In a nutshell
- Nice Beach: an endlessly long pebble beach right in the city — ideal for cooling off after a day of sightseeing.
- Plage de Pampelonne: a stunning white sandy beach in glamorous Saint-Tropez, perfect for swimming and relaxing with the whole family.
- Calanque d’en Vau: a gorgeous cove with deep turquoise water framed by dramatic cliffs near Cassis — one of the most beautiful spots on the entire French Riviera.
- That was just a quick taste of our top 3 picks on the Côte d’Azur. Read on for the full list — including how to get there and our favorite hotels for each beach.
Map of the Best Beaches on the Côte d’Azur
So you know right away where the most beautiful beaches are, we’ve marked them on a map for you.
The Most Beautiful City Beaches on the Côte d'Azur
Along the French Riviera, even the city beaches of popular vacation destinations like Marseille or Nice are stunning. So you don’t have to venture far out of town — you’ll find a dream beach right on your doorstep.
That’s especially convenient for a vacation with kids or if you don’t have a car available.
City Beach of Nice
The city of Nice is the heart of the Côte d’Azur and an absolute must-see on a Côte d’Azur road trip.
One of the top highlights in the city is the beach of Nice, which stretches approximately 5 kilometers and runs almost from one end of the city to the other. For sunbathing and relaxing after a day of sightseeing, it’s seriously hard to beat.
Just keep in mind — it’s a pebble beach, which means it can be a bit rough on your feet when you walk into the water. Water shoes are a good idea, though not strictly necessary.
Our Hotel Recommendation for Nice
The Hôtel de France is a super stylish boutique hotel just a two-minute walk from the beach. You can wind down the day perfectly on the cozy rooftop terrace.
You're traveling to Nice? Be sure to also read our two Nice articles:
Plages du Prado in Marseille
Marseille has several beaches right in the city. One of our favorites is the Plages du Prado — three beautiful pebble beaches that flow seamlessly into one another and are perfect for a full beach day.
If you’d rather stay close to the center, the Plage des Catalans is a great pick. It’s right near the Vieux Port, and there are free lockers on the beach so you can jump into the sea without a worry. Pretty great!
How to Get from the Center to the City Beaches of Marseille
Most beaches in Marseille are a bit south of the city center and are best reached by bus. Line 83 will get you to the Plages du Prado in about 30 minutes. For Plage des Catalans, lines 82 and 83 take only ten minutes.
Our Hotel Recommendation for Marseille
The Les Bords De Mer is located right on the Plage des Catalans. This lovely beachfront hotel has a great outdoor pool, modern rooms with sea views, and a terrace.
You're planning a vacation in Marseille? Check out our tips:
Plage du Larvotto in Monaco
Monaco has exactly one beach: the Larvotto beach. It was built artificially, but it’s still a lovely spot to cool off in the sea. The beach is made of fine gravel and works really well for families with kids, thanks to a separate swimming area.
If you want to do more than just lie on the beach and also explore the principality, our article on the most beautiful sights in Monaco has all the sightseeing tips you need.
How to Get to the Plage du Larvotto
From the center of Monaco you can easily walk. From the Casino Monte-Carlo it’s a 15-minute stroll. Alternatively, take bus line 110 from the Place D’Armes stop at the foot of the old town hill. Ride to the Grimaldi Forum stop and walk three minutes to the beach.
This bus line also starts at Nice airport, so you can travel directly from Nice by bus to Monaco’s city beach — super convenient.
Our Hotel Recommendation for the Plage du Larvotto
The Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort is just 300 meters from the beach and offers a huge outdoor pool, several restaurants, and a wellness area — all in true Monaco luxury style.
The Most Beautiful Sandy Beaches on the Côte d'Azur
Many beaches on the French Riviera are made up of pebbles. But there are also some gorgeous white sandy beaches that are perfect for swimming and building sandcastles. Here are our top picks for sandy beaches during your Côte d’Azur vacation.
Plage de Pampelonne in Saint-Tropez
Saint-Tropez is famous as a vacation spot for the jet set and for its chic beach bars. But beyond the glitz and glamour, it’s also home to one of our favorite beaches in all of France: the Plage de Pampelonne.
Crystal-clear water, fine white sand — it’s honestly perfect for swimming and relaxing with the whole family. One of the truly unforgettable highlights of France.
How to Get to the Plage de Pampelonne
Plage de Pampelonne is about 5 kilometers south of Saint-Tropez. Bus lines 7742 and 7753 will get you from the center to the beach in about 30 minutes (including the walk). A single ticket costs 3 euros.
Significantly faster and easier is the trip by car — there’s plenty of parking along the beach.
Our Hotel Recommendation for the Plage de Pampelonne
The Le Pre de la Mer is a lovely little boutique hotel with a pool in Saint-Tropez, just 15 minutes by car from the Plage de Pampelonne.
Beaches in Cannes
The resort town of Cannes is a paradise for beach lovers. Beautiful sandy beaches line up one after another here.
The most well-known stretch is the Plage Croisette, right along the famous beachfront promenade in the center of Cannes. If you prefer something a bit quieter, we’d suggest the neighboring Plage du Midi. And for a family trip, Bijou Plage is a really great choice — the water is wonderfully shallow and the beach is perfect for kids.
Our Hotel Recommendation for Cannes
The Hôtel Belle Plage is beautifully decorated and offers rooms with sea views. It’s just 100 meters from the beach, and the rooftop terrace is a great place to wind down in the evening.
