The top 10 most beautiful beaches in France

France is full of little corners of lost paradise, of expanses that reach towards faraway destinations. Some are only known to a privileged few... Go and discover them!

• Notre-Dame beach in Porquerolles
• Torchère beach in Cap-Ferret
• La Lette Blanche beach in Vielle-Saint-Girons
• Virgin Island’s beach in Crozon
• Tahiti beach in Carantec
• La Calanque de Sormiou's beach in Marseille
• Petit Mugel beach in La Ciotat
• Nicet beach in Saint-Malo
• Paloma Beach in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat
• Chausey Beach 

Why we love it: A small enclave of nature, just off Hyères, the island of Porquerolles is one of those jewels seen as the pride and wealth of France... Plage Notre-Dame is the largest beach on the island and is only really popular in August as it is a bit far from the village.

How to get there? Take the train to Hyères, and then a shuttle to the island (€19.50 for a return journey). It then takes a little more than 40 minutes to get to Plage Notre-Dame on foot from the centre of the village (or 25 minutes by bike - there is cycle parking available). Make sure to get there first thing in the morning, and remember to pack a mask and snorkel : you may be able to spot soles and mullets.

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Why this one? Plage de la Torchère is much more discreet than the other beaches of Cap-Ferret, such as La Pointe, the Dunes, or Grand Crohot. It is equally as wild and untouched and is much less frequented than the others... And for good reason, it isn’t supervised! There are no shops or restaurants nearby (so take some drinks and snacks with you!): we recommend it to all those who want to feel (almost) alone in the world...

>> Take a trip to Cap-Ferret

How to get there? First, get off at Arcachon station, then take the shuttle to Cap-Ferret. Once there, at 24 Avenue de Bordeaux, branch off towards the sea and get ready to discover La Torchère… It takes 5 to 10 minutes to walk through the sand, taking the marked path across the dune.

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Its advantage? Undoubtedly one of the wildest beaches on the Landes coast, this immense stretch of sand is easily accessible and is supervised from June to September.

How to get there? Take the train toDax! After leaving the station, take bus 44 in the direction of Lit-et-Mixe, and get off at Vielle-Saint-Girons. Once arrived, head towards La Lette Blanche, nicknamed “La Lette” by locals and regulars - the wooden path from the carpark takes you straight there. At the top of the dune, overlook the ocean and descend to enjoy some surfing and bodyboarding...

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Our favourite... this pebble beach with a Mediterranean feel, one of the most beautiful and wildest on the island. This discreet and hidden beach offers an incredible view... and is well worth the effort it takes to reach it!

How to get there? After arriving at Brest station, take bus line 34 to the peninsula. Once there, head down to Plage de Morgat and start your hike along the GR34 coastal path. This path is accessible by steps at the end of the beach, and weaves its way through Kador woods, which runs along the coast to Virgin Island.

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The right choice: French Polynesia without the jet lag! A pretty cove of fine sand, this exotically named beach is not only sheltered from the wind, but also offers a magnificent view of the Château du Taureau and Île Louët, located just opposite.

How to get there? You will need to get to one of these stations: Morlaix, Saint-Pol-de-Léon or Roscoff. Then, once in Carantec, go to the end of Rue de Pen-al-Lann, before reaching destination relaxation at the end of a small coastal path...

>> Book your train tickets to Morlaix

>> Book your train tickets to Roscoff

Our recommendation in Marseille: Sormiou! The largest of the Calanques and the only one with a swimming area (supervised in summer), this is a spot favoured by all those who love fishing, hiking and even rock-climbing. Its standout features? Magnificent seabeds and semi-submerged caves, like that of Capelan.

>> Getting to know the Calanques of Marseille

How to get there? Once out of Marseille-Saint-Charles station, take bus n^o 23 to “La Cayolle”, and continue on foot for 700 metres along the road until the carpark. Walk another half an hour or so along the path to get to the beach. The path isn’t sheltered so remember to bring water and something to protect you from the sun. Once there, your efforts will be rewarded with breathtaking scenery and lunch at Le Château Sormiou restaurant, which offers fantastic views of the Calanque.

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Hidden talent: Did you know that this botanical park is a classified “Jardin Remarquable”, which covers an area of 17 hectares and is also home to beaches? There are two of these pebble beaches: Plage du Grand Mugel and our personal favourite - Plage du Petit Mugel. The scenery is amazing: clear water, the steep rock, a picnic area and even a playground for the younger ones.

How to get there? From the port, take Avenue Victor Giraud, then head down Avenue des Calanques and, at the intersection with Avenue du Mugel, continue towards the Calanque. Pass by Grand Mugel cove and head towards that of Petit Mugel. Please note that there is nowhere to park so you cannot visit by car, but, if you decide to come by bike, you can park it in the small area next to the entrance of the park.

>> Book your train tickets to La Ciotat

A must-see: Looking like its straight out of a postcard, this small Breton beach is located in the district of Rothéneuf. What’s so special about it? In addition to its colourful waters, its steep rocks and its fine, white sand, it is sheltered from the wind and is perfect for swimming. Despite the high and low tides common in these regions, the sea rarely descends very far.

How to get there? Make your way down Avenue de la Varde and take Avenue Sainte-Marie where the two intersect. Arrive early as there aren’t many places to park! You can access the beach by small, steep steps.

>> Book your train tickets to Saint-Malo

Love at first sight: Named Paloma, in homage to Picasso’s daughter - who often came to this beach as a family -, this enclave of serenity, where the water is crystal clear and the surroundings wild, is not only ultra-photogenic. It also has a breathtaking view of the villages of Èze and Beaulieu.

How to get there? Accessible by train from Nice, set off from the heart of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat and take Avenue Claude Vignon. Continue past the Pointes de Lilong and Pointes du Colombier. Next, make your way along the Promenade des Fossettes until you reach the chapel. To finish, take the small touristic path which passes by Saint-Hospice and takes you to the beach... There you go, you’ve made it!

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What we love about it: There are six beaches, three of which - with their fine, white sand - are accessible by following the coastal path around the island. Our favourite: the cove of Port-Marie, where silence is plentiful and time almost stops. What will you see? Dolphins, hopefully, but also seals. Wondering what to do when the beach disappears? Try shellfish gathering (for clams or cockles) at Grand’Grève (west of Grande Île).

How to get there? Disembark at Granville station, then head to the port and take a shuttle to this little-known island, which has some365 islets at low tide and 52 at high tide.

>> Book your train tickets to Granville