We’ve been to Arcachon in Southern France several times and never had a dull moment. The bay combines incredible architecture with lovely nature. Therefore, you get the best of both worlds. In a day, you can enjoy the beach and dine at a fancy bistro. However, spending at least a night is mandatory.
Besides, you can go to Arcachon all year round. Granted, you won’t be able to bathe in the sea. At least we never do in winter! But you will be able to enjoy dramatic landscapes and a lot of space. To keep warm, all you need is proper gear and some superb local wine.
We’ve also been in the summer and loved the beach. Though French Mediterranean coast gets all the credit it deserves, Arcachon remains still a bit under the radar. At least for foreign tourists. The beach is stunning! All you need is a hat, sunscreen, and chilled wine.
Get Lost on the Streets of the Old Town
Of all the things to do in Arcachon, a walk around the Old Town is mandatory. You’ve got gardens, leafy streets, superb villas, and historic architecture to discover. There isn’t a single street that is not interesting. Take a leisure walk, get lost, and enjoy!
Arcachon is divided into 4 neighborhoods: winter, fall, spring, and summer. The center is in the summer district. The tourist office is in front of the train station. They’ve got maps. From there, walk to Roosevelt Square. Take Avenue Gambetta and zig zag all around the center.
The city’s best restaurants and shops dot the center. The Town Hall is to the left on a beautiful square. Arcachon’s market is behind. We love it! You can buy fresh produce and local specialties. Place des Marquises is next door. Locals visit the square to eat, have some wine, and socialize.
Visit the Winter Town
The Winter Town is the fanciest neighborhood in Arcachon. You will find the grandest villas here. From the train station, take Avenue Gambetta to the south. You will see the city’s synagogue from 1877. Keep walking until you reach Avenue Victor Hugo. The first mansion you will see is Villa Sigurd.
Do not rush and walk along every single street. Search for Villa Coulaine and Villa Bremontier. Both are some of the biggest and oldest mansions. Our favorite in that street is the 200 year old Villa Alexandre Dumas. Try to find Villa Chopin too. It will make you day dream.
Though the houses are fantastic, be sure to notice the ancient trees that line the streets. These are absolutely gorgeous and provided much needed shade during the summer. Look out for Fleming Square. You will recognize it from its cute gazebo in the center. If you get tired, take a break.
Enjoy the City’s Nicest Park
Mauresque Park is the nicest park in Arcachon. It’s a pretty big park between the winter and the summer neighborhoods. From the train station, take Avenue Rignauld. It’s a short walk until you see the park’s entrance. The park extends over a slope. You can climb the stairs or take the lift.
There are paths, sculptures, and lovely plants all around. Some of the nicest villas in the city face the park. Place St Paul is in the corner. Our favorite mansion is there. The massive Villa Faust is from 1864. Keep on walking and cross the Saint Paul Bridge.
You will see the Sainte Cecile observatory to your right. The tall tower from 1863 was made with recycled steel from railways. You can climb all the way to the top. Do not worry if the structure moves. It has been there for over 150 years! The views from the top are epic.
Tour the Casino d’Arcachon
The Casino d’Arcachon is considered one of the grandest in the whole of France. Even if you do not like to play, go take a look. From the train station take the Av. du General de Gaulle all the way to the end. The building is in front of you.
Though the casino faces the sea, the main entrance is through Boulevard de la Plage. It’s huge and beautiful so there’s no way you’ll miss it. The casino used to be one of the biggest Villas in Arcachon. Chateau Deganne from the 19th Century was converted into the casino in 1904.
Our favorite ice cream shop is there. Olala opens all year round. The Arcachon Congress Palace is behind the casino. It faces the beach. The city’s biggest conventions are held there. If you like sea food, we strongly recommend Restaurant Chez Pierre. Opened 50 years ago, it’s a local’s favorite.
Visit Local Churches
Arcachon is full of historic churches. The first one you will see is the St. Joan of Arc chapel. It’s a cute little temple. Continue down the Tartas road and take Lamarque de Plaisance Street. You will see the city’s grandest temple. The Notre Dame Basilica of Arcachon is the city’s cathedral.
A monk built the first temple on the site in 1522. He found a wooden statue of the virgin on the shoreline. The temple we can see today is from 1860. The statue is inside the chapel next to the basilica. If you think the church looks beautiful from the outside, wait till you get inside.
Walk 40 minutes south or take a bus to the Catholic Church of Notre Dame des Passes. The 1864 temple combines Byzantine and Tuscan architecture. Go inside and admire the frescoes. Search for the statue of the Pregnant Virgin. Saint Ferdinand Church from 1900 is in the old town, next to the port.
Spend Some Time on the Beach
We’ve been to Arcachon during the summer and loved the beach. The weather is superb, the sea blue, and the sand pure white! We’ve also been to the beach during the winter. All you need is a jacket to enjoy walking along the sea. The Arcachon Beach is fantastic all year round!
The city’s main beach is in the center, just a couple of blocks from the train station. The Grand Roue amusement park is in the middle. Walk on the jetty that divides the beach. You will see another jetty on your left. Boats to Cap Ferret and Andernos Les Bains depart from here.
