Beaches of the Côte d'Azur: The Ranking
The Côte d'Azur has over 300 beaches along 115 km of coastline — from tiny rocky coves to wide sandy beaches. Here is our ranking of the best, sorted by beach type and atmosphere.
The 5 Best Sandy Beaches
1. Plage de Pampelonne, Ramatuelle — 5 km of fine white sand near Saint-Tropez. The most famous beach on the Riviera, divided into dozens of beach clubs (Club 55 from €40 minimum spend, Nikki Beach from €50 for a lounger) and free public sections. Warm, shallow water — ideal for families.
2. Plage de la Garoupe, Cap d'Antibes — fine sand, sheltered bay, turquoise water like in the Caribbean. Half public (free), half private (Joseph-Plage, from €25). Surrounded by pine trees.
3. Plage de Paloma, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat — hidden bay on the peninsula of billionaires. Small pebble/sand mix, crystal-clear water, a simple restaurant. Accessible via a 15-minute walk from the parking lot.
4. Plage de l'Escalet, Ramatuelle — wild, unspoiled beach with pine trees and rocks. Less crowded than Pampelonne, no beach clubs, excellent snorkeling.
5. Plage de la Gravette, Antibes — city beach right by the old town of Antibes, protected by the fortress walls. Fine sand, calm water, view of the Alps. Free, with showers.
The 3 Best Rocky Coves (Calanques)
1. Calanque de Maubois, Èze — wild rocky cove below the Grande Corniche. Only accessible on foot (20 min. descent), often deserted. Fantastic snorkeling.
2. Anse de la Fausse Monnaie, Marseille border area — tiny cove with diving rocks and emerald green water.
3. Plage Mala, Cap-d'Ail — one of the most beautiful coves near Monaco. Steep descent over 200 steps, but below awaits a pebble beach with crystal-clear water and two excellent beach restaurants (main course €18–30).
Nudist Beaches
France has a long nudist tradition. On the Côte d'Azur, the following beaches are officially nudist: Plage de l'Espiguette (near Grau-du-Roi), a section of Plage de Pampelonne, and the Île du Levant (Hyères, 90% of the island is a naturist area).
💡 Tipp
Many beaches on the Côte d'Azur are pebble beaches — water shoes (aqua shoes) are a must! Buy them in advance or at the Marché Forville in Cannes (from €8). For sandy beaches, you need to head specifically towards Saint-Tropez or Antibes.
