The French Riviera is a popular vacation spot for tourists from all over the world. Everything is done here to ensure guests get maximum enjoyment from their stay. People of different financial means visit the coast. Many sections of the seaside are private, and you have to pay to relax there. However, the prices are quite reasonable, and owners offer flexible rates. On municipal territories, guests are offered a standard set of services: showers, toilets, and changing cabins. Beaches in Nice welcome tourists with any vacation budget.
Castel Beach
If you move towards the city from the port, Castel is the first place for swimming. It is quite picturesque here: a narrow strip of artificial sand adjoins the base of Château Hill. The shore has a lot of pebbles, which can be felt when walking barefoot. The depth increases quite quickly; for the convenience of vacationers, there is a rope. Holding onto it, it’s easy to descend into the sea and climb back up. Even a few hundred meters from the shore, the water is clear.
All accessories on Castel are paid. You can rent sunbeds for a whole day or half a day. There is a freshwater shower to rinse off the sand and sea salt. Changing cabins and toilets are available. To keep vacationers entertained, pleasant music plays from speakers. Castel consists of two parts: a paid, equipped area and a free area. The public part is somewhat inferior: it has more pebbles, no toilets, and no sunbeds. However, there are still many vacationers.
In the paid zone, the crowd is decent, and it is quiet and calm. This place is for respectable tourists with a certain income. A pleasant addition to a lazy vacation is the promenade. It is wide and long, equipped with bike paths and pedestrian zones. People stroll here all day long.
Marinières Beach
This is a great democratic place for relaxation: both wealthy tourists and those on a modest budget come here. There are several reasons for this:
- Large length: You can settle on a strip of shore that is a kilometer long. The surface is covered with such small pebbles that some vacationers mistake them for coarse sand. However, on the edges, you will still find larger pebbles and boulders.
- No parking problems: A paid parking lot for 400 places is arranged next to Marinières.
- Calm bay anytime of the year: The bay is protected from northern and northeastern winds by rocks and a forested hill. You can swim even when the sea is stormy.
- Convenient transportation: There is a railway station nearby, making it convenient to come to Marinières from Nice by train.
- Lots of activities: Diving, yacht, and catamaran rentals are well-developed here. You can ride a bike along the promenade.
- Surrounded by cafes and small restaurants: These offer budget-friendly meals and excellent local wine.
- Patrolled by lifeguards: Only in the high season. Smoking is allowed in a designated area.
You should be prepared for some inconveniences. Marinières offers a rather limited level of service. There are showers, toilets, and you can rent sunbeds. There are no umbrellas or shaded areas, so those who like to relax in the shade should bring their own tent. The depth increases quite quickly, which is inconvenient for tourists with children and those not confident in the water.
Blue Beach
Blue Beach is located near the Promenade des Anglais. It caters to the most discerning customers. Here, you can not only enjoy the warm sea and hot sun but also:
- Taste freshly prepared dishes made to order
- Ride water skis
- Rent a bicycle and ride along the promenade
- Sit in the bar located right there
- Use free Wi-Fi
- Listen to pleasant music and participate in contests
The relaxation area is wide, with sunshades installed everywhere. Comfortable sunbeds are available for rent for different periods. The gradual slope into the water and gradual increase in depth make it convenient. Wooden walkways are laid out for easy movement on Blue Beach. The high entrance fee filters out noisy youth, making Blue Beach a place for respectable people. Communication is not a problem: the entire staff speaks English.
Blue Beach is ideal for tourists who prefer to stay in hotels near the beach. Along the shoreline are the most popular hotels: Hotel Negresco 5 and Hotel West End Nice 4. However, there is a significant downside: the admission fee is quite high. The entire coastal area consists of large pebbles, so to make swimming comfortable, it is recommended to buy special shoes.
Ruhl Beach
This is a great place near the Le Meridien Nice 4* hotel. The coastal area is covered with small pebbles, so special swimming shoes are needed for comfortable movement. However, wooden mats are laid along the shore. The water on Ruhl Beach is always clean and warm, with a gradual increase in depth. This place has long been favored by parents with small children.
The beach has a children’s swimming area where kids learn to swim under the supervision of experienced instructors. Ruhl Beach boasts its own restaurant. Here, you can order dishes and drinks from local and European cuisines. The staff can speak not only French or English but also Russian.
Gravette Beach
This is a municipal beach in Antibes, open to everyone. Tourists call Gravette the most picturesque in the vicinity of Nice. It has clear shallow water and fine white sand. The shore is protected from the port side by a breakwater, so there are no waves. Gravette is an ideal place for families with small children. It is quiet, the highway is far away, and the depth increases gradually.
Kids love playing in the coastal strip. However, it’s important to note that only port workers can park their cars in the parking lot. The service is quite modest: there are showers, toilets, and changing cabins. Lifeguards control the area during the high season. You can grab a bite at the coastal cafes and restaurants, which serve excellent fish and seafood dishes.
Neptune Beach
Despite the entrance fee, Neptune is quite popular among tourists. This is due to several advantages:
- Cleanliness and maintenance: The area is constantly cleaned, and garbage is removed. There are no unpleasant smells.
- Own cafes: The cuisine is varied, with a predominance of fish and seafood dishes. Some places offer children’s menus.
- Nearby shaded park: A favorite place for families with children. When bored with the beach, you can explore local attractions, with a museum and art gallery nearby.
- Flexible rental options: You can buy an all-inclusive ticket or pay for everything separately. Hotels nearby offer multiple-visit passes.
The coastal strip is covered with medium and small pebbles; special shoes are recommended for comfortable movement. The clear, transparent water near the shore is a positive aspect of the pebble cover. Neptune offers sunbed rentals, shaded areas, freshwater showers, toilets, and changing cabins. The depth increases gradually, making it enjoyable for children to splash in the shallow water.
Mala Beach
Eden Plage Mala is somewhat remote from the port. To reach the coast, you need to walk about 3 km along the promenade. However, Mala is worth it: a beautiful picturesque bay with crystal clear water. Mala is protected on all sides by high cliffs, making it quiet and windless in any weather. To reach the sea, you have to descend a steep staircase.
In the daytime heat, the staircase gets very hot, turning the descent and ascent into an adventure. The service is standard: sunbed rentals, shaded areas, showers, and toilets; catamaran and yacht rentals. Sailing along the coast is popular. Divers love the bay for its clear water and stunning underwater views. Eden Plage Mala is deserted on weekdays but locals come to relax from the hustle and bustle on weekends.
Parking can be challenging: there are few spaces at the top. The prices for renting sunbeds and shades are higher than in other places due to its remoteness. There are two restaurants on the territory. The menu is tasty and varied, so no one goes hungry. Many tourists consider Eden Plage Mala the gem of the Cap d’Ail coast.
La Bocca Beach
This place ranks sixth in the rating of Nice resorts. La Bocca is open to everyone: no entrance fee. It’s quite clean in the morning, and smoking is prohibited on the territory. However, people with disabilities or parents with strollers may find the descent challenging due to steep stairs. The shore is covered with fine white sand, making it pleasant to walk. The set of paid services is standard: sunbