People often flock to the Mediterranean coast of France, to Nice and Cannes, Sète and Montpellier. But the Atlantic Coast of France has a huge number of beautiful places to visit too. From WWII history in Normandy, to walled port towns and wild beaches, there is a lot of diversity on this coast. Some of the best places to visit on the Atlantic Coast of France are popular with local holidaymakers but less well known internationally. It’s time to remedy that…
Highlights of the Atlantic Coast of France
Working from North to South, we take in the best places to visit along the Atlantic Coast of France.
Étretat
From Elisa at World in Paris
Etretat is one of the most popular day trips from Paris. This coastal town located in Normandy, Western France, is perfect for escaping the French capital’s hustle and bustle and getting some fresh air. The drive from Paris to Etretat takes 2 hours, but you can also visit Etretat as part of a more extended Normandy road trip.
Etretat is known for its beautiful chalk cliffs and other rock formations. In the 19th century, the town attired many impressionists who painted Etretat’s landscapes in some of their masterworks. Today, Etretat is world-famous, mainly thanks to Monet’s paintings, and it can be jam-packed, especially on weekends.
Etretat has a picturesque old town with beautiful Norman style architecture. Stroll around the cobbled streets and shop some regional products. Etretat’s main attraction is, however, the beach and coastal promenade, nestled between the cliffs.
Another beautiful site to see is the chapel Notre-Dame de la Garde, located on the top of a hill. From there, the panoramic views of the beach and the cliffs are spectacular.
Not far from the little chapel, the Etretat Gardens are interesting to visit. This is a neo-futuristic garden where trees and parterres, architecture, and contemporary art dialogue in all poetry. These gardens are listed as ‘Great Gardens of the World’, and they also have the label ‘Remarkable Garden.’
Finally, Etretat is a good place to eat good fresh food and shellfish in one of the restaurants by the promenade. All the restaurants offer the last catch from the port nearby.
Our hotel recommendation for Étretat : Hotel Le Rayon Vert
Honfleur
from Karpiak Caravan
Honfleur is a charming village in northern France’s Normandy region. It is known for its old port called the Vieux Bassin, which is full of picturesque timber houses and yachts docked in the harbour. Honfleur is a popular spot on the Atlantic coast where tourists flock to see this 17th century harbour.
A perfect day in Honfleur would include a visit to the Notre-Dame de Grace chapel, a leisurely stroll through the public gardens and The Naturospace on your way to Butin Beach. “Plage du Butin” is located at the entrance to Honfleur and is a fully equipped beach with free parking and a playground for children.
Pay a visit to The Eugène Bodin museum, named after a famous local painter. The museum offers a look into the impressionist era and has seven themed exhibition rooms with large collections from Norman artists. Afterwards, stroll through the Vieux Bassin lined with restaurants while you choose one to sit down for a leisurely dinner.
It is important to note that during the summer months, Honfleur is very busy and traffic can often come to a standstill. Allow lots of time to get in and out of the village, and enjoy the absolutely stunning scenery along the way!
Our hotel recommendation for Honfleur : Best Western Le Cheval Blanc – Vieux Port
Normandy Landing Beaches
From Norbert at France Bucket List
The Normandy landing beaches are one of the best places to visit in Western France. All these beaches are relatively close to each other, located between the cities of Le Havre and Cherbourg.
The landing beaches of Normandy, and the battles that followed, are one of the most momentous chapters in modern history that led to Western Europe’s liberation from the Nazis. This is a trip that can be emotionally exhausting, but it is essential to visit these sites so we don’t forget.
It is possible to visit some of these places on a (busy) day tour from Paris. However, the best way to experience these sites is with your car on a Normandy road trip.
The landing beaches of D-day are five: Utah Beach, Omaha Beach, Gold Beach, Juno Beach, and Sword Beach. Utah, Omaha, were stormed by the U.S, Gold and Sword were stormed by the British and Juno was stormed by the Canadians. Not far from these beaches, there are also museums, memorials, war cemeteries, and other sites related to the D-day and the battles that followed, and they are a good complement to the beaches. The Caen Memorial and Museum, for example, is an interesting place to visit, and it is the usual starting point of the guided tours from Paris.
