Best beaches in Normandy

[PersisFord]

Hi everyone, I'm really looking for a holiday recommendation.

For various reasons we dont have much holiday this year - 6 days in total - and I really want to go to France because I love it. I spent all my childhood summers in Brittany but even with a ferry it takes such a long time to get to I would rather save that until we have a bit more time. We've got Eurostar tickets and I'd really like not much more than a 5 hour drive the other side.

I feel like I've driven through Normandy a lot but have never stayed there. I would really like a beach, ideally where we could swim, body board, have a surf lesson....with clean water and a lifeguard. Otherwise I'm completely relaxed because I will be happy just pottering round the hypermarche and insisting on speaking my bad French to everyone.

Is there anywhere that would fit my requirements?

What, are you taking the Eurostar to Paris or Lille and then hiring a car?? Or did you mean Eurotunnel?

I know places like l'Etretat, Cabourg and Honfleur are very popular ( but I haven't been, so why am I even bothering chipping in 😆).

What about the Belgian coast north of Dunkirk?

I'm surprised that your plan is more time effective than taking the ferry from Portsmouth to St Malo though - isn't it just a 5/6 hour crossing? (Although to be fair I don't know where you're coming from in the UK).

Did you know Brittany Ferries do really good 5 day deals?

Touville sur Mer has lifeguards, a surf school and clean water. It’s a really family friendly beach and the town itself is lovely.

Houlgate, Deauville, Calbourg all lovely. We went three years in a row for similar reasons. Heading south this year as we have more time but those beaches are big and lovely and nice towns. Deauville is more upmarket than the others. Lots of parisians.

I haven’t been and it’s not Normandy, but one place we were looking at was le touquet.
it’s a bit concretey on the beach front, but the actual beach itself is nice I think.
Mrs Macron has a holiday home there so must be ok!?

Cabourg / Les Dives are nice, walkable, and family friendly. Even easier if you get the Portsmouth - Caen ferry as 30 mins away. We had a lovely hols there once and are planning on returning. Further east you could do Arromanches area. You do get a few Brits of a certain age there reliving WW2 glories which is not to my taste, but there are some genteel hotels and spas. And beaches of course. You can also get to Bayeux for a day trip which is lovely. Go for it!

Ooh thanks everyone! I do indeed mean Eurotunnel (it's been a long day!).

Perhaps I should look again at the ferries - we are really close to the eurotunnel terminal and my childhood memories of the ferry are seasickness and petrol fumes so I gave them only a cursory lool really.....

Thanks for the recommendations! Off to Google!

You can't be terribly far from Newhaven, with a ferry to Dieppe then.

My view on the Cote Opale and the D Day beaches and general landscape around Cherbourg: bit meh, not a patch on Brittany. Unless you're massively into the WW2 stuff.

My view on St Malo and the surrounding area: ❤