Best French Islands to Visit (Islands in France Mainland & Overseas)

Article written by Elisa - Travel Writer & Local in France
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Corsica is one of the 13 French regions located in metropolitan France. It has only one department, and the capital is the city of Ajaccio, the starting point of most Corsica road trips.

Corsica is one of the most popular summer destinations for the French, eager to discover this island’s extraordinary landscapes. Visit Corsica for sightseeing, a relaxing beach holiday, hiking, and great food and wine.

The island is occupied by the Château d’If, built by King François I in 1524. During its 400 years of activity, the imposing Château d’If was used primarily as a state prison. On the ground floor, the cells only allowed a life expectancy of 9 months due to imprisonment’s deplorable conditions. Upstairs, more spacious cells were reserved for wealthy or prestigious prisoners.

Until 1950, Ile d’If was inhabited by the lighthouse’s guardian and his family. Today, this small island in France is a tourist sight and one of the most popular day trips from Marseille. Numerous shuttle boats link Marseille’s Old Port to Ile d’If hourly, and the guided visit of the island and the château is fascinating. Finally, enjoy one of the best views of Marseille from the summit of the fortress.

This vast territory is famous for its varied land, marine & submarine landscapes, and mild climate. The three main islands are different and unique, and they fit all the ideas of a holiday.

Porquerolles is the biggest of the Hyères Islands. The north coast is made up of sandy beaches covered with pine trees, heather, and fragrant myrtles, while the south coast is steep. Porquerolles is great for hiking, beach days, biking, and snorkeling.

Port-Cros is the wildest and best-preserved of the Hyères Islands (no cars or bikes here) and the heart of Port-Cros National Park. People visit Port-Cros for the day to enjoy one of its numerous marked hiking trails.

Le Levant is a naturist paradise, home to the famous Naturist Domain of Heliopolis. On this French island, you have a magnificent beach, a cute village, and shops. Everyone is allowed to walk naked everywhere except for a few public spaces.

In Lavezzi, you will find a (not accessible) lighthouse and two small cemeteries where the victims of the 1855 shipwreck of the French frigate Sémillante are buried. A couple of trails go around the island, connect the main beaches, and have a couple of viewpoints to admire the sea. 

Piana island is just 300 meters from mainland Corsica, and since the water is incredibly shallow, you can literally walk there. The tiny island is characterized by dunes, thick vegetation, and a small beach with white sand.

These French islands in the Mediterranean can be visited on day trips departing from mainland Corsica or Santa Teresa di Gallura in Sardinia. Keep in mind that there is no service of sorts on the islands, so you will need to bring whatever you may need for the day.

Île Sainte-Marguerite is renowned for one of its past ‘residents’ – the Man in the Iron Mask, who was imprisoned on the island fortress. The man’s identity remains a secret to this day, and the story was made famous by Alexander Dumas in his D’Artagnan books – Click here for a round-trip ferry ticket to Sainte Marguerite island

While it is possible to visit both islands within a couple of hours (this Lérins Islands sunset cruise from Cannes is fabulous!), a full day is recommended for a more leisurely pace.

With more than 100 km of good cycle paths, this French island is an excellent destination to explore on two wheels to the point that many residents rarely use cars or other means of transportation.

The island has a good choice of camping grounds, hotels, bars, and restaurants. Apart from the beaches and the bike rides, the Phare des Baleine, the Fort la Prée, and the ruins of Abbaye des Châteliers are worth visiting.

On Ile-de-Ré, the oysters and fresh fish are excellent, and the fishermen have the habit of selling a small portion of their catch directly on the quays enabling them to buy a drink before going to the market.

Reached via a 3km toll-free bridge that spans the Atlantic Ocean between the coastal towns of Royan and La Rochelle, it makes an easy day trip from the mainland. Take the car or your bike to explore, as the island is large, but riding along the salt marshes and between the vineyards is a delightful way to experience the island. 

Key things to do on Oleron Island include popping into the Citadell du Château d’Oléron to appreciate the island’s history, discovering the colorful fishermen’s huts turned art studios, and browsing the creations on display.

Take a drive out to the Chassiron lighthouse and admire the gardens and museum on site. Swim and sunbathe on one of the island’s expansive beaches, and ride Le P’tit Train de Saint-Trojan for a unique and fun way to explore the coast and pine forests of the island.

A pedestrian path links Mont Saint-Michel to the French coast during the day, but the island is cut off from the rest of the world with the highest tides. This area is known for having the highest tides in Europe, so you must be careful and leave the island well before the first waves arrive.

The island has some medieval streets with beautiful stone architecture. Some houses host small restaurants, and there are a couple of accommodation options too. Then, there’s the medieval abbey, built in the Gothic style. The construction of this abbey is very particular and had to adapt the different spaces to the island’s geography. The sanctuary’s top is crowned by a golden statue of Saint Michel, the saint patron of the abbey.

Ile-aux-Moines is an excellent day trip from Vannes, perfect for a beach day or a bike ride to explore the island. Ferry boats leave from Vannes hourly, and you can carry your bike or rent one on-site.

