If you love the sun, sand and sea then Arcachon is where your soul will find peace. The Arcachon bay covers 150 kilometers at high tide. Its coast is gorgeous and is filled with white sand. These sandy beaches in Arcachon are a total delight to spend time at.
Initially we were really confused about which beach to head to. Trust me, it is very hard to go wrong when it comes to the beaches of Arcachon. Each one provides a different view and a unique activity.
I’m going to write about some of the ones that we visited, including the best places to catch a view, the best unique activities on the beaches in Arcachon and which beach has my vote.
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Where To Stay In Arcachon
Staying in the heart of the action can get supremely costly. Arcachon is a popular holiday destination. We visited during a long weekend in France (we had no idea at the time!) and found ourselves in bumper to bumper traffic at one point. Luckily the roads clear up and once you have a parking spot, you don’t need to worry about it. As it turns out, Arcachon is big enough for everybody.
Holiday Inn Express
⭐️ Rating: 8.8/10 (3,629 Reviews) Price: $120 per night 📍Location: 9 Avenue de Binghamton, La Teste-de-Buch Details: Read more on booking.com now!
Our pick for accommodation was the Holiday Inn Express in Arcachon. It is located a short drive away from most beaches, has amazing rooms and even has free parking. In fact, the parking lot has full security so you don’t have to worry one bit.
“Comfortable beds, neat and clean room. Table with soft office chair. Breakfast was also fine. Receptionist could speak English. Good price quality ratio. All great.”
Mandy (read more reviews now!)
The room that we got was very comfortable. We had a bit of an issue when checking in because apparently they could not house two kids in the room. BUT they were very helpful and got us a room which would suit us better so there was no problem there.
The breakfast wasn’t anything to brag about. Hot croissants, fresh fruits, coffee and a few other things filled us up before we headed out to the beach.
Best Beaches In Arcachon
With three whole in the area, it is safe to say that we really explored the beaches in Arcachon. This area was exactly what we needed to destress and recuperate! Here are some of our favorite spots.
1. Plage d’Arcachon
Plage d’Arcachon is the most popular spot among the beaches in Arcachon.
There are two beaches in Arcachon with very similar names. They are basically extensions of each other. Plage d’Arcachon is the main beach. It is always bustling, full of people and a lot of fun if you don’t mind crowds.
The main city area is also here so you can wander around the shops. The beach itself is very wide with plenty of soft white sand. There is a tree lined promenade with plenty of seating space even when the tourists pour in.
The beach also has all the necessary facilities that you could want including toilets and changing rooms. If viewpoints are something that you are looking for, you will find board walks here that will offer you some spectacular views. There are even boat rides that you could choose to head out on.
2. Plage Arcachon
Plage Arcachon is an extension of the Plage d’Arcachon. This beach is really pretty. It houses more upscale restaurants and resorts so if you are looking for a meal in the area, know that it is pricier than the usual fare.
3. Plage des Arbouiers
Plage des Arbouiers is another great beach. The issue with this beach is that the parking can get pretty pricey and so can the food in the area. One of the biggest attractions in the area is the suspended dining experience.
I’m not kidding. You can sit at a table that is hoisted high up in the air while you dine! Not my cup of tea but hey it may be something that you may like to do!
Kite surfing is another popular activity here. Let’s not forget about all the surfers who head out to enjoy the waves.
4. Dune du Pilat
You can’t miss these iconic beaches in Arcachon near the Dune du Pilat.
Dune du Pilat is one of the most famous attractions in Arcachon. Not everyone connects the dunes with the beach but at the bottom of the dunes are some really nice sandy beaches. These beaches aren’t very crowded largely because you have to put in the effort to trek down them and to trek back up.
If you have walked through any dunes before you will know that it is fun but it does take a good deal of effort. Shawn and I were really tempted but at the end we chickened out because the kids were really tired and the mid day heat was starting to get to us.
5. Plage de La Hume
Plage de La Hume is one of the beaches in Arcachon.
Plage de La Hume was my favorite beach. It may not have been the best in terms of quality of sand and coast BUT it had an enormous kids play area which meant that our kids were occupied.
Another great thing about the beach was that it had a lot of shaded picnic tables and benches that you could sit at. This was great for me as I don’t like the afternoon sun. If you have a toddler and find that the play area is a bit advanced, there is also a smaller playground which is more toddler friendly.
If you want a more secluded area then just walk along the coast and you will find a lot of shaded nooks. In essence, this is one of the beaches in Arcachon that has something for everyone. There is even a little restaurant there if you just want to chill. Did I mention that there is a lot of parking and that it is free?
6. Plage Daniel Meller
Plage Daniel Meller is another great beach. It doesn’t have much in terms of shade but it has some lovely white sand. This meant that we had to escape to a shaded spot during the mid day. We didn’t mind it too much because we just moved on to rest indoors and headed back out in the evening.
The thing about the beaches in Arcachon is that you just can’t go wrong with any of them. They are all clean and have amazing sand. We spent almost all our time on these sandy shores.
Let us know which are your favorite beaches in Arcachon. Just drop us a comment below.