Editorials
The Best Gay Beaches in France
Exploring France's gay beaches, from Saint-Tropez to Nice
France’s Mediterranean coastline is home to some of the world’s most exclusive gay-friendly beach destinations. The French Riviera remains Europe’s premier luxury beach destination, where you’ll find world-class amenities, Michelin-starred restaurants, and beautiful people emerging from yachts. We have yachts of fun every year in the Côte d’Azur.
Despite its long stretches of sunny coast, France doesn’t have a gay beach scene to rival Spain’s. In this guide, we’ll introduce you to the gay beach in France that can be accessed from the biggest tourist hotspots.
Nice
Castel Plage is Nice’s best-known gay beach, located at the eastern end of Promenade des Anglais, near the Chateau on the hill. Castel Plage (on the right side of the private club facing sea) tends to be very gay on Saturday afternoon. Was wall-to-wall with guys, locals and tourists.
There are beach clubs but you don’t come here for the food: you come here because there are gay guys everywhere, a great view, not so many children, and the location itself is the main draw. The location is particularly convenient as it’s just a stone’s throw from the old town, allowing you to easily explore Nice’s historic center before or after your beach day.
Beyond the beaches, Nice is a great destination for luxury travelers. Hotel Le Negresco exemplifies is a historic hotel and an IGTLA member property. This 5-star palace hotel features luxurious if borderline camp decor, private Neptune Beach access, and an art collection worth over €6 million. It’s a wonderfully atmospheric, Old World hotel. Nice has a gay district called Le Petit Marais Niçois, an homage to Paris’ gay district, Le Marais.
Monaco
Saint-Laurent d’Èze is one of the best-known gay naturist beaches on the French Riviera, tucked between Nice and Monaco beneath the railway line. Part of the appeal is getting there: you leave the road behind and follow a footpath down through the trees before reaching the rocky cove.
The beach is clothing-optional, very popular with gay men and far less polished than the beach clubs of Nice or Saint-Tropez. There are no real facilities once you arrive, so bring water, food and whatever else you need for the day.
Its location makes it an easy addition to a stay in either Nice or Monaco. Spend the morning shopping or lunching somewhere impossibly glamorous, then disappear down to a much wilder stretch of coast for the afternoon.
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Saint-Tropez and the famous Pampelonne Beach represent the pinnacle of luxury gay beach culture in France. This legendary destination combines A-list exclusivity with a gay-friendly atmosphere. It’s long been the crown jewel of Mediterranean luxury travel. This is where you’ll find people like Joan Collins sailing on a yacht – her friends and courtiers (mostly gay men) may be found looking for relief on the beaches. There’s no official gay beach here but you’ll always see LGBTQ+ travelers and it’s very gay-friendly.
The beach club scene at Pampelonne is unrivalled. Nikki Beach Saint-Tropez, completely renovated in 2024, serves as the European flagship with luxury pool areas, private cabanas, and celebrity clientele. Verde Beach Club attracts the international jetset with its Moroccan shisha lounge and boho atmosphere perfect for sophisticated networking. La Réserve Ramatuelle caters to A-listers seeking pristine private beach access with Mediterranean restaurant service, while the legendary Club 55 maintains its exclusive guest list and original 1955 charm.
Luxury accommodations in Saint-Tropez cater specifically to discerning gay travelers. Villa Las Brisas offers seven bedrooms within walking distance of Pampelonne, complete with full staff service, panoramic sea views, and private gym facilities. Villa Vertigo provides contemporary luxury with cinema, spa, hammam, and heated infinity pool overlooking the Bay of Pampelonne.
Transportation options match the exclusivity: private helicopter transfers deliver guests directly to Pampelonne Beach, while yacht access with private tenders ensures seamless beach club arrivals. Luxury car services provide valet parking, eliminating the stress of Saint-Tropez’s notorious traffic.
Montpellier
Plage de Maguelone, near Villeneuve-lès-Maguelone, is the main gay beach option around Montpellier. The wider beach is mixed and popular with naturists, but there is a well-known gay section farther along the shore that has been drawing locals and visitors for years. It is much less polished than the Riviera beaches, which is part of the appeal.
Le Grand Travers, between Carnon and La Grande-Motte, is another beach that attracts gay visitors in Montpellier. It is longer, sandier and easier to make a full day of, with dunes behind the beach and a much more relaxed, local feel than the Côte d’Azur.
If you are staying in Montpellier and want an actual gay beach day rather than simply a gay-friendly stretch of coast, Maguelone is the best option.
Bordeaux
Le Porge (Jenny) Beach near Bordeaux serves as “Tata Beach” – the premier gay beach destination for southwest France’s largest city. The gay section sits around 1.5km north of the main Le Porge-Océan beach, with access either via the cycle path or by walking roughly 1.2km north from the end of the main parking area.
The beach sits close to the La Jenny naturist center, backed by dunes and pine forest, providing a discreet setting for those who don’t like tan lines. It is especially popular with gay visitors from Bordeaux from May through October, particularly on weekends.
This beach is around an hour’s drive from Bordeaux. It’s remote, undeveloped, and intentionally wild. That’s part of what makes it a cult-favorite gay/naturist beach. You don’t stumble across it – you make a plan and go.
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