Plage de Cabasson

Drop anchor off this quietly elegant beach on the southern edge of Bormes-les-Mimosas, where the backdrop is genuinely hard to beat — Fort de Brégançon, the official French presidential retreat, sits dramatically on a rocky promontory just to your left. The water is crystal clear and warm, and the beach sees fewer crowds in the morning if you time your arrival right. Parking fees keep the day-trippers manageable, so you'll often find a surprisingly peaceful spot.