Cap Corse, Corsica
Stretching out from Corsica’s northern coast, this 25-mile long peninsula is one of the island’s wildest regions, with stunning beaches, winding hiking trails and small ports on the eastern side, and clifftop villages on the west. Villages such as Erbalunga and Nonza feel authentic and unspoilt, with centuries’ old houses and churches and atmospheric ruins, while fishing villages like Centuri still send out daily boats to bring back spiny lobsters and fish to serve in the waterfront restaurants. Stay at Domain Misincu, a sleekly luxurious bolthole on the east coast.
Doubles from £235 B&B; hotel-misincu.fr
Les Alpilles, Provence
Photograph: Kirk Fisher/Getty Images
French hikers, birdwatchers, foodies – and those looking for a break in Provence away from the crowds – head to Les Alpilles, a chain of low, limestone mountains dotted with 10 charming villages. St-Rémy and Les Baux get day-trip crowds, but Maussane, Moures and Paradou remain charmingly unspoilt, with an excellent network of walking routes fanning out across the slopes. Splash out on a stay at Domaine du Manville, a gorgeously converted farm surrounded by olive groves and a 100-acre estate, with a lovely spa.
Doubles from £327 room-only; domainedemanville.fr
Saint-Jean-de-Luz, Pyrénées-Atlantiques
Photograph: Tuul & Bruno Morandi/Getty Images
Resting happily under the radar, between San Sebastián and Biarritz, Saint-Jean is known to be perfect weekend break territory for French families, with cycling and walking trails flowing in and around the town, and bustling cobbled squares and historic streets. Dip into Les Halles – the town’s food market – for a gourmet picnic on the beach, sign up for surf lessons or take a boat trip along the coast into Spain. Stay at La Reserve, a comfortable hotel perched high above the sea, with glorious views and Basque-infused haute cuisine in the Ilura restaurant.
Doubles from £140; hotel-lareserve.com
Cap Ferret, Aquitaine
Photograph: Hemis/Alamy
A slim, pine-clad peninsula, around half an hour’s drive from Bordeaux, Cap Ferret is one of the chicest spots on the Atlantic coast, with picturesque fishing villages dotted with boutiques, holiday homes and alfresco seafood restaurants. Mainly French surfers and bodyboarders head to the western beaches, where white-tipped rollers coast in towards the sand, while families and those looking for something quieter relax on the peaceful eastern side. Stay at La Maison du Bassin, a charming 11-room hotel with an excellent restaurant.
Doubles from £130; lamaisondubassincapferret.com
Île-de-Bréhat, Brittany
Photograph: Getty Images
A favourite haunt for French weekenders, Bréhat is separated from the mainland by only a slim strait that takes just 10 minutes to cross, yet manages to feel totally different. It’s a car-free pair of small islands, swathed in flowers, shrubs and exotic plants that flourish in the warm micro-climate. Birdwatchers have more than 120 species to spot, including over 250 pairs of puffins, while walkers can follow the seven-mile hike around the perimeter of the island. Stay at the Bellevue, a Bréhat institution right on the quay with a renowned seafood restaurant, just 10 minutes’ walk from Guerzido, the island’s best beach.
Doubles from £93 room-only; hotel-bellevue-brehat.fr
Îles d’Hyères, Côte d’Azur
Photograph: Tristan Deschamps/Alamy
Beyond the bustle of the Côte d’Azur, this trio of islands has been luring French holidaymakers for years, who come for the breathtaking scenery, crystalline seas and fine, sandy beaches. Porquerolles and Port-Cros are the two to visit; both have national park status and offer botanical walks and cycle tours – and an underwater trail on Plage de la Palud on Port-Cros. Waterfront restaurants lay on locally caught seafood with an almost Caribbean vibe, while the place to stay is Auberge Glycines on Porquerolles, a simple but comfortable base with classic Gallic charm.
Doubles from £100 B&B; auberge-glycines.com
Banyuls-sur-Mer, Languedoc Rousillon
Photograph: Simon Biggar/Getty Images
A charming seaside resort that’s still mostly the preserve of the French, Banyuls has a palm-backed esplanade, a long arc of beach and a bustling marina, offering plenty to keep all ages happy. Away from the beach, the winding streets of Cap d’Osne are a lovely place to explore, along with the three-hectare Jardin Mediterranean. With the Pyrenees within easy reach, Banyuls makes the perfect base for those who want to combine time by the sea with days exploring the spectacular mountain scenery. Stay at airy, modern Les Elmes, the only hotel on the Catalan coast with direct beach access, along with an excellent spa.
Doubles from £123 room-only; hotel-des-elmes.com
Lac du Bourget, Savoie
Photograph: David Gee/Alamy
A shimmering swathe of water at the southernmost end of the Jura mountains, the French come to Bourget to sail and swim, to walk the esplanade at sunset and to cycle along the well-marked paths, with plenty of places to stop for a dip. The spa town of Aix-les-Bains is nearby, and the small marinas scattered along the lake offer boats to hire for all level of sailor, from gleaming powerboats to simple wooden rowing boats. Stay at La Maison des Pêcheurs, where all rooms come with stunning lake and mountain views, and the waterfront restaurant focuses on local, artisanal produce and wines.
Doubles from £84 room-only; lamaisondespecheurs.fr
Baie de Somme, Hauts-de-France
Photograph: Thomas Pollin/Getty Images
Officially listed as one of the most beautiful bays in the world, this tranquil stretch of the northern French coastline has inspired everyone from Degas to Jules Verne. The French come here for gentle outdoor holidays; everything from horse riding to sand yachting, cycling and kayaking, along with the chance to spot Frances’ largest colony of harbour seals and thousands of migratory birds. Stay at Les Corderies in the historic area of Saint-Valery-sur-Somme, and soak up the views from the spa treatment rooms and hot tub, with rooms set in a charming garden.
Doubles from £159 room-only; lescorderies.com
Colmar, Alsace-Lorraine
Photograph: Dado Daniela/Getty Images
Brits rarely venture to the Alsace, but French holidaymakers love it for its excellent wines, picturesque towns lined with half-timbered houses and lush, rolling landscapes dotted with hilltop castles and fields of vines. Colmar – which could double for Amsterdam – makes an excellent base. Take a punt along the waterways of Little Venice or potter around the cafés and shops of the Quai de la Poissonerie and dip into the town’s vibrant covered market to sample the best local produce. Stay at the Maison des Têtes, an elegantly converted mansion house with a Michelin-starred restaurant.
Doubles from £209 B&B; maisondestetes.com.
