Best Sandy Beaches in the French Atlantic coast
We rank the 13 sandy beaches in the French Atlantic coast. Dune du Pilat (France) comes first with 4.7 / 5, followed by Plage des Dames, Noirmoutier, Cap Ferret Ocean Beach.
The sea reaches about 19 degrees C in season, and most of these beaches are at their best from June to September. 10 of the 13 have easy access, and 1 are hidden gems.
1Dune du Pilat
Arcachon Bay, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France · 4.7 / 5 · Moderate access · about 19 °CA huge sand dune beside the Atlantic at the mouth of Arcachon Bay, with wide beaches and views across the water.
2Plage des Dames, Noirmoutier
Noirmoutier-en-l Ile, Vendee · 4.6 / 5 · Easy access · about 20 °CPlage des Dames is a long beach of fine sand on the island of Noirmoutier, backed by an oak and pine wood and rows of colourful wooden beach huts.
3Cap Ferret Ocean Beach
Lege-Cap-Ferret, Gironde · 4.5 / 5 · Moderate access · about 19 °CWild Atlantic beaches and high dunes at the tip of the Cap Ferret peninsula, facing the Banc d’Arguin.
4Lacanau Ocean Beach
Lacanau, Gironde · 4.4 / 5 · Easy access · about 19 °CA broad sandy Atlantic beach backed by dunes and pines, with strong waves that have made Lacanau one of France best-known surf spots.
5Plage de la Cote des Basques
Biarritz, Basque Coast · 4.4 / 5 · Moderate access · about 19 °CA long sandy beach beneath tall cliffs on the south side of Biarritz, known for surfing and for its dramatic sunsets.
6Biarritz Grande Plage
Biarritz, Basque Coast, France · 4.3 / 5 · Easy access · about 19 °CA wide Atlantic sand beach in the centre of Biarritz, with the town and promenade behind and cliffs and rocks along the coast.
7Hossegor Lake Beach
Hossegor, Landes · 4.3 / 5 · Easy access · about 21 °CA 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.
8Plage de la Conche des Baleines, Ile de Re
Conche des Baleines, Ile de Re · 4.3 / 5 · Easy access · about 19 °CLa Conche des Baleines is a wide sandy beach on the north-west tip of Ile de Re, with dunes and the Phare des Baleines lighthouse nearby.
9Plage de la Grande Conche
Royan, Charente-Maritime · 4.3 / 5 · Easy access · about 18 °CThe Grande Conche is the main beach of Royan, a wide curve of fine sand backed by a promenade and 1950s architecture.
10Plage de la Palmyre
La Palmyre, Les Mathes, Charente-Maritime · 4.3 / 5 · Easy access · about 20 °CLa Palmyre is a wide sandy beach on the Atlantic coast of Charente-Maritime, beside the Foret de la Coubre.
11Plage d Arcachon, Gironde
Arcachon, Gironde, Nouvelle-Aquitaine · 4.2 / 5 · Easy access · about 21 °CArcachon is a seaside town on the bay of the same name in south-west France, with a long promenade and a sandy beach along the shore.
12Plage de Mimizan
Mimizan, Landes · 4.2 / 5 · Easy access · about 19 °CMimizan has a wide Atlantic beach of fine sand backed by high dunes and pine forest.
13Plage des Minimes, La Rochelle
Les Minimes, La Rochelle, Charente-Maritime · 4.1 / 5 · Easy access · about 20 °CThe Plage des Minimes is a sandy beach beside the large marina of La Rochelle on the Atlantic coast.
Quick comparison
| # | Beach | Country | Score | Water | Best season | Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dune du Pilat | France | 4.7 | 19 °C | June–September | Moderate |
| 2 | Plage des Dames, Noirmoutier | France | 4.6 | 20 °C | June–September | Easy |
| 3 | Cap Ferret Ocean Beach | France | 4.5 | 19 °C | June–September | Moderate |
| 4 | Lacanau Ocean Beach | France | 4.4 | 19 °C | June–September | Easy |
| 5 | Plage de la Cote des Basques | France | 4.4 | 19 °C | June–September | Moderate |
| 6 | Biarritz Grande Plage | France | 4.3 | 19 °C | June–September | Easy |
| 7 | Hossegor Lake Beach | France | 4.3 | 21 °C | June–September | Easy |
| 8 | Plage de la Conche des Baleines, Ile de Re | France | 4.3 | 19 °C | July–September | Easy |
| 9 | Plage de la Grande Conche | France | 4.3 | 18 °C | June–September | Easy |
| 10 | Plage de la Palmyre | France | 4.3 | 20 °C | July–September | Easy |
| 11 | Plage d Arcachon, Gironde | France | 4.2 | 21 °C | June–September | Easy |
| 12 | Plage de Mimizan | France | 4.2 | 19 °C | June–September | Easy |
| 13 | Plage des Minimes, La Rochelle | France | 4.1 | 20 °C | June–September | Easy |
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
Which are the top-rated sandy beaches in the French Atlantic coast?
Our top three are Dune du Pilat (4.7 out of 5), Plage des Dames, Noirmoutier (4.6 out of 5), Cap Ferret Ocean Beach (4.5 out of 5). Scores are editorial ratings from the EuroShores team.
When is the best time to visit these beaches?
Most are at their best from June to September. Water temperatures average about 19 degrees C in season. Each beach page lists its exact season.
Which of these beaches are easiest to reach?
Plage des Dames, Noirmoutier, Lacanau Ocean Beach, Biarritz Grande Plage, Hossegor Lake Beach, Plage de la Conche des Baleines, Ile de Re and 5 more have easy access. The others need a walk, stairs or a rougher road, so check the access note on each page.