Location
France
Status
Officially Designated
Suitable for
Families and adults
Terrain
Sand
Best season
May to September
About Plage Naturiste des Vieux Salins
The naturist beach of the Vieux Salins is a section of the long Plage des Salins (also called Plage du Pentagone) east of Hyères in the Var, facing the Îles d'Hyères. From Port Pothuau and the hamlet of Les Vieux Salins the sand runs about 2.5 km east towards La Londe-les-Maures, with a pine wood and the old salt pans (now a Conservatoire du littoral nature area) behind it. The area near the port is wide, supervised and family-oriented, with beach restaurants and mattress hire. The nude section starts about 500 m east of the port and runs for roughly 250 m along the pines; it is looked after by a local association, the Amicale de la plage naturiste des Vieux Salins de Hyères (APNVSH). The beach is sandy with fine shingle in places, the water is calm and shallow, and seagrass often washes up. Beyond the naturist zone the beach gets wilder and quieter. Regulars, many of them couples, have their established spots.
Getting there
From Hyères follow the coast road to Les Salins and Port Pothuau. At the port turn left onto rue Saint-Nicolas, then second right to the large free car park at the end of rue de la Rascasse, which gives direct access to the beach and the coastal path. Walk east along the beach about 500 m from the port to the naturist section. Local buses serve Les Salins from Hyères. The main beach near the port has a water-access mat, an amphibious wheelchair on loan and adapted toilets; the naturist section itself is reached over sand.
What visitors say
Opinions are mixed. Some visitors, including first-timers, found a friendly, relaxed crowd with many couples and no staring. Others describe a clique of regulars who claim spots and act as self-appointed managers, and one 2018 review reported voyeurs and sexual behaviour in the water and advised women to avoid it. People agree the naturist section is less groomed than the family beach, has no lifeguard and feels wilder; the free car park is convenient.
Summarised in our own words from public reviews and guides listed under Sources.
Amenities
Legal context
The regional tourism board (Côte d'Azur France) states that part of Plage des Salins is reserved for naturists (2026). Lifeguard cover is at the family section near Port Pothuau, not the naturist zone. The salt-pan nature area behind is protected and has its own access rules.
Naturism at Plage Naturiste des Vieux Salins sits under France's rules for officially designated nude beaches — explicit protection inside the marked area.
Full country law: France public nudity guide.
Naturist status confirmed against an official source on 24 October 2026.
Location
View on interactive map
Approx. 43.1163, 6.2102
Visitor tips
- 1 Official designation: nudity is protected inside the marked area.
- 2 Towel, water, sunscreen. Sit on your own towel.
- 3 No photos without clear consent.
- 4 Check access, tides, and parking before you go.
- 5 House rules and local custom can be stricter than the law.
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Frequently asked questions
Is nudity allowed at the Plage des Salins in Hyères?
Yes, in a section reserved for naturists, about 500 m east of Port Pothuau along the pine wood; the rest of the beach is textile.
Where should I park?
Use the large free car park at the end of rue de la Rascasse near Les Vieux Salins.
Is there a lifeguard?
In summer, lifeguards cover the family area near the port, not the naturist section.
Are there facilities?
Toilets, seasonal showers and beach restaurants are by the main beach; the nude section itself has none.
Sources
Important
Beach status changes. Verify current conditions before you go. This is guidance, not legal advice.
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