Top Things to do in Arcachon

Arcachon (pronounced Ark-a-shon) is a coastal town on the Bassin d’Arcachon, a bay off the Atlantic ocean, just an hour away from Bordeaux. It’s a very popular summer destination in the South West of France and offers a number of beautiful beaches as well as the tallest sand dune in Europe! If you are planning a trip to this seaside resort town, read on to find out the top things to do in Arcachon.

Top Things to do in Arcachon

1) Go to the beach

You can’t come to Arcachon and not visit the beach! There are a number of different beaches to visit in the area, from calm to wavy, something to suit everyone!

Wavy ocean beaches near Arcachon

If you like waves and large fine sandy beaches you should head to the beaches on the Atlantic Ocean. Check out Le Petit Nice, Plage de la Corniche and La Salie down in La Teste de Buch.

If you’re a keen surfer you should head to L’Horizon, Le Truc Vert, Le Grand Crohot or La Garonne in Lège-Cap Ferret.

The waves and rip tides can be crazy on this part of the Atlantic so be extra careful!

Calm beaches on the Arcachon Bay

The beaches on Arcachon Bay (or the Bassin d’Arcachon) are much calmer but you can only swim at high tide. The bay stretches round from Arcachon to Cap Ferret, and there are a number of fine sandy beaches. Plage d’Arcachon is the most accessible beach on the bay and has lots of restaurants with seaside views. Head slightly west to Periere beach for a more relaxing day. Drive around or get a boat over to Cap Ferret, where you’ll find a number of beaches and cute oyster villages such as L’Herbe, Le Canon and Piraillan beaches.

2) Climb up the Dune du Pilat, the tallest sand dune in Europe

One of my favourite things to do in Arcachon is to climb up the Dune du Pilat. At over 100m high and 3 km long, it is the tallest sand dune in Europe! It is quite a strenuous climb to the top (there are hard steps built in) but it gives you the most incredible views over pine forests and the Atlantic Ocean.

You can either drive to the Dune du Pilat or take the Baïa Bus Line 1 (direction Plage de la Salie) for 25 minutes from Arcachon train station. It’s also possible to book a guided tour with a picnic from Bordeaux or a tour where you visit both the dune, Arcachon and go oyster tasting.

3) Go on a boat tour around the Bassin d’Arcachon (Iles aux Oiseaux and the Cabanes Tchanquées)

One of the top things to do in Arcachon in summer is to enjoy a boat ride on the bay. Head to the Thiers jetty (Jetée Thiers) to see all of the available tours and departure times. There are two main boat tours to choose from:

Grand Tour de l’Ile aux Oiseaux
2 hours tour
€16 adult ticket

Cap sur les cabanes tchanquées
1 hour 15 tour
€11 adult ticket

I did the grand tour which took us all around the bassin d’Arcachon giving us a good view of the Iles aux Oiseaux and Cap Ferret.

4) Spend the day in Cap Ferret

Cap Ferret is a headland that separates the Atlantic Ocean from Arcachon Bay. It’s a very popular summer destination for Parisians and is famous for its oysters, lighthouse, pine forests and beautiful beaches.

You can drive directly down to Cap Ferret or you can get a boat across the basin from Jetée Thiers in Arcachon. This takes around 30 minutes and an adult ticket costs 7€ each way.

There are lots of cycle paths in Cap Ferret so I would recommend hiring bikes for the day to explore. There are a number of bike rentals, including one conveniently located near the jetty. 

On Cap Ferret make sure to check out:

• Le Phare du Cap Ferret
• The many oyster villages
• Plage de l’Ocean

5) Have a drink at la Co(o)rniche

Enjoy one of the best views in Arcachon by heading to la Co(o)rniche hotel for a drink in their trendy bar. Their outdoor terrasse is just next to the Dune du Pyla and gives breath taking views over the dune and the Atlantic Ocean.

6) Go Paragliding over Arcachon

One of the most extreme things to do in Arcachon is to go paragliding over the Dune of Pilat! It doesn’t come cheap at €150 for a tandem paragliding ride, but it’s a pretty incredible place to soar over!

7) Enjoy some tasty local food

Arcachon is famous for it’s oysters, and there are lots of amazing restaurants to try out. Le Bouchon du marché is located at the entrance to the market in the heart of the city. You can enjoy tasty local delicacies from their terrace or indoors if you want to soak in the market atmosphere. l’Oyster Bar is another great restaurant to try the famous oysters as well as other seafood. If you want to enjoy a sea view there are also a number of restaurants along the main beach of Arcachon.

If you’re a real foodie you might want to book a Bay of Arcachon guided food tour. Lasting 4 hours, your local guide will take you around several beautiful villages in the peninsular, giving you an opportunity to meet local oyster producers whilst tasting their amazing oysters!

8) Take a walk around Winter town

Another great way to explore Arcachon is to take a walk around Winter Town (la ville d’hiver). Arcachon’s Winter Town is home to some fascinating architecture including some very eccentric villas, which tell the story of the birth of the town of Arcachon. Make sure to also check out the beautiful Parc Mauresque whilst you’re there too.

Where to stay in Arcachon

If you’re looking to spend a few days by the ocean, Arcachon has a number of different hotels and apartments for all budgets.

The Residence le Trianon is a four star hotel offering sea view rooms in a beautiful, iconic building. With rooms starting from only €70 a night.

The Grand Hotel Richelieu is located right on the seafront so offers rooms with incredible sea views.

The Hotel Point France is located in the heart of Arcachon, overlooking the beach and the famous Dune du Pilat. It offers comfortable rooms with sea views, a restaurant serving local cuisine, and a rooftop terrace.

If you are looking for a more luxurious stay then I recommend Hotel La Co(o)rniche. Nestled in the Cap Ferret area, this luxury hotel offers a stunning beachfront location and breathtaking views of the ocean. It features stylish rooms, a gourmet restaurant, a spa, and a pool. The hotel’s design and ambiance create a chic and sophisticated atmosphere.

I hope you have a great time in Arcachon! It’s a beautiful seaside town that I visited many times whilst I was at university in Bordeaux. It’s an easy day trip from Bordeaux, there are a number of direct trains going there or you can drive.

If you are planning on spending longer in France you might want to check out my other blog posts:

• Top 20 Alternative Things to do in Paris
• Provence and French Riviera – 1 Week Road Trip Itinerary

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