Lacanau, Le Porge, Carcans-Hourtin, Soulac: the finest ocean beaches of Gironde are less than an hour from Bordeaux, yet rarely well served by train or bus. With a private chauffeur, you leave from your doorstep, with no parking stress and no timetable constraints. And if you are ready to drive a little further south, the Landes beaches — Biscarrosse, Mimizan, Moliets, Vieux-Boucau, Hossegor — fit into the same day out.
The great ocean beaches accessible from Bordeaux
The Gironde Atlantic coast lines up fine sandy beaches bordered by dunes, all located west of Bordeaux. Each has its own character, and the right choice depends above all on what you are looking for: surfing, family swimming, unspoilt nature or a lively resort.
Le Porge, the nature beach
About 60 km and 40 minutes from Bordeaux, Le Porge-Océan is one of the most wild and unspoilt beaches on the coast, with several kilometres of sand bordered by dunes. It is the ideal destination for those who want the ocean without the crowds of the big resorts.
Lacanau-Océan, the surf spirit
About 64 km and 50 minutes away, Lacanau-Océan is the most lively and dynamic resort, renowned for its surf spots and international competitions. Young atmosphere, shops and surf schools along the seafront: perfect for an active day.
Carcans-Hourtin, between ocean and great lake
About 65 km and close to an hour away, the Carcans-Hourtin area offers a double advantage: the ocean beach on one side and, on the other, the largest natural freshwater lake in France. The lake beaches, with shallow waters supervised in season, are particularly suited to young children.
Soulac-sur-Mer, the charm of the point
Further north, about 94 km and 1h30 away, Soulac-sur-Mer charms with its family seaside-resort atmosphere and its Belle Époque architecture. The distance quickly makes the personal car constraining: this is typically the trip where the private chauffeur makes full sense.
Going to the beach without a car: the limits of train and bus
The Bordeaux tourist office acknowledges it itself: reaching the ocean without a car is possible, but each solution has its constraints.
- The train directly serves only a few destinations (Arcachon, Soulac) and surfboards are not allowed on board.
- The regional bus takes around two hours and mainly runs in peak season, with limited frequencies.
- Cycling to Lacanau means more than 66 km, reserved for very well-trained cyclists.
- The personal car runs into traffic jams and saturated car parks on summer weekends.
The result: for a family loaded with luggage, a group, or a surfer with their gear, none of these options is really comfortable.
Why choose a private chauffeur for the beach
The private chauffeur solves all these friction points at once. You are picked up outside your home or your hotel, at the chosen time, and dropped off as close as possible to the beach, with no shuttle or endless walk.
The comfort of door to door
No searching for a space, no parking to pay, no walk back under the sun with your things. You enjoy the day and the driver comes back for you at the agreed time. Also ideal for carrying surfboards, strollers and coolers without worrying about space.
A solution for families and groups
For large families or groups of friends, Bordeaux Privilège’s van for up to 7 passengers lets you travel together, luggage included, without multiplying vehicles. To find out the exact amount according to your beach and your schedule, see our rates page or request a quote.
Distances and travel times: the comparison
| Beach | Distance | Time by car | Atmosphere | Ideal for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Le Porge | ~60 km | ~40 min | Nature, wild | Calm, dunes, tranquillity |
| Lacanau-Océan | ~64 km | ~50 min | Lively, surf | Surfing, active day |
| Carcans-Hourtin | ~65 km | ~1 h | Ocean + lake | Families, young children |
| Soulac-sur-Mer | ~94 km | ~1 h 30 | Seaside, Belle Époque | Family day up north |
The times shown are given outside busy periods: in high season and at weekends, traffic can lengthen them significantly, one more reason to let yourself be driven.
Which beach for which profile
As a family with young children
Go for Carcans-Hourtin and its lake with calm, shallow waters, or Soulac for its family atmosphere. The 8-seater van makes it easy to carry strollers and beach equipment.
For surfing or for the atmosphere
Lacanau-Océan remains the reference for surfing and atmosphere. The private chauffeur solves the surfers’ real problem: carrying the board, impossible by train.
For nature and quiet
Le Porge offers the unspoilt ocean just 40 minutes away, without the crowds of the big resorts. A question about your destination? Contact us or write to us on WhatsApp.
