🏖️ Top Normandy Beaches That Are Perfect with Kids
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First published: October 2025
Last updated: November 2025
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Looking for a sandy beach in Normandy with calm waters and local charm? You’re in the right place. Our pick of the best family beaches in Normandy highlights safe, spacious spots that are perfect for a relaxed day by the sea. Whether it’s your first time discovering the beaches of Normandy or a family tradition, these coastal gems promise simple, sandy joys.
Normandy’s coastline is one of France’s most family-friendly destinations — long sandy beaches, safe swimming areas, and charming seaside towns make it ideal for young children. Based at our family gîte in Nicorps, near Coutances, you’re just 20–40 minutes from some of the best family beaches in Normandy. Here’s our hand-picked list of top spots that combine gentle tides, wide sands, and that unmistakable Normandy magic.
🌅 Hauteville-sur-Mer – Safe, Spacious & Supervised
Just 20 minutes from the gîte, Hauteville-sur-Mer is one of the safest and most popular family beaches in La Manche. The Plage de la Cale Sud offers a broad sandy bay with lifeguard supervision in July and August, accessible walkways for pushchairs and wheelchairs, and calm waters perfect for paddling. At low tide, kids can explore tidal pools, search for shells, and watch sand yachts racing across the beach. Dogs are welcome on leads during the summer season — a rare and welcome bonus for pet-loving families 🐾.
Facilities include toilets, a small beach café, and the École de Voile (sailing school) for older children who want to try catamarans or paddleboarding. It’s easy to park, safe, clean, and loved by locals year-round.
🏖️ Agon-Coutainville – Classic Normandy Seaside Fun
Agon-Coutainville is Normandy’s answer to a classic seaside resort — colourful cabins, ice-cream kiosks, and a long promenade that’s stroller-friendly. This is the nearest Blue-Flag-standard beach, known for its clean water and friendly lifeguards. At low tide, natural sea pools form along the coast, perfect for toddlers and paddling. Families love renting bikes, playing mini-golf, and visiting the children’s carousel by the promenade.
For lunch, stop at Les Dunes or La Plancha for seaside dining, or pick up fish and chips to enjoy right on the sea wall. It’s also one of the best places to watch sunsets in the Coutances area 🌅.
🌾 Coudeville-sur-Mer – Peaceful & Easy Access
Prefer something calmer? Coudeville-sur-Mer sits between Hauteville and Granville, offering the same fine sand but fewer visitors. It’s semi-urban, with nearby cafés and parking, but retains a peaceful, local feel. There’s a lifeguard station in high season, and it’s a favourite among families seeking a quieter day out.
Grab a freshly baked baguette from La Gourmandise — our favourite boulangerie in Coutances — along with some cheese and fruit for a simple beach picnic. Add a bucket, spade, and a breeze off the Channel, and you’ve got the perfect Norman afternoon 🧺.
🌊 Jullouville Beach – Long, Lively & Full of Life
A 40-minute drive north brings you to Jullouville, one of Normandy’s longest beaches and a summer favourite. With lifeguards in July and August, wide sand flats at low tide, and shallow waters, it’s perfect for kids who love to run wild. The promenade includes playgrounds, beach volleyball, and small funfair rides — ideal for a full-day outing.
In summer, you’ll often catch kite-flying displays or sand-yachting events. Pop into Granville afterwards (10 minutes north) to visit the Chausey Islands or explore Dior’s seaside villa and gardens.
🏝 Saint-Martin-de-Bréhal – Calm Tides & Coastal Cafés
Less famous but loved by locals, Saint-Martin-de-Bréhal offers calm, family-friendly bathing with views across the bay. The sand is soft, and the cafés lining the beach promenade are perfect for parents watching the little ones play. It’s also home to an excellent ice-cream parlour and great seafood spots where you can enjoy moules-frites with your toes still in the sand.
The Plage Saint-Martin area is particularly safe, with gentle slopes and lifeguard coverage during high season. It’s one of the best Normandy beaches for small children — compact, sheltered, and easy to reach.
🌾 Carolles Beach – Wild Beauty & Sea Breezes
Further north near Granville, Carolles offers a wilder, more natural stretch of coastline backed by dunes and cliffs. Families can follow the short trail to the Cabane Vauban, a 17th-century lookout with breathtaking coastal views. It’s a must-visit for anyone who loves walking and hiking in Normandy — with wildflowers, sea air, and wide open horizons that feel a world away from city life.
🧭 Tips for Beach Days with Kids in Normandy
- Arrive early for easy parking and quieter sands — local families often go after lunch.
- Check tide times — beaches like Hauteville and Agon change dramatically between low and high tide.
- Bring shade, reusable bottles, and snacks — cafés often close over lunchtime.
- Follow local rules for dogs; most family beaches welcome them on leads outside restricted hours.
- Use lifeguarded zones and watch flag colours for swimming safety.
- Keep water shoes handy — tidal pools hide tiny crabs and seashells!
🍏 Make a Day of It
After your beach trip, enjoy a local adventure: visit the markets of Coutances, go for a countryside cycle on the Voie Verte, or treat the kids to a visit with our friendly llamas back at the gîte 🦙. You’ll find more ideas in our Family Activities in Normandy series and our Local Events & Festivals page — updated monthly with vide-greniers, fairs, and family outings across the region.
These are just a few of the many beaches along our beautiful coastline, each with its own treasures to discover — from quiet dunes to lively promenades, rock pools, and golden sunsets.
🌟 Final Thought – Normandy Beaches Made for Families
From wild coastal beauty to classic seaside charm, Normandy’s beaches are made for family memories. Here, you can watch the tides roll in, build castles in the sand, and share simple pleasures that define a Normandy family holiday.
Wherever you go — from Hauteville-sur-Mer to Saint-Martin-de-Bréhal — you’ll find gentle waves, friendly faces, and plenty of space to breathe. Come and experience the best family beaches in Normandy — where every day ends with sandy feet, smiling faces, and maybe a scoop of salted caramel ice cream 🍦.