Holidays in France by the sea. Where to relax by the sea in France? Review of beach resorts

home

There are almost 2000 km of sandy beaches in France - this is 35% of the French coastline. From the white sandy beaches of northern France to the warm yellow sand of St Tropez. You have a serious choice ahead of you. Check out these quirky beach resorts in France.

Resorts of France on the map

Menton, Provence

© axelnaud / flickr.com / CC BY 2.0 Menton is a popular resort in southeastern France. Almost the same Cote d'Azur, but for more selective travelers. Everything here is as it should be - two huge beaches with pebbles and sand, and the Alps descending to the sea. British nobility for a long time

set the tone for the general atmosphere. There are luxurious gardens, good manners, and elegance. And the coast is washed by the Mediterranean Sea.

The old Latin city climbs up the hill in a narrow labyrinth. Italy, which accidentally found itself on the edge of the Promenade. If the sun, sea and sand aren't enough, you can always admire the art at the Jean Cocteau Museum.

Gruissan

© deliciousblur / flickr.com / CC BY 2.0 Gruissan is small town , where history mixes with modernity. The ruins of the Barbarossa Tower tower over the city, giving it an old spirit of maritime romance. The tourist orientation of the town is active beach holiday in France. Here you can scuba dive or windsurf. There are good beaches on the coast and night life

and establishments do not lag behind modern standards. There is also a 300-year-old winery here, with views of the vineyards and the sea. You can stay at the winery estate.

Cavalaire-sur-Mer

© 132646954@N02 / flickr.com / CC BY 2.0 The French Riviera is especially rich in resorts. Cavalier-sur-Mer is cozy resort town on the Cote d'Azur in the south of France. It is very close to the more expensive Saint-Tropez, but is completely different from its popular neighbor. On the one hand, here is the same sea with a sandy beach and sun, but without the touch of luxury, snobbery and heart-stopping prices. Cavalier-sur-Mer is great for family vacation

A little further away you can find more modest beaches and a scenic coastal path to Cap Lardieu. The Riviera can still surprise with its wildness and natural beauty. In total, the town has 12 sandy beaches and 300 sunny days per year. What else is needed seaside resort France?

Island of Ile de Ré

© llansades / flickr.com / CC BY 2.0

This beautiful little island on the west coast of France is a favorite haunt of wealthy French families, who prefer the pine beaches of Ré and the Atlantic Ocean to the glitz of Saint-Tropez. This perfect place for teenagers yearning for freedom and their parents seeking safety for their children. You can explore the entire island on bicycle routes where cars are prohibited.

The island's best beaches are Conche des Baleines, a huge crescent of golden sand, and the lesser known but more sheltered Trousse-Chemise. Apart from these two gems, the south coast of the island has miles of sandy beaches, with Le Bois-Plage being the most popular beach here.

I advise you to stop:

Urville-Nacqueville, Normandy

© 33852840@N06 / flickr.com / CC BY 2.0

A short trip from Cherbourg, even by bicycle, takes you to an idyllic coastal village with wide, fine sand beaches. Meanwhile, there is plenty to do in Urville-Naqueville. There is surfing, windsurfing, diving and horse riding.

Sainte-Marine, Brittany

© 128250456@N07 / flickr.com / CC BY 2.0

An interesting resort town in Brittany. Sainte-Marie is best reached by a 5-minute ferry across the Audet River from the more famous town of Benodet. Sainte-Marie has a small port and excellent beaches. The most popular of them is Plage du Teven, which extends 4 km to the west. The resort overlooks the Atlantic Ocean.

Etretat ( Étretat), Normandy

© hocusfocus55 / flickr.com / CC BY 2.0

You won't have to look for this resort town on the map with the same care as Sainte-Marie. He is much more famous. The quaint little town of Etretat is the most picturesque place in northern Normandy. Stunning cliffs on the shore and gingerbread architecture, what more do you need for wonderful walks?

