This summer, we went back as a family to the Bassin d’Arcachon. We absolutely love this area! This wasn’t our first stay on the Bassin, so I felt like sharing a round-up of our favourite spots and child-friendly activities. Depending on the length of your stay, you won’t necessarily manage to do everything. My list is a summary of three stays there. Of course, there are places we happily return to, beaches we particularly enjoy, and oyster huts where we love meeting up with friends. For us, the Bassin d’Arcachon really goes hand in hand with reunions, as several of our friends spend their summers there. It’s a bit like the film Les Petits Mouchoirs, but without the accompanying drama 🙂

This summer, we were based in Le Teich and explored the Bassin d’Arcachon from there. The previous time, we were based in La Teste-de-Buch, and the time before that in Cap-Ferret. Everywhere is great!

Trip to Cap-Ferret:

Cap-Ferret is an unmissable and utterly charming stop! For Papa Voyage, it’s full of childhood memories, as he spent all his summers there. It’s best to go early in the season, and preferably in July rather than August. This year, we were there in the third week of July and it was perfect. Cap-Ferret has something magical about it, as it separates the calm waters of the basin from the ocean: two atmospheres in one place! Such a contrast over just a few metres. We wandered around the lighthouse area and the tip of the peninsula. I must admit that the ocean side always impresses me. We walked in the shade of the pine trees before settling down on the vast and beautiful beach at the Pointe. This time, as we were staying in Le Teich (so in the south of the Bassin), we went by car and drove around the Bassin, but the quicker option is to take a boat between Arcachon and Cap-Ferret. All the information about the shuttle boats here.

The village of L’Herbe:

Once in Cap-Ferret, it’s really worth going as far as the village of L’Herbe, an oyster-farming village full of charm with its old, colourful huts. The edges of the Bassin are particularly lovely here, and the oyster huts all invite you to take an iodised break with a view.

Visiting the lovely town of Arcachon

In high season, Arcachon can be very busy, so it’s best to go early in the morning or in the evening. The half-timbered houses are full of charm, especially the huge villas of the Ville d’Hiver, a district where 19th- and early 20th-century houses with incredible architecture are concentrated. There must have been a competition to see who could build the biggest and most original one! A stroll through the town centre is also a must, ideally ending with a little ice cream. We loved the ice creams from Olala:

South of the centre, we relaxed on the beautiful Pereire beach, with its tall pine trees in the background. There are far fewer people on this beach than on the main Arcachon beach, yet it’s more beautiful and spacious, with lovely golden sand!

For another pleasant walk in Arcachon, head to Le Moulleau, a district located to the south of the town. We went up to the church of Notre-Dame-des-Passes before crossing the main road to the jetty. The colours are beautiful at the end of the day.

The Dune du Pilat

Yes, it’s very touristy in summer! But you really can avoid the crowds by going very early. We were there at 7am and it was perfect! Calm, with beautiful sunrise colours. It also worked out well because that day I was working from home, so a very early outing was just what I needed before diving into Excel at 9am!

The fishermen’s houses at the Port of Biganos

We wandered along these small, brightly coloured fishermen’s houses. It’s a shame they don’t seem to be used very much, as they weren’t very lively when we visited, but the setting is really cute, peaceful and colourful! It’s very pleasant to stroll around and take a few photos.

Ocean beaches:

I personally prefer the calm waters of the Bassin, but the children and Papa Voyage prefer swimming in the ocean. We mainly went to Petit Nice beach. My photo was taken in the morning. It starts to get busy around midday.

Continuing further south, we also recommend La Salie beach.

Canoe-kayak trip on the Leyre

We really loved this family activity, which has the advantage of being refreshing and surrounded by nature. We hired canoes and kayaks from Amazone for half a day. The organisation was excellent.

Nature walk in Le Teich:

This year, our accommodation was in Le Teich, which allowed us to discover this beautiful natural area! We opted for a long walk on foot along the Eyre, on the lake side. If you’re a bird lover, you should know that you can also visit the Teich ornithological reserve, on the Bassin side.

Tree-top adventure at Bassin Aventures:

This is an activity that Titpuce and especially Ticoeur really enjoyed, as they weren’t afraid of the more challenging courses. They both agree that it’s their best tree-top adventure experience so far. There are five course levels, depending on the children’s age and height, and there’s also an area for younger children (ages 3–6). More information on the Bassin Aventures website (in French).

Lake Cazaux

For a peaceful swim, Lake Cazaux is ideal. Families with young children will particularly appreciate it, as the water stays very shallow for a long way out. All that’s left to do is bring a picnic and settle in for a few hours, to the great delight of the children!

Exploring the Bassin d’Arcachon by bike as a family!

When Ticoeur and Titpuce were 4 and 2 years old, we cycled along the Vélodysée to the Bassin d’Arcachon. You can spot Ticoeur and Titpuce in the trailer below… it doesn’t make us any younger! It’s perfectly possible to take the shuttle between Cap-Ferret and Arcachon with bikes. As for cycling, another option is to ride all the way around the Bassin. It’s a 79km loop, so you need to be fairly fit or do it over two days. Watch out for heatwaves in summer!

Lunch or dinner in an oyster hut:

One of my favourite activities :-)… Not because I’m a huge oyster fan, but because I love the whole experience! The setting of the oyster huts. The possibility of sitting right by the water. A very simple menu and a small, refreshing glass of white wine… As soon as I sit down in an oyster hut, I truly feel on holiday! Around the Bassin, we have three spots we really like for enjoying oysters with friends: the huts at the Port of La Teste-de-Buch (for example Le 12 Zen), the huts in the village of L’Herbe (for example Emile et une huître), and the huts at the Port of Larros in Gujan-Mestras (for example La Terrasse de Larros) or La Cabane de Jaud in Gujan. And plenty more besides! There’s lots of choice!

La Teste-de-Buch

Village of L’Herbe

Port Larros, Gujan-Mestras

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Where to stay to make the most of the Bassin d’Arcachon?

This year, we fell in love with this straw-and-wood house, located in Le Teich. It was built by our friends Florence and Cyprien (an impressive piece of work! You can see photos of the build in their welcome booklet). It’s a hexagonal house on stilts, nestled at the edge of the forest — a house with soul that respects nature thanks to the use of as many local and eco-friendly materials as possible. What a pleasure it is to sit on the terrace for an aperitif! You can book it on Airbnb: it’s the house called Le Colibri.

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To help you locate all the activities mentioned in this article, here’s a little map that I hope will be useful:

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Before or after the Bassin d’Arcachon, head to Bordeaux!

Just before settling around the Bassin d’Arcachon, we often choose to spend a few days in Bordeaux. I like combining a city break with a nature holiday! Bordeaux has the advantage of being very calm in summer. It’s the perfect opportunity to enjoy its lovely city centre, museums and restaurants without the crowds.

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And you? In love with the Bassin d’Arcachon?