The best beaches in the world
Dreams of France are dreams of a cultured life: visiting art museums, strolling along the Seine River, savoring a leisurely lunch at an outdoor brasserie. While many travelers first think of Paris when France comes to mind, there is also so much to discover beyond the capital city. After you’ve sampled croissants and visited the Arc de Triomphe, you might be curious about other places in France. From the wine region of Bordeaux to the chic shores of the French Riviera, this country is full of one pleasure after another.
With a few words of French—learn your please, thank you, and greetings—a trip to France will be all fun. Paris is a city of indulgences from the best designer shopping to the best dining. It is a place to be savored slowly, just like a good glass of Bordeaux wine. There are many museums and historical attractions to visit here, but don’t do it so quickly that you miss the sheer beauty of the city. After exploring Paris, the rest of the country is at your fingertips thanks to the excellent train system, which puts just about any part of the country within a few hours’ reach.
The French Riviera, including Cannes and Nice, is another top destination in the country. In summer, the crowds are fashionable and popular activities include sunbathing on the beaches and heading out onto the yachts for picnics. Wine lovers will want to tour the wineries of Bordeaux while history fanatics might be more drawn to ancient towns such as Perpignan, which has both beautiful architecture and many excellent beaches nearby. Whether you decide to explore the coast of southern France or spend your trip along the beaches in the northern section of France in Normandy, your trip will be full of long meals, satisfying flavors, and a few glasses of good wine.
Plage de Pampelonne is the main strip of extremely popular beaches situated near St Tropez, France, on the French Riviera. The Plage de Pampelonne has acquired a reputation for drawing the rich, the trendy, the controversial, and the hard-partiers. Indeed, on this well-heeled beach, the beach clubs can be exclusive and snobby, and the restaurants [...]
Palombaggia is one of the most popular beaches in Corsica, and considered one of the finest beaches in Europe. Located on the island of Corsica near the town of Porto Vecchio in the southeast part of the island, Palombaggia Beach Corsica is one of the most crowded beaches in Corsica in the summer, but one [...]
Marseillan Plage is located on the waterfront of the port town of Marseillan, not to be confused with the larger town of Marseille. It is located in Languedoc, France, on the southern Mediterranean coast. Marseillan is a charming little town that retains something of a fishing village atmosphere. The tan stone buildings with red roofs, [...]
Narbonne Beach is a 1.8-mile stretch of fine sand close to the seaside resort town of Narbonne in the coastal region of Languedoc, France. Just a short walk (about 1.25 miles) from the center of town, Narbonne Plage is an urban beach with plenty of resort amenities, but is less crowded than many of the [...]
Leucate Plage is a popular beach resort area in the south of France on the Mediterranean coast. It is situated near the town of Leucate, although the beach area is quite secluded and offers a calming beach resort experience. The beaches here boast some eleven miles of fine golden sand, and they’re some of the [...]
Located between Cannes and St Tropez on the French Riviera, Frejus Beach is one of the most popular beaches in the south of France, but boasts a more laid-back and relaxed atmosphere than either Cannes or St Tropez. The town of Frejus is a tourist center with plenty of accommodation, bars and restaurants, as well [...]
Espiguette is rare among the beaches of southern France, in that it does not offer the endless array of bars, restaurants, tourist shops, and hotels that dominate other beautiful beaches on the French Riviera. Instead, visitors to Espiguette Beach walk across a large expanse of sand dunes and grasses to get to the Mediterranean ocean, [...]
Canet Plage is a popular beach near the beach resort town Canet-en-Rousillon in southern France. With miles of soft pale sand, Canet Beach is uncommon among French Riviera beaches, which are typically pebbly and stony. Unlike many more popular tourist towns such as St Tropez, Antibes and Cannes, the beaches at Canet are relatively uncrowded, [...]
St Tropez beaches are known for being the most decadent, hedonistic, and also beautiful sandy beaches in the French Riviera. With a happening tourist culture that features innumerable beach clubs, live entertainment, and trendy bars and restaurants, these South of France beaches are perfect for those who wish to see and be seen. Despite its [...]
Nice beaches start right at Nice airport and continue for several miles along the waterfront until the Old Port. You will notice right away that the beaches here are not composed of soft white sand as in other parts of the French Riviera, but are instead made up of round pebbles, or galets, as they [...]