I advise you to stop:

Tregastel ( Tregastel), Brittany

© franckbarre / flickr.com / CC BY 2.0

Tregastel is a wonderful resort for family holidays. Golden- sandy beaches, dense forests and thickets of heather, pink granite boulders, transformed by waves into intricate sculptures - you will find all this in Tregastel. Koror in France, where you can relax relatively inexpensively.

Oleron Island

© airlines470 / flickr.com / CC BY 2.0

The island of Oleron is little known among tourists, despite the fact that most of the coast of the island is occupied by sandy beaches and pine forests. The most beautiful beach of Oleron is Plage de Gatseau, it is located near St-Trojan-les-Bains. The beach offers views of the strait between the island and the mainland. Near the island is the famous Fort Bayard.

Argelès-sur-Mer ( Argeles-sur-Mer)

© 116730147@N03 / flickr.com / CC BY 2.0

Every summer the population of Argeles increases significantly. A huge beach, a beautiful coastline that gradually climbs up to the Pyrenees. If you get tired of the beaches, you can head to the mountains for hiking and cycling. Angela has a fun and cheeky atmosphere, just like a summer resort should. There is a good water park, dense forests, many hotels, bars and restaurants.

A beach holiday in France is a luxurious pastime in small cozy hotels with a limited circle of people or fashionable hotels among wealthy people, representatives of the world elite and artists. Whatever resort you choose, your impressions of a seaside holiday in France 2017 will remain in your memory for a long time, warming you with the warmth of the gentle sun and the unique aftertaste of the original creations of winemakers and culinary specialists, who are rightfully called the best in the world.

Beach holidays in France

The period of beach holidays in France begins in the third decade of May and ends in the first half of September. July and August - high season, the time of festivals and concerts, when you can meet many celebrities among tourists from all over the world. The most popular tourist destinations invariably remain the French Riviera, favored by connoisseurs of expensive luxury holidays, the Atlantic coast and the island of Corsica - amazing a nice place, famous among tour buyers who are looking for opportunities for a quality beach holiday in France at an affordable price.

Beach holidays in France

To make your vacation great, when purchasing a trip to the French sea, it is important to entrust the search for a tour to professionals. Travel agency TRAVEL TIMES is:

the best prices to the most popular resorts;

vacation in installments and credit;

wide choice of payment methods;

guaranteed low cost of travel;

compliance of the hotel class with the declared one.

Cost of a beach holiday in France

The highest cost of a beach holiday in France is in July-August. However, early booking of a trip will save 10-40% of your funds. Having chosen a tour, you must make an advance payment and transfer the remaining funds 10-15 days before departure.

Beaches of France

The most respectable beach holiday destinations are located in Nice, Cannes, Juan-les-Pins, and Antibes. Almost each of them is marked with a blue flag - a sign indicating the cleanliness of the coast and environmental safety terrain. Along with very expensive beaches, Cannes has municipal beaches - Plages de la Bocca and Plages du Midi.

The sandy beaches of Juan-les-Pins and Le Lavandou are ideal for a relaxed and fairly affordable family holiday. Young people will enjoy a noisy pastime on the Riviera. Connoisseurs of the ocean coast should visit the most fashionable resort in the region - Biarritz, where traditional entertainment is golf and surfing.

Celebrities and gourmets prefer the Norman resorts of Deauville, Trouville, Cabourg, which are recognized not only for their amazing local cuisine and the magnificent English Channel coastline, but also for the unique interiors of luxury hotels in the style of the 18th-19th centuries.

France presents enormous opportunities for tourism. France is the largest country by territory Western Europe, its borders by sea are 5500 km. She washes herself North Sea, the English Channel, the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea.

