Porquerolles – cycling to beaches on the Golden Isles

Writer: Helena Bergström

Updated: September 2026 | Porquerolles is the largest of the Golden Islands off Hyères on the French Riviera. Here you will find cycle paths, pine forests, vineyards and fantastic bathing coves. We rented bikes and pedaled to Plage Notre-Dame, a beach that has actually been named the most beautiful in Europe.

Porquerolles – the largest of the Golden Isles

Porquerolles is the largest of the three main islands in Hyeres Islands, which is also commonly called Iles d'Or, the Golden Islands. The other two are Port-Cros and Île du Levant, and we had decided to visit all three during our trip along the French Riviera in 2018.

It turned out to be three very different experiences. On Île du Levant we ended up on the naturist island of Héliopolis and slept in a tent. On Port-Cros we tried to hike to La Palud beach, but had to turn back because of the heat. Porquerolles? Here we cycled.

Boat to Porquerolles

There are boats to Porquerolles from several places along the coast. We went from Le Lavandou, where we lived with the camper.

Our crossing took about an hour. Prices, departure times and boat connections change, so the old ticket prices from our 2018 trip will remain in the archive. What matters is what awaits when the boat arrives. An island that is made to be discovered on two wheels.

Porquerolles – the island where everyone cycles

It didn't take many minutes before we understood what was going on at Porquerolles: Here you can cycle. The bike rentals are located close to the village by the harbor and the island has an extensive network of roads and trails that make it possible to get between beaches, forests, viewpoints and other attractions. So we each rented a bike.

We were here in the middle of the hot French summer and had already experienced at Port-Cros what the heat could do. This time we didn't plan to walk. We planned to cycle.

Cycling on Porquerolles

Cycling on Porquerolles is a big part of the experience. From the village, roads and cycle paths lead in different directions across the island. The landscape varies between pine and eucalyptus forests, plantations, vineyards and the coast.

The north side is mainly known for its sandy beaches, while the south coast is much more dramatic with cliffs and smaller bays. We had a very clear goal: Notre Dame Beach.

Plage Notre-Dame at Porquerolles

From the village, it takes about 25 minutes to cycle to Plage Notre-Dame, depending on your pace and how many times you stop along the way. And this is not just any beach.

In 2015, the organization placed European Best Destinations Plage Notre-Dame is number one on its list of the most beautiful beaches in Europe. The organization also lists it as number one among its best beaches in France.

Of course, that doesn't mean that anyone has scientifically determined which beach is the most beautiful. But this beach is certainly beautiful. Even very beautiful!

Is Notre-Dame the most beautiful beach in Europe?

When we arrived, we were greeted by a light sandy beach, clear turquoise water and pine trees framing the beach. It is also relatively long and is located a bit away from the village itself, which makes the environment feel much more natural than on many classic holiday beaches along the Riviera.

Was it the most beautiful beach we've ever seen? That's a matter of taste, of course. But at least we can say that it didn't lose out to the competition. And after the bike ride in the heat, the Mediterranean was extra tempting.

More beaches on Porquerolles

Notre-Dame is far from the only nice beach on the island.

• Silver Beach is located west of the village and is one of the most easily accessible sandy beaches.
• Courtade Beach is located closer to the village and is another popular swimming spot.

The northern part of Porquerolles has several sandy beaches framed by Mediterranean vegetation, while the southern coast is more rocky and dramatic. We concentrated on Notre-Dame. In the prevailing heat, we didn't feel the need to turn the day into a beach-collecting championship.

The village of Porquerolles

When the boat docks, you come straight to the small village of Porquerolles. Here you will find restaurants, cafes, shops and of course all those bike rentals. After our bike ride, we needed something important: Ice cream. Peter also found two of his favorite flavors: rum raisin and lemon.

Maybe not a combination that will win any international gastronomic awards, but after a hot bike ride it worked perfectly.

The strange history of Porquerolles

Porquerolles also has a history that almost sounds made up. In 1912, Francois-Joseph Fournier The island. He had made a fortune in gold and silver mines in Mexico and gave Porquerolles as a wedding present to his wife Sylvia. Not bad for a morning gift!

Fournier then developed the island's vineyards and agriculture, planted trees, built roads and improved the infrastructure. After his death in 1935, the property gradually began to be divided, and in 1971 a large part of the island was sold to the French state. This helped to protect large parts of Porquerolles from exploitation.

Vineyards on Porquerolles

Wine is still part of the landscape on Porquerolles. When cycling across the island, you pass vineyards and vineyards that give Porquerolles another dimension beyond the beaches and nature.

There was no winery tour for us this time. We were busy with bikes, the beach and ice cream. You simply have to prioritize…

The Legend of the Golden Isles

And then, of course, there is the legend of how the Golden Islands came to be. According to an old story, a father had four very beautiful daughters who one day swam far out to sea. When pirate ships approached, he tried in vain to call them back.

Finally, he asked the gods to save his daughters. The three who were furthest out to sea were transformed into the islands Porquerolles, Port-Cros and Levant Island, while the daughter closest to land became Giens Peninsula.

There, according to legend, they are said to have remained in the form of three islands and a peninsula. And maybe that's why they are called the Golden Islands. True? Hardly. But much more fun than a geological account.

Nature on Porquerolles

Porquerolles is not only a holiday destination but also a protected natural area. Large parts of the island are included in Port-Cros National Park, and the combination of protected nature and limited car traffic is a big part of the experience.

This is also why it is so natural to get around by bike or on foot. During the summer, fire risk is important to take seriously and access to natural areas may be restricted on high-risk days. It is therefore wise to check current conditions before setting out.

The three Golden Islands – which one should you choose?

After this day we had visited all three.

• Porquerolles for cycling, beaches and a wider range.
• Port-Cros for hiking, national parks and wilder nature.
• Levant Island for the different environment around the naturist area Héliopolis.

If you have time, we think the most fun thing is to do what we did: visit all three. Because the fascinating thing is how different they actually are.

Is Porquerolles worth a visit?

Yes, absolutely! Porquerolles is more visited and more prepared for tourism than Port-Cros and Île du Levant, but the island also has fantastically beautiful nature and some of the finest beaches in the area.

For us, the bike ride to Notre-Dame was the highlight. We arrived in Porquerolles after two rather adventurous island visits. On Île du Levant we had suddenly had to sleep in a tent and on Port-Cros we had to interrupt our hike in the heat. On Porquerolles everything went almost suspiciously smoothly: We rented bikes, we found the beach, we ate ice cream. Sometimes an adventure doesn't actually have to be any more difficult than that.

See more in the neighbourhood

If you want to get lost and experience more nearby, there is so much to discover! Here are our best tips:

• The Esterel Mountains and the Corniche d'Or
• Giens Peninsula
• Guide to the French Riviera
• Saint-Tropez