Visiting Arcachon bay is an excellent idea for a weekend or a vacation for lovers, family, or friends. So, how to visit Arcachon Bay in 1, 2, or 3 days? Let’s discover the essentials to see in Arcachon bay, the activities to do on-site, and the good places to swim, where to eat and stay in Arcachon bay. Let’s go!
- TOP 15 must-sees in the Arcachon Bay 🤩
- Where to stay near Arcachon 🛌
- Beaches where to swim in Arcachon Bay 🏖
- Restaurants to eat in Arcachon Bay 😋
- What to do in Arcachon for couples 💚
- What to do in Arcachon with family 🌟
- Itinerary to visit Arcachon Bay in 1, 2, or 3 days 📍
1. TOP 15 must-sees in Arcachon Bay
If you want to visit Arcachon Bay with family as a couple or on a road trip with friends, here are the must-see places and the essential activities to do in Arcachon Bay. You will need a car to reach all these places. You can compare car rentals here.
- Climb the Dune du Pilat (more in this blog post: Visit the Dune du Pilat)
- See the Cabanes Tchanquées on the Ile aux Oiseaux
- Go to the tip of Cap-Ferret and see its mythical lighthouse (find out more in the blog post: Discover Cap-Ferret)
- Taste good fresh oysters while looking at the ocean (places below)
- Visit Arcachon bay by boat
- Discover the villages and oyster ports
- Go to the beaches of Arcachon bay (see the list of beaches below)
- Visit the Banc d’Arguin National Nature Reserve
- Visit the National Nature Reserve of Salt Meadows of Arès-Lège
- Enjoy the freshness of the tree-lined paths of the Mauresque Park of Arcachon
- See a beautiful panorama of the Bassin d’Arcachon from the Sainte-Cécile Observatory Tower
- Visit the Saint-Ferdinand Church in Arcachon
- Discover the Ville d’Hiver district of Arcachon
- Visit the Basilica of Notre-Dame d’Arcachon and the Sailors’ Chapel
- Get off at Bunker 502 in Arcachon
2. Hotels and holiday homes where to stay to visit Arcachon bay
Here are some hotels and holiday homes to stay in for visiting Arcachon bay with family or as a couple!
Ideal for an exceptional romantic getaway: Hotel La Co(o)rniche. Located by the sea, a few minutes from the Dune du Pilat, this 5-star hotel offers elegant double rooms with balconies and views of Arcachon bay. It is a perfect place to stay to visit the Dune du Pilat and Arcachon Bay.
A 250m2 holiday home with 4 bedrooms: La Cabane du Bois. Located in Arcachon city and therefore only a few kilometers from the Dune du Pilat, this spacious house is a perfect place to stay in Arcachon Bay for a good family holiday.
For a family stay in Pyla-sur-Mer: pretty two-bedroom apartment with a view. Just 20 meters from the beach, all apartments at Villa Pyla are well-equipped and perfect for a pleasant family stay. In addition, a bike rental service is available on-site.
3. Beaches where to swim in Arcachon Bay
Swimming is a must-do if you want to enjoy Arcachon Bay in the summer. So, where to swim in Arcachon Bay? Click to open on Google Maps.
Arcachon beach: this beach is located in the city of Arcachon. It is broad and spacious. Charming walks along the beach and beautiful sunsets in perspective!🌊
Eyrac Beach: a stone’s throw from Arcachon Beach, it is a pretty beach, but many boats park in the area.
Pereire Beach: Opposite the tip of Cap-Ferret, Pereire Beach is just 3km from Arcachon Beach. This beach is smaller but just as pleasant to have a great time in.
Plage des Arbousiers: less than 5km from the city center and the beach of Arcachon, you can go swimming on the Plage des Arbousiers. Large and long, this beach is a perfect place to swim in Arcachon Bay and have a picnic. Moreover, from this beach, you can see the Dune du Pilat and the Banc d’Arguin in the distance!
Plage de l’Herbe: Plage de l’Herbe is located on the other side of Arcachon Bay, 70km from the town of Arcachon. If you want to visit Arcachon Bay in 2 or 3 days, it is a beautiful beach where you can swim and have a great time.
4. Restaurants to eat in Arcachon Bay
Where to eat in Arcachon? Here are some excellent restaurants and cafes! 🍽
LE PITT (2 Av. du Général de Gaulle, 33120 Arcachon): right in the center of the town of Arcachon, a stone’s throw from the beach, this restaurant is perfect for tasting delicious and fresh oysters, but also other seafood!
Bar à Huîtres The Oyster Bar, located in the Arcachon market: is an excellent place to taste fresh oysters in a friendly atmosphere in the Arcachon market.
Arcachon 1900 (22 Bd Prom. Veyrier Montagnères, 33120 Arcachon): delicious dishes, top service, a perfect place to eat in Arcachon, and have a great time!
Discovering local gastronomy! To know more about Arcachon Bay gastronomy, you should visit an oyster farm. Oysters are the primary specialty of Arcachon Bay. This 2-hour guided tour could fit: tasting and visit of Cap-Ferret or Canon.
5. What to do in Arcachon for a romantic getaway?
To mark your romantic stay in Arcachon Bay, you can enjoy magical sunsets and romantic walks. Here are some examples.
Itinerary for a walk in Arcachon. After a walk in the Mauresque Park, continue discovering Arcachon through its Ville d’Hiver, and climb the 25m tower of the Saint-Cécile Observatory without forgetting the Saint-Paul footbridge. It is an excellent opportunity to visit Arcachon Bay differently.
Discover Pereire park. It is possible to take a pleasant walk in Pereire park, located high up, and runs along the Abatilles beach. This park offers magnificent views of Arcachon Bay: perfect for a romantic stroll!
6. What to do in Arcachon for a family trip?
In addition to the activities listed at the very beginning, here are some other ideas for activities to do in Arcachon Bay with the family:
- La Coccinelle: in Gujan-Mestras, 14km from Arcachon, this amusement park is a good idea for family relaxation!
- KID PARC Île d’Aventures: a playground for 2 to 10-year-olds.
- At the edge of Lake Magdeleine, still in Gujan-Mestras, you can ride donkeys (2 to 12 years old): Cabriolane.
What to visit in Arcachon when it rains? The Arcachon Aquarium can be a good idea, but don’t expect anything incredible to avoid disappointment.
7. Itinerary to visit Arcachon Bay in 1, 2, or 3 days
Here are some possible itineraries to do with family or as a couple in Arcachon Bay.
7.1 Visit Arcachon Bay in 1 day
- Dune du Pilat in the morning (read the blog post: Visit the Dune du Pilat)
- Lunch by the sea close to the Dune du Pilat or a picnic
- Visit of Arcachon
- Swimming and walking on one of the beaches of Arcachon (list above)
7.2 Visit Arcachon Bay in 2 days
If you visit Arcachon Bay in 2 days, you will have time to make other discoveries:
- Visit of Cap-Ferret (read the blog post: Visit Cap-Ferret)
- Stroll on the Plage de l’Herbe
- Discovery of the Cabanes Tchanquées on the Ile aux Oiseaux (for example boat trip to the Ile des Oiseaux)
7.3 Itinerary of 3 days or more
- Visit the National Nature Reserve of Salt Meadows of Arès-Lège
- Discovery of villages and oyster ports: Gujan-Mestras, Andernos, Aiguillon, Canon or Biganos
It is possible to visit Arcachon Bay during a weekend with family or lovers, but longer holidays are also possible. If you take the time, you can discover the villages, beaches, and nature reserves more quietly to enjoy the places even more.
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