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Best beaches in Provence during late summer

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I'm taking my younger brother and step-sister to the UK and France this coming August. The last leg of our journey will be in the Provençal departments of Vaucluse and Bouches-du-Rhône from Tuesday, August 29 through Saturday, September 2; we return stateside Sunday, September 3. Do folks have any recommendations for beaches between Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer (near Arles) and Hyères (near Toulon)? The kids and I have discussed hiking to the calanques in Cassis or taking the ferry to Marseille's Plage de Saint-Estève, but we aren't familiar with the beach scene in Provence. We'd prefer quieter, sandy beaches with that quintessential blue water but understand that such a thing is pretty hard to find nowadays.

Anyway, please advise. Thank you in advance for your time and consideration.

Posted by
7301 posts

I would advise against hiking to the Calanques in summer, because fresh water is not available and shade is in short supply. Except the beach at Sormiou, there is not much sand either!

However, if you stay in Marseille, plage de Saint Estève on the Frioul islands is a very good call, but do not attempt to go on a Saturday as it will be very crowded.

Other good sandy options include, from east to west:

  • Almanarre beach south of Hyères
  • Les Lecques beach in Saint-Cyr
  • Sainte Croix beach near Martigues, gets very crowded with people mostly from Aix at the weekend though.
  • Piémanson beach south of Arles: very wild, water not as blue though. Nearby La Palissade nature preserve is worth a little hike.

The beach in Les Saintes Maries de la Mer is nothing to write home about. You have to hike east to make it worthwhile; I do not recommend it.

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