Top 5 Best Beaches in the South of France and Northern Spain
People often think you must head to the Caribbean or Australia for breathtaking beaches, but plenty are nestled here in Europe. In this guide we explore the best beaches in the South of France and Northern Spain. Lifts To offers transfers to all of these fabulous destinations.
La Concha Beach, San Sebastian – A top European beach!
TripAdvisor says La Concha Beach in San Sebastian is Europe’s best beach. Although we don’t completely agree with everything on TripAdvisor, we certainly agree with this one! San Sebastian is one of our favourite surf destinations, not only in Spain but also in the whole of Europe. However, La Concha is a beach with relaxing, calm waters to spend your day soaking in the atmosphere and the beaming sun. What more could you ask for?
San Sebastian has more Michelin stars per capita than anywhere else in the world, so you would expect at least one amazing restaurant to be a stone’s throw from La Concha. Well, there’s not one but two world-class restaurants a short drive from the beach: Arzak and Mugaritz. If La Concha isn’t where you’re heading this summer, we suggest you rethink your plans!
How to get to La Concha Beach
We would recommend taking a transfer from either Biarritz or Bilbao airports to San Sebastian.
Transfers from Biarritz Airport to San Sebastian take approx. 45 mins.
Transfers from Bilbao Airport to San Sebastian take approx. 15 hour 15 mins.
Plage Port Vieux, Biarritz – Best beaches in the South of France
Biarritz is another major surfing destination in the Basque region. Although we absolutely love surfing, sometimes we just need to get away from it all and find a beach with calm waters where we aren’t competing with every surfer around. If you’re like us, then Plage du Port Vieux is the beach for you!
Rather interestingly, this horseshoe-shaped beach was originally a port (hence the name), prior to becoming established as housing baths by Napoleon III in 1858. Like we mentioned, the tranquil and calm waters here ensure you’re not competing with surfers and so you can enjoy a nice relaxing swim. If you’re looking for something a bit different, head here on Christmas day to watch the famous annual champagne swim.
How to get to Plage Port Vieux
We would recommend taking a transfer from either Biarritz or Bordeaux airports to Biarritz.
Transfers from Biarritz Airport to Biarritz City Centre take approx. 15 mins.
Transfers from Bordeaux Airport to Biarritz take approx. 2 hours 15 mins.
Eden Plage Mala, Cap d’Ail
The hidden cove Eden Plage Mala is located by Monaco, the playground for the rich and famous. A couple of ways to reach this gem: take the tricky headland path (this path is closed when the sea is rough) or take the long and steep descent from the nearby village.
This beach is the most undiscovered beach resort on the Côte d’Azur. However, that doesn’t mean you won’t find plenty here to do. For example, we would recommend renting a paddle board and exploring the nearby grottos. If relaxing is more your cup of tea, then relax on the red beds under the parasols. Just make sure you keep your glass of wine topped up!
How to get to Cap d’Ail
We would recommend taking a transfer from Nice Airport to Cap d’Ail.
Transfers from Nice Airport to Cap d’Ail take approx. 15 mins.
The Gravières Beach, Hossegor
How could we complete this list without mentioning at least one surf beach! The one which makes the list is The Gravières Beach in Hossegor. Be warned, the waves on this beach are not for the faint-hearted and certainly not for beginners. However, if you are confident on the waves, then get yourself to The Gravières Beach!
If you don’t want to take just our word for it, I’m sure the fact that this beach has hosted the World Championship of Surfing will be enough to persuade you and if it isn’t, we’re not sure what will! Grab your board, jump on a plane and get yourself over to Hossegor, you won’t regret it.
How to get to Hossegor
We would recommend taking a transfer from Biarritz or Bordeaux Airport to Hossegor.
Transfers from Biarritz Airport to Hossegor take approx. 45 mins.
Transfers from Bordeaux Airport to Hossegor take approx. 2 hours.
Cap de l’Homy, Lit et Mixe
We couldn’t help ourselves… The 5th and final beach on the list is another surf beach! This one is located in the municipality of Lit-et-Mixe and offers the perfect waves for beginners and intermediates. You can head to Cap de l’Homy at any time of the year and you will be treated to a peaceful beach with some good waves.
To make the most of the experience, we would recommend bringing your board and your tent and camp in one of the nearby campsites. That way, you’re only a few minutes away from the beach and you can really make the most of the waves during your surf holiday!
How to get to Lit et Mixe
We recommend transferring from Biarritz or Bordeaux Airport to Lit et Mixe.
Transfers from Biarritz Airport to Lit et Mixe take approx. 1 hour 15 mins.
Transfers from Bordeaux Airport to Lit et Mixe take approx. 1 hour 30 minutes.