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10 great South of France beaches to visit |
The South of France has some of the best French beaches to visit. However, a lot of the beaches on the South France coast, especially on the French Riviera, are private beaches controlled by beach bars or restaurants. I am not against people making money, especially when you consider a lot of the beach bars have to dismantle their whole kitchens, bars and equipment every October and then rebuild them again the following April. But when you have 3 boys like we have, going to a posh beach bar and paying €20 euros each for a sun lounger, is just not an option.
We live in the South of France and we have spent the last 20 years exploring the coastline of Southern France. Here is our insider's guide to the most beautiful South of France beaches you will find along the French Riviera coastline and the Languedoc coast, where you won't have to pay a dime.
Some beaches did not make the top 10 list, but these are also worth checking out, such as the beaches near Hyeres and the St Raphael beaches and . If you are coming to the South of France this summer, then our top 10 collection of the South of France best beaches to go to will help you find the perfect beach to relax on and top up your tan.
This list of 10 best free public beaches in South France to visit in 2026 are organised in geographical order, from Menton on the Italian border, through the French Riviera and down the Languedoc coast to the Spanish border.
1. Best South of France beach - Plage des Sablettes, Menton
The beautiful costal town of Menton in South France, is located in between Monaco and the Italian border on the French Riviera. Menton is famous for producing lemons and oranges, which benefit from the special microclimate in the area. Every year around late february/early March, the town holds an enormous Lemon Festival, which celebrates the town's history of growing citrus fruits. Huge floats carry large sculptures created entirely out of oranges and lemons. The event draws in over 250,000 people to Menton during the 3 week duration of the festival (see Menton Lemon festival for more details).
There are actually 11 different beaches in Menton, stretching from Plage des Sirènes, near Roquebrune-Cap-Martin to Plage de Garavan, right on the Italian border. The beaches in Menton are a mixture of both sandy and pebble beaches. Menton benefits from some of the cleanest waters on the French Riviera and the beaches are kept very clean. The Plage des Sablettes and Plage du Fossan are two of the public beaches in Menton that both hold the European Blue Flag Certificate, for the quality of the beaches and cleanliness of the water.
Menton has 5 public beaches of which I think Plage des Sablettes is probably the best. The beach is located close to the town centre, just off the old port in Menton. Plage des Sablettes is a big wide sandy beach and is very popular with families. The waters here are shallow and calm and the beach has a scenic backdrop of Menton’s colorful old town. Plage des Sablettes features a recently renovated esplanade, showers, toilets, and nearby cafes and restaurants. The beach is split in two parts (Est and Ouest) and it often featrues in photos of Menton taken from the end of the small pier that juts out into the sea.
Other public beaches in Menton include Plage du Borrigo which is located on the western side of Menton, towards Roquebrune. It is situated next to the public park, Jardin Elisée Reclus. Plage de Borrigo is a pebble beach whichdoesn't tend to get as full as the Plage des Sablettes. It is popular with locals who live near-by. The beach is quite close to the coastal road (Promenade du Soleil), which can make it noisy at times. But there is public parking close to the beach.
Plage de Fossan is a small beach which is located on a small horseshoe of sand near the Musée Jean Cocteau and next to a public park (Parc Plage de Fossan). The beach is strictly non-smoking and it caters more for families and younger children. There is a play park at the back of the beach and there is a gentle slope into the sea.
Another public beach in Menton, that is very popular with the younger crowd, is Plage Rondelli. The beach is situated at the end of Plage des Sablettes next to the Port de Garavan. The beach is part sand, part fine pebbles and has lovely views back over Menton. The beach has a good range of facilities (showers, public toilets, etc) and there is a large car park. There is also a beach club at the back of the beach (La Dolce Vita Plage) which serves drinks and food during the day and often features a DJ at night.
The rest of the coastline from Plage Rondelli to the Italian border tends to be given over to hotels and private beach clubs.
There is a train station in Menton which is just a 10-minute walk from the beaches. Trains run from Nice to Menton every hour. If you want to get to the public beaches in Menton, take the bus from outside the train station (Line #1) and exit at the Les Sablettes bus stop.