Most French people in summer period trying to get to the sea coast. Despite the fact that holidays in Normandy and on the Atlantic coast are very popular, best place for a beach holiday in France the coast is still considered Mediterranean Sea. The largest resorts here are the French Riviera or the Cote d'Azur and Montpellier and its surroundings.
Search for tours to France

Cote d'Azur

The Cote d'Azur is located in the southeast of the Mediterranean coast of France. This is the most popular and fashionable resort, known for its high prices and developed infrastructure. The largest city is Marseille, famous from the movie Taxi. Here you can visit the Château d'If, where, according to legend, the Count of Monte Cristo languished. Besides Marseille, the most famous cities are St. Tropez, Antibes, Nice, Cannes, and Monte Carlo. The Côte d'Azur is famous for its mild Mediterranean climate and big amount sunny days (300 days a year). Beach season lasts from the end of May to September, the water temperature ranges from 20 to 25 degrees. The coastline is rugged and rocky. From the Italian border to Antibes the beaches are pebbly, then sandy.

Nice also has beaches with imported sand. Popular entertainment options include casinos, which are available in almost every big city, the most popular is in Monte Carlo. Not far from the town of Biot there is an amusement park, which includes Europe's largest marine zoo, Marineland, a butterfly park, Antibes Land amusement park and a water park.

Montpellier

Despite the fact that Montpellier itself does not have direct access to the sea, its surroundings are popular place Mediterranean holiday sea ​​coast France. The nearest beaches are located just 10 km from the city. Population: about 600,000 people.
If you, like me, love unexplored places where almost no Russian tourist has set foot, then this is definitely the place for you. Here you will not hear not only Russian speech, but also, most likely, English. The exception is hotel employees and information desks.

How to get to Montpellier

There is an airport in Montpellier. In addition, the city is connected to Paris by rail. The schedule and ticket prices can be found. For example, when I bought train tickets from Paris to Montpellier, there was a discount for a group of three people - 30 euros each. Unfortunately, when I started booking, I realized that this rate does not apply to a child, and therefore I cannot take advantage of the promotion. As a result, I had to buy 2 adult tickets for 35 euros, and for a 4-year-old child, the ticket, ironically, cost 42 euros, because... Children do not receive a non-refundable rate. After the German railways, where children basically ride for free, this was an unpleasant surprise.
Also, OUIGO economy class trains travel from Paris to Montpellier; more precisely, they depart not from Paris itself, but from the Marne-la-Vallee station, where Tickets can be bought for ridiculous money - from 10 euros per adult, but, unfortunately, I was not able to do this, because... they only accept payment plastic cards French banks.

Where to stay

If you are interested in a beach holiday, you can stay in any of the villages in the vicinity of Montpellier. All the beaches are simply magnificent. You can also stay in the city itself and go to the beach by bus or bicycle.

Having previously studied the information, I settled on a choice of two villages - Le Gros-de-Roi and La Grande Motte. They are 5 km from each other and about 35 km from Montpellier. Both have excellent beaches and excellent recreational infrastructure. They are easily accessible from Montpellier by bus, and there is also a local train to Le Gros-de-Roi. Since I planned to stay in an apartment, and the company office where I needed to receive the keys was located in La Grande Motte, I ended up choosing this city. And I didn’t regret it.

La Grande Motte

La Grande Motte is easy magical place. The city was built in the 60s in a unique, unified architectural design. All the main buildings were erected almost simultaneously on the previously almost deserted coast among sand dunes. The buildings are built in the pyramid style, inspired by the architecture of the ancient Mayans. These pyramids house modern hotels and apartments. We rented an apartment in one of these buildings, located almost on the seashore. The main contingent of vacationers are families with children, for the most part French, we didn’t meet any tourists from Russia during our 10 days of vacation.
The beach strip stretches continuously for many kilometers. The beaches are very wide and clean and have a blue flag. In fact, these are natural dunes equipped with everything necessary for relaxation. The beaches have cafes, toilets, showers, changing rooms, and equipment rentals. Here the unique natural vegetation dunes, which are asked to be treated with care.

The water in the sea is absolutely transparent and clean. But we were unlucky with the weather. Despite the fact that we were in La Grande Motte in the second half of August, the air and water temperatures were quite low - at 20 degrees. It was reminiscent of a holiday in Egypt in the winter. Is it true, local residents They said that this weather was absolutely atypical.