The marina and the port are to the east. Some of the city’s grandest mansions face the beach. Spend some time in the marina and the port. Then continue walking along the Capitaine Allegre Street to the Plage de la pointe de l’Aiguillon. Since it’s a bit hidden, there are no crowds! Even in summer.
Hike or Bike along the Coast
Notice that the city’s main beach ends to the west, on Rue du Commandant Jean Sensevin. However, if you loop around the Boulevard de la Plage a couple of blocks you will reach Pereire Beach. Pereire Beach is a super long sandy beach that goes all along south of the bay.
The next beach is Abatilles Beach. This one is next to a park full of tall trees. Thus, it’s super quiet. You can walk or bike south for as long as you want. There are bike lanes and pedestrian paths. The next beach is Moulleau Beach. Boats to Belisaire and Cap Ferret depart from here.
You can continue walking or biking for hours. Actually, it’s only an hour walk to the Pilat Dune. Biking is even faster. Depending on the tide, some sections of the beach can be flooded. No worries, you can walk along Boulevard de la Mer. If you are tired, take a bus back to the center.
Climb the World Famous Dune du Pilat
The biggest sand dune in Europe is in Arcachon. We are talking about the one and only Dune du Pilat. Its 1.7 miles (2.7 kilometers) long, 1600 feet (500 meters) wide, and towers 350 feet (106 meters) above sea level. It holds a mind boggling 2118880003 cubic feet (60 million cubic meters) of sand!
The best way to climb the dune is from behind. A lovely forest is behind the dune. There are paths everywhere, so you can walk across the park for hours. You will see clear signs indicating the way to the dune. It’s a short walk through the forest.
There are wooden platforms you can use to climb up. Do not rush. Stop to enjoy the views. Remember to wear a hat and sunscreen in summer. Grab a coat in winter and always carry a recycled bottle of water. Spend some time at the top. Go down directly to the beach.
Visit Cap Ferret and Its Beaches
As mentioned, Arcachon is a bay. The city, most popular beaches, and the Dune du Pilat are to the south. The entrance to the bay is a bit narrow. Cap Ferret is in front of the Le Moulleau neighborhood. From the Moulleau jetty you can take a boat to Cap Ferret.
The town is not as fancy as Arcachon but it’s got incredible nature. Check out the Notre Dame des Flots Church, a magnificent contemporary church with stained-glass windows. The Cap Ferret lighthouse is to the south. The eastern beaches face Arcachon. Our favorite is the Plage des Americains.
Walk west and cross the town. You will reach the beaches that face the open ocean. You can walk for hours on the beach. To the south is Plage de la Point on the tip. Walk north to Grand Crohot Beach and beyond. You can go directly to the center of Arcachon from the same jetty.
Spend the Night in a Palace
You have to spend at least one night in Arcachon. We usually stay at the Hotel Villa Lamartine. The historic mansion is a step away from the beach, in the heart of the city. All of the rooms come with a balcony. The delicious breakfast is served in a lovely terrace.
We love staying in old world hotels. The Grand Hotel Richelieu is from 1860. It’s on Boulevard de la Plage, next to the pier. The rooms are modern, extra plush, and feature antique furniture. The best ones have balconies with direct sea views. The service is impeccable.
If you have the money to spend, do so at the Ha(a)itza Hotel. The hotel opened in 1930. However, world famous architect Phillipe Stark re-designed this jewel some years ago. Everything is uber luxurious. It’s got a pool and an incredible spa. There’s even a Michelin starred restaurant.
How to Get to Arcachon
The closest airport to Arcachon is the one in Bordeaux. Local and international flights operate from there. Trains to Arcachon depart from the Saint Jean station in central Bordeaux. No matter where you are staying in Bordeaux a tram takes you to the station. The journey takes approximately 1 hour.
The first train leaves at 5:20 AM, and the last one at 10:00 PM. The journey is an attraction in itself, so be sure to grab a window seat. You can take your bicycle on the train. There are no direct trains from St. Emilion to Arcachon. You have to go first to Bordeaux.
Trains from Bordeaux to St. Emilion depart from the same Saint Jean Station. The journey takes approximately one hour. The first train leaves at 6:45 AM approximately and the last one before 9:00 PM. We strongly recommend spending at least a couple of nights in St. Emilion and in Bordeaux.
Moving Around Arcachon
The best way of moving around Arcachon is by foot. The center is not that big so you can walk everywhere. You can also walk to the beaches south and even to the Dune du Pilat. A short walk east takes you to the port. Most of the terrain is flat.
Biking is another great option. The whole region is known in France as a biking Mecca. There are over 136 miles (220 km) of safe bike lanes everywhere. You can bike for 14 miles (22 km) within the city limits. There is no public bike sharing system, but there are several bike rental places in Arcachon.
The city also has a pretty good bus system. Bus L03 is a popular way to reach the bottom of Dune du Pilat. It departs from the train station and gets to the dune in 15 minutes. Bus 01 goes to the east and connects the center with the port.
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