolles, Var · 4.7 / 5 · Moderate access · about 22 °C

A long, silvery-white beach on Porquerolles, the largest of the Iles d’Hyeres, within a national park and without cars.

7Plage de Roccapina

Sartene, Corsica · 4.7 / 5 · Moderate access · about 23 °C

A wide sandy bay in south-west Corsica, watched over by the Genoese tower and the granite Lion of Roccapina.

8Rondinara Beach

Bonifacio, Corsica, France · 4.7 / 5 · Easy access · about 24 °C

A horseshoe-shaped bay of pale sand and shallow, turquoise water on the south-east coast of Corsica, backed by low scrub and quiet hills.

9Plage de la Palue

Crozon, Finistere, Brittany · 4.6 / 5 · Moderate access · about 17 °C

A wild sandy beach on the west coast of the Crozon peninsula in Brittany, popular with surfers for its Atlantic waves.

10Plage des Grands Sables

Groix, Brittany · 4.6 / 5 · Moderate access · about 18 °C

A long sandy beach on the east coast of the island of Groix, famous as one of the few convex beaches in Europe.

11Santa Giulia

Porto-Vecchio, Corsica, France · 4.6 / 5 · Easy access · about 24 °C

A long white-sand beach on a sheltered bay with shallow, calm water, south of Porto-Vecchio.

12Cap Ferret Ocean Beach

Lege-Cap-Ferret, Gironde · 4.5 / 5 · Moderate access · about 19 °C

Wild Atlantic beaches and high dunes at the tip of the Cap Ferret peninsula, facing the Banc d’Arguin.

13Gigaro Beach

La Croix-Valmer, Var, France · 4.5 / 5 · Easy access · about 22 °C

A long sandy beach on the Var coast near Cap Lardier, backed by pine woods and protected coastline.

14Pampelonne Beach

Ramatuelle, Provence, France · 4.5 / 5 · Easy access · about 23 °C

A long arc of fine sand, about 4.

15Pointe de la Torche

Plomeur, Finistere, Brittany · 4.5 / 5 · Easy access · about 17 °C

A wide sandy beach beside the Pointe de la Torche in south Finistere, one of the best-known surf spots in Brittany.

16Aregno Beach

Balagne, Corsica · 4.4 / 5 · Easy access · about 23 °C

A long sandy beach on the Balagne coast of north-west Corsica, with clear water and mountains in the background.

17Brouis Beach

La Croix-Valmer, French Riviera · 4.4 / 5 · Moderate access · about 21 °C

A small sandy cove on the coast of La Croix-Valmer, with pine-covered hills behind and open blue water in front.

18La Baule Beach

La Baule-Escoublac, Pays de la Loire · 4.4 / 5 · Easy access · about 19 °C

A sweeping semicircular bay of fine pale sand, about 9 km long between Pornichet and Le Pouliguen.

19Lacanau Ocean Beach

Lacanau, Gironde · 4.4 / 5 · Easy access · about 19 °C

A broad sandy Atlantic beach backed by dunes and pines, with strong waves that have made Lacanau one of France best-known surf spots.

20Lozari Beach

Belgodere, Corsica · 4.4 / 5 · Easy access · about 23 °C

A sandy beach on the Balagne coast of Corsica near Belgodere, with clear water and views of the coastal hills.

21Plage de la Cote des Basques

Biarritz, Basque Coast · 4.4 / 5 · Moderate access · about 19 °C

A long sandy beach beneath tall cliffs on the south side of Biarritz, known for surfing and for its dramatic sunsets.

22Plage de Piemanson

Salin-de-Giraud, Camargue · 4.4 / 5 · Easy access · about 23 °C

A long, wild sandy beach on the Camargue coast near the mouth of the Rhone, with dunes and few buildings.

23Plage de Tahiti

Ramatuelle, Var, Provence · 4.4 / 5 · Easy access · about 23 °C

The northern end of the long Pampelonne bay near Ramatuelle on the French Riviera, with fine sand and a line of beach restaurants.

24Tamaricciu Beach

Porto-Vecchio, Corsica · 4.4 / 5 · Moderate access · about 23 °C

A sandy beach on the east coast of Corsica near Porto-Vecchio, with clear water and a relaxed feel.

25Arromanches Gold Beach

Arromanches-les-Bains, Normandy · 4.3 / 5 · Easy access · about 18 °C

A broad sandy beach below chalk cliffs, known as Gold Beach in the 1944 landings.

26Biarritz Grande Plage

Biarritz, Basque Coast, France · 4.3 / 5 · Easy access · about 19 °C

A wide Atlantic sand beach in the centre of Biarritz, with the town and promenade behind and cliffs and rocks along the coast.

27Bidart Beach

Bidart, Basque Coast, Nouvelle-Aquitaine · 4.3 / 5 · Easy access · about 20 °C

The central beach of Bidart, one of the village beaches on the Basque coast between Biarritz and Saint-Jean-de-Luz.

28Calvi Beach

Calvi, Corsica, France · 4.3 / 5 · Easy access · about 22 °C

A long sandy beach on the Calvi bay in northwest Corsica, with a view across the water to the mountains.

29Dinard Beach

Dinard, Brittany · 4.3 / 5 · Easy access · about 18 °C

The main beach of Dinard is a long sandy bay below Belle Epoque villas on the Emerald Coast of Brittany.

30Hossegor Lake Beach

Hossegor, Landes · 4.3 / 5 · Easy access · about 21 °C

A calm sandy beach on the lake of Hossegor, ringed by pines and villas, offering a gentler alternative to the surf on the nearby ocean beaches.

31Omaha Beach

Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer, Normandy · 4.2 / 5 · Easy access · about 17 °C

A long, flat, sandy shoreline in Normandy, best known as one of the D-Day landing beaches of 1944.

32Plage de la Croisette

Cannes, French Riviera · 4.2 / 5 · Easy access · about 23 °C

The sandy beaches along the famous Boulevard de la Croisette in Cannes, a mix of private beach clubs and free public sections.

33Plage de la Salis

Antibes, French Riviera · 4.2 / 5 · Easy access · about 23 °C

A sheltered sandy beach at Antibes with calm, shallow water that suits families, and views across the bay.

34Plage de la Gravette

Antibes, French Riviera · 4.1 / 5 · Easy access · about 23 °C

A small sandy beach right beside the old town and port of Antibes, with calm shallow water and a walk to the ramparts.

Quick comparison

How we picked these beaches

Included when the shoreline is mostly of this type, then ranked by our editorial score. See how we rate beaches for the full method.

Frequently asked questions

More lists

• Best Pebble Beaches in France
• Best Family Beaches in France
• Easiest Beaches to Reach in France
• Hidden Gem Beaches in France
• Best Sandy Beaches in Europe
• Best Pebble Beaches in Europe
• Best Rocky Coves in Europe
• Best Sandy Beaches in Greece

All beaches in France · Beach finder · Map of all beaches · All lists