Share the article
When you think of a summer in France, chances are the first thing that comes to mind is the pastel-colored streets and exclusive beach clubs of Saint-Tropez.
The eternal home of Brigitte Bardot, and virtually the entire French elite, and one of the world’s most effortlessly stylish destinationswith Michelin star restaurants and postcards galore, ‘St Trope’ is known for attracting quite an international crowd.
That does not mean that it is preferred by the French himself.
Having lived in Paris for five years now and being someone who goes to the South of France almost every year, I believe I have cracked the code on how to do France justice without falling victim to the usual overly commercialized, ‘been-there-done’ tourist traps.
If you want to explore the Land of the Gauls like a local this summer, it’s time you skip the good old STP and follow the frog-eating crowd to these spots. Instead, there are four coastal alternatives:
Agde
Agde is not the nicest seaside resort on the French Riviera, but if you’re looking for modest prices and good value for your summer beach holiday, this is that little French hack they don’t want you to know about.
It is not exactly known to the general public, but as far as domestic tourism is concerned, it is far from a niche destination:
Agde has beaches, campsites, marinas, supermarkets and family amenities all within walking distance or just a 10-minute drive from your accommodation, and a middle-class French family could easily spend a week there without blowing the budget. Which means you can too.
An oceanfront room can be as cheap as $95 per night, and meals at local bistros range from $22 to $40. No, it’s not Albania-cheap, sure, but if you really fancy a French summer, it’s about as cheap as it is here these days.
Agde isn’t as Old World cute, or remotely elegant as Saint-Tropez, so if that’s the vibe you’re going for, you might want to check out the next city on the list.
If you come to France now, easily accessible beachesclubs that you don’t have to book weeks in advance nor spend a lot to enjoy, and less status-oriented trips, you’ve come to the right place.
Wondering if there are any travel alerts currently active for France? The Traveler Dashboard is the best tool for staying informed of on-the-ground developments that might impact your affections, like rail strikes or political unrest (and we know the French love a bit of summer commotion).
Menton
Menton, the most beautiful town on the French Riviera, just a 40-minute train ride from Nice, is right on the Italian border, and it’s a cluster of lean, pastel-colored townhouses with the quintessential Mediterranean green shutters that look like a scene from a storybook come to life.
Or, more like Luca brought to life, except in contrast to reality Luca-inspired jet-setting haven of Italy’s Cinque Terre, Menton much less commercialized.
Don’t get me wrong, this isn’t a hidden gem either. Some international tourists have been taking the short train journey from the Côte d’Azur capital ever since Instagrammers in flying dresses made the city’s stone jetty their new ‘bucket list’ photo, but the atmosphere remains unparalleled.
Think of old cobbled alleys flanked by colorful buildings, small piazzette lined by family-run trattorias, ice cream shops with a wide choice of lemon-based flavors – lemon products are actually the whole flavor of Menton – and that’s perfect, the best of both worlds mix of French and Italian cultures.
Besides wandering the timeless streets and soaking up the sun on that dreamy pebble beach, which borders the turquoise waters of the Mediterranean, the main reason why French people come here, especially the Niçois on the weekends, is all the delicious food you can get.
Les Cotes de Menton has a family-run feel, away from the main tourist strip, and serves epic grilled meats. Maison Martin & Fils is the place to try barbajuans and other specialties from the French Riviera, and Le P’tit Resto is my personal favorite for fish soup and seafood platters.
Wondering how safe France is to visit right now? It currently scores 86 out of 100 on the Traveler Safety Index, a tool travelers use to measure safety levels at different destinations based on first-person reports.
Cabourg
We’re leaving the south of France for a while because guess what, France has an entire 2,100 miles of Atlantic coastline that most guests traveling to Saint-Tropez are completely unaware of.
A popular weekend getaway for Parisians, Cabourg is an under-the-radar cinematic seaside resort a short 3-hour drive. It is best known for its enormous, palatial Large hotelright on the widest golden sandy beach, and a lively main street with half-timbered buildings, boutiques and crepe restaurants.
Locals go to Cabourg for very different reasons, the beach being the main one.
It’s one of the longest in Normandy, the region to which Cabourg belongs, and in summer its wide sandy beaches are lined with colorful parasols, sun loungers that people bring from beachside houses, and sun loungers, but then there’s the fact that Cabourg is just slower:
Unlike trendy Deauville or Trouville-sur-Mer, it feels more relaxed and less chic.
I mean, the seaside promenade alone is worth coming here. Cycling to its full extent on a breezy, warm, sunny day, with the expansive view of the English Channel unfolding before you, is just absolute heaven, and if you think the south of France is overrated when it comes to seafood, wait until you try Normandy seafood.
Do you like oysters and seafood dishes and want to completely relax? Say no more: Le Baligan is where you go.
Reserve a table at sunset, dig in, order a plate of fresh oysters and a cheeky Calvados digestif to go with it, and thank me later.
Travel rules for Europe are changing
Before I give you the grand finale, you should know that Europe, and this includes France, has drastically changed its entry rules this year, and we’re not just talking about the fingerprint mess you probably came across on social media sometime this week.
You’ll have one soon whole new travel authorization to fly to Europe, which will come into effect later this year… immediately after the summer.
If you travel to the Old Continent at some point in the near futurePlease keep an eye on the Entry Requirement Checker to avoid unnecessary travel problems. Getting denied boarding because you didn’t check the updated list of required documents is the following last what you want to happen.
Bastia
Corsica is France’s largest island in the Mediterranean, and a vast mountainous country known for its ancient ports, Maldives-esque white sandy beaches and rugged, unspoilt nature that almost makes it seem like a country unto itself.
Most tourists land in Ajaccio, check out a beach or two nearby and call it a day, but if you really want to experience Corsica like, well, a French visitor would, Bastia is the place to go.
It feels distinctly Corsican rather than ‘typical mainland France’, and unlike Saint-Tropez or other stylish Riviera-style resorts, it feels lived and authentic.
For many of us, it’s one of the easiest domestic destinations to get away from without ever leaving France.
You have nature right on your doorstep, with the mountains of Corsica close to the sea, wild beaches that are truly unspoilt, hiking trails that lead to epic sunsets, and just north of the city the Cap Corse peninsula offers dramatic cliffs and hidden coves.
In Bastia itself, the Vieux Port has the traditional colorful buildings, bobbing boats, cozy bakery cafes where every item on display is freshly baked, and cafes on the waterfront.
The Citadelle district, or Terra Nova, a maze with narrow lanes in an old Genoese fortressgives the best panoramic angles over the coast, and if you like that Mediterranean lifestyle: the dolce vitaas they call it – there’s nowhere better to sip coffee, explore local markets and people-watch on a sun-drenched terrace than Place Saint-Nicolas.
