The Best French Riviera Beaches: Nice, Cannes and Monaco

The French Riviera is a glamorous seaside enclave of sparkling azure beaches, studded with charming medieval towns and the flashy international jet-set crowd. Sift through our list of best beaches in Nice, Cannes and Monaco and book your tailor-made Flight Centre vacation today.

Tucked away in a cove on the north side of the Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat peninsula is the picturesque pebble stone Paloma Beach. A cozy 150 metres in length, Paloma Beach is surrounded by lush greenery and a cliffside dotted with upscale villas and grand estates.

The only way to access the beach is by descending a fairly steep flight of stairs, but that doesn’t slow the locals and out-of-town sunseekers down from visiting during the high season, June to August.

Paloma Beach is one of the five main public access beaches in the Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat peninsula (two have private sections) and one of the most popular. Arrive early in the morning (at least 9 a.m) and get a good spot in this hidden paradise.

Pampelonne is the south of France’s answer to Ibiza. The most well-known beach in Saint-Tropez, Pampelonne is the place to see and be seen. Bustling with upscale beach clubs and chic restaurants, you’re likely to bump into a celebrity or at least spot one — especially during the busier summer months, July and August.

Soft, white sand meets sparkling turquoise sea at this popular beach destination. At over 5 kilometres in length, it’s also the longest beach in Saint-Tropez.

Possibly the most glamorous beach in the French Riviera, Larvotto Beach looks like the backdrop of a Bond film. Monte Carlo’s promenade runs alongside the luxury hotels and upscale apartment buildings that hug the crescent-shaped pebble stone beach. Popular with the jet-setting locals and tourists crowds, Larvotto Beach gets 300 days of sunshine a year.

If you want to be near all the Cannes Film Festival action, plant yourself on Plage du Casino. Right next to the Palais des Festivals on the main La Croisette strip, Plage du Casino’s soft golden sand and calm shore are perfect for sun-seeking and stargazing. Plage du Casino can get busy, especially during film festival season, but is worth it for the spectacle alone.

Looking for a quieter escape? Head slightly further away from the action on La Croisette to Plage de la Bocca. It has more of a laid-back vibe, but with the same soft golden sand as Plage du Casino.

The last French city before the Italian border, the seaside town of Menton is famous for its gardens and lemon groves. Les Sablettes Beach is a pebble-stone beach that’s a bit finer and closer to sand than pebble. Here you’ll be able to see beautiful views of the Italian mountains and Menton’s cascading signature peach and pastel-hued houses up in the hills.

Ready for a refreshing dip in the French Riviera? Talk to one of our travel consultants and book your escape today!