On Ile-aux-Moines, there is a small village with a hostel, a couple of bars and restaurants, and a food store. This island is a quiet place and a popular family destination, and renting a house for a week or a full month is very common.

Despite its small size, there are many exciting things to see and do on the island to keep you busy for the day. Ile-aux-Moines is totally flat, and there are different signposted bike paths to explore the island on two wheels. Some of these paths explore the coast, and there are some cool spots for a bath. There are also some prehistoric stone alignments free to visit, or you can decide to do a picnic on the beach.

Don’t miss Plage des Dames and its beautiful promenade, wooden pier, and pretty beach huts. For a bit of sightseeing, visit the 15th-century Château de Noirmoutier, while the rampart walk provides pleasant views of the town, the salt marshes, and the ocean. The Romanesque Saint Philbert Church and the Sealand Aquarium are also interesting to visit.

Noirmoutier is very flat, so it is perfect for exploring by bike. We particularly recommend the ride through the Bois de la Chaize, a shady forest of oak, pine, and eucalyptus trees. For lunch or dinner, you have many restaurants in the port offering great fish and seafood for all budgets.

The beaches in Martinique are world-famous, but this French Caribbean island also has excellent hikes, exuberant gardens, and colorful villages.

One of the best French tropical islands, Martinique also has an interesting heritage influenced by various cultures. Many museums, distilleries, gardens, and Creole houses are fun to visit, and they are a good way to learn more about the island’s fascinating history.

Guadeloupe is a postcard island with the shape of a butterfly. The island’s left side (Basse-Terre) is mountainous, wild, and with lush forests, while the right side of the island (Grande-Terre) is the beachy side of Guadeloupe.

Guadeloupe is the best French Caribbean island for nature lovers. The perfect Guadeloupe itinerary combines time spent on both sides of the main island plus a day trip or a short stay on one of the other islands. Dream landscapes, great hikes, good living, and the pleasure of the senses under the gaze of the volcano La Soufrière, Guadeloupe is all this and more.

There is an impressive amount of things to do in St Barth for such a tiny territory. The excitement starts from the very beginning of your trip when your small plane needs to make a very precise U-turn to make a perfect landing on the runaway tucked between stretches of rocks.

14. Les Saintes

Les Saintes is the place in the Caribbean where the sweetness of doing nothing is not a luxury but an acquired right. Here, you will find the typical French sophistication meets the laid-back and colorful Caribbean lifestyle.

The archipelago of Les Saintes belongs to Guadeloupe. It’s located 15 km from the southern coast of Guadeloupe and is made of nine islands: Terre-de-Haut, Terre-de-Bas, Grand-Îlet, Les Roches Percées, Îlet-à-Cabrit, La Redonde, La Coche, Les Augustins, and Le Pâté. Only Terre-de-Haut and Terre-de-Bas are inhabited.

In these French islands in the Caribbean, you will find pristine natural landscapes but with the necessary comforts such as hotels and restaurants. The Bay of Les Saintes is listed as one of the most beautiful bays in the world but remains largely unblemished by tourism.

If you are looking for a vacation full of secluded bays, beautiful beaches, dive sites, historical landmarks, and delicious food, then a trip to Les Saintes, Guadeloupe, is the right choice.

Snorkeling, scuba diving, swimming, and boating in the lagoon are must-do water activities to experience. On land, hiking, and golf are top attractions.

Nouméa has a relaxed vibe, and everywhere you go, you will see a unique fusion of Melanesian and French cultures. The best place to learn about this fascinating cultural diversity is the Tjibaou Cultural Centre, which is an impressive contemporary architectural structure that houses displays of Kanak culture. Other museums to tick off your to-visit list are the Museum of New Caledonia and the Maritime Museum of New Caledonia.

Nouméa also has boutiques with fashion from Paris, French-influenced restaurants, and cafés where you can drink excellent coffee and eat croissants. With spectacular white-sand beaches, swaying palm trees, and a string of remote islands, New Caledonia is one of the best French-speaking islands at the end of the world.

Tahiti is also one of the best islands in French Polynesia for surfing, with locations for all levels ranging from beginners to advanced. Surfing in Tahiti is so good that Tahiti was chosen to host the surfing events of the Paris 2024 Olympics from mid-July to early August. This is where you’ll find Teahupoo, considered the most challenging break in the world because of its sheer power and the deadly reef below.

You can also rent a car and explore the island’s interior. Even though Moorea is not large, you can find lots of hiking trails in the jungle. One of the best ones takes you to 3 Cocotiers, a viewpoint from where you can see almost the whole island.

Réunion is a paradise for hikers. With 40% of the territory listed as UNESCO World Heritage, this wonderful island is well-known for its volcanic, rainforested interior, coral reefs, and beaches.

The Piton de la Fournaise is Réunion’s most iconic site, and it is one of the world’s most active volcanoes today. The list of other natural wonders in Réunion includes more volcanoes, three calderas, and many fairytale waterfalls.

And there you have it, the best French islands to visit. Which islands in France – or French-speaking islands – would you like to explore right now?

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