The sea, still and always an essential part of the holidays.
This is revealed by the holiday rental comparator Likibu, which has produced a ranking of the 50 most searched French small towns on the Internet for the Easter holidays 2023. To develop this study, the platform is interested in more than 4,300 municipalities with a population between 2,000 and 10,000 inhabitants.
It was based on a methodology similar to that of the ranking of the most sought-after French villages.
Likibu analyzed data corresponding to the number of monthly Google searches over the past 12 months for queries such as "What to do", "What to see", "What to visit" or even the name of the city alone (1).
Unsurprisingly, seaside resorts dominate the Top 10, with Deauville in the lead and seven other cities.
Sarlat-la-Canéda (2nd) and Chamonix (6th) complete the ranking.
Read alsoTop 10 of the most sought-after French villages in 2023: and you, where would you go?
1. Deauville
The boards of Deauville have contributed to the fame of the city.
RABI MERIZAK / Adobe Stock
Its boards, its beach, its casino... Deauville has made a name for itself on the tourist scene, both for the beauty of its landscapes and its international reputation, with its film festival and its horse races.
But difficult not to mention its twin Trouville, on the other side of the bridge.
The two Norman towns break attendance records, and are so popular with Parisians that some call them the “21st arrondissement of Paris”.
Read alsoTwo days in Deauville/Trouville, hedonistic stroll along the water
2. Sarlat-la-Caneda
It's hard not to succumb to the medieval charm of Sarlat-la-Canéda.
Violet Stone / Adobe Stock
It is one of the most beautiful medieval cities in France.
Sarlat-la-Canéda - or just Sarlat for the regulars - has no less than 66 listed monuments on 11 hectares, between mansions, convents, fountains and churches.
It's hard not to be charmed by the picturesque streets of the town, which has become a flagship destination in the Périgord Noir.
To read also Trip in the golden triangle of Périgord between castles, villages and extraordinary gardens
3. Le Grau-du-Roi
Le Grau-du-Roi is a pretty gateway to discover the Camargue.
Peter Eckert / Adobe Stock
It is a popular destination in the Gard.
A former fishing village that has become a holiday resort, the town of Grau-du-Roi is an ideal starting point for discovering the Camargue.
The town is particularly famous for its wild Espiguette beach and its sand dunes.
The sea, for its part, gives Le Grau-du-Roi a little taste of paradise.
Read alsoFrom Arles to Aigues-Mortes, what to do in the Camargue?
4. Honfleur
Honfleur has inspired many painters, including Claude Monet and Gustave Courbet.
City Johannes Kalervo Valkama / Adobe Stock
A source of inspiration for many impressionists (including Gustave Courbet, Eugène Boudin and Claude Monet), Honfleur never ceases to charm with its picturesque old port and its slate-covered houses.
Its picturesque alleys and its Vieux-Bassin also make it a tourist hotspot in Normandy.
Not to be missed if you are passing through.
Read alsoGourmet and impressionist winter weekend in Honfleur
5. St. Tropez
Saint-Tropez is one of the jewels of the Côte d'Azur.
Adobe Stock
"On the abandoned beach...shells and crustaceans..."
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It's hard not to hum the famous song of "La Madrague" when the name of Saint-Tropez is mentioned.
If in summer the little jewel of the Côte d'Azur suffers from its overcrowding, it is not the same in the high hours of spring.
You can (re)discover with relative tranquility the Provençal atmosphere and the colorful facades of the buildings which contribute to the charm of this town of 8,000 inhabitants all year round.
Read also48 hours in Saint-Tropez, from the sunny beach to beautiful hidden addresses
6.Chamonix
Chamonix offers a privileged view of the snow-capped Alpine peaks.
Elisa Locci / Adobe Stock
Chamonix no longer has its reputation to do.
Known throughout the world, the city oscillates between its typically mountain side and its fame beyond our borders.
Located at the foot of Mont-Blanc, the town offers a privileged view of the snow-capped Alpine peaks.
It is also the starting point for the Aiguille du Midi cable car and the Montenvers train, which goes to the Mer de Glace, in the Mont-Blanc massif.
Read alsoAprès-ski in Chamonix: good restaurants, crafts, spa... Our best addresses
7. Cassis
The Calanques of Port-Pin, in Cassis, are a natural marvel.
Adobe Stock
It's hard not to succumb to the charm of Cassis.
With its castle overlooking the city, its pebble beaches or its white limestone creeks... the city has a lot to offer passing visitors.
They are also vineyards to explore for wine lovers.
The narrow streets and squares lined with colorful fishermen's houses are always full when spring and summer come.
Read alsoFive charming hotels and accommodation close to the creeks
8. Collioure
The charm of Collioure operates on visitors.
Boris Stroujko / Adobe Stock
The blue of the Mediterranean continues to permeate Collioure.
It must be said that the town, located 26 km from the Spanish border, offers an authentic setting.
The small Catalan port, located on the Vermeille coast, nestles in a cove full of charm.
Not to mention its flowery alleys, in which we can take shelter when the heat of summer comes to overwhelm us.
Read alsoOur essentials on the Côte Vermeille, in the Pyrénées-Orientales
9. Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer
The Notre-Dame-de-la-Mer church is one of the focal points of Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer.
VILLENA GERALD / Adobe Stock
A nature that amazes.
Between the Camargue natural park and the Pont de Gau ornithological park, Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer has something to delight nature lovers.
The town is also an important place of pilgrimage for the gypsy community, which comes to venerate its saint Sara-la-Noire, or Sara la Kali.
The Notre-Dame-de-la-Mer church is also a landmark, with its famous bell tower that can be seen in the distance.
Read alsoWhere to go in Provence this summer?
Our hidden addresses from Saintes Maries de la Mer to Isle-sur-la-Sorgue
10. Le Barcares
Le Barcarès is one of the jewels of the Catalan coast.
Philippe Devane
Not far from Perpignan, Le Barcarès is a small jewel of the Catalan coast.
Every summer, the small town hosts one of the biggest electronic music festivals, the Electrobeach Music Festival.
You can also discover the Lydia, considered one of the oldest liners in the world, but also the rich biodiversity of the natural spaces that surround it.
Read alsoThe most beautiful coves and beaches on the Catalan coast
(1) Methodology: This study was carried out between April 12 and 17, 2023. All French cities with less than 10,000 inhabitants were taken into account, i.e. any municipality with a population between 2,000 and 10 000 inhabitants (INSEE database 2018).
The data correspond to the number of average monthly searches on Google over the last 12 months for:
- the various most searched queries among “What to do”, “What to see”, “What to visit” + the name of the city (for example “What to do in Deauville”, “What to see in Deauville”, “Visit Deauville”, etc.),
- the name of the city alone (for example “Deauville” has an average of 110,000 monthly queries over the last 12 months on Google).
Cities with a monthly search volume of less than 1,000 for the queries “What to do”, “What to see”, “What to visit” were not taken into account for the overall ranking.
