A surfer on the ocean with the breathtaking sunset in the sky in the backgroundA surfer on the ocean with the breathtaking sunset in the sky in the background
©A surfer on the ocean with the breathtaking sunset in the sky in the background|wirestock / freepik

The best surfing spots

in the South
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Spoiler alert: the Atlantic coast isn’t the only place to surf! With your board under your arm, your hair all salty with the sea breeze, your eyes looking out to the open sea… the surf attitude still has that undeniable classiness on the Mediterranean spots. So if you want to put your wetsuit on or work on your backside, here is our selection of surfing spots in the south of France.

On the Côte Bleue

Surf style from Carro to Sausset-les-Pins

Looking or the ideal place for family surfing holidays in France? Head for the Pointe de Carro, south of Martigues. At the mouth of the harbour, the south-facing Arnettes spot will be a delight to both newcomers and seasoned surfers. Large swells rear their heads, particularly at the end of the year. Oh, by the way, do you like fresh local fish? Make the most of being in the area to take a stroll to the fishmarket in Carro! A little further on, the Corniche spot in Sausset-les-Pins is ready to welcome you. With its magnificent reef of pebbles and its waves which are sometimes hollow and sometimes tubular, it’s a surfers’ paradise. And the little extra: there’s a lovely walk along the spot where the curious stop and watch.  You can actually reach the different villages on the Côte Bleue with the TER which runs along the coast and offers a wide open view of the  horizon. For example, you can stop at the station in Carry-le-Rouet to discover the Côte Bleue underwater trail which can be reached from the Plage du Rouet beach. And to get advice from local surfers, we recommend you visit the surfing shops and schools on the coast!

In Marseille

Put down your football, and get out your board

Surf in Marseille ? Yes, yes, you can! Fans will even tell you that you can surf 100 days a year, from October to May. Note that the south-westerly swells in winter are the best. On the Prado beach, the Bonneveine spot has the best waves. With the Mistral swells head on, it’s one of the best spots in Marseille. A piece of advice: try to cohabit with the kite surfers who are sometimes there. And for beginners, the beach at Pointe Rouge with its shore breaks is ideal for an introduction to surfing.

The Var, a temptation for surfers

Beach break

Did you know that the Var is full of surfing spots? Head for the Les Lecques spot in Saint-Cyr-sur-Mer with its big beach of over a kilometre and a pleasant bay opposite La Ciotat. It’s ideal for all levels with its southerly waves. And just to convince you that bit more, some people consider this spot to be the prettiest pointbreak in the French Mediterranean. A little extra: at the southern end of the beach you’ll see the Musée gallo-romain de Tauroentum, an exceptional site built on the remains of a Roman villa, in the middle of a beautiful pine forest with a view over the sea. Next we’re off to the Bonnegrâce beach in Six-Fours-les-Plages, an excellent haunt for riders. While you’re in the Baie de Sanary, why not stroll around the harbour in Sanary-sur-Mer, admire the pointus boats and maybe even enter the Musée de la Plongée. The Brutal Beach spot is also highly appreciated when the Mistral is blowing. Here, the waves are easy, the spot is accessible but often packed. A few kilometres on, the Bandol spot near the Anse de Renécros, will delight bodyboarders. Another option: the big beach at Le Lavandou. Calm and peaceful in summer for swimmers, it starts up and is revealed in the autumn with waves that can reach 3 metres. And if you like surfing AND contemporary art, you’re not far from the villa owned by the NeoImpressionost painter Théo van Rysselberghe, which is now a centre for contemporary art.

Sur la Côte-d’Azur

The red carpet between Cannes and Nice

Among the most beautiful surfing spots in Cannes, the Palm Beach spot is an absolute must. In the Baie de Cannes, on the Gazaniaire beach, it’s really the best for enjoying good sessions in a heavenly setting. With its southerly swell and its hollow or tubular waves, the spot is accessible to both beginners and seasoned surfers. You’ll be able to see Fort Royal on L’île Sainte-Marguerite, the Abbaye de Lérins and a fascinating underwater ecomuseum. Not far away, the Aerospatial spot in Cannes-la-Bocca offers higher waves along the jetty. Head for Saint-Laurent-du-Var at the mouth of the River Var, where several spots in estuaries offer nice waves. But be wary of strong currents. If the weather conditions are not good (and even if they are) since you’re near Cros-de-Cagnes, visit its little fishing harbour which was particularly active in the 1920s and 1930s and see the fishermen bringing home their catch! And for those who would like to surf in the footsteps of Brice de Nice, surfing isn’t exactly the flagship activity on the Promenade (we already knew that!)… You’ll have to be patient and wait for the rare optimal conditions.

Find your spot