10 Best Nudist Beaches in France

Levant Island (Île de Levant) is a mostly uninhabited island off the southern coast of France, not far from Toulon. It’s only ‘mostly’ uninhabited because, while a small part of the island is home to a naturist resort named Heliopolis, the remaining 90% of it is a military missile testing facility.

The top beach on Levant Island is Plage de Grottes. Although it's actually in the military part of the island, a special allowance has been made, giving naturists access. It's a modest little cove, with lovely sand and great snorkeling. However, the simple fact that the publicly accessible part of the island is entirely naturist, meaning nudity is mandatory instead of optional, earns it a place among the best nudist beaches in France.

Cap d’Agde Naturist Beach is one part of a larger naturist resort in the south-coast town of Agde, near Montpellier. You can find around 22 km of sandy beaches in the area, many of which welcome nudists. The entire city has a very free-living, hedonistic reputation and is considered the world capital of nudism, meaning you’ll also find a good number of shops and eateries that allow nude customers.

It’s worth mentioning that Cap d’Agde’s beautiful beaches and great weather attract all manner of tourists in the summer, making it a pretty popular place. As such, privacy is going to be relatively hard to find. If you stick close to the nudist resorts, you'll at least be surrounded by like-minded people.

Tahiti Beach (Plage de Tahiti) isn’t actually on the Pacific island it takes its name from, though it looks like it could be. Located just 5 km south of Saint-Tropez, it's part of the larger Pampelonne Beach and among the most famous nudist beaches in France.

The beach’s popularity started with it being the filming location for the 1956 movie Et Dieu… Créa La Femme (And God Created Woman), starring Brigitte Bardot. Nudists started arriving in greater numbers in the 1960s and, following a few fights with the authorities, the beach eventually became officially ‘clothing optional’. Being near Saint-Tropez, it has an exclusive atmosphere and the eateries and beach clubs in the area are pretty pricy. The soft white sands and clear seas make it worth it, though.

Linguizzetta Beach is one of the longest nude beaches in the world, stretching for an impressive 4 km along the east coast of Corsica. It isn’t divided up into a nude and non-nude section, either – it’s nude all the way from the naturist resort just north of the Étang de Diane lagoon until you reach the little town of Bravone.

This entire area of Corsica is pretty open-minded about naturism, so several nearby restaurants and bars welcome nude patrons. The locals are also generally accepting of this way of life. It's worth noting, however, that there are very few facilities along the beach itself.

Grande Cosse Beach (Plage Grande Cosse) is one of the longest nude beaches in France. It offers a range of outdoor adventures beyond just sunbathing. The exact boundary between Grande Cosse and neighboring Pissevaches Beach – which is also nude-friendly – is a little difficult to determine, making it hard to figure out the exact length. With all the beaches combined, though, it’s around 4 km.

Located just east of Narbonne, on France’s south coast, the soft sands at La Grande Cosse are backed by a variety of landscapes. You can enjoy fantastic views of the Clape Hills or explore the extensive marshland, lakes and vineyards in the area.

Leucate Port Beach (Plage Naturiste Port Leucate) is one of the more approachable nude beaches in France, making it a good choice for first-timers. All naturist beaches have strong easygoing vibes, but the nude-friendly section of Leucate Port Beach is separated from other sections by channels into the lagoon behind it, so there is more privacy without having to drive far from town.

As the name suggests, the beach is pretty close to the port. However, it’s also in front of a couple of resort villages that are specifically for naturists. They have their own restaurants and facilities. The beach itself has a lifeguard station and the sea here is pretty calm and shallow, making it a good family-friendly option, too.

Montalivet Naturist Beach (Plage Naturiste de Montalivet) is a relatively small section of a very long beach along France's west coast. Located near Bordeaux, it is in front of the world's first naturist vacation resort. It opened in 1950 – 3 years before the International Naturist Federation was formed and held its first-ever meeting here – and is still a popular destination today.

The beach itself is very pleasant, with soft sands and a good choice of nearby facilities like bars and restaurants. However, given that it fronts the Atlantic Ocean, waves can be a little rough – great for surfing rather than bathing.

Arnaoutchot Naturist Beach (Plage Naturiste d’Arnaoutchot) is part of a very long, straight, golden-sand stretch of France's southwest coast. Being fairly close to the Spanish border, the weather and scenery here are both pleasant, making this a great place to explore the great outdoors in the nude.

The beach is very close to a naturist camp ground, making it a convenient place for long strolls along the shore during your stay. Being buffeted by the Atlantic Ocean, bathing is possible but rather challenging. There is also a 45-hectare pine forest to explore further inland. The choice of nearby restaurants and shops is extremely limited, so bring your own snacks.

La Redoute Beach (Plage de La Redoute) is one of the very few clothing-optional beaches along France's northern coast. It’s located in Merville-Franceville-Plage, across the estuary from the port town of Ouistreham. The beach is divided into 3 sections – a nudist section, a kite-surfing section, and a bathing section with lifesavers. Sadly, as the English Channel has some vicious currents, bathing in the nudist section is strictly prohibited.

The beach itself is dotted with dunes, making it relatively easy to find a spot of privacy, even in such a public place. There’s a choice of shops and restaurants behind the sand, along with some historical sites left over from WWII, including a coastal bunker.