A ranking based only on photographs is not much help when you are choosing where to stay. These eight options cover different parts of Brittany and different kinds of beach day. For families specifically, our separate family-beach guide focuses more closely on supervision, facilities and convenience.
1 · BEST HIDDEN-FEELING COVE
Plage de Tahiti, Carantec
A small, sheltered sandy cove reached from the coastal path on the Carantec peninsula. The reward is the view towards Île Louët and Château du Taureau. It is a strong choice when scenery and a sense of discovery matter more than resort facilities.
Know before you go: The beach is not supervised, so families wanting lifeguards and easy facilities may prefer a more developed beach.
2 · BEST BIG NORTH-COAST BEACH
Sables-d’Or-les-Pins, Fréhel
A broad sweep of fine sand beside the 1920s resort of Sables-d’Or-les-Pins. It works particularly well for travellers combining beach time with Cap Fréhel, Fort La Latte or Dinan, and offers watersports as well as plenty of room to spread out.
Know before you go: A particularly useful north-Brittany choice for families: summer supervision and beach facilities are available.
3 · BEST FOR WHITE SAND AND TURQUOISE WATER
Plage de la Baleine, Trévignon
On the Pointe de Trévignon south of Trégunc, this long fine-sand beach combines a preserved coastal setting with strikingly clear water. It is also a watersports location when the wind gets up.
Know before you go: Good for travellers exploring southern Finistère and the coast around Concarneau and Pont-Aven.
4 · BEST BEACH WITH EVERYTHING CLOSE BY
Grande Plage, Carnac
Carnac’s main beach is two kilometres of fine sand facing south, with the resort immediately behind it. It is the opposite of a remote cove: choose it when you want a straightforward beach day with facilities, cafés and the rest of Carnac within easy reach.
Know before you go: One of the easiest beaches here to build into a family holiday rather than a one-off sightseeing stop.
5 · BEST ISLAND BEACH
Plage des Grands Sables, Île de Groix
Groix’s Grands Sables is remarkable for its broad convex shape and sand ranging through pale tones to garnet. The beach is reached as part of an island day rather than a normal driving itinerary, which is part of its appeal.
Know before you go: Make the ferry to Groix part of the plan and allow enough time to enjoy the island rather than treating the beach as a quick stop.
6 · BEST DRAMATIC BACKDROP
Plage de la Mine d’Or, Pénestin
Nearly two kilometres of beach beneath distinctive ochre cliffs make the Mine d’Or one of southern Brittany’s most recognisable coastal landscapes. It is as worthwhile for a coastal walk and the view as it is for time on the sand.
Know before you go: The cliffs are the defining feature; follow local access and safety information rather than approaching unstable cliff faces.
7 · BEST FOR A CLASSIC SEASIDE DAY
Grande Plage, Quiberon
On the more sheltered side of the Quiberon peninsula, the resort’s main beach offers fine sand, a promenade and summer family facilities. The contrast with the spectacular Côte Sauvage on the western side means the peninsula can deliver two very different coastal experiences in one day.
Know before you go: Use the beach for swimming and resort facilities; use the Côte Sauvage for scenery and walking rather than assuming every stretch is suitable for bathing.
8 · BEST FOR WILD COASTAL SCENERY
Crozon Peninsula
Crozon is less about identifying one definitive beach and more about the concentration of cliffs, coves, headlands, turquoise water and exposed Atlantic landscapes around the peninsula. Morgat makes a practical base, while the wider peninsula rewards exploring according to weather and sea conditions.
Know before you go: This is the choice for a scenic road trip. Exposed beaches can be very different from sheltered resort beaches, so check conditions locally.
HOW TO CHOOSE
Match the beach to the rest of your Brittany trip
If you are arriving in Saint-Malo, a north-coast beach can make much more sense than driving several hours to southern Brittany because a photograph looked marginally better. Arriving through Roscoff naturally opens up Finistère and Crozon, while Carnac, Quiberon and the Gulf of Morbihan work particularly well as a southern Brittany cluster.
Also check current tides, weather, bathing conditions, seasonal lifeguard arrangements, parking and local restrictions before travelling. Brittany’s coast is tidal and conditions at exposed Atlantic beaches can differ greatly from sheltered resort beaches.