When we think of beaches in France, our minds naturally wander to the South of France – sometimes, it’s easy to overlook the beauty of Western France’s coastline, particularly the well-known surf mecca of Brittany. Wild and rugged, with some beautifully unspoilt coves, the scenic coastline of Brittany stretches for more than 1,000 miles. It was a difficult task, but we managed to narrow it down to our top 10 Brittany beaches for all your seaside holiday needs (not just surfing!).
Top 10 Brittany Beaches:
1. Best for families: Plage de l’Écluse
This fine sandy beach in Dinard is great for a family day out – safe for swimming and wide enough for all manner of beach games, you can kick back with a book in the sunshine while the kids run wild. Although quite a popular spot for locals and visitors, you can always find somewhere to lay down your towel, and with the promenade behind, there are plenty of places for a bite to eat.
2. Best for surfing: Saint Tugen
Brittany is a magnet for surfers looking for lesser-known surf spots, and although this is quite a well-known surf beach, it remains uncrowded outside of the main summer months, anyway. When it comes to summer, Saint Tugen has a few lifeguards posted because the swell is so huge, and the currents are strong (making it a risky place for a swim). So, if you visit outside of summer, take care if you want to go for a dip. A beautiful and wild surf beach with reliable waves at all tides for all experiences.
3. Best for escaping the crowds: La Palue
Known as ‘the end of the Earth’, the Crozon Peninsula is peppered with unspoilt beaches, hidden coves and great hikes. It’s also home to the third of our Brittany beaches, La Palue. Relatively uncrowded, rich in wildlife, and with a sweet nearby village, you’ll escape the crowds and get an authentic taste of Brittany. Although surfing tourism hasn’t hugely picked up yet in La Palue (which adds to its charm), it’s known for its consistent breaks and great waves – it’s surfable in all tides!
4. Best for water sports: Saint-Pierre-Quiberon
Like most Brittany beaches, this seaside resort in the north of the Quiberon Peninsula has a rugged charm. Surrounded by coastal wilderness, the area is good for cycling and walking; however, its main draw is its array of water-based activities. With a national sailing school, it’s great for lovers of sailing, but you can also take on kayaking, diving, kitesurfing and sand yachting.
5. Best for castaway vibes: Les Canons
The gorgeous island of Belle-Ile lies just off the coast of Brittany and is naturally punctuated with sandy bays, rocky inlets, and surf beaches (60 beaches in total!). It was difficult to pick a favourite, but we settled on Les Canons, a remote beach with fine sand, clear water, and generally no one else in sight. Live that French island life, mon chérie.
6. Best for dramatic scenery: Ile Vierge
Another beach on the Crozon Peninsula, Ile Vierge in Morgat, is a natural beauty. Not the easiest to get to, you have to walk down steep, crumbly terrain from the car park (so this isn’t a good option for those with little ones or reduced mobility)… however, the beach that awaits you is well worth the effort! The dramatic scenery and white sand create beautiful views, while the clear waters and caves are ideal for snorkelling and swimming.
7. Best for a little bit of everything: Plage du Sillon
This sandy, golden stretch in Saint-Malo spans 3km, meaning that even when it’s busy, it never really feels crowded. Voted the best beach in France in TripAdvisor’s 2018 Traveller’s Choice Awards, whatever kind of beach day you’re looking for, you can get it at Plage du Sillon. Fully supervised, you can be confident in the knowledge that it’s a safe beach for the kids; there are all the facilities you could need – along with a bar and a restaurant, it’s great for a slow amble along the water’s edge, as well as windsurfing, kiting and sand yachting. You can even visit a spa that overlooks the beach and offers treatments such as sea walking and yoga on the beach.
8. Best for epic coastal views: Baie des Trespasses
Credit: S Moller via Wikimedia
Also known as The Bay of the Dead due to the shipwrecked bodies that used to wash up on the shore – thankfully, those days are over – Baie des Trespasses is a very scenic, unspoilt beach that’s popular with surfers – it comes complete with a surf school and supervision. Flanked by both Pointe du Raz and Pointe du Van, if you take a walk to either of the two, you’ll be treated to some amazing sea views out to Île de Sein and the famous Ar Men lighthouse. If you’re aiming to walk the GR34 coastal path, it’ll take you from one to the other.
9. Best for bucket-and-spade days: Plage de Trestraou
Perros-Guirec is a chic, family-friendly resort at the heart of the Pink Granite Coast and is home to the second-to-last entry on our list of Brittany beaches – Plage de Trestraou. Wide, sandy, and great for a traditional bucket-and-spade type holiday, this stretch of beach is sheltered by rocky outlets at either end and is backed by a bustling promenade with shops and eateries. Making it one of the best beaches in Brittany for a more traditional seaside day out.
10. Best for history: LostMarc’h
Yes, you read that right; there’s a beach on this list that offers up a little bit of history! An ancient area featuring a cliff fort and menhir from the Iron Age, as well as the ruins of a 17th-century lookout, LostMarc’h is ideal for a wild coastal walk to these sites. The beach is also a good spot for surfing, with fairly consistent Atlantic swells that are completely unsheltered; however, it’s not a particularly safe spot for swimming, as there are strong currents and no lifeguards.
Brittany beaches map
Did our list of the best Brittany beaches make you want to explore this lesser-known coastline? We’ve got a great selection of villas in Brittany that are close to all the sandy action! And if you’re interested in adding special extras to your holiday, give our concierge team a shout – they’ll be happy to help!
Looking for a full list of villas to rent this year? Check out our villa holidays page here.
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