Plage Juan-les-Pins near Antibes
Another beautiful sandy beach is found on the Antibes peninsula between Nice and Cannes. The Plage Juan-les-Pins is especially popular with locals — and it’s also a fantastic spot to catch the sunset. The evenings tend to be quiet here, making it a perfect place to end the day in peace.
How to Get to the Plage Juan-les-Pins
The beach is just a ten-minute walk from the Juan-les-Pins train station. From Nice, the train ride takes about 30 minutes and costs 5.40 euros. If you’re driving, it’s about 40 minutes — we recommend parking at the Parkplatz Courbet in Juan-les-Pins.
Our Hotel Recommendation for the Plage Juan-les-Pins
The Hôtel Helios is just a five-minute walk from the beach and offers excellent value for money. The rooms are very modern and comfortably furnished.
Quiet Natural Beaches on the Cote d'Azur
Some of the best beaches on the Côte d’Azur are found where there are no hotel complexes: right in the middle of nature. It’s much quieter here, the water is turquoise, and the scenery is simply fantastic. Great photos are basically guaranteed.
Calanque d'en Vau in Cassis
In the Calanques National Park between Marseille and Cassis, you’ll find some of the most beautiful beaches on the French Riviera. Our absolute standout — and one of the most stunning beaches in France — is the cove Calanque d’en Vau, near Cassis.
The sea shimmers in a deep turquoise surrounded by towering cliffs — seriously breathtaking!
During peak season in summer it fills up fast, since the cove isn’t very large. Head there early in the morning to beat the crowds.
How to Get to the Calanque d’en Vau Cassis
You can only reach this beautiful cove via a hiking trail or by boat.
If you want to go on foot, a great starting point is the Calanque Port-Mieu in Cassis. From there it’s just over three kilometers to the Calanque d’en Vau. You’ll need to be sure-footed and have proper hiking shoes.
The boat tours from Cassis let you explore several calanques in one go. A really cool alternative is to discover the calanques by kayak.
Book the Kayak Tour from Cassis to the Calanques
Our Hotel Recommendation for the Calanque d’en Vau Cassis
We recommend the Le Jardin d’Emile in Cassis. Rooms come with sea views and breakfast is delicious. The Calanque d’en Vau is just 5 kilometers away — a wonderful place to stay on the Côte d’Azur.
Calanque de Sugiton near Marseille
This stunning cove in the Parc des Calanques near Marseille features turquoise blue water and a fantastic natural setting — the photos you’ll get here are absolutely incredible.
The Calanque de Sugiton is made up of many small, rocky beach sections. Water shoes are definitely recommended here.
Important: Due to high visitor numbers, there’s a daily entry limit. You need to register here before your visit. It’s completely free, though.
How to Get to the Calanque de Sugiton
Since the calanque sits in the middle of the national park, you’ll need to take a short hike to reach it — about one hour from the park entrance. The entrance is at the university Cité universitaire Luminy.
You can get there by car or bus. By bus, take line B1 from the Castellane stop in Marseille to the Luminy PN des Calanques station. The ride takes about 30 minutes and costs 1.70 euros.
Our Hotel Recommendation for the Calanque de Sugiton
There’s no accommodation inside the Calanques National Park, but the nearby Hôtel 96 is a great base. It’s quietly situated on the outskirts of Marseille and has an outdoor pool and stylish rooms.
Calanque des Anglais in Saint Raphaël
The Calanque des Anglais offers a completely different setting from what you’d typically expect from a Côte d’Azur beach. The small cove is tucked between the red cliffs of the Esterel mountains and makes for an incredibly striking photo subject.
The beach itself is made of red pebbles, and the water is great for swimming and snorkeling. One thing to keep in mind: when it’s a bit stormy, the beach can flood quickly, so aim for calm, windless days.
How to Get to the Calanque des Anglais
The Calanque des Anglais is east of Saint Raphaël, which lies between Cannes and Saint-Tropez. The easiest way to get there is by car.
Alternatively, bus line 21 from Saint Raphaël reaches the beach in about 30 minutes. A ticket costs 1.50 euros. Saint Raphaël is also well connected by train from Cannes, which takes just over 30 minutes.
Our Hotel Recommendation for the Calanque des Anglais
There are no hotels directly at the Calanque des Anglais, but the lovely Le Relais d’Agay is a great option. It’s right on the water in the town of Agay, just about three kilometers from the calanque.
Plage de Notre-Dame on Porquerolles
The Plage Notre-Dame on Porquerolles is a real natural treasure. The water is gorgeous and the beach is rarely crowded. You can lie back in total peace and soak in the stunning scenery.
Why is this dream beach so quiet? Unless you have your own boat, getting here takes a bit of effort — but it’s absolutely worth it.
How to Get to the Plage de Notre-Dame on Porquerolles
You can reach Porquerolles island by boat from the La Tour Fondue harbor in Giens. The easiest way to get there is by car.
If you’re using public transit, take the train from Toulon to Hyères station and transfer to bus line 67. The bus ride takes 30 minutes and costs 1.40 euros. Get off at the Tour Fondue stop, right at the harbor.
The ferry crossing (round trip) costs 22 euros for adults in summer and takes about 14 minutes. In the off-season, tickets are cheaper.
Once on the island, you can rent a bicycle or walk to the Plage de Notre-Dame — it’s about 4 kilometers from the harbor.
Our Hotel Recommendation on Porquerolles
Accommodation options on Porquerolles are limited, but there’s one truly special choice. At the Hebergements Bateaux a Quai, you’ll spend the night in a beautifully furnished boat with a veranda.
