Best Beaches on the French Riviera
The best beaches on the French Riviera — from Paloma and La Garoupe to Pampelonne and Mala — with tips on reaching them by private chauffeur.
The French Riviera's beaches range from glamorous sand to hidden pebble coves, each with its own character. The best often need a little effort to reach — which is where a chauffeur helps, dropping you close and sparing you the parking. Here are some of the best beaches on the French Riviera.
The eastern coves: Paloma, Passable and Mala
East of Nice, the coast hides some beautiful coves. Paloma Beach on Cap-Ferrat is a chic pebble bay with a famous beach club; Plage de Passable, nearby, faces Villefranche with calm, shallow water. Further east, Mala Beach at Cap d'Ail is a stunning hidden cove reached by a cliff path.
These sheltered spots have clear water and a quieter feel than the city beaches.
- Paloma Beach on Cap-Ferrat
- Plage de Passable facing Villefranche
- Mala Beach, a hidden cove at Cap d'Ail
- Clear water and a calmer atmosphere
La Garoupe, Juan-les-Pins and Larvotto
West of Nice, Plage de la Garoupe on Cap d'Antibes is a lovely sheltered crescent of sand with historic beach clubs, while neighbouring Juan-les-Pins offers a lively pine-backed beach. In Monaco, the Larvotto beach has been redesigned into a smart urban bay.
Each combines easy swimming with somewhere good to eat by the water.
- Plage de la Garoupe on Cap d'Antibes
- The sandy, lively beach at Juan-les-Pins
- Monaco's redesigned Larvotto bay
- Beach clubs and waterfront dining
Pampelonne, the glamour of Saint-Tropez
No beach roundup is complete without Pampelonne, the long golden sweep near Saint-Tropez lined with the legendary beach clubs that made the town famous. Lunch here can last all afternoon.
It is a longer drive west, and a chauffeur is the easy way to arrive and return, avoiding the notorious beach-road traffic and parking.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best beaches on the French Riviera?
Standouts include Paloma and Passable on Cap-Ferrat, Mala at Cap d'Ail, La Garoupe on Cap d'Antibes, Juan-les-Pins, Monaco's Larvotto and Pampelonne near Saint-Tropez.
Are Riviera beaches sandy or pebbly?
Both. Nice and the eastern coves are largely pebble, while Juan-les-Pins, Pampelonne and parts of the coast to the west have sand.
How do you reach the hidden coves?
Many are down cliff paths with little parking, so a chauffeur that drops you close and collects you afterwards makes them far easier.
What are the Pampelonne beach clubs?
Legendary beach clubs on the long sandy beach near Saint-Tropez, where sunbeds, lunch and afternoons by the sea are the whole experience.
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