2. Paloma Plage, Cap Ferrat
Cap Ferrat is a very exclusive beach resort on the French Riviera. It is home to more millionaires per square meter than anywhere else in the World. The house prices in Cap Ferrat are the second most-expensive in the World, after Monaco. So on the surface, this is not a great place to go searching for a free public beach. However, if you walk from the centre of town (Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat) towards the small headland of Le banc de Rayen et Mauro (or Palmoa Point), then you will come across one of the best beaches on the French Riviera.
Paloma Plage is a mixture of private beach club and public beach. You can find the public stretch of the beach on either side of the beach club. Paloma Plage is a small cove that is very popular with scuba divers. The beach is not massive; but you have lovely views of the expensive villas on the hillside above the beach and the rest of the french Riviera coastline towards Eze, Cap d'Ail and Monaco.
3. Antibes - Plage du Ponteil
On its own, the Plage de Ponteil, may not rank as the finest beach in the South of France, but its location close to the heart of Antibes, is what really makes it stand out. We have good friends who live in Biot, close to Antibes, and we love spending the day in Antibes when we go to visit them. It is such a cool town. Obviously, there are a lot of rich people in Antibes. You only have to look around the Marina to see that. But the town doesn't rub it in your face. You can still get a very reasonably priced meal in the restaurants on the main square for under €20 euros and the shops along the narrow streets are full of things that normal people can afford to buy. There is also a lovely old indoor market in Antibes, where you can buy fresh fish and seafood or go to one of the neighbouring bars and enjoy a glass of wine and some oysters for around €10 euros. Antibes is also a very charming town and it is impossible not to feel relaxed as you walk the streets.
Antibes does have a few exclusive private beach clubs, the coolest ones reportedly being Plage Keller and Plage Joseph. But there are also some very popular public beaches. The main public beach is Plage de la Salis, which is the furthest away from the old town in Antibes. This is a long sandy beach with a small headland at each end of the beach.
There is also the Plage de la Gravette which is located right next to the Marina and the old fortified walls of the Port d'Antibes. If you get bored of the beach here, you can also go up and see the Noma Sculpture on top of the fortified walls. This is an incredible sculpture by the Spanish artist, Jaume Plensa. The sculpture is made entirely out of (alphabet) letters that forms the shape of a man looking out to sea, with his arms holding his legs to his chest. It is a great piece of art.
Normally, I would say that Plage de la Gravette would be your first choice of beach to head to, given that it is right next to the old town in Antibes, with all the shops and restaurants just a short walk. But the beach is quite small and it does get packed. In the height of summer, it just resembles Sardines in a tin. So my preference is always to head a bit out of Antibes in the direction of the Cap d'Antibes and to go to the Plage du Ponteil. This beach can also get a bit busy in the summer, but we have always found space her. At one end of the beach there is a private beach club connected to the Royal Antibes hotel. But the rest of the beach is public. The water is very shallow and worm and you have lovely views looking out. The sand is lovely and fine. The beach is a popular spot for snorkelers, attracted by the clear blue water.
Antibes is located in between Cannes and Nice on the French Riviera coast. The A8 motorway passes nearby to Antibes and provides quick access along the coast.
4. Plage des Sablettes, Frejus, South France
The lovely beach resort of Frejus is one of my favourite spots on the French Riviera. This old Roman port, was first founded by Julius Caesar in 49 BC and today you can see many Roman ruins, including the large Roman amphitheatre.The beaches around Frejus are also some of the best sandy beaches on the French Riviera. There is even a nice beach (Fréjus-Plage) located right in the heart of the town. The beach has a nice palm-tree lined promenade at the rear, providing stunning views out over the beach and the Bay of Saint-Raphael.
There is over 8 km of coastline around Fréjus, with wide sandy beaches offering lovely views over the headlands. There are a number of public beaches around Frejus, including Plage de la République (which is closest to the town center) and Plage du Capitole (which offers a water sports centre and a number of restaurants). But I think the pick of the beaches is Plage des Sablettes, which has the widest expanse of sand and lovely views over the Mediterranean coastline.
Frejus is located on a beautiful section of the French Riviera, in between Cannes and Saint Tropez. Along with its neighbouring beach resort of Saint-Raphaël, Fréjus is a very laid-back and welcoming place. Frejus is divided into 3 sections: the old town, Frejus plage and the modern suburbs. The beach is a 20 minute walk from the old town (or there is free shuttle bus). The beaches are very safe for children and the Esterel mountains behind the town, form a dramatic backdrop.
