One of the advantages of exploring the coast of the Var is that beach days can look completely different within a relatively small area. A morning on a broad family beach, an afternoon snorkelling from a rocky cove and a day trip to an island can all be part of the same stay.

Around Hyères and the Giens peninsula, this variety is particularly easy to see. Some beaches have shallow water and plenty of space, making them practical for families. Others are smaller and surrounded by pine trees and rocky Mediterranean vegetation.

The conditions also vary according to location. L’Almanarre, for example, is well known for wind and watersports, while more sheltered sections of the coast can be better suited to swimming and snorkelling.

Then there are the islands. Porquerolles and Port-Cros change the experience completely. Reaching the beach becomes part of a day trip, with walking trails, protected landscapes and clear Mediterranean water adding much more than a few hours on the sand.

This is why it is worth choosing beaches according to the day you have in mind rather than simply looking for the most famous name.

A calm morning swim, snorkelling, a coastal walk, watersports or a picnic beside the sea can each lead you to a different part of the Var coastline.

And there are plenty of places that remain much less internationally known than the beaches around Saint-Tropez. Small coves, forest-backed beaches and stretches of coast around Bormes-les-Mimosas, Le Lavandou, Hyères and the islands make exploring further worthwhile.

Find More in the Magazine

Which beaches work best for families, snorkelling, watersports, a day trip or a coastal walk?

In Summer in the Var, Les Couleurs du Monde Magazine explores a selection of beaches and coastal locations including Plage de l’Estagnol, Port-Cros, L’Almanarre, Plage Notre-Dame and Plage de l’Escalet, with ideas for experiencing each one.

Read the full feature in Les Couleurs du Monde Magazine →

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