Arcachon and Cap Ferret

We flew to Bordeaux and took the bus transfer to Bordeaux Saint – Jean train station. The train journey to Arcachon takes about 40 minutes. We had 4 nights at a hotel close to the beach and in the centre of the town which made our stay very convenient. Arcachon is a lovely seaside town attracting mainly French tourists and I would describe it is an upscale resort without the bling of St Tropez or Nice. There is a wide sandy beach with two piers where boats ply regularly across the Bassin d’Arcachon. This natural sheltered basin means the sea is pretty calm all the time which is perfect for families and swimming(although the water is rather cold)and it’s only when you cross to the Atlantic coast when visiting Cap Ferret that the big waves are found. The highlights for me in Arcachon is strolling the promenade stopping at a restaurant and bar and its also a great place to hire a bike and cycle around as it has great cycle tracks. I also loved walking around the historic Ville d’Hiver district where the rich patrons in the 19th century built wonderful villas which are all architecturally different and pleasing. We took a 30 minute boat trip across the bay for a day trip to Cap Ferret and on the way you get a brilliant view of the dunes of Pilat which are the largest dunes in Europe at the entrance to the Bassin. Cap Ferret has a laid back village peninsular feel similar to places such as cape cod and there are some excellent restaurants and the views from the top of the lighthouse are well worth climbing the 300 steps. I would also recommend the short walk to the Atlantic coast across the sand dunes to some amazing deserted sandy beaches. Arcachon is a real gem less well known than many of the French beach resorts and we would be sure to return.