Plage Notre-Dame, Porquerolles, France

Plage Notre-Dame is the most beautiful beach on Porquerolles, a small island off the coast of Hyères, in the south of France. The beach is about 800 metres long, with fine white sand, pine trees and clear turquoise water. In 2015 it was voted the best beach in Europe in an online poll. Porquerolles is a car-free island, and most of it is a protected natural area, part of Port-Cros National Park. This makes the beach feel wild and peaceful.

What to See

The beach itself is the main attraction: swim in the calm turquoise water, relax on the soft sand or rest in the shade of the pine trees. The beach is sheltered from strong winds, so the sea is often calm. The path to the beach goes through pine forest and along the coast, with nice views of the sea. On the way you can stop at other beaches, such as Plage d’Argent. The small village of Porquerolles has a church, a fort and cafés around its main square.

How to Get There and Practical Information

To reach Porquerolles, take a ferry from La Tour Fondue on the Giens peninsula near Hyères. The crossing takes about 20 minutes. From the port, the beach is about 3 kilometres away. You can walk in about 40 minutes to an hour, or rent a bike in the village. The beach is free. There are no shops, cafés or toilets at the beach, so bring water, food and sun protection, and take your rubbish with you. The island is very busy in July and August, and the number of visitors may be limited on the busiest days.