Best Beaches in South of France

I discovered this hidden gem of a beach by chance while wandering the coast of Toulon, France. You can get to Plage de la Mitre by descending a long beautiful staircase on the main Toulon peninsula. From there, continue west along the coastline and discover even more small, enclosed, sandy beaches surrounded by rocky cliffs. Be sure to wear comfortable walking shoes as you’ll be going up and down small rocky staircases and wading in shallow water – all part of the natural charm of this secluded stretch of coastline.

 

The water along the beach is calm and clear, and this stretch of Mediterranean Sea is the perfect spot to pause and take a dip. During my July trip, Plage de la Mitre was mainly full of locals. I didn’t hear an English word spoken once! Once you finish your walk along the shore, you’ll end up at La Tour Royale, a 16th-century fort built to protect the port and city of Toulon.

3. Saint Tropez

5. Valras Plage

contributed by Andrea of Happy Days Travel Blog

The modern Mediterranean town of Valras Plage in Languedoc-Rousillon is often overlooked by foreign visitors seeking sun and sand in southern France.  This is a shame as there are good reasons why locals have long considered it to be the top seaside town in Hérault.

Valras has numerous decent restaurants, an attractive harbour, a lively twice-weekly street market, plenty of shops, and several annual events to entertain the crowds.  It is the town’s beach, however, which is its main attraction.

Four kilometres of wide, sandy beach make Valras the perfect place for family holidays.  It never feels crowded, even on the busiest days.  The beach shelves gently to the sea which remains shallow for a long way out, making it safe for children and non-swimmers.  Out in deeper water, there is lots of marine life to see when snorkelling.  For adventure seekers, there are jet-skis and power boats available to hire in the harbour.

There are beach bars at intervals along the sand where you enjoy lunch in the shade.  The best thing about Valras beach for me, though, is that there are none of the sellers found in the livelier resorts on the Côte d’Azur so I can relax and enjoy my book in peace!

6. Nice

contributed by Abi of Inside the Travel Lab

A promenade along the seafront in Nice is a journey back in time. The beach itself, let’s quickly admit, isn’t the prettiest in and of itself. It’s the wide expanse of water and the open air display of Nice itself that makes it my favourite.

Nice enjoys its position as the capital of the French Riviera. The official Promenade des Anglais, paid for by English expats in 1822, runs for four kilometres along the Baie des Anges. On the one side, a pebbly beach with deck chairs and Mediterranean blue. On the other, terracotta rooftops, Art Deco cinemas, fresh food markets and cafes. And in between, a dedicated lane for cyclists and skaters.

The entire Promenade (or Le Prom, for short) has been put forward as a tentative UNESCO World Heritage Site, a nod to the architectural input of the Art Deco artists, the Italian influence before 1860 and the unusual involvement of the English aristocracy.

To mere mortals, it’s an easy and enjoyable way to soak up sunshine, sea and a spot of history, with a crepe and gelato nearby. The markets of Nice also make a great place to pick up some authentic French souvenirs.

7. Cannes 

contributed by Grace of Extreme Nomads

If France’s southeast coast is on your radar, make sure you don’t pass up the chance to visit Cannes — home of a lovely little slice of beachfront, both at the main city beach and the quieter, less touristy Mouré Rouge.

Cannes’ city beach is by far the most popular. Lined with mega yachts and palm trees, the beach is only a hop and a skip away from the main boulevard, making it the spot of choice for many of the city’s beach lovers. Ask us, though, and we say the best beach to base yourself from is around the corner of the Pointe Croisette, where far fewer tourists venture.

Since the Mouré Rouge is slightly out of the way, it immediately feels a little more chilled, a little less hectic, and a lot more authentic. The beach itself is covered in soft powdery sand which slopes down to the clear blue water; while out in the bay, the local kitesurfers and windsurfers are making the most of the steady breeze. Behind, the footpath meets with a handful of seasonal restaurants slinging out piping hot portions of chips and heaped bowls of local mussels. Make sure to grab yourself a cold glass of Provence rosé to complete the meal!

