The pearl of the "Golden Isles" with its clear waters. A sunny alternative to the Baltic Sea.

This is the French island of Porquerolles, located in the Mediterranean Sea, and its most accessible beach, Notre-Dame Beach. It stretches along 800 meters of shoreline, boasts distinctive fine sand, and is surrounded by beautiful forests. The sea water is crystal clear, making swimming a pleasure. Locals love to visit, but tourists from other countries also abound. It's only a few hours' drive from Poland.

A unique beach in France

Porquerolles Island, with its Notre-Dame beach, is a paradise located near the city of Hyères on the French Riviera. It is part of the Îles d'Hyères archipelago, known as the Golden Isles. It offers peace, an intimate atmosphere, and peaceful relaxation. It also guarantees fabulous views and the unique scent of pine trees. The terrain is diverse – to the south, you'll find a cliff coastline, while to the north, you'll find beautiful bays with beaches.

It's a virtually deserted place. Porquerolles has only one town and few hotels. Furthermore, there are no cars. Relaxing on the beach is pleasant and safe. The water remains shallow for 300 meters from the shore, forming natural pools sheltered from the wind.

Interestingly, Porquerolles is also considered the best island in the area for cycling. It's practically the only means of transport that works there. Renting bikes is easy. Besides Notre-Dame Beach, there are many other attractions worth seeing, including the picturesque calanques, the Cap des Mèdes cliffs, d'Argent and de la Courtade beaches, the 19th-century Sainte-Anne Church, and the rocky Gorges du Loup.

Instagram

An alternative to the Baltic Sea

Currently, it's around 26 degrees Celsius on Notre-Dame Beach and Porquerolles Island. This is expected to remain the same throughout the next week, and the sun will shine almost constantly. This is completely different from the Baltic Sea, where we're currently experiencing clouds, rain, and temperatures around 10 degrees Celsius. The weather is absolutely not conducive to swimming, let alone sunbathing. Choosing another European beach in a location with better weather conditions could be a great alternative.

Getting to Porquerolles from Poland is easy, though it does require a bit of patience. The flight to the French Riviera takes about two hours. Then, there's the ferry crossing. It's best to fly to Nice or Marseille, then take a bus or train to Hyères. Then, take a ferry from Tour Fondue on the Giens peninsula directly to Porquerolles. This takes 15 to 20 minutes. Ferries also run from Toulon, Saint-Tropez, and Saint-Raphael.

instagram Also read: "I love Capri, but..." Tourists don't know this beautiful island yet. Also read: This Greek island has the cleanest water in the world. Tourists don't know it yet.