Second tourist destination in France after Paris, the French Riviera cultivates paradoxes. Under its jet-set, luxury and glittery allure, it is home to natural landscapes of rare beauty. From its typical villages such as Saint-Paul-de-Vence or Èze to the Esterel massif, the charm of Provence operates all along the coast. In this enchanting picture, the Côte d'Azur coastline dotted with numerous beaches holds a special place, of course. To help you choose where to relax this summer, here is our selection of the most beautiful beaches on the Côte d'Azur
To prepare your holidays, don't hesitate to read our must-reads of the French Riviera
Paloma beach, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat
La Paloma is the emblematic beach of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat. Its unique setting, surrounded by the cliffs of Beaulieu-sur-Mer and Èze, has made it one of the most photographed and social network-posted beaches on the French Riviera. So expect to find a lot of people there! But it's still very pleasant to come and swim in this pretty, typically Provencal cove with its transparent water
La Garoupe beach, Antibes
This Cap d'Antibes beach is a real pleasure for the eyes as its waters take on different shades of colour under the sun. The Cap d'Antibes has many small creeks and secret beaches with unique seabeds. The Garoupe beach benefits from all the advantages of the Cap, while being watched in season. There are also charming restaurants with sea view. A good compromise for those who want to see the beauties of the Cape while focusing on comfort
The beach of Little Africa, Beaulieu-sur-Mer
This pretty beach at Beaulieu-sur-Mer, north of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, has a well-deserved enchanting name! Its limestone cliffs allow it to benefit from a microclimate where the weather is always good enough to swim. In addition, the blond sand and the pretty palm grove just behind it offer a great place to put your towel down. No doubt, a change of scenery is guaranteed in Beaulieu-sur-Mer!
Mala Beach, Cap d'Ail
The last town before Monaco, Cap-d'Ail is home to a succession of beautiful beaches including the Mala beach. The access is a little steep, but after descending the stairs from the town centre, you discover a splendid beach nestled among the rocks. The turquoise blue water blends perfectly with its blond sand where it is pleasant to come and put your towel down. Two restaurants also propose to sit down in front of the sea for a memorable meal.
La Réserve beach, Nice
Here is a good alternative to the beautiful, but too crowded, beach of the Promenade des Anglais in Nice. Much less animated, the beach of the Reserve is mainly frequented by locals who come to relax on these creeks located near the beach of the Military Baths. The place is rather small, but by arriving early in the morning you will enjoy a place of choice. Beware of the waves which can be quite strong here!
The beach of Pampelonne, Ramatuelle
Pampelonne is part of the Saint-Tropez peninsula. Its fine sandy beach is one of the most mythical of the French Riviera and was frequented by many celebrities such as Brigitte Bardot in the famous film by Roger Vadim "And God... created woman". It is a mecca for Côte d'Azur tourism and is worth a visit when you visit the region even if it is obviously not the quietest beach in the area!
La plage d'Argent, Porquerolles
Porquerolles is part of the Golden Islands, located off the coast of Hyères, and the Silver Beach is its main jewel. Very popular during the summer period, this beach is of a rare beauty. The shallow water, the pine forest and the white sand provide a change of scenery. To make the most of it, we can only advise you to arrive early! Among the other beaches of Porquerolles, those of Notre-Dame and La Courtade are also worth the detour
Almanarre beach, Hyères
Situated along the salt road, the Almanarre beach is one of the best known in Hyères. Its white sand and shallow waters make it a beach of choice for families, but also for windsurfers who come to enjoy the Mistral wind. In the distance you can see the old salt marshes and flamingos making the scenery unique. Access to this beach is particularly pleasant in winter when the salt road becomes pedestrian again
The beach of Saint-Clair, Le Lavandou
Renowned for its 12 km of coastline and its twelve beaches, the commune of Le Lavandou is the ideal destination for holidays by the sea! Among our favourite beaches, Saint-Clair is the winner. At 1.5 km from the town centre, it is easily reached on foot from the port of Le Lavandou. Located at the foot of the pine forest, it is particularly quiet and pleasant in the morning. During the day, you will find all the comfort of a seaside resort (rental of parasols, pedal boats, beach volleyball areas...)
The beach of the Pointe de l'Aiguille, Théoule-sur-Mer
The beach at the Pointe de l'Aiguille de Théoule-sur-Mer has a setting that could not be more enchanting. Embedded in the Esterel massif, it offers a beautiful view of the Lérins islands and the bay of Cannes. Here, the sand has given way to pebbles (and therefore, flip-flops to trainers!) but the charm comes into play as soon as you discover its crystalline waters which contrast with the red of the Esterel rock. A must to discover a more authentic facet of the Côte d'Azur
