7 Best Beaches Near Bordeaux By Train Or Bus!

Best Beaches Near Bordeaux By Public Transport

First things first, you need to know that Bordeaux is not on the beach. It should be obvious just by looking at the map, but I often read that Bordeaux is a beach destination.

I have lived here for some time now, and I can assure you that Bordeaux is not a quaint beachside town. 

However, there are many beaches close to Bordeaux, France, which is always great news if you’re backpacking Europe in summer.

That said, the nearest beach to Bordeaux is about one hour away by train, next to Arcachon. 

1. Arcachon Beaches

Arcachon is the most popular beach town close to Bordeaux. It is my go-to for getting to beaches near Bordeaux by train.

Beaches in Arcachon are sandy, long, and with shallow water. When the tide is low, you can walk for meters without water getting over your knees.

You will quickly notice that all of the beaches in Arcachon look pretty similar. The difference is in the surroundings. 

Because the beaches are located inside Arcachon Bay, the water gets pleasantly warm during the summer.

Arcachon comes alive in the summertime, so you should consider spending some time in the city after a day at the beach. Check out the Arcachon website for the event calendar. 

How to get to Arcachon beaches?

Arcachon is easy to reach from Bordeaux, as a train departs every hour. It takes just under an hour to get to Arcachon from Bordeaux. That makes it the closest beach town.

Book in advance to ensure you get the best prices! 

Plage Pereire

This is my favorite beach near Bordeaux.

Since the water and sand are the same along the coast, what makes this beach my favorite is the surroundings.

There are no boats in the sea, and there is some natural shade in the woods behind the beach. The sand is soft, and the water is calm.

Just like other beaches in Arcachon, it is a great beach even for people who are not good swimmers!

A disadvantage is that it is far from the train station, so if you do not have a bike, it will take roughly 40 minutes to reach it. It can be discouraging in the summer heat. 

Plage Thiers

This beach is my favorite for a quick dip due to its position in the city center.

You can be at this central beach within 10 minutes of descending the train. 

The sand is clean and soft, and the water is calm. The water is not super shallow, but it depends on the tides. It is a good beach for families and non-swimmers as well! 

There is no natural shade on this beach. However, it is close to the city, so you can find refuge from the scorching midday sun in one of the many cafes and restaurants in the city. 

2. Dune du Pilat beach

Plage de la Corniche at the foot of Dune du Pilat is the most unique beach in the Bordeaux area. It is embedded between the sea and the biggest sand dune in Europe.

There is no natural shade on this beach, so make sure to avoid the midday sun and apply sunscreen.

After a day of swimming, climb up the dune and enjoy a stunning sunset view. You have an unobstructed ocean view on one side and a pine forest on the other. Dune du Pilat is a very popular spot for a picnic while watching the sunset.

How to get to Dune du Pilat Beach?

The best way to reach this beach from Bordeaux is to take a train to Arcachon, and then bike to the Dune. It is a 10 km bike ride along the Arcachon coastline.

If you do not want to bike, you can take a local bus 1 to the beach. If you are looking into that option, keep in mind the bus departs only a handful of times a day.

Check the Bus 1 schedule on the Baia bus website.

3. Lacanau Océan beaches

Lacanau Océan is located on the Atlantic Ocean coast, almost parallel to Bordeaux.

If you decide to visit Lacanau for a beach day, you can choose between Atlantic coast beaches and lake beaches, as there is a big lake next to the city. 

Beaches on the Atlantic coast of Lacanau are similar to beaches in Cap Ferret, long and sandy with an unobstructed sea view. 

You will feel like you are in the movie as the beaches are stunning!

You can choose between a couple of beaches along the coastline, but truthfully they are pretty similar.

However, you should keep in mind that the ocean is freezing, so don’t be surprised to see that most people are just standing in the sea or walking around in the shallow water.

I’m not even joking; I went there in August, and it was like doing a cold plunge! That is why many people opt for Lacanau Lake instead.

This area is also well-known for surfing!

There are many surfing schools and shops where you can rent surfing equipment if you want to try it out.

How to get to Lacanau beaches from Bordeaux?

The only way to reach Lacanau from Bordeaux by public transport is by regional bus 702.

The bus departs from the Bordeaux train station and stops at the lake beach in Lacanau and the ocean beach.

The trip takes about 2 hours, and the return ticket is around 5€.

4. Cap Ferret beaches

Cap Ferret beaches, on the Atlantic coast, are the most glorious beaches near Bordeaux.

25 kilometers of sandy beaches stretch as far as you can see.

How to get to Cap Ferret beaches from Bordeaux?

There are two ways to reach Cap Ferret beaches from Bordeaux by public transport. 

The first alternative is to take a train to Arcachon, and then a boat shuttle across Arcachon Bay to Cap Ferret.

On average, you should budget around 40€ per person for this trip. 

