Aix-les-Bains sits directly on the western shore of Lac du Bourget — France’s largest natural lake — and has been a lakeside resort since the Romans built thermal baths here two thousand years ago. Today the town has three beaches within easy walking distance of the centre, plus two more just south of town reachable on foot or by bike along the lakeside promenade. Water temperatures reach 24–26°C in July and August; the lake is clean and well-monitored. Here is our guide to the five best swimming spots in and around Aix-les-Bains.
🏖️ Quick summary:
- Best for young children: Plage d’Aix — large sand beach, very shallow water, inflatable play structures in summer
- Best for swimming: Plage du Rowing or Brison-Saint-Innocent — deeper water, good facilities
- Best for shade: Plage de Mémard — shaded esplanade, dog-friendly section
- Best for atmosphere: Le Lido — lakeside restaurant, jetty, 2.5 km south of town
- Furthest but finest: Brison-Saint-Innocent — south-facing, deep clear water, accessible on foot via the lakeside walkway
1. Plage d’Aix — the main town beach
The largest beach in Aix-les-Bains — a broad sand beach with very shallow water that gives it an almost lagoon-like quality on sunny days. The gentle slope means you walk a long way before the water deepens, making it exceptionally good for young children learning to swim or simply playing at the water’s edge. In summer, paid inflatable water structures are set up in the swimming area. A brasserie-style restaurant and public toilets are on site. Access via the Parking Daniel Rops or Avenue du Petit Port.
- Best for: young children, first-time lake swimmers
- Water: sand, very shallow, lagoon character
- Facilities: restaurant, public toilets, paid summer inflatables
- Access: Parking Daniel Rops or Avenue du Petit Port
2. Plage du Rowing — better for swimming
Separated from the Plage d’Aix by a narrow band of reeds and the rowing club, the Rowing beach is very similar in atmosphere but with slightly deeper water — reachable for swimming without walking as far from the shore. A footbridge over the rowing club connects the two beaches. The Rowing beach has more shade than its neighbour, pedalo hire, a snack bar, showers and toilets, a lakeside walking path starting point and outdoor workout equipment. Two restaurants are just across the road. The Dent du Chat — the dramatic limestone cliff above the western shore — is particularly well framed from here.
- Best for: swimming, families, those wanting more shade than Plage d’Aix
- Water: shallower than open lake but deeper than Plage d’Aix
- Facilities: pedalo hire, snack bar, showers, toilets, outdoor workout equipment
- Access: Parking Daniel Rops (Parking du Cinéma Les Toiles du Lac)
3. Plage de Mémard — shaded, dog-friendly
Next to Aix’s main port, Mémard has the most shade of the three town beaches — with trees over the esplanade that make it the most comfortable option on a very hot day. It faces west, catching the late afternoon sun particularly well. A small separate section between Mémard and the port is designated dog-friendly — one of the few lakeside swimming spots in the region where dogs can enter the water without disturbing other bathers. Restaurants, a snack bar, showers and toilets on site. The port restaurants nearby serve everything from crêpes to tartiflette and moules frites.
- Best for: shade seekers, dog owners, afternoon swimming
- Water: lake swimming, west-facing (best light in late afternoon)
- Facilities: restaurants, snack bar, showers, toilets, dog-friendly section
- Access: adjacent to the Grand Port, Aix-les-Bains
4. Le Lido — lakeside restaurant and jetty, 2.5 km south
Two and a half kilometres south of the Rowing beach along the lakeside promenade, the Lido has a different atmosphere from the town beaches — quieter, with a long wooden jetty extending into the lake and the Lido restaurant, which offers a noticeably higher level of cooking than the town beach snack bars (locally-sourced bistronomic cuisine). A pleasant option for those who want to combine a swim with a proper lunch or dinner. Accessible on foot or by bike along the lakeside voie verte.
- Best for: a swim combined with a good meal, a quieter atmosphere
- Distance from town: 2.5 km south of Rowing beach, on foot or by bike
- Facilities: jetty, bistronomic restaurant
5. Brison-Saint-Innocent — the finest beach near Aix ⭐
The best beach near Aix-les-Bains — and one of the finest on the whole of Lac du Bourget. Brison-Saint-Innocent faces due south, which means it catches the sun from morning to evening and the water deepens more quickly than on the town beaches (better for serious swimmers). Shaded lawns, showers and a genuinely beautiful setting. The approach from Aix is part of the experience: about 2 km on foot from the Mémard esplanade via a lakeside walkway on raised wooden boardwalks above the water — one of the most pleasant short walks in the Aix-les-Bains area.
- Best for: serious swimmers, those wanting the finest setting near Aix
- Orientation: south-facing — sun all day
- Water: deeper than the town beaches, clear
- Facilities: shaded lawns, showers
- Access: 2 km on foot from Mémard via the lakeside boardwalk promenade — or by bike along the voie verte
Practical information
Water temperature: Lac du Bourget reaches 24–26°C at the surface in July and August, making it one of the warmest lakes in the Alps. Water quality is monitored and consistently rated excellent.
All five beaches are free to access (the inflatables at Plage d’Aix are paid separately). None of the beaches listed here charges an entry fee.
Getting there: Aix-les-Bains is 15 minutes from Chambéry by train (direct TGV connections from Paris Lyon in under 2 hours). The three town beaches are walkable from the train station in around 20 minutes. The Lido and Brison are easily reached by bike using the lakeside cycle path, or by the lakeside boardwalk on foot.
👉 Read also: All 18 beaches on Lac du Bourget · 5 things to see around Chambéry and Aix-les-Bains · Cycling around Lac du Bourget