Unspoiled Beaches Without Sunbeds in France

We rank the 31 unspoiled beaches without sunbeds in France. En-Vau Calanque (France) comes first with 4.8 / 5, followed by Saleccia, Dune du Pilat.

The sea reaches about 20 degrees C in season, and most of these beaches are at their best from June to September. 19 of the 31 have easy access, and 15 are hidden gems.

Save on Pinterest

1En-Vau Calanque

Cassis, Provence, France · 4.8 / 5 · Challenging access · about 22 °C

A small pebble beach at the head of a narrow inlet between white limestone cliffs, with clear turquoise water, in the Calanques National Park near Cassis.

2Saleccia

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.

3Dune 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.

4Plage 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.

5Plage du Lotu, Corsica

Desert des Agriates, Corsica · 4.7 / 5 · Challenging access · about 24 °C

Lotu is a white-sand beach with turquoise water in the Desert des Agriates on the north coast of Corsica.

6Calanque de Sugiton

Marseille, Calanques, France · 4.6 / 5 · Challenging access · about 20 °C

A small rocky cove set between limestone cliffs in the Calanques National Park, reached on foot from Marseille.

7Nonza Beach

Nonza, Cap Corse, Corsica · 4.6 / 5 · Moderate access · about 23 °C

Nonza beach is a long beach of dark grey pebbles at the foot of the Corsican village of Nonza, on the west side of Cap Corse.

8Plage 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.

9Plage 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.

10Baie des Trepasses

Cleden-Cap-Sizun, Finistere, Brittany · 4.5 / 5 · Easy access · about 17 °C

The Baie des Trepasses is a wide bay of pale sand at the western end of the Cap Sizun peninsula in Brittany, close to the Pointe du Raz.

11Calanque de Port-Pin

Cassis, Calanques National Park, France · 4.5 / 5 · Moderate access · about 21 °C

A narrow limestone inlet between Port-Miou and En-Vau with a small pebble beach and calm turquoise water, reached on foot from Cassis.

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.

13Plage des Blancs-Sablons, Le Conquet

Les Blancs-Sablons, Le Conquet, Brittany · 4.5 / 5 · Easy access · about 17 °C

Les Blancs-Sablons is a wide beach of pale sand near Le Conquet at the western tip of Brittany, with dunes behind and the open Atlantic in front.

14Pointe 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.

15Capo di Feno Beach

Capo di Feno, Ajaccio, Corsica · 4.4 / 5 · Easy access · about 23 °C

Capo di Feno is a long sandy beach on the wild coast west of Ajaccio in Corsica.

16Espiguette Beach, Le Grau-du-Roi

Le Grau-du-Roi, Camargue, Occitanie · 4.4 / 5 · Easy access · about 22 °C

Espiguette is a wide, wild beach of fine sand at the southern tip of the Camargue near Le Grau-du-Roi, with dunes, a lighthouse and a very long shoreline.

17Etretat Beach

Etretat, Normandy, France · 4.4 / 5 · Easy access · about 17 °C

A steep pebble beach beneath the famous white chalk cliffs and arches of the Normandy coast.

18Lacanau 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.

19Plage de Caroual, Erquy

Caroual, Erquy, Cotes-d Armor · 4.4 / 5 · Easy access · about 18 °C

Caroual is a long sandy beach in the bay of Erquy on the north coast of Brittany, with a wide stretch of sand at low tide and pine woods behind.

20Plage 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.

21Plage 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.

22Arromanches 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.

23Grande Plage de Quiberon

Quiberon, Brittany · 4.3 / 5 · Easy access · about 17 °C

The Grande Plage of Quiberon is a sheltered curve of sand facing the bay, with calm water and a seafront lined with cafes.

24Hossegor 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.

25Plage de Biscarrosse

Biscarrosse, Nouvelle-Aquitaine · 4.3 / 5 · Easy access · about 20 °C

Biscarrosse-Plage is a wide beach of fine sand on the Atlantic coast, backed by tall dunes and pine forest.

26Plage de la Conche des Baleines, Ile de Re

Conche des Baleines, Ile de Re · 4.3 / 5 · Easy access · about 19 °C

La 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.

27Plage de Trestraou, Perros-Guirec

Perros-Guirec, Brittany · 4.3 / 5 · Easy access · about 18 °C

Trestraou is the main beach of Perros-Guirec, a wide curve of fine sand on the Pink Granite Coast, with a sea-front promenade and a view of the offshore islands.

28Plage du Bon-Secours, Saint-Malo

Saint-Malo, Brittany · 4.3 / 5 · Easy access · about 18 °C

Plage du Bon-Secours lies just below the granite walls of Saint-Malo, with a famous tidal swimming pool built on the rocks.

29Plage du Kelenn, Carantec

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

Plage du Kelenn is a sheltered sand beach in Carantec, on a bay of small islands near Roscoff.

30Omaha 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.

31Utah Beach, Normandy

Sainte-Marie-du-Mont, Normandy · 4.2 / 5 · Easy access · about 18 °C

Utah Beach is a wide, flat beach on the east coast of the Cotentin peninsula in Normandy, one of the D-Day landing beaches.

Quick comparison

How we picked these beaches

Included when our practical info reports no sunbed or umbrella rental, so the beach stays natural, then ranked by editorial score. Bring shade and water. See how we rate beaches for the full method.

Frequently asked questions

More lists

• Best Beaches in France in May
• Best Beaches in France in June
• Best Beaches in France in July
• Best Beaches with Sunbeds in France
• Best Beaches with Free Parking in France
• Best Sandy Beaches in France
• Best Pebble Beaches in France
• Best Family Beaches in France

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