You won't be bored during your holiday in La Grande Motte. In addition to the beach, the city has an embankment, which is nice to walk along and admire the yachts, several beautiful and cozy parks, and fountains. In the city in summer season a rich program for vacationers. For example, we found children's party with various competitions, carnival and festive fireworks. Various free fitness classes are offered. Event brochures are available at the tourism office.
La Grande Motte has a huge number of cafes, restaurants and bars where you can taste delicious dishes Mediterranean cuisine - for example, fried mussels (moules). They are cooked in huge frying pans right in front of the restaurant and served in pots in 1.5 kg portions. And what a sauce!
A tourist excursion train runs around the city. You can take a regular bus to visit neighboring villages and admire the nature at the same time. If you're lucky, you can see pink flamingos through the bus window.
Among the excursions you can visit the nearby medieval fortress of Aigues Morgues, national reserve, medieval castle Carcassonne, Haribo confectionery factory. Naturally, there are no excursions in Russian.

Wind in the south of France

There is wind, as on any sea coast. It is believed that on the French Riviera closer to the border with Italy it is smaller. In La Grande Motte, the influence of the winds was felt, but was not critical. The direction of the wind greatly affects the temperature of the sea water. For example, one day I played out strong storm, the wind blew away sand, clothes, towels. The temperature in the sea rose by several degrees at once, and the sea became very warm. On another day, the wind, on the contrary, brought a cold current closer to the shore, and the water became cold.

👁 Before we start...where to book a hotel? In the world, not only Booking exists (🙈 for high percent from hotels - we pay!). I've been using Rumguru for a long time
skyscanner
👁 And finally, the main thing. How to go on a trip without any hassle? The answer is in the search form below! Buy now. This is the kind of thing that includes flights, accommodation, meals and a bunch of other goodies for good money 💰💰 Form - below!.

Really the best hotel prices

France has become one of the world leaders in the tourism market not only thanks to Paris and its romantic overtones. If you travel around the country, you can see how versatile the holiday offers at any time of the year. To please everyone you need different conditions and France satisfies all requests to the fullest.

Where is the best place to holiday in France with children?

30 km from Paris there is a place where children can have fun and spend time all day long. This is Disneyland Paris, perhaps the largest entertainment venue in Europe. Even Americans prefer its French counterpart to their Disneyland.

The territory of the park is divided into an attraction area, Disney World, where children take pictures with cartoon characters, and the animation studio itself, where you can watch the process of creating animated films.

Other places where you can take your children include Parc Asterix, the zoo located in the Bois de Vincennes and the Aquaboulevard in the French capital. Children will be able to interact with animals at the Georges Ville farm, which is located in the same place in Paris.

Where to relax by the sea

You can have a fairly cheap holiday near the historical cities and castles of France on the northern and western coasts. However, it is worth considering that in the English Channel the beach season lasts at most two months and it is better to come here in August. Northern resorts are called Trouville and Deauville, they are located in the Le Havre region.

If tourists value summer coolness more, then they should pay attention to the sandy beaches of the Loire Valley, Aquitaine and Poitou. These regions are located on the Atlantic coast, the climate here is maritime and not hot. Distinctive features There are several northern and western resorts. The water here is cool even in high summer and the tides are high. These places are sparsely populated; they are visited mostly by the French themselves, who come here to relax in health centers. The warmest water is in the very south, in Biarritz on the border with Spain.

Promenade des Anglais, Nice

The picture is completely different on the Mediterranean coast. The areas of Nice, Toulon and Cannes are chosen for holidays by people with good incomes, even by European standards, so the prices for everything here are appropriate. The beach season in these places lasts all summer and covers the beginning of autumn; there are both pebble and sandy beaches. The Corsica resorts of L'Isle Rose, Bastia, Calvi, Porticcio, and Porto-Vecchio give even more points. They seem designed to enjoy life.

