The Côte d'Azur coastline stretches from the Italian border all the way to Saint-Tropez — and no two beaches are alike. Some are legendary and glamorous, lined with private clubs and celebrity clientele. Others are hidden at the bottom of cliffs, reachable only on foot, known only to those who know where to look.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Whether you're after the buzz of Pampelonne, the crystalline calm of a secluded cove, or a long lazy afternoon watching yachts drift past — this is your guide to the beaches that define the French Riviera. Towel, sunscreen, rosé. You're ready.
The most famous beach on the French Riviera — and for good reason. Stretching along the legendary Boulevard de la Croisette, with its grand hotels, luxury boutiques and the Palais des Festivals as a backdrop, this is the Côte d'Azur at its most cinematic. The public section is free and central, while a string of private beach clubs offer full service, sunbeds, cocktails and some of the best people-watching on the planet. Come for the atmosphere as much as the sea.
Less glamorous than the Croisette but every bit as enjoyable, Plage du Midi is where the locals of Cannes actually go to the beach. Stretching west of the old port, this long sandy shoreline is calmer, more relaxed, and far less crowded than its famous neighbour. The water is shallow and warm, making it ideal for families with young children. Several beach clubs offer sunbeds and food service, while the free public sections are spacious and well-maintained. A genuinely lovely day out without the Croisette price tag.
Tucked into a sheltered cove on the eastern tip of Cap d'Antibes, La Garoupe is one of the most beautiful sandy beaches on the Côte d'Azur. Protected from the wind, the water here is exceptionally clear and calm — perfect for swimming and snorkelling. The beach has attracted an elegant crowd since the 1920s, when F. Scott Fitzgerald and the American set discovered it and made it their own. Today it mixes private beach clubs with free public sections, all backed by a fragrant pine forest. The famous Sentier du Littoral starts right here.
Juan-les-Pins has been synonymous with summer on the Riviera since the Jazz Age, when American artists and musicians discovered its pine-backed sandy shores and never quite left. Today the beach retains that lively, festive energy — especially during the famous Jazz Festival in July, when the whole town vibrates with music and the beach bars stay open late. The sand is fine and golden, the water warm and inviting, and the private beach clubs offer everything you need for a long, lazy, thoroughly enjoyable day by the sea.
Mandelieu-La Napoule offers some of the most accessible and genuinely enjoyable beaches on the entire Côte d'Azur. With the red cliffs of the Estérel massif as a dramatic backdrop and the Lérins Islands visible on the horizon, the setting alone is worth the trip. The beaches here are sandy, well-equipped and refreshingly unpretentious — proper beach clubs with good food, cold drinks and comfortable sun loungers, without the crowds and price premiums of Cannes just up the road. Arrive, park, settle in, and let the day take care of itself.
Nestled at the foot of the Estérel massif where the red volcanic cliffs plunge dramatically into the turquoise sea, Théoule-sur-Mer offers one of the most visually spectacular beach settings on the Riviera. The contrast of deep crimson rock against the crystal-clear water is unlike anything else on this coastline — and it never gets old. The beaches here are small, sandy and relatively uncrowded, with a relaxed village atmosphere that feels a world away from the bustle of Cannes just 20 minutes up the road. A genuinely beautiful and underrated address.
Five kilometres of fine white sand, crystal-clear water and the most famous beach clubs in the world — Pampelonne is Saint-Tropez at its most iconic, and one of the great beach experiences anywhere in France. This is where Brigitte Bardot made history, where Club 55 has been serving rosé since 1955, and where the French art of doing absolutely nothing at the beach was elevated to an Olympic sport. Despite its fame, the beach is vast enough to find your own space — head to the quieter southern end for more room. Go at least once. It lives up to everything.
Known as the "Tahiti of Provence", Plage de l'Estagnol is one of the most beautiful stretches of white sand on the entire French Riviera — full stop. Nearly 500 metres of fine, pale sand border a turquoise lagoon whose shallow, calm waters are perfect for swimming and snorkelling. The beach is backed by a shaded pine forest that provides natural relief from the midday heat, and the overall setting feels closer to the Caribbean than to mainland France. It fills up quickly in summer — arrive early, park, and claim your spot. You will not want to leave.
Twenty years on the Côte d'Azur — and still finding things nobody thought to write down. Real stories, real places, zero filter.
Riviera Reality
You researched. You planned. You packed light. The Côte d'Azur has a different agenda entirely — and it will not be negotiating.
It gets better. →
Life on the Riviera
Vicky is an English Setter of considerable beauty and absolutely zero courage. Lilou has never met a stranger. Every outing is an event.
It gets better. →
Cannes Life
Champagne with George Lucas, Karl Lagerfeld at dawn, Pete Doherty in a state, ten festivals a year — and the restaurant that told Hollywood to wait.
It gets better. →
My Story
I came to France for a summer. I stayed for twenty years. I let destiny decide — destiny picked Cannes. Obviously.
It gets better. →