Beach houses, L'Herbe

Aquitaine destinations & travel guides

From stylish sea-side towns, to ancient countryside and dramatic mountains, and with tranquil lakes and forest in between, Aquitaine is quintessential France in all its guises. Aquitaine’s popular resorts are well known, especially chic Cap Ferret and glamorous Biarritz. To appreciate the richness and variety of this special corner of France take time to discover the regions.

French resorts tend to be very seasonal and this can often come as a surprise to visitors who are less familiar with France. Owners of seasonal business such as bars and restaurants can often get by simply by operating in two months of the year - July & August - and are happy to shut down the rest of the year.

Out of season breaks - in all Atlantic resorts - will appeal to those who appreciate tranquility and, for instance, walks along wild, deserted beaches. There's always a restaurant or two open throughout the year too. But if you really want a good choice of activities and places to eat, then Biarritz is the pick of the resorts outside the main summer season. To a lesser extent Arcachon and St Jean de Luz are pretty reliable all-year-round whereas the other resorts listed below are much more seasonal. Do ask us for advice if you're unsure about the best location for your holiday.

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