If you are looking to spend time on the French Riviera this summer, then you might find that perfect base at one of our popular French Riviera villas & apartments.
5. Cap Taillat, St Tropez
Saint Tropez is a really special place. We have stayed here many times over the last 30 years. What first grabs you is that (especially out of season), St Tropez is just a normal French coastal town. You can get a morning coffee for €2.50 euros, a baguette for €1.10 euros and a pack of beers in the Spar supermarket for €8.00 euros. You can also find some reasonably priced restaurants in the town. But you can also pay €10.00 euros for a beer in one of the beach clubs and you can find oil paintings hanging on the walls of one of the Super yachts that line the harbour, that probably cost more than your house. So it is a town of two halves. But there is still something really special about it
Saint Tropez really grew in popularity during the early 1950s and 1960s when Brigitte Bardot's film, “And God Created Woman” (1956) put it on the map. The iconic beach club and restaurant of the day was Club 55 (which is still going strong on Pamplone beach). Saint Tropez still attracts a wealth of celebrities from Leonardo DiCaprio, to Beyoncé and Jay-Z, the Supermodel Naomi Campbell and Elton John, the Hollywood actress Joan Collins and the footballer Neymar. I know all of this because we once did a celebrity booze cruise around St Tropez bay. Honestly, it was as tacky as it sounds!!
Another favourite beach spot for the rich and famous is Tahiti Plage, which is located just outside St Tropez, on the southern side of the peninsular. Tahiti Plage beach club was one of the first and most notable beach clubs in Saint Tropez and it still gets its fill off celebrities - often seen landing in helicopters at the back of the beach or sailing in on yachts. Similarly, Nikki beach near Saint Tropez has long been the favourite destination for the 'beautiful people' - full of VIPs, the rich, glamourous and powerful people. It is located in the beautiful Bay of Pampelonne. During the evening, Nikki beach fills up with the sounds of chilled-out dance music as the celebrities party-on. The bar here serves some of the most expensive cocktails you will find in France, as well as some of the best Champagnes available, including Perrier-Jouët, Dom Pérignon, Krug and Cristal.
But we are not going to take you to any of those money pits. Instead, we are going to put on our trainers and take a short-ish walk to a really special beach near St Tropez. Cap Taillat, is a small headland off the coast of Saint Tropez, that is connected to the mainland by a thin strip of sandy beach (almost like a causeway that has been built up over time). This largely unspoilt beach offers some wonderful views towards the Golden Islands (Porquerolles, Ile du Levant and Port Cros). When you get here, you really do feel that you have stumbled across a wild beach on the edge of the world. The shallow waters around the island have a lovely turqouise colour and during the afternoon there is a steady stream of boats that park up and bob about in the small cove..
The beach is off the beaten track, but the upside is that you won't have Leonardo DiCaprio stealing your spot or Beyoncé blocking your view. Cap Taillat is located on the southern-most tip of the St Tropez headland, in between the villages of Ramatuelle and of La Croix-Valmer. If you want to reach the beach, there are just three options. You can park up at the nearby Escalet Plage and then follow the coastal path to Cap Taillat. Or you can take the longer coastal walk from Ramatuelle to Cap Taillat. Finally, you take a boat from St Tropez (La Petite Caraïbe). which will drop you in the bay and then come and pick you up later. Alternatively, Y
If you are staying near St Tropez this summer, some other alternative public beaches that are worth the trip include Rayol Canadel-sur-Mer, which is set on a small stretch of coastline between St Tropez and Le Lavandou. The beaches here rarely get too busy, even in August. This is the coolest beach in the area, and has a few great bars. Our kids loved going to this beach because there is a diving platform a little way out in the bay. Another option is Port Grimaud beach, which lies across the bay from Saint Tropez. The other benefit of this beach is that if you get board of the beach (like I do do after a couple of hours), you can always wander around the resort of Grimaud, with all its canals.
6. Calanques beach between Cassis and Marseilles
Cassis is one of my favourite places in the South of France. This lovely coastal town on the French Riviera is blessed with some of the most dramatic beaches in France. The stretch of the Mediterranean coastline between Marseille and Cassis has quite a few dull beaches, but the the beautiful fjord-like inlet near Cassis, called the Calanques de Port Miounear, offers perhaps the most dramatic beach you will find in the South of France. With crystal clear water and the dramatic cliffs plunging into the sea, the Calanques is a spectacular location. It is not easy to get to and in actual fact the easiest way to arrive is to take a boat from the port in Marseille. Failing that, you are faced with a 20 minute walk and steep descent from the main public car park in Cassis itself.
