What Are the Best Beaches in Fréjus?
Fréjus has two faces: long sandy beaches (Fréjus-Plage, Base Nature, Saint-Aygulf, Les Esclamandes) with lifeguards in season, and the small, wilder rocky coves of Saint-Aygulf, reached along the coastal path. Families will lean towards the sand, snorkelers towards the coves.
Unlike its neighbors along the Esterel, Fréjus is lucky enough to have plenty of sand. But the town stretches all the way to Saint-Aygulf, where the coastline turns rocky and jagged again. Here's how to find your way around, beach by beach.
Fréjus-Plage: sand in town
This is the resort's "original" beach, below Port-Fréjus and along the seafront. Around 1 km of sand alternating between public stretches and private beach clubs (including Les Sablettes, La République and Le Capitole), with a lovely view of Saint-Raphaël harbor.
Who is it for? Anyone who wants everything close at hand: restaurants, ice cream shops, toilets and showers nearby. A lifeguard station watches over the swimming areas in season.
Tip: in July and August, get there before 10am to find a spot on the public side. Parking along the seafront fills up fast ; from Fréjus train station, the beach is easy to reach by bus or bike.
Base Nature François-Léotard beach: room to breathe
West of Port-Fréjus, the Base Nature François-Léotard is a large public seaside park (1196 boulevard de la Mer) with its own sandy beach, around 1.5 to 2 km long depending on the source. It has lifeguards in summer and holds the Handiplage label, with equipment for people with reduced mobility.
Who is it for? Families and groups: there's space even in the height of summer, and the area behind the beach has playgrounds, picnic spots and parking. Access is free.
Good to know: at the mouth of the Argens river, the area is reserved for kitesurfers and swimming is forbidden. Stick to the marked zones.
Saint-Aygulf and Les Esclamandes: sand and wind
South of the Argens river mouth, the Saint-Aygulf district lines up several beaches.
Saint-Aygulf main beach
Around 800 m of sand, exposed to the wind, which makes it a favorite spot for windsurfers and kitesurfers. Lifeguard station in season, toilets and showers.
Les Esclamandes beach
Around 600 m, split into four zones: family, kitesurfing, naturist, and an area where dogs are allowed. It's one of the few beaches in the area where your dog is welcome . Lifeguard stations open in summer, with showers and toilets on site. The Esclamandes parking lot, paid in summer, is along avenue de la Corniche-d'Azur (D559).
Bonus: the Villepey ponds are right behind. Outside the periods when some paths close for the summer, a walk to the bird observatory pairs perfectly with a swim .
The Saint-Aygulf coves: the wild side
Between Saint-Aygulf harbor and the Pointe de la Tête-Noire, the old customs officers' path (sentier des douaniers) follows a coastline of rocks and small inlets: the coves (calanques) of Pont de Bois, Les Louvans, Les Corailleurs and Four à Chaux, as well as Grand Boucharel beach.
Why go: the water is often clear, and with a mask you can spot seagrass meadows, sea urchins, sea cucumbers and rockfish. The atmosphere is more intimate than on the big beaches.
Getting there: start at Saint-Aygulf harbor, with parking available on avenue de la Corniche-d'Or, via the D559 from Saint-Raphaël. The path is waymarked and fairly flat but has some rocky sections; one or two may be impassable and can be bypassed by road.
Be careful:
- Some access points are via stairs, and part of the site overhangs the sea with no railings: keep an eye on young children.
- Dogs are allowed on a leash on the path, but not on the beaches.
- There are no lifeguards: pick a day when the sea is calm.
- Within the 300 m coastal strip, jet skis and other motorized watercraft are banned and boat speeds are limited, which makes swimming pleasant.
Which beach suits you best?
- Families with young children: Base Nature, for the space, the play areas and the lifeguards.
- Without a car: Fréjus-Plage, the easiest to reach from the town center and the train station.
- With a dog: the dedicated zone at Les Esclamandes.
- For snorkeling: the Saint-Aygulf coves.
- For kitesurfing or windsurfing: Saint-Aygulf and the mouth of the Argens, in the authorized zones. Our article on water sports in Fréjus covers schools and rentals in detail.
Tips for a great beach day
- Bring water and shade: the big sandy beaches have very little shade.
- Water shoes come in handy in the coves, where you often get in over pebbles or rocks.
- Take your trash with you: the people who manage the coves point out that huge amounts are collected every summer.
- Out of season, the beaches stay open, but without lifeguards.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the most beautiful beach in Fréjus?
It all depends on what you're looking for. For sand and space, the Base Nature beach; for clear water and rocky scenery, the Saint-Aygulf coves.
Do Fréjus beaches have lifeguards?
The big sandy beaches (Fréjus-Plage, Base Nature, Saint-Aygulf, Les Esclamandes) have lifeguard stations during the summer season . The coves have no lifeguards.
Can you take your dog to the beach in Fréjus?
Yes, in the dog zone at Les Esclamandes beach. On the customs officers' path, dogs are allowed on a leash, but not on the cove beaches.
Is there a beach accessible to people with reduced mobility?
Yes, the Base Nature beach holds the Handiplage label .
Kayaking with Azurkay
If the Saint-Aygulf coves have given you a taste for rocky inlets, the next step is the Esterel. Our kayak tour in the Esterel Massif sets off from Théoule-sur-Mer, about thirty kilometers from Fréjus via the Corniche d'Or , for 4 hours at the foot of the red rocks, in a small group with state-certified instructors. To explore the area on land, see also our guide to hiking in the Esterel Massif.
