10 French Vacation Places The French Love That Are Worth Visiting
When French families take time off in summer, they don’t all flock to Nice or Paris. Many head to places with quieter beaches, small-town markets, and landscapes they grew up visiting.
For foreign travelers, these places aren’t always on the radar, but some of them should be. Here are 10 destinations where the French go on holiday, and why they might also work for you.
1. Île de Ré (Charente-Maritime)
This Atlantic island fills up with French families each summer, especially Parisians escaping the city. Most people get around by bike, and the landscape is flat enough for everyone.
White stone villages, oyster shacks, and quiet pine forests replace resorts and loud nightlife. Foreign travelers often miss it because it’s not on the Riviera, but it’s easy to reach via La Rochelle and perfect for anyone looking for a slow, local rhythm.
It’s also well set up for short-term rentals and seaside picnics.
2. Cassis (Bouches-du-Rhône)
Locals from Marseille and Aix-en-Provence head to Cassis to get out of the city without going far. It’s a small port town wedged between dramatic cliffs and turquoise coves.
The Calanques National Park begins right there, and boat tours or hiking trails take you to remote swimming spots.
Cassis isn’t overrun with tourists like the larger towns along the Riviera. It’s scenic, walkable, and full of small restaurants that stay open late.
For travelers, it works as a calm base with excellent day trip options.
3. Annecy (Haute-Savoie)
Annecy’s old town sits along a bright blue lake at the edge of the Alps. French travelers love it for its clean air, bike paths, and mountain backdrop. It’s a top getaway spot for locals from Lyon or Geneva.
For visitors from abroad, it’s one of the easiest Alpine destinations to enjoy without needing hiking boots. The lake is swimmable, boats run regularly, and there’s a surprising amount of life in the narrow alleys – cheese shops, bakeries, and markets.
You can see a lot without a car, especially if you’re staying near the lakefront.
4. Cap Ferret (Gironde)
Bordeaux families skip Arcachon and head across the bay to Cap Ferret. It’s quieter, has no high-rise hotels, and the local vibe leans toward striped shirts, rosé wine, and beach bikes.
You can eat oysters at waterside cabanes, walk through pine forests, and reach long sandy beaches on the ocean side.
Foreign tourists overlook it because it doesn’t advertise itself. But if you’re renting a car or already in Bordeaux, it’s one of the easiest places to unwind with good seafood and no crowds.
It also stays cooler than inland France in summer.
5. Le Touquet (Pas-de-Calais)
This northern beach town is where wealthy Parisians and Lille locals escape for weekend air. You’ll see old villas, horse tracks, and wide sandy beaches that stretch for kilometers.
Le Touquet is one of the most upscale and well-known resorts on the coast. It’s been popular with Parisians for over a century and offers long beaches, a forested area with cycling paths, an indoor market, and Anglo-Norman architecture.
The weather isn’t Mediterranean, but that’s partly why it’s still French at heart. British travelers used to come by ferry or train, and they still can – it’s under two hours from Paris by TGV.
It’s also one of the few places with Anglo-French heritage and French holiday routines mixed together.
Expect long beach walks, seafood dinners, and a low-key but stylish feel.
6. Hossegor (Landes)
Surfers from across France converge here in summer, and many stay the whole season. Hossegor has waves, surf shops, and casual beach bars, but it doesn’t feel like a party town. It’s clean, organized, and full of pine-shaded roads and modernist villas.
Parisian teens come down with their parents, but there’s space for everyone.
For foreign travelers, Hossegor offers the west coast’s energy without the pressure of the Basque hotspots. The beach is massive, the town is small, and you can bike or walk everywhere.
7. Les Sables-d’Olonne (Vendée)
This is classic French family holiday territory. Locals from Nantes, Angers, and inland towns head here for the beach promenade, ice cream stands, and casual rental apartments.
The beach is central, the train station is close, and kids can play in shallow water while parents nap on rented chairs.
For international visitors, it’s a rare chance to see how French families actually holiday, without resorts or tourist menus.
You can eat at working harborside bistros, buy cheese at the market, and walk along the coast in either direction.
8. Lacanau (Gironde)
Lacanau is a surf town backed by forests, where many French kids learn to ride waves. It has a small central strip, a big beach, and lots of campsites and rental homes hidden in the trees.
Locals from Bordeaux drive out here for day trips or book long stays in summer. Foreign tourists often ignore it in favor of bigger towns, yet Lacanau is the kind of place that rewards simple plans.
Rent bikes, swim every morning, and go out for crêpes in the evening. That’s the rhythm.
9. Argelès-sur-Mer (Pyrénées-Orientales)
This beach town sits near the Spanish border and pulls in a mix of Catalan families, southern French locals, and seasonal workers.
It has a long beach lined with campsites, an old town with summer events, and access to the Albères foothills.
French travelers come for the prices, the sunshine, and the proximity to both the mountains and the sea.
For international visitors, it’s an affordable base for exploring Collioure, Banyuls, and even quick hops across the border. The food has a clear Catalan influence, and there are plenty of day hikes.
10. Île d’Oléron (Charente-Maritime)
Oléron is one of the largest French islands, but it feels slow and spread out. Families from western France have been coming here for generations.
You’ll find long beaches, low-key towns, and lots of camping grounds and bike trails. It’s less polished than Île de Ré but more spacious, with wild areas and remote lighthouses.
Foreign travelers with a car (or time to rent bikes) will find it easy to get around. Seafood is excellent, especially oysters and mussels, and the markets are very local in tone.
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Cover photo: Yves LC (CC BY-SA 3.0)