Beautiful beaches near Bordeaux for everyone!

Arcachon: 5 beaches and a charming town within easy train reach

This superb seaside resort overlooks the basin that bears its name. Here, forget the big ocean waves. Arcachon offers peaceful bathing in calm waters at the foot of five different beaches. 

• Moulleau beach, 4 km from the town center, with its fishermen on the jetty...

• Abatilles beach, a little further north, with its sandbanks and shaded rest areas. 

• Arcachon beach, opposite the town center, with its beach clubs and beach volleyball court, is Arcachon's liveliest beach!

• Plage d'Eyrac, 600 meters long, lies between the port and the pier of the same name.

• Plage Pereire, the city's longest beach, stretches for 3 km along a pedestrian avenue that lets you alternate between the beach and rollerblading or skateboarding sessions. A skate park is nearby...

A day at the seaside without a car: you can get to Arcachon by train from Bordeaux. There are direct TER services! You can even take your bike on board.
  

The Little Nice: a beach accessible to all

Certified Handiplage and Tourism & Handicap, it's ideal for people with impaired mobility, as well as for strollers. A wooden access ramp makes it easy to reach the sand after parking your car in the free parking lot. Le Petit Nice faces the Banc d'Arguin.

It's the first ocean beach after the Pilat Dune and the Arcachon Basin. However, the waves are calmer here than on the ocean front. It's an ideal beach for a family day out! You can enjoy picnic areas or opt for a nearby restaurant at lunchtime.
  

Biscarrosse: surf spots or tranquil lake beaches

Biscarrosse is one of the largest towns in the Landes region, sandwiched between the forest and the ocean. Here, surfers love to tackle the big ocean waves. But if you prefer less rough water, then opt for the beaches of the Biscarrosse Lake. There are 5 beaches in all, so the choice is yours! 

• The central beach: probably the busiest. It's easy to get to by bike, as it runs alongside the Vélodyssée.

• The south and north beaches: less frequented than the central beach, these are still great spots to admire the ocean waves and their surfers!

• The Vivier beach: the sandy beach is reached after a ten-minute walk through the dunes and pine trees. Picnic areas make for a comfortable lunch.

• The beaches of Maguide and Navarosse on the edge of the lake. No surfers on the horizon, just pedalos, windsurfers and boats. Children will love the nearby games and slides, as well 

Une journée au bord de l’eau sans emprunter la voiture : c’est possible en allant à Biscarosse depuis Bordeaux en bus avec la compagnie Blablacar. Les trajets sont directs (2h environ) !

A day at the water's edge without a car: it's possible by taking the Blablacar bus to Biscarosse from Bordeaux. Journeys are direct (approx. 2 hours)!

Contis: a family beach

The central beach of this seaside resort has it all. Before reaching it, you'll pass a few independent shops where you can buy games for the kids, a surfboard or some trendy clothes. The beach itself is easily accessible. In particular, people with reduced mobility can ask the lifeguards on site for a tiralo to enjoy a swim.

Located at the foot of the dunes, this beach is an ideal family destination! To round off your day in style, visit one of the restaurants located at the entrance to the beach.

Soulac: a Médoc beach steeped in history!

The beaches of this Médoc town have been awarded the "Pavillon Bleu" label, a symbol of exemplary environmental quality. So don't hesitate to put your towel down on the fine sand next to a charming little town. Once you've admired the lovely villas of Soulac, you can head for the ocean on one of the town's beaches: central beach, Amélie, Olives or Naïades. And on an unusual and historic note, come and discover the Atlantic Wall. This is the complex of bunkers built by the German army on French beaches during the Second World War.

Jean-Paul Lescorce, a guide specializing in the history of these fortifications, will take you on a tour of this historic heritage, which is particularly present in Soulac. (Morning visits on request. Call 06 41 88 98 66 - voice call. No SMS).

A day at the seaside without a car: it's possible by train from Bordeaux to Soulac. There are direct TER services! You can even take your bike on board.
   

Ocean beaches: the beauty of the Atlantic...and its dangers!

When you first discover ocean waves, you're tempted to dive in with complete innocence. However, the dangers of these marine forces should not be underestimated. Particularly when it comes to the natural phenomenon of baïnes, which is responsible for many drowning accidents every year. 

WHAT IS A BAÏNE?

It's a deep basin framed by sandbanks. When the ocean is still a long way off, the baïnes look like pleasant natural pools on the beach. And when they are covered by the ocean, they attract us with their lack of waves and apparent calm. However, baïnes have the power to quickly and easily draw us away from the edge of the beach, as they provoke underwater currents. And when you want to get back to your towel, there's no turning back. 

HOW DO YOU REACT IF YOU'RE CAUGHT IN A BAY?

Above all, it's essential to swim on supervised beaches. But if, unfortunately, you find yourself in the middle of a bay, don't try to get back to the beach by turning around. If you do, you'll be facing the baïne current, which is impossible to swim against. Swim parallel to the beach until you leave the current. Then let the waves take you back to the shore.

ADVICE AND INFORMATION ON THE DANGERS OF BAYES

Parking: parking lot occupancy in real time

Consulter la carte pour connaitre le taux de remplissage des parkings des plages du Grand Crohot, du Porge de Lacanau et de Carcans, en temps réel et en prédictif. A consulter pour profiter de la plage en toute sérénité.