Lacanau cottage holidays, Girionde A famous beach resort known for its surfing and lively nightlife

Lacanau town and its delightful modern beach resort Lacanau Ocean, renowned as a surfing mecca, sit on the west coast of the Médoc peninsula just 40kms north-west of Bordeaux. The resort is a very popular retreat for many Bordeauxians as well as tourists from around Europe and is the busiest town on the Cote d'Argent.

Sandwiched between the town and the beach resort is Lake Lacanau with its own Ile aux Oiseaux in the middle. This nature reserve is a great place to explore, and if the coastal Atlantic swells are too large for the children to swim, this lake is a good alternative with a few beaches and all types of watersports.

For evening entertainment, the first port of call after a lazy day on the beach is typically Mulligan's overlooking the sea - cocktails, a live band and great fun. In town, the busiest strip is Allée Pierre Ortal where you will find many restaurants, open-top terrace music bars and clubs that always stay open until the early hours during summer.

At a glance...
Restaurants 30+
Cycling trails
Hiking trails sand dunes, lake
Wine tasting tours
Spa & wellness
Family friendly
Beaches & lakes
Golf - 18 & 9 hole courses
Markets
Car recommended
Nearest airport Bordeaux (40km)
Nearest train station Bordeaux Saint-Jean
Lacanau beach sunset

Lacanau Beaches

There are 14kms of local beaches with the two main ones being Plage Norde and Plage Centrale. These family friendly beaches offer many watersports such as...

  • Surfing
  • Boogie board
  • Windsurfing and kitesurfing
  • Sailing
  • Stand up paddle boards
  • Kayaking

For a bit of alternative relaxation, Lacanau has 8 spa & wellness facilities such as Spa Vitalparc. These offer various treatments, massages, whirlpool and saunas.

Featured Lacanau holiday cottages

The centre of Lacanau is characterised by small quaint town houses that are very popular with tourists, as everything that Lacanau has to offer is on your doorstep. Around Lacanau Ocean, there is a wide selection of self catering holiday rental accommodation, from spacious cottages to apartment style residences, many with private or shared swimming pools.

See all rentals

Lacanau has a warm and temperate climate and due to its slightly inland location and the effects of the Gulf stream, has warm sunny summers and mild wet winters. Summer temperatures can drift into the upper 20s which is not too hot for touring the vineyards or having a lazy day on the beach.

Things to see and do in Lacanau

Lacanau and the surrounding area is full of interesting villages, historic cities and countryside to explore.

A few suggestions...
Lacanau lagoon and Bird Island
Maubuisson forest adventure park
Bay of Arcachon
Cap Ferret
Aqualiday waterpark - Lacanau
Day trip to Bordeaux
Lakes & lagoons near Hourtin
Lacanau

Our view on Lacanau

One of the most popular beach resorts in the Gironde, Lacanau is lively, great fun and has plenty of facilities and things to see and do for all ages, whether the sun is shining or not.