This sheltered inlet was once a limestone quarry, but it now forms the perfect natural marina. At the end of the inlet there is a small rocky beach which provides fantastic views out to sea. It is also popular with scuba divers, kayakers and tourists taking pleasure boat trips from nearby Marseille (just 30 mins up the coast).
Further around the coast, in fact just over the headland from Calanques Port-Miou, there is the sister inlet of Calanque de Port Pin and the beautiful Calanque d'en Vau. Both of these inlets enjoy the same turquoise clear waters and small rocky beaches. At the highest point, the cliffs that frame the inlet reach up to 500 ft and these are popular spots for local teenagers who plunge down into the crystal clear turquoise waters below.
If you are put off by the walk to Les Calanques, then there is another public beach in Cassis. On the western side of the harbour in Cassis, there is Plage de la Grande Mer, which is a big sandy beach located beneath the castle. This is a curving beach has shallow waters and is perfect for families. It was also one of the first beaches in France to introduce a complete smoking ban. The beach has featured in paintings by a range of famous artists, including Winston Churchill (who learnt to paint in Cassis before the Second World War), Raoul Dufy and Matisse (who travelled to Cassis many times from his home in St Paul de Vence).The beach does get very busy during the summer.
7. Best South France beaches - L'Espiguette Plage, Montpellier
L'Espiguette beach is definitely the best beach near the city of Montpellier, South France. This long white sandy beach, has a real wild and windswept look about it. The beach is situated to the east of the old port town of Le Grau de Roi, which sits within the Camargue nature reserve, the largest wetland in Europe. The Camargue is known for its 50,000 pink flamingos, its white horses and black bulls.
I especially like the wonderful sand dunes at the back of L'Espiguette beach. Also it is unusual for Mediterranean beaches, in that you do tend to get a few rollers coming in off the sea at this point of the coast. Don't expect any flashy restaurants or cafes nearby. This is a beach that you find at the end of a long coastal track. But that is the reason why you come here. There are a couple of pop-up beach bars along the 18 km stretch of L'Espiguette beach (probably one of the best ones is near the large car park at the Lighthouse end of the beach).
It is technically possible to reach L'Espiguette beach by public transport from Montpellier. You can take a local train from Montpellier to Le Grau de Roi or alternatively, the 106 bus does stop off in Le Grau de Roi after visiting Aigues-Mortes. From the centre of Le Grau de Roi, you can take a local bus (C32) which runs past the Town Hall and the Aquarium. From here you can access the western end of L'Espiguette beach.
8. Best South of France beaches - Visa Plage, Beziers
Vias Plage beach is located close to the city of Beziers on the Mediterranean coast in South France. The beach resort of Vias Plage is located 2 km from the small town of Vias on the Languedoc coast. Originally, Vias Plage was developed during the 19th century as a bathing resort for the nearby inhabitants of Beziers. Since the 1930s, the resort has grown in size and during summer season the population of Vias Plage grows from around 1,500 to over 10,000 people.
Vias Plage is the closest beach to Beziers, France (just 15 kms) and it features a number of campsites and there is also the Europark theme park which is open from late June to the end of August each year. Vias Plage beach, has some of the warmest water on the Languedoc coast. You will of course find beaches with better facilities, but this popular Languedoc beach is sheltered, with golden sands and easily accessible even in the height of summer.
The shallow, warm waters and golden sand are ideal for children and adults alike. The beach at Vias Plage is kept scrupulously clean and the beach is protected by large stone breakwaters. The local council has invested heavily in the resort in recent years, smartening up the facades of (the previously tacky) shops and restaurants and there is now a beautiful promenade above the beach which takes you along to a couple of really smart beach bars.
The beach and the parking at Vias Plage are totally free. You also get some lovely views from the beach all the way down the Languedoc coast to Spain.
There is a great beach bar at Vias Plage called Chiringuito that is really popular with our French friends. The bar serves some excellent Mojitos and there is a simple but very good bar menu. You can also hire sun loungers or sit on the deck over looking the beach. The main restaurant is located on a covered terrace. It is probably advisable to book ahead during the high season.
