22 Best Sights in The French Riviera, France

This is the second public beach in the city center, located between Veillat beach and the port of Santa Lucia. It's divided into two areas, the sandy Handiplage and a large stone pebble beach, and there is a beautiful promenade, shaded by a park with a playground and mini golf. There are showers and toilets, but you can't rent a lounger here. Amenities: lifeguards; showers; toilets. Best for: sunset; swimming; walking.

The entirely public Plage de la Buse, also known as Cabbé Beach, is a wonderfully small, fine-pebble strand, with zero star-chasers and strutting high heels. It's protected from the elements by the curved south-facing wall of a huge villa (whose gardens add a lovely tropical feel), making it ideal for novice swimmers. Access is down 50 steps from the Cap-Martin train station (where there are a few parking places) or Le Corbusier trail, but it’s completely BYO: towel, umbrella, and water/drinks. There's no bathroom, but the tiny and wonderful Le Cabanon restaurant serves lunch and dinner. Amenities: showers. Best for: solitude; swimming.

This large, public sand beach, just east of the port and capitainerie (harbor master), is close to a restaurant where you can rent a lounger. Arrive early in the summer to claim your spot close to the sea. Note: you'll readily be able to discern the tourists from the locals, who tend to be attired in bottoms-only beach wear. Amenities: lifeguards; parking (fee); showers; toilets. Best for: sunrise; swimming.

This lovely, shade-dappled stretch of sand is at the bottom of a steep hill only five minutes away on foot from the glamorous village of Saint-Jean. It's also at the heart of a battle for survival as the French government begins to enforce a new law that all beach structures must be dismountable. In 1973, Saint-Jean, with its shallow bay, soft sand, and some of the Riviera's clearest waters, was given a special “natural and remarkable site” status, including the construction of its jetty, which currently can't be dismounted. If the mayor tears it down, nothing can be rebuilt in its place. The public beach remains open, and for now so is the private Paloma Beach (€50/day for a lounger plus another €8 for an umbrella). Amenities: lifeguards; showers; toilets; water sports. Best for: snorkeling; sunrise; swimming.

To the east of the port is the biggest beach you’ll find in Villefranche, but it’s only about 1 km (½ mile) long. Popular because the shoreline is protected from winds, this beach has coarse sand and lifeguards in the summer. Note that the SNCF train line runs parallel, so the noise factor is a consideration. There are no loungers, but there are jellyfish nets (though they aren't 100% foolproof). Amenities: lifeguards; showers; toilets. Best for: snorkeling; sunrise; swimming.

Covered with fine white sand, this small public beach next to Cap d'Antibes Beach Hotel boasts shallows that slope very gently, making it ideal for kids. It's a protected bay, so there are no waves, just plenty of shallow water that's bathwater-warm in high summer. There are few English tourists, so it offers a real plage à la Française experience. Amenities: parking (fee); showers; toilets. Best for: snorkeling; solitude.

The oldest and most famous of St-Trop's private beaches (Bardot filmed along this stretch) has fine sand, rentable loungers close to the shoreline, restaurants, and toilets. The crowd is definitely north of 35, but, as they don't act their age, there is a lot to see in terms of hardly-there swimwear. Amenities: showers; toilets; water sports. Best for: swimming; walking.

At the east end of the promenade, near Hotel Suisse, there is both a large public beach and a private one, where the water is calm and clear (you can rent a lounger at the latter for about €25, with umbrella). The public beach is composed of large stones, which are more comfortable to walk on than pebbles. Jellyfish are also less of a problem in this corner due to the currents. Amenities: lifeguards (private beach, seasonal); showers. Best for: snorkeling; sunrise; sunset; swimming.

East of the Promenade, past the port and La Réserve restaurant and a few steps below street level, is one of Nice's quieter strands, with very clear water, few tourists (locals tend to spread their towels here), and hardly any jellyfish. The catch? The beach is more slabs of rock than sand, and the coastline here is exposed to wind. Many fish move about below, making this an excellent place for snorkeling. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards (seasonal); parking (street); showers. Best for: snorkeling; solitude; swimming.

Off the Route des Plages is this most notorious of all the beach clubs, famous for A-list debauches and a regular clientele of movie megastars and wannabes. But Nikki Beach isn't actually on the beach; rather it is steps from the shore with a pool and restaurant. If you want to mingle with the famous, rent a seaside Opium bed (€120 for maximum three people, drinks not included) or a VIP Bed Ponton by the Sea for up to four people; it's typically €120, but this is St-Tropez, so the price may vary depending on the DJ. Just be sure to avoid renting a bed poolside, where the Champagne showers spare no one. Note that there is a free parking lot here, but attendants might, for a variety of reasons, direct you to another lot where you have to pay for parking. Amenities: food and drink; parking (fee and no fee); showers; toilets. Best for: partiers.

