Best Beaches Near Paris 2026
Paris's coastal escapes are rich in history and natural beauty. Here are the best beaches near Paris for 2026.
Etretat and the Alabaster Coast
Etretat — on the Alabaster Coast (Cote d'Albatre) of Normandy, 3 hours from Paris Saint-Lazare by train to Le Havre then bus — is the most visually extraordinary beach in the Paris day-trip range. The white chalk arch cliffs of Etretat (the Falaise d'Aval arch and the Aiguille needle are among the most photographed natural landmarks in France) frame a shingle beach that inspired Claude Monet's most famous landscape paintings. The village itself is charming, with a covered market and good seafood restaurants. The cliff walk east from Etretat to the Falaise d'Amont chapel and west to the Falaise d'Aval arch offers extraordinary views. Best as an overnight in Etretat (the morning and evening light on the cliffs is spectacular); return to Paris the same day is possible but tiring.
Deauville and Trouville
Deauville and Trouville — twin Norman seaside towns on the Calvados coast, 2 hours from Paris Saint-Lazare by direct train — are the classic Parisian beach escape and have been since the 19th century. Deauville is the more glamorous of the two (the famous Promenade des Planches boardwalk has the name-boards of American film stars who attended the Deauville American Film Festival), with its casino, racetrack, and elegant Norman architecture. Trouville across the Touques river is more fishing-village in character, with a working fish market and a wider, more popular beach. The beaches are long, sandy, and tidal (the low tide exposes enormous sand flats); swimming is best at high tide.
Le Touquet-Paris-Plage
Le Touquet (formally Le Touquet-Paris-Plage) on the Opal Coast near Calais is 2 hours from Paris Gare du Nord by TGV to Etaples-Le Touquet. The Le Touquet beach is one of the finest in northern France — a vast, wide sand beach that stretches for kilometres, with a well-preserved Art Deco resort town behind it. The town has excellent restaurants, a casino, and a golf course (one of France's most historic links courses). Le Touquet is popular with well-heeled Parisian weekend visitors and a small British community who fly light aircraft from England.
Practical Tips for Beaches Near Paris
Paris Plages (Paris Beaches) operates every July-August along the Seine riverbanks in Paris itself — sand, deck chairs, and beach volleyball in the city centre, typically running from mid-July to late August. For real coastal beaches, book Normandy train tickets via SNCF Connect or thetrainline.com 3-4 weeks in advance; the Friday afternoon Normandy trains are very popular in summer. Northern France beaches are bracing rather than warm — water temperatures average 16-18 degrees Celsius in summer; most French swimmers use wetsuits or simply wade.
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