Where to go for health

There are two resort areas in France that specialize in this service. The first is located on the sea coast, in Normandy, Aquitaine and Brittany (Saint-Malo, Deauville, Quiberon, Biarritz), and the second on Lake Geneva (Aix-les-Bains, Evian). Impeccable service and developed SPA programs have led to the very high cost of holidays in these places. Another famous healing resort is located in the center of the country, in the city of Vichy.

Excursion holidays

List excursion program France can take a very long time. Some of the most worth visiting attractions are:

• the Eiffel Tower, the Ile de la Cité and the Louvre in Paris;
• Rouen Cathedral, the tower of Joan of Arc, churches and castles in Normandy;
• castles of Chambord, Villandry, Chenonceau, Amboise in the Loire Valley;
• the Promenade des Anglais, the Palace of Film Festivals, museums, the opera, the Roman hill and the old quarter in Nice;
• Basilica Saint Michel, Cathedral Saint-André and Bordeaux museums;
• Château d'If, Longchamp Palace, Cathedral, Marseille museums;
• The Genoese citadel, the House of Bonaparte, the Cathedral of Sainte-Marie and the Church of Saint-Jean-Baptiste in Corsica.

Ski resorts in France

A scattering of these resorts covers the entire territory of the French Alps. These places are not only excellent examples of skiing, but also have a long history of sports. At one time, the resorts of Chamonix, Albertville and Grenoble were the capitals of the White Olympics. The Three Valleys ski area includes: famous resorts, like Courchevel and Meribel. The level of local service is designed for elite skiers.

France proudly holds the palm in terms of quality and variety of types of tourism. Hot Cote d'Azur and the cold Alps, the history of wars and revolutions embodied in stone, entertainment and the highest level of spa services allow this country to remain beloved by tourists.

👁 Do we book the hotel through booking as always? In the world, not only Booking exists (🙈 for a high percentage from hotels - we pay!). I’ve been using Rumguru for a long time, it’s really more profitable 💰💰 than Booking.
👁 And for tickets, go to air sales, as an option. It has been known about him for a long time 🐷. But there is a better search engine - Skyscanner - there are more flights, lower prices! 🔥🔥.
👁 And finally, the main thing. How to go on a trip without any hassle? Buy now. This is the kind of thing that includes flights, accommodation, meals and a bunch of other goodies for good money 💰💰.

France is washed by Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea and English Channel. If you want to relax on the beach, France is the place to be the best option! Here you can choose a beach to suit every taste, according to size, cleanliness, price and other important aspects.

The most popular resorts are the Cote d'Azur, which as a region is famous best beaches in France. The beaches of De Muri, Buyabas and others will not leave you indifferent. Most of the beaches here are pebble. If we take Cannes separately, then most of the local beaches are the property of hotels. Imported sand is a pleasure, but you have to pay for everything, and not a little.

Antibes and Juan Le Pin have many beaches, here you can choose from 50 objects what suits you.

The Atlantic coast is also famous for its beach holidays - Biarritz, Brittany, Deauville, Trouville, as well as the island of Corsica in the Mediterranean Sea - are very popular among holidaymakers who prefer beach holidays in France. Feature Atlantic coast - the ebb and flow of the tide is very frequent here, which makes swimming impossible during certain periods. But at low tide you can walk along the shore and look at the inhabitants of the sea and collect shells. The rocks of Brittany seem very harsh, but there is a romance in it that will forever remain in the heart. The cleanest beaches are on the island. Corsica, this place will please everyone.

The Côte d'Azur is an excellent choice, however, there are places no worse - Languedoc-Roussillon is in no way inferior in quality of service and cleanliness environment. And the prices are lower here. Relaxing on the beach will be especially attractive if you choose an individual tour. The number of beaches is off the charts, there are plenty of hotels, and entertainment is suitable for everyone. On an individual tour, it is up to the person to decide where and how long he will stay.