Going further south: the Landes beaches
South of the Bassin d’Arcachon the shoreline changes character. The bay and its oyster villages give way to an uninterrupted run of sand backed by pine forest: no cliffs, no headlands, very few large towns, repeated for well over a hundred kilometres. You have crossed from the Gironde into the Landes, where the resorts are smaller, further apart, and noticeably quieter than Lacanau or Le Porge in high season.
They stay quieter for a simple reason: there is no coastal railway on this stretch. The line runs well inland, so any train option means an inland station followed by a seasonal bus, with connections that rarely line up in your favour. That is exactly the trip a private chauffeur is made for.
Distances and driving times to the Landes beaches
| Destination | Distance | Time by car | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biscarrosse-Plage | ~84 km | ~1 h 15 | Closest Landes beach, resort plus inland lakes |
| Mimizan-Plage | ~121 km | ~1 h 35 | One of the main Côte d’Argent resorts |
| Moliets-et-Maa | ~151 km | ~1 h 50 | Beach at the mouth of the Courant d’Huchet reserve |
| Messanges | ~155 km | ~1 h 50 | Wide dune beach, low-rise resort |
| Vieux-Boucau | ~158 km | ~1 h 55 | Ocean beach plus a sheltered saltwater lake |
| Seignosse | ~165 km | ~1 h 55 | Surf beaches, forest and golf |
| Capbreton | ~168 km | ~1 h 50 | Working marina with direct ocean access |
| Hossegor | ~171 km | ~1 h 55 | Best-known surf town on this coast |
One figure is worth remembering: only 40 minutes of driving separates the nearest of these from the furthest. Once you have committed to leaving Bordeaux, the gap between Biscarrosse and Hossegor is far smaller than it looks on a map, so choose the beach that suits the day you want rather than the one that seems closest.
Which Landes beach for which day
- With young children: Vieux-Boucau. Alongside the ocean beach lies an artificial saltwater lake, shared with neighbouring Soustons, where the water is shallow and calm — a real advantage on a day with a strong Atlantic swell.
- For surfing: Hossegor, Seignosse and Capbreton. The best-known surf cluster in south-west France, all within a few kilometres of one another. Boards travel with you in the vehicle, which the train does not allow.
- For scenery and quiet: Moliets-et-Maa. The beach sits at the mouth of the Courant d’Huchet, a coastal stream running through a national nature reserve, with beach and reserve within walking distance of each other.
- For a first visit: Biscarrosse-Plage or Mimizan-Plage. The shortest drives, full-service resorts, and freshwater lakes a few minutes inland if the ocean is rough.
How a Landes transfer is organised
A run to the Landes is a long-distance journey rather than a city transfer, so it is arranged as a fixed price agreed before departure, with no meter. Travel is by SUV, with the van for up to 7 passengers on request for larger groups or bulky beach gear. Waiting on site is included for up to one hour; beyond that, a full beach day is better booked as an hourly hire, from €60 per hour, which keeps the vehicle and driver with you and leaves the return time flexible. Trips of this length are quoted per booking rather than taken from the standard grid.
Many coast trips also start at the airport rather than in the city: beginning at Bordeaux-Mérignac avoids a detour into Bordeaux and back out, roughly 45 minutes saved on a journey south. On the way, the Arcachon Bay and Dune du Pilat transfers cover the stretch between the two coasts.
Frequently asked questions
Which ocean beach is closest to Bordeaux?
Le Porge, about 60 km and 40 minutes’ drive from Bordeaux, is the fastest ocean beach to reach from Bordeaux. Lacanau-Océan follows closely, about fifty minutes away.
Can surfboards be transported?
Yes. Unlike the train, where boards are not allowed, the private chauffeur carries your surf gear without difficulty. Please mention it when booking so we can adapt the vehicle.
Does the driver wait on site or come back later?
Both options are possible: available for the day, or drop-off then return at the agreed time. The choice depends on your programme and is set when booking.
Can I book for a group or a large family?
Yes, thanks to the van for up to 7 passengers, luggage and beach equipment included. It is often simpler and more economical than travelling in several cars.
How far are the Landes beaches from Bordeaux?
Biscarrosse-Plage is the closest, about 84 km and 1 h 15 of driving from central Bordeaux. Hossegor, at the southern end of the coast, is about 171 km and 1 h 55. Every other Landes resort falls between the two.
Can I reach the Landes beaches by train from Bordeaux?
Not directly. There is no coastal railway on this stretch: the line runs inland, so any rail option means a train to an inland station plus a seasonal bus, and the journey time increases substantially. This is the main reason visitors book a private transfer for these beaches.