Arcachon

Get around

thumb|right|A boat in Arcachon, with the Dune du Pilat in the background Lovely surroundings of Arcachon becomes horrendous in summer if you try to drive anywhere — it takes nearly 3 hours to get from Arcachon to Andernos Les Bains in the early evenings. In fact, if you want to go anywhere in the area in summer, you'd better start early in the morning before 08:00. This is not a place for those preferring laziness in the mornings while on vacations.

The town is easy to explore on foot and there are many pedestrian-only avenues in the old town and along the waterfront.

Bicycles are a good alternative for moving around the Bay and beyond.

There is also a small local bus network operating under the name Baïa.

See

thumb|right|Notre-Dame-des-Passes church

Do

thumb|right|The old fisheries of l'Île aux Oiseaux

Buy

thumb|right|A plaza in the centre of Arcachon

Connect

Arcachon is well served by all French telecommunication operators and there is usually good mobile coverage (GSM, 3G and 4G) as long as you stay in the urbanized areas. Obviously coverage may be quite spotty in the surrounding forests or at sea.

As everywhere in France, public phone booths have been completely removed several years ago.

Many restaurants, hotels and campings usually provide WiFi access.

Stay safe

Arcachon is rather safe and there are no major crime-related issues, although usual common sense applies.

When swimming in the Atlantic ocean (though not in the Bay itself), great care must be taken regarding the Baïne, a unique local natural phenomenon occurring during rising tide and which has claimed many lives over the years. Even experienced swimmers may be taken by surprise. Always be mindful of the information and warnings given by the local lifeguards.