The boat shuttle takes around 30 minutes to cross Arcachon Bay. The boat departs from the Thiers Pier. You can check the up-to-date schedule and prices on their website here. 

Another alternative is to take a regional bus 412 from Bordeaux to Cap Ferret.

The bus trip will take roughly 2 hours and will cost around €5 for a return ticket.

There are not many daily departures, so make sure to check the BUS 412. Just write 412 in the search bar, and the schedule will show up.

Plage des Dunes

It is hard to choose among the amazing beaches on the Ferret peninsula.

I visited Plage des Dunes as it was the closest one on the west coast to the city center of Cap Ferret. The beach is located less than a 15-minute walk from the Lighthouse of Cap Ferret. 

It is a non-surveilled beach, and strong waves are common. I have seen many surfers around as well! If you are not a good swimmer, I would not suggest trying to swim if the waves are strong.

However, I found the wilderness of the beach to contribute to its beauty. 

If you are looking for a more family-friendly beach in Cap Ferret, check out this article to see all the beaches in Cap Ferret. 

Don’t be surprised if the ocean is freezing even in summer!

Swimming Lakes In Bordeaux

There are two lake beaches in Bordeaux.

One is in the north – Plage du Lac and the other one is in the south – Lac du Bègles.

Both lake beaches are accessible by public transport.

5. Bordeaux Plage du Lac 

Bordeaux-Lac Beach is a sandy lake beach with a supervised swimming area.

If you want to spend the whole day at the beach, you will be happy to know that there is a lot of natural shade around the lake. Tall pine trees offer perfect shelter from the strong midday sun. 

While the lake is huge, swimming is only allowed inside the small surveillance area, and lifesavers will whistle at you if you try to swim outside during surveillance hours.

How to get there?

The best way to get to Plage du Lac is to take TRAM C from the city center and get off at the Les Aubiers stop.

From there, you will have to walk for roughly 5 minutes to reach the lake beach.

6. Lac du Bègles or Bègles plage

Bègles plage is a smaller swimming lake in the south of Bordeaux. 

And by smaller, I mean really small.

The surveilled area, inside which you are allowed to swim, is tiny. The water is up to your shoulders at the deepest end.

You won’t get to work on your swimming skills on this lake, but it is a nice place to cool off during hot summer days!

When I lived in Bègles, I used to come here every day after work because I grew up in a coastal town in Croatia, and you have to go to the beach in summer.

Bègles Plage is also a sandy lake beach, and there is a lot of natural shade around the lake. 

How to get there?

The best way to reach Bègles Plage from the city center of Bordeaux is by BUS 73.

The bus will bring you right to the lake as you descend at the stop Bègles Plage.

7. Public Pools in Bordeaux

Finally, there are 4 pools in Bordeaux open to the public where you can swim year-round. The pools are located in different areas of the city, so you can choose the most convenient. 

Piscine Judaïque is located in the city center of Bordeaux in the Meriadeck neighborhood. It is easily reachable by TRAM A. 

Piscine du Grand Parc is in the Grand Parc quarter, close to Chartrons. It is a 5-minute walk from the TRAM C stop Emile Counord.

Piscine Georges Tissot is in the north of Bordeaux in the Bacalan neighborhood. The easiest way to get there from the city center of Bordeaux is by TRAM B. 

Finally, Piscine Stéhélin is a pool that might be a little complicated to get to if you stay in the city center. It is located in the western part of the city, close to Merignac.

The pools have different working hours. Some might be closed during lunch hours and specific days of the week, so make sure to check the opening hours before going.

You can check the working hours of all Bordeaux pools.

Unlike the lakes and beaches, pools in Bordeaux are not free. The fees differ depending on whether you are a Bordeaux resident or not.

Public pool in Bègles

If you are staying in the south of Bordeaux, it might be more convenient for you to go to the Bègles pool.

While it is technically another town, the Bègles pool is actually the closest one to the Train station!

To reach Bègles pool, you take TRAM C and get off at the Stade Musard station. 

How To Get To The Beach From Bordeaux?

It would be easy to answer this question by saying take a car and drive west to the coast of Arcachon. 

However, you can also use public transport to get to the beach from Bordeaux.

Your public transport options are the train or the regional bus.

Bordeaux To Beach By Train

The train is the best way to reach beaches in the Arcachon area.

Train prices differ depending on when you book your ticket and if you are eligible for any discounts. You can book the train tickets on the SNCF website or their app. 

Bordeaux To Beach By Bus

The regional bus is cheaper than the train, which is great if you are trying to save money.

It will also be your only option if you want to visit beaches in the Lacanau area since the train does not go there.

However, departures are very scarce, and you will probably have only one or two viable alternatives for a day trip.

A return ticket will cost you around €4.50, and it is the same for all destinations. If you are under 28, you are also eligible for a youth discount.

Check up-to-date prices on the Transports en Nouvelle Aquitaine website.