Escape to The Best Beaches near Paris

I love living in Paris, but I must admit that I struggle with the heat here. Spring is okay for me since it's a little cold, especially at night, but summer? I practically drown in my own sweat every time! And it doesn't help that Paris is notorious for its scarcity of air-conditioning. I can only afford a fan, and it's barely enough to dry my clothes. So when it gets a bit too much and I can sense that I'm already at risk of getting a heat stroke, I escape to the beaches nearby. My favorites include Plage de Deauville and Plage de Cabourg, but there are more you should know in case you need to cool off like me.

What's the Best Time to Go to the Beaches near Paris?

Naturally, you'll want to check out these beaches in summer. Don't underestimate how hot summer in Paris gets! If you're like me and you can't handle a heatwave from mid-June to late August, believe me, you'll be driving to these beaches before you know it! However, I would also recommend visiting any of them around early autumn, specifically from mid-September to early October. This is usually when these beaches are as empty as can be, and you can enjoy all that glorious scenery when it's not too cold yet.

Normandy Beaches

Even if you're not a history buff, the Normandy Beaches are worth visiting for their breathtaking scenery alone! They're the most beautiful coastlines on this list, and that's saying something considering there are many big bangers here. But if you want to bask in the region's natural beauty and appreciate the history behind such vast shorelines, you should be planning your trip to the Normandy Beaches now. I'd say that Utah Beach is the best for history buffs, while Juno Beach has the best scenery for me.

Plage de Cabourg

Travel back to the turn of the 20th century when you visit Plage de Cabourg. Located about 200 kilometers from the central neighborhoods of Paris, this postcard-perfect coast never fails to delight locals and tourists alike. You can tell this was the premier seaside destination during the latter half of la Belle Époque, as vestiges of that glorious past still linger. The grand Promenade Marcel Proust alone shows off that classic history, not to mention the old-school beach booths, the big umbrellas, and the like. More than warm you up and give you some sun near the French capital, Plage de Cabourg will charm your pants off, too!

Plage de Deauville

As far as the most famous beach near Paris goes, Plage de Deauville holds the title. The place is so beloved that we consider it the city's 21st arrondissement. Once June comes around and the temperature starts to rise to an almost unbearable degree, you can bet my friends and I will be driving to this beach! Seeing those big colorful beach umbrellas always brings me such immense joy. They tell me that it's finally summertime and I can enjoy some fun under the sun, all while forgetting my stress from work and the rest of my life.

Trouville-sur-Mer

I wish more of my friends loved going to Trouville-sur-Mer as much as I do. They prefer Plage de Deauville, and I get that, but this beach is just as amazing! For one thing, it's also only about a two-hour drive away from the city, so the distance isn't even all that different from the latter. And every time I get there, I get a good picture of how charming French life must have been in the late 19th century. Of course, the beach is as glorious as ever, but I can't deny that all that old-world architecture is what draws me, and I'm sure many others, too, to Trouville-sur-Mer.

Plage d’Etretat

I must admit that I don't go to Plage d’Etretat as often as I should. The coast's enchanting scenery and jewel-tone waters place it head and shoulders above all the other beaches near Paris. If I'm a travel influencer, you can bet that I'll be spending about half of my time on this stunning shoreline getting as much content as I can. Plage d’Etretat, with its seaside cliffs and vast expanse of white sand, is almost too good to be true. And at only 220 kilometers away, I often can't believe that it's also so near Paris!

Le Touquet

Le Touquet refers to both the seaside town and the beautiful beach, and they are worth seeing equally. The former gives you a glimpse of the charming and slightly provincial small towns that are a world away from the ever-hectic Paris, perfect for a day trip. Its timbered homes and Victorian houses give it an old-world elegance, so lovely you wouldn't want to leave. I myself was so close to moving here one time. The latter, on the other hand, is natural beauty at its finest. The beach may get crowded at times, especially in summer, but when you escape to its most peaceful corners, you'll discover paradise!

Plage du Butin

Speaking of going to the middle of nowhere, Plage du Butin allows you to do just that without going too far from Paris. The beach is only a two-and-a-half-hour drive away from the city, but when you get there, you won't believe it! Most of the coast remains untouched and as natural as can be, so much so that you'd sooner think you were whisked away to a remote Greek Island while on your drive. While the beach doesn't exactly boast the whitest sand, it's soft enough and the place is sunny enough that you simply wouldn't care. I know I don't every time I go there!

Plage de Dieppe

Plage de Dieppe has all the other beaches on this list beat in terms of distance. At only 170 kilometers away, this is the nearest beach to Paris. If any coast deserves to be called the '21st arrondissement,' it's this one! But alas, Plage de Dieppe is not as beloved as Plage de Deauville. I can't even imagine why, since the former is just as beautiful and just as paradisiacal as the latter. With seaside cliffs nearby and the sapphire waves crashing against the very white shoreline, the beach is picture-perfect! Oh well, at least when I do go there, I get to enjoy a lot of peace and quiet as well!

Fort-Mahon-Plage

Fort-Mahon-Plage is just and sea as far as the eye can see. The area that surrounds the beach is just so empty and untouched that you'd easily forget that you're only over 200 kilometers away from Paris. Fort-Mahon-Plage remains one of the more underrated beaches near the French capital, and I hope that doesn't change anytime soon. The place works with all that serenity and scenery, perfect for meditation. I once drove here with my best friend after an existential crisis, and all that natural beauty got me together!



Did you know that there are several beaches near Paris? They’re perfect for a day trip, escaping the city, and experiencing the natural wonders that France has to offer. Not to mention some much-needed fun under the sun too!