Across from Cours Saleya, the Riviera's largest private beach is one of Nice's nicest; you can gain access by renting a pricey lounger for the day via phone. The beach itself is stony, so wear water shoes. If there are jellyfish sightings, you'll see a written warning of "méduse" on a beach board; ditto for strong winds. Steps from Beau Rivage on the Prom is Nice's own Statue of Liberty (look carefully, as she's only 4½-feet tall). Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; showers; toilets. Best for: sunset; swimming.

This sandy public beach west of Juan-les-Pins is popular thanks to its size and is thus known as La Grande Plage. You can rent a beach chair from the nearby private beaches that dominate the strip. Amenities: showers; toilets. Best for: swimming.

This sandy public beach at the edge of town has lifeguards (mid-June–mid-September), as well as free showers and toilets. You can rent loungers nearby. Amenities: lifeguards; parking (no fee); showers; toilets. Best for: swimming.

Thanks to its perfect oval bay, the finest, softest sand on the Riviera, magnificent views that stretch out to Antibes, and relatively calm waters, this northeast-facing beach is a real jewel—and the first in the country to impose a "No Selfie" zone. Getting the Gucci-clad spillover from the Hotel du Cap-Eden Roc, the high-end private beach clubs here open onto the sand. Quieter folk stick to the public section at the other end, where you can rent loungers online through the tourist office website for only €10 a day. There are also two snack bars. Amenities: food and drink; parking (no fee); showers; toilets. Best for: swimming.

At the southern base of the Citadelle and past the cemetery, the closest beach to the town of St-Tropez is easily accessible on foot (it's part of the coastal walkway, or sentier du littoral) and the most family-friendly. At the east end, you can rent loungers (€30 plus extra for an umbrella) from the restaurant. There are no toilets or showers. Amenities: parking (no fee). Best for: swimming.

Situated between Cap des Salins and Point du Capon, this 600-meter public white-sand beach is the gateway to a stretch of Pampelonne Beach, although it's more exposed to the wind and the sea can quickly become rough. It's lined by huge umbrella-pine trees, and you can rent loungers from the beach's private section. To the left, by the coastal path, is a quieter cove. Amenities: parking (no fee); showers; toilets. Best for: swimming.

Named after the Allied landings in August 1944, this is a sand-on-top-of-red-stone beach with great views of the private Île d'Or. From town, head toward Agay until Dramont, where you'll see signs for the pebble beach. Amenities: lifeguards; parking (no fee); toilets. Best for: swimming.

Situated between the casino and Cannes la Bocca, this public sand beach is one of the most beautiful in Mandelieu. There are restaurants and a nautical center nearby, as well as lifeguards on duty. If the views of the Îles de Lérins grow old, head to the neighboring Robinson beach and play some volleyball. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; showers; toilets. Best for: swimming.

This is the city's main (and its largest) sandy beach, with access for people with disabilities and lifeguard stations during the summer season, when you can also rent a mattress. There are lots of cafés around, and from the Old Port you can take a shuttle to St-Tropez. Amenities: lifeguards; parking (fee); showers; toilets. Best for: sunset; swimming; walking.

Almost at the end of the promenade and in front of Old Town, this basic stony stretch is a popular spot, with a melange of tourists and locals of all ages all day. In summer it has sandy volleyball courts. Keep an eye out for jellyfish. Amenities: lifeguards (seasonal); toilets. Best for: snorkeling; sunrise; sunset; swimming.

Locals come early—with umbrellas, chairs, and coolers in tow—to these two sizable public beaches around the halfway point of the promenade. As both are stone beaches with occasional jellyfish, water shoes are best for getting in and out of the sea. Lenval is a no-smoking beach with pay-to-use underground hot showers, toilets, and lockers, as well as portable toilets in the summer; it has no lifeguards or first aid station. These are, however, provided at neighboring Magnan, which is wider and lower than street level. This area is less touristy, so expect to see topless torsos. Amenities: lifeguards (Magnan, seasonal); showers; toilets. Best for: sunrise; swimming. When the winds pick up, this area can be dangerous, so watch for the warning flags, and avoid swimming for 24 hours after a storm.

Parisian restaurant group Yeeels is the mastermind behind what is one of Ramutuelle’s best new beach clubs. Boho loungers (€50 plus another €10 for an umbrella) on Farniente Beach are available starting at 11 am; there's also a selection of magazines to read while you relax. Headed by Ducasse-trained, Michelin-starred chef Thibault Sombardier, the on-site restaurant offers Mediterranean-style oven-roasted, grilled, and marinated dishes at their most tempting (and pricey—an entire watermelon will set you back €70). The St-Trop party gets started here after 4 pm, when DJs crank up the music. Amenities: food and drink; toilets; showers. Best for: partiers; sunsets; swimming.