Though millions of people visit the French Riviera each year, many travelers set their sights on famous spots like Nice, Cannes, Antibes, and Saint-Tropez.
But since moving to the Côte d’Azur a few months ago, I’ve discovered a few lesser-known but, in my opinion, much better spots to visit in the area.
One of my absolute favorites is a small coastal town called Sanary-sur-Mer. I’ve been a few times now and have been utterly charmed by it each time.
Sanary-sur-Mer is a lesser-known gem along France’s south coast.
Situated between Marseille and Toulon, Sanary-sur-Mer is a port town along the Mediterranean Sea with a population under 20,000.
Many locals I’ve spoken to where I live half an hour away have agreed that Sanary is considered the nicest place in the area.
Though it’s popular with the French, it’s seemingly not on many international tourists’ radars. It can get a bit overshadowed by popular nearby spots like Cannes and Saint-Tropez.
When my husband and I have visited Sanary-sur-Mer, I didn’t hear any language other than French spoken around me, which is rare to find in the south of France during the summer (and a far cry from a September Sunday in Antibes, where I could barely move among British, Irish, and American tourists).
It’s surrounded by beautiful blue waters.
The town is based around a wide, clean-looking harbor full of bobbing yachts and other boats.
There may not be as many superyachts as you’d find further up the coast, but there are still plenty of huge ones to admire and imagine floating around in.
Some of the smaller boats are even available for visitors to rent.
Whenever we visit, the area feels quiet and peaceful.
On one trip, we walked along the port and up to a charming lighthouse and were surprised by how quiet it was despite being a summer Saturday afternoon.
There were only a few other people and some children splashing in the nearby fountains. It was refreshing compared to the more touristy spots that are always heaving with crowds.
There are also lovely pedestrian areas.
Lined with cafés and restaurants, the waterfront is so clean I thought I was on a film set when we first visited.
My husband and I especially enjoy getting ice cream in one of the cafés on the wide esplanade — a wonderful place to sit and watch the world go by.
I’m also pleased to say that we’ve found many public toilets in the area that are actually free to use and in decent condition.
We love taking in the beautiful buildings and boutiques.
Narrow cobbled streets full of chic boutiques snake up from the harbor, dotted with tropical palm trees and pastel-colored buildings with blue and green shutters that offer traditional Provençal charm.
Sanary-sur-Mer is also packed full of little stores selling chic clothes and interesting homewares — I’ve treated myself to a plant pot in Maman & fiston and some linen trousers in Serendipity.
There aren’t big designer shops like you’d find in Cannes or Nice, but Sanary feels all the more authentic for it. The town is less fussy and certainly not pretentious at all.
I’ve already made a mental note to come back here before Christmastime.
The area is rich with history, too.
The “regular” buildings in Sanary-sur-Mer, like most of Provence, are beautiful, but one building that stood out to me was the cinema, Cinéma A.b.c.
Dating back decades, the building’s retro facade features striking and beautiful pastel colors. Although it has been updated to better function as a theater, its exterior has changed very little.
The town also has walking tours for visitors who want to learn more about the local history. For example, this coastal town was a refuge for German and Austrian authors and artists who fled Nazi Germany in the 1930s.
Little beaches offer perfect swimming opportunities.
You don’t have to go far out of Sanary to find large beaches, such as Plage de Portissol, a big white-sand one that curves around the coast.
I especially enjoy the areas with staircases right by the harbor. I don’t love getting sandy, so being able to go straight down some stairs from the rocks and into the clear blue water is my idea of heaven.
All in all, I already can’t wait for my next trip to Sanary-sur-Mer to experience more of it. I’d definitely recommend visiting if you want to authentically experience the south coast of France.
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