Five coastal drives for a weekend away

Two days, a full tank and a road along the sea: few weekends are easier to plan. Here are five drives our members love, each one starting from a city where you will find cars to rent on Drivego.

The Corniche of the Esterel, from Marseille

Between Saint-Raphaël and Mandelieu, the road winds above red rocks and turquoise coves. Stop at the Cap du Dramont for the view, and plan a swim at one of the small beaches below the road.

The Wild Coast of Quiberon, from Nantes

Two hours from Nantes, the western side of the Quiberon peninsula is all cliffs and Atlantic waves. Drive it at sunset, then dinner in the harbour of Port-Haliguen.

The Silver Coast, from Bordeaux

From Lacanau to the Dune du Pilat, the road runs through pine forests and opens onto endless beaches. A convertible is perfect here; leave room in the boot for surfboards.

The Calanques road, from Marseille

The Route des Crêtes between Cassis and La Ciotat climbs along the highest sea cliffs in France. Go early in the morning: the road is narrow and the car parks fill up fast in summer.

The Opal Coast, from Paris

Three hours north of Paris, the two capes, Gris-Nez and Blanc-Nez, look out to the English cliffs on a clear day. Ideal for a cool weekend, in any season.

Whichever road you choose, check the kilometres included in the listing: a coastal weekend easily adds up to 400 or 500 km.