As the summer weather moves into full swing, you may want to turn to the age-old Parisian tradition of leaving Paris! Like in many cities across Europe, the arrival of the railway in the mid-19th century enabled the bourgeoisie to travel en masse to cool and refreshing waters of the coast. The beaches featured on this list became popular in this way–and while they still offer a respite from the summer heat, you will have to travel to the west or south coasts to find France’s glittering turquoise waters.
Deauville. M6 Metro.
Deauville (Normandy)
The train from Saint-Lazare Station in Paris will take you right into the mythical town of Deauville in around 2 hours, making it the easiest beach to reach from Paris. There is a large, long beach within easy walking distance from the railway station. The water in Deauville is calm, making Deauville ideal for less confidant swimmers. Generally considered a holiday resort town for the upper crust since the Belle Époque, Deauville venues can be pricy so it’s best to bring a picnic or go to the shop rather than one of the restaurants if you’re looking to save money.
Trouville (Normandy)
Trouville can be reached from the same railway station as Deauville. Its beach is slightly smaller and quieter than the one in Deauville. Like many Normandy beaches, Trouville is closely associated with the great nineteenth century author Marcel Proust, who visited Trouville every summer as a child to treat his asthma.
Cabourg. Normandie Tourisme.
Cabourg (Normandy)
Cabourg is another Belle Epoque northern seaside resort town dotting the English Channel. Also linked to writer Marcel Proust who enjoyed residing in the impressive Cabourg Grand Hôtel, its 4 km-long beach remains popular with holiday-makers. To reach it, you must change trains at Deauville-Trouville. More recently the town was featured in the popular film Intouchables starring Omar Sy.
Honfleur (Normandy)
Honfleur is mostly know for its Old Harbour lined with 16th- to 18th-century townhouses, and has been a subject for artists including Monet and Boudin. However, it also has two nice beaches where the Seine meets the English Channel, about 25 minutes walk from the bus station which has connections running from Deauville-Trouville and Le Harve.
Etretat. GEO.
Étretat (Normandy)
Known for its stunning white cliffs and pebble beaches, Étretat is the most beautiful spot on this list and was painted over 80 times by Claude Monet. The easiest way to reach Étretat from Paris and return in the same day is via coach. However, if you are planning an overnight trip to the Normandy coast, you can catch the train to another nearby town and take a day trip to Étretat from there. Étretat was recently featured in the popular Netflix series Lupin, the modern retelling of the chronicles of fictional gentleman thief Arsène Lupin–also starring Omar Sy.
For weekend or longer trips: Marseille and Cassis
Akin to Naples in Italy, Marseille has been the gritty, bad boy of France for the last half-century. But the stunning natural beauty on offer – and the relatively cheaper prices – make it well worth the trip. Thanks to the TGV (high speed rail), you can reach Marseille from Paris Gare de Lyon in just three hours (it’s really not worth flying). Marseille is known for the Calanques–a series of beautiful natural coves just off of its coast. To reach the Calanques National Park (Parc national des Calanques) in Marseille, you will need to take public transport (bus) from the city centre. To reach the equally spectacular port town of Cassis (smaller but cheaper than the French Riviera), it’s just 25 minutes by train from the main railway station, Marseille St-Charles. Enjoy a cool glass of pale Provençal rosé wine or a pastis (usually cheaper than water) or a delicious slice of tarte tropézienne while you’re down south!