8. Calanque d’En Vau, Marseille

contributed by Nadine of Le Long Weekend

Hidden between towering cliffs, the beach at Calanque d’En Vau is a sanctuary within the Calanques National Park. The azure sea meets the sandy shoreline where you’ll find a sprinkling of sunbathers enjoying the surroundings. The serene cove is protected from the winds, and the water is incredibly translucent. Despite its remote and reasonably inaccessible location, it remains a firm favourite with the locals. And it’s becoming more and more popular with visitors to the area also.

To get there, you’ll need to hike from Cassis, through Calanque de Port Miou and Calanque de Port Pin before scaling the steep hill to the third calanque. This option offers the best views and reaching the beach feels very rewarding after a good climb! Alternatively, you can hire a kayak and paddle through calm waters from Cassis. Or you could look at hiring a boat and sailing to the calanques at your leisure. Tour boats also visit Calanque d’En Vau, but most won’t stop to let you off…

9. Moliets et Maa

Moliets et Maa is my favourite beach in Southern France for many reasons. Firstly, it’s beautiful – a long stretch of golden sand sheltered by a lush forest. Secondly, it’s a great beach for surfing. If you’ve never surfed before, you can take lessons with one of the surf schools, or experienced surfers can hire boards and enjoy the waves.

There are plenty of things to do in Moliets et Maa, so if surfing isn’t your thing, you can go horse riding along the beach, hire fat tyre bikes and cycle on the sand, or enjoy a round of golf at the golf club. There is also an adrenalin park nearby with high ropes, quad biking and paintballing.

There are cafes and shops right on the beach and in the summer months, a folklore festival takes place every Tuesday in the main square of the town, with traditional games, dancing and local food and wine.

We love taking our children to the beach at Menton which is a sandy family friendly beach. Menton is the first town over the border from Italy. Thanks to the EU the border crossing is pretty seamless.  It’s way to nip back and forth into the Italian Riviera section. Needless to say the pizza and gelato is excellent! And everyone seems fluent in French and Italian. 

 

Menton has had a reputation in the past for being quiet and boring but that’s only compared to its very hip neighbors like St Tropez or Cannes. The town itself is small, pretty and friendly. We don’t need a ‘scene’ when we travelling with children because usually they are the ones creating a scene!! 

11. Larvotto Beach, Monaco

contributed by Louis of The Northern Boy

Exploring Monaco is an awesome experience, you can rub shoulders with millionaires in shops like Gucci or gamble the day away at the famous Monte Carlo. This is all fun, but, one of the best things to do in Monaco, is to head to the Larvotto Beach.

No visit to Monaco is complete without visiting the epic Lorvotto Beach!

Okay, so what is there to expect? If you enjoy swimming, you will appreciate taking a dip in the crystal clear water! Furthermore, there is plenty of epic work that goes in to keep the beach clean. Which is why it’s also a perfect family beach.

Monaco can be very expensive, this is why a few hours is recommended lounging on this top beach in Monaco! Then, once you’ve had enough of swimming and soaking up the sun. There are some cool beachside restaurants to grab some food and a well-deserved drink. Also, you’ll only be a 5-10 minutes walk to all the best shops in Monaco.

12. Calanque de Sugiton

contributed by Elisa from France Bucket List

Calanque de Sugiton is one of the beautiful beaches found in Parc National des Calanques de Marseille – Cassis, in the Region of France Provence – Alps – Côte d’Azur. This National Park of Southern France, located between high cliffs and the Mediterranean Sea, is the perfect place for hikers, nature lovers and people looking for sun and a relaxing time in a secluded beach.

The Calanque de Sugiton has a very beautiful setting, with high cliffs. It has two creeks, both with a small beach bathed by turquoise waters. On one side the path goes to Morgiou, and on the other side, it goes to another calanque, the Calanque de l’Oeil de Verre. 

It is possible to reach Sugiton on a day hike starting from the parking at Luminy Campus. From there it is one hour hike (a bit more on the way back) being the last part a winding path down to the creeks. Alternatively, it is possible to reach Calanque de Sugiton by sailboat or a catamaran. This makes a pleasant day trip from Marseille or Cassis.