With more time, the cities of Caen and Bayeux are good to visit too. Both places have a rich historic heritage, plus Bayeux Museum hosts the famous Bayeux tapestry, an invaluable record of the conquest of England’s throne by William the Conqueror in the 11th century.
Mont Saint-Michel
The fairytale tidal island of Mont Saint-Michel in Normandy is a photographer’s paradise. The monastery of Mont Saint-Michel punctuates the skyline, making sunsets especially stunning. Accessible via a causeway and bridge, you can either walk across or take a shuttle from the carparks.
Walking the fortified city walls and climbing to the monastery are two of the must-do things when visiting Mont Saint-Michel. Don’t rush your visit, take the time and perhaps stay at one of the nearby hotels so you can enjoy the view at different times of the day. I would recommend staying on the mainland at one of the hotels facing the island, so you can watch the sunset.
Saint-Malo
Saint Malo is a fortified city in Brittany, about an hours drive from Mont Saint-Michel. Famous for the seafarers and pirates, you can learn a lot about maritime history on a weekend in Saint Malo.
The walled old town of St Malo is an absolute treat to explore. Walk the ramparts, enjoy an ice cream on a beach, visit a replica tall ship, and then eat lots and lots of seafood.
Our hotel recommendation for St Malo : Hotel De France et Chateaubriand
La Rochelle
Continuing with the maritime history of the Atlantic Coast, La Rochelle has a wonderful harbour guarded by two towers. From protecting the harbour to being used as prisons, these towers have seen a lot in their history. Around the harbour you will find restaurants and bars spilling out onto the street, with fantastic views of the marina.
La Rochelle is also home to Les arcades de la Rochelle – medieval arches running along Rue Mercier and Rue du Palais – built to protect market stalls and shoppers.
Don’t forget to make time to visit the spectacular island of Île de Ré off the coast of La Rochelle. This small island can be reached via a 2.9km toll bridge. It is a perfect place for a longer vacation – there are plenty of campsites, holiday lets and cycle paths.
Fouras
Fouras Plage is one of my favourite Atlantic coastal beaches. The tides here go so far out, it feels like you could walk all the way to Île d’Oléron!
NB: You can’t do this, so please don’t try and get caught in the tidal sands!
Fouras sits on a peninsula of land, so has two coasts and therefore more beaches! My favourite is Grand Plage (pictured) due to all the convenient amenities and sights along the promenade. There is also Plage Nord and Plage Sud.
The Fort of Fouras stands at one end of Grand Plage, and has a museum inside, for those interested in the military and fortification history of the area.
Fouras is also where you can take the ferry to Île d’Aix. This tiny island is perfect for a day trip, as it’s only 3km long! You get a good view towards Fort Boyard from Île d’Aix too.
Île d’Oléron
Île d’Oléron is the second largest island off mainland France after Corsica, and the largest on the Atlantic Coast. That being said, it’s not huge – only 30km long, and 8km wide.
It is known for its exceptional fish markets and restaurants, oysters and cycling paths. Oléron is connected to the mainland by a bridge, and is ideal for a family holiday to enjoy the simple things in life – sun, sea, seafood and cycling!
Bordeaux
From Hannah at Nouvelle-Aquitaine Travel | Voyage
Bordeaux is the capital of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of France – the biggest city on the Atlantic Coast. Bordeaux is known for being the central hub of the Bordeaux wine region; with St Emilion and other famous wine areas nearby.
On a visit to Bordeaux there are so many things to do – see beautiful architecture, admire the river, take a walking tour, or visit the wine museum!
Lacanau Océan
From The Gap Decaders at Nouvelle-Aquitaine Travel | Voyage
If you’re looking for a laidback family camping or seaside adventure, discover the beach town of Lacanau Océan. On the coast, east of Bordeaux, Lacanau is a great spot for enjoying your summer holidays.
Only an hour north of Arcachon Bay and the Dune of Pilat, Lacanau is a good base to explore the area.
Dune of Pilat
From Kat at Wandering Bird
If you’re exploring along the Atlantic coast of France, you need to stop at the jaw-dropping Dune du Pilat.
This is the tallest sand dune in Europe, standing at around 106m above sea level (the exact height varies regularly) This natural wonder runs for 2.7km down the western coast of France and is about 500m wide. The sand is pushed eastward by the prevailing winds coming up from Africa- that’s what bought the sand there in the first place and it’s been gathering for thousands of years.