Visit Chiringuito beach bar Vias Plage for more information.
To get to Vias Plage beach, South France, come off the A9 motorway at junction 34 and take the RN312 to Vias. Then follow the signs to Vias plage. You can easily get to Vias Plage by public transport. There is a train which goes from either Agde or Beziers to the nearby town of Vias (and then catch a shuttle bus to the beach) or you can take a bus from Beziers (Line 210) to Vias.
We always head right into the heart of Vias Plage, where all the beach bars, restaurants and shops are, and then take a right turn past the campsite. If you keep following the track you will come to another car park that invariably has spaces. We prefer this area of Vias plage as the beach is usually quieter.
9. Best beach South France - La Franqui Plage, Narbonne
La Franqui Plage is located in between Narbonne and Perpignan. What I like about the beach here is that a lot of the beaches in the Languedoc are quite flat and bordered by holiday villages or campsites. So the other beaches near Narbonne, such as Narbonne Plage and Gruissan Plage are mainly big flat expanses of sand. Whereas, at La Franqui Plage, there is a headland next to the beach (called La Sorcière) which is dotted with pine trees. This just makes it a bit more of an interesting backdrop to the beach. It reminds me of the beaches along the Cote d'Azur coast.
La Franqui is very popular with wind surfers and kite surfers. It can get quite windy here (thus the wind and kite surfers) but I find the surroundings very pretty. There are two beaches at La Franqui. The first one, Coussoules Beach, is just in front of the quaint old village and is a wide expanse of flat sand. The second beach (Le Grazel Plage), is further up the coast and is bordered by the sea on one side, and the etang (inland lake) on the other. The result is a long 2-sided strip of beach.
La Franqui is quite well known in France on account of the "Mondial du Vent" - a large windsurfing , sand yachting, kiting and kitesurfing tournament organized every year. The beaches themselves are relaxed and friendly. It is not like you are fighting for a space. There are also a couple of restaurants in La Franqui itself where you can grab lunch or an early dinner after a day on the beach.
10. South of France best beaches - Argeles-sur-Mer
Argeles sur Mer beach is located on the Mediterranean coast, right down by the Spanish border, close to Perpignan. It is situated on the Cote Vermeille, the only east facing coastline in France. Argeles sur Mer is situated on a long sweeping bay that looks out onto the Pyrenees and the warm Mediterranean sea. The beaches here are certainly amongst the best beaches on the Languedoc coast in South of France and they have retained the European blue flag award (in recognition of the quality of the water and cleanliness of the beach) for the last 25 years.
Argeles sur Mer actually has three beaches. Argeles Plage Nord and Argeles Plage des Pins are both wide, sandy beaches with plenty of space. Le Racou, to the south is a neat little bay with amazingly blue water. This is where we always head because we like the mountain views to the back and it tends to be less crowded. The shallow waters are also perfect for kids and adults. The wide expanse of sand gives you plenty of room to stretch out play.
Argeles-sur-Mer itself has developed to become a major Mediterranean beach resort, with excellent tourist facilities and a big harbour area. Each year the resort receives over 300,000 holiday-makers. The town also boasts an interesting history and has some excellent restaurants and decent shops. The town also hosts an excellent summer music festival every year, attracting major artists like Elton John, Liam Gallagher, The Killers and Sting in recent years.
Apart from the usual resort attractions such as Luna Park and Aqualand, you can also entertain the kids by taking them to the Canyoning Park, which is situated in an old quarry and has plenty of zip wire and wake-boarding activities. You will also find plenty of wind surfing and scuba diving centres in Argeles sur Mer. There is a large nature reserve which you can easily spend a relaxing afternoon walking around (Sentier de Littoral).
So if you are looking for a wonderfully sun-drenched beach, which is perfectly framed by the backdrop of the Pyrenees; then Argeles-sur-Mer is a great spot. It also won't cost you a penny to use the beach (except parking, ice creams, the odd beer . . . ).
Where to next . . . ?
If you are visiting the South of France this summer, then get the inside track on the best Places to see & visit in the South of France in 2026 (written by people who live in Southern France all year around). Read about the best restaurants to eat at, get local information on the best beaches to visit and discover the best tourist sites, markets and festivals to see during your stay.
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