Heading to the seaside on a whim, without renting a car? A sweet dream of escape that is well and truly accessible to Parisians in less than three hours by train. Around the capital, several sites can be reached by rail, before boarding a bus or walking for a few minutes. Zoom in on these sandy beaches near Paris to swim in an ocean of happiness.
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Cabourg beach: 3 hours 15 minutes from Paris (train + bus and walking)
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Voted the most beautiful beach in Calvados***, the Cabourg site is located on the Côte Fleurie in Normandy. An emblematic destination on the French coast, this fine sand beach stretches for almost 4 km.
It is adjoined by the Marcel Proust promenade, built a few meters above the water level, which allows you to admire the Belle Époque villas and the hills of the region. 3.6 km long, it is said to be the longest pedestrian promenade in Europe, according to the Normandy Tourist Office.
How to get to Cabourg beach from Paris, without a car
2 hours 15 minutes by train to Caen
From Paris Saint-Lazare, you can reach Caen in an average of 2 hours 15 minutes by train (1 hour 55 minutes at the shortest), by boarding a Nomad Train, part of the Normandy mobility network. Every day, 18 journeys connect the two cities, from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
1 hour bus and walk to Cabourg beach
From Caen train station, take the 111R bus for 40 minutes to the Plage stop – or Cabourg for those who want to visit the city. It’s then a short twenty-minute walk.
Please note: from Caen, the journey takes 20 minutes by taxi.
The weather in Cabourg in summer
- In July: 14°C / 23°C, seven days of rain on average*.
- In August: 14°C / 22°C, seven days of rain on average.
- Average water temperature in Cabourg: 16.35°C in July, 18.1°C in August**.
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Deauville beach: 3 hours journey from Paris (train + walking)
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Deauville is legendary. It is, quite simply, the most searched-for small town in France on the Internet***. If the destination of the Normandy Côte Fleurie is famous for its American Film Festival, its chic atmosphere and its casino, its fine sand beach is not to be outdone.
2 km long, it pleases both strollers and water sports enthusiasts. Its legendary Planches, an elegant wooden promenade that borders the beach, offers pedestrians a choice route to admire its famous beach huts and multi-coloured parasols.
How to get to Deauville beach from Paris, without a car
2 hours 45 minutes by train to Deauville-Trouville
Going swimming without a car in Deauville? Easy! Parisians reach the Normandy city in 2 hours 45 minutes by train on average, or 2 hours 07 minutes for the fastest journeys. Every day, nine trains connect the Normandy city and the capital, from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. The journey is made by direct Nomad train, from Paris Saint-Lazare to the Trouville-Deauville stop.
20 minutes walk to Deauville beach
From the train station, it takes just 20 minutes on foot (or 25 minutes by bus) to reach Deauville beach.
Please note: from Deauville-Trouville station, the journey takes three minutes by taxi.
The weather in Deauville in summer
- In July: 12°C / 21°C, seven days of rain on average.
- In August: 14°C / 23°C, seven days of rain on average.
- Average water temperature in Deauville: 16.5°C in July, 17.8°C in August.
Crotoy beach: 2 hours from Paris (train + historic train, bus or bike)
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Nestled in the heart of the Bay of Somme (Somme, Hauts-de-France), Crotoy beach is popular for its vast expanse of fine sand and picturesque landscapes. A refuge for many species of migratory birds, it allows walkers to observe nature at the whim of the tides, which regularly change the panorama.
But beware of those who would like to swim in its cool water! Swimming is prohibited in Le Crotoy since 2018, due to insufficient water quality according to ARS Hauts-de-France.
Gourmands can console themselves by devouring seafood specialties, after visiting the fishing port and walking along the beach of Crotoy. Chef Pascal Lefebvre, from the Crotellois gourmet restaurant l’Auberge de la Marine, notably revealed his recipe for oysters in lemon verbena jelly and grated cauliflower.
How to get to Crotoy beach from Paris, without a car
2 hours 15 minutes by TER to Noyelles-sur-Mer
1 h 45. This is the fastest journey time to connect Paris Gare du Nord to Noyelles-sur-Mer by TER. On average, the journey takes 2 h 15, according to the SNCF. 11 trains connect the two cities every day, from 6 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
A historic train, bus or bike to Crotoy
From the station, aspiring swimmers can then choose to:
- take bus 709 to Le Crotoy stop in 15 minutes
- board the historic Baie de Somme Railway train to Crotoy station. The former Réseau des Bains de Mer links the two towns in a Belle Époque atmosphere in 25 minutes, at 25 km/h. It also stops at the seaside resorts of Saint-Valery-sur-Somme and Cayeux-sur-Mer.
- get to Le Crotoy by bike in 30 minutes, pedaling on the cycle paths.
Please note: from Noyelles-sur-Mer, the journey takes nine minutes by taxi.
The weather in Le Crotoy in summer
- In July: 13°C/23°C, eight days of rain on average
- In August: 13°C/23°C, eight days of rain on average
Average water temperature in Le Crotoy: 16.3°C in July, 18°C in August.
* Weather data was collected from NOAA.
** Average water temperatures were collected from Cabaigne.net.
***According to a Holidu.fr ranking based on Internet searches and popularity on Instagram, 2023.
****According to a Holidu.fr ranking based on Google Maps, 2022.