Located about an hour outside of Bordeaux, it’s well worth a trip to see it with your own eyes.
There are several areas to park along the dune, and if you’re motorhoming in France you can make use of one of the many campsites along the route.
Be warned – walking up to the top of the dune is no joke – you need to be pretty fit and mobile. There are a few gentler, more winding routes if you prefer. Also, wear sensible footwear or boots – the sand gets all over the place (or just take them off completely and go barefoot!) There’s not a smooth path – you’re literally climbing up a steep hill made of sand. Still, the views at the top are well worth it!
Once you’re at the dune, you can enjoy the views, have a picnic (if you thought to bring one with you) and even enjoy a spot of paragliding – it’s one of the best places to take to the skies in France.
Bayonne
Head south from the Gironde to the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department. Bayonne is famous for its chocolate. So what other reason do you need to visit?
Once an important port, this has been replaced with tourism and famous chocolatiers. The colourful houses alongside the River Nive show the colourful Basque influence.
Ensure you pay a visit to the magnificent Bayonne Cathedral, one of the most amazing historic churches in Nouvelle-Aquitaine.
Biarritz
From Bérengère Bonner-Le Fur at Nouvelle-Aquitaine Travel | Voyage
In its hey-day, Victorians escaped to this ‘Ville Balneaire’ (seaside town) to convalesce or take in the sea air. The grand hotels along the prom speak to the opulence of this time.
Biarritz is now a great combination of boutiques and beaches. Attracting stars and royalty with it’s old spa town charm, upscale shops, and fresh sea air. Visit the markets at Les Halles, take a walking tour, try an aperitif of txakoli, and some tapas at one of the rooftop bars.
Biarritz also offers surfing schools for those wanting to take on the power of the Atlantic Ocean!
The Best Places to Visit on the Atlantic Coast of France
The Atlantic coast of France is a little more wild, rustic and windy than the Mediterranean coast, but with that comes bunches of character and history. From pirates to military memorials, ancient fortifications, sassy cities and wild windswept beaches – the Atlantic coast of France is worth discovering.
Love France as much as I do? Check out these beautiful cities & towns in France!
All photos & content © Hannah Henderson and may not be used without permission (sharing this blog post is fine, though!). Images shot with a Canon DSLR T3i Rebel + Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM; and an iPhone.
I’ve been to France once but due to a limited time (and budget), I only got to see Paris. Would love to go back and explore more, especially the countryside.
From a fellow kiwi, thanks for all the info, and for considerably adding to my bucket list! I want to go everywhere, but then when you mentioned that Bayonne was famous for it’s chocolate, I knew that had to be first on the list!
Oh my, you’ll love Bayonne – not only are the chocolate shops divine, but the whole place is so gorgeous and full of history – yummy basque food too!
All of these places look absolutely beautiful! I’ve always wanted to visit Mont Saint-Michel, but Etretat sounds like it would be lovely to see as well.
oh my goodness these views!! I definitely want to make it here. These photos are stunning. Mont Saint-Michel looks so incredible.
Mont Saint-Michel has been on my bucket list for some time, and I’m so glad to have discovered so many other amazing places thanks to your blog. I pinned & saved this for my next France trip.
Immediately adding these places to my bucket list for when travel is allowed!
Hi Kiwi based in France loved reading your fabulous blog on places to visit on France Atlantic coast! Biarritz looked exciting to me. Wish to visit it!😍💚
So many beautiful places along the Atlantic Coast of France. I do have Normandy on my list and now have added a few more – especially Dune of Pilat and Biarritz.
Would live to explore this part of France one day. I have my eyers on Mont St Michel for a while now.
It really is totally magical!
I’ve always wanted to go to France, and now I just want to go even more and for longer!
My hubby and I are slowly making our way down this coast. Every year we spend 2-3 weeks traveling along it and there always seems to be more and more to explore! This year we are doing more of Brittany and more of northern Normandy – I can never get enough!
Breaking it down into sections is definitely a good idea!
I think this coast of France is more my scene than the Mediterranean. I didn’t know about his massive sand dune. That’s a challenge I’d like to take on.
You must visit the Dune du Pilat, and we will come to meet you, and conquer it together!
Fantastic post! I’m planning a trip along the Atlantic coast and would love to know more about local culinary specialties in these regions.