THE BEST BEACH HOLIDAYS IN FRANCE

The French Riviera
The Côte d’Azur stretches languorously from Menton to Marseille, basking in year-round sunshine and brimming with aristocratic charm. The beach spots along its coastline are among the most picturesque in France: old-school Nice, artsy Antibes, A-list Cannes and sexy St Tropez where Pampelonne beach has legendary Le Club 55. Quieter stretches of sand can be found in Cavalaire-sur-Mer and Juan-les-Pins. For a real respite from the crowds you’ll have to head offshore; a short ferry ride from the Giens peninsula will bring you to Les Iles d’Or, three idyllic islands shaded by eucalyptus trees and scented by lavender. Their white-sand beaches and sleepy little villages feel a world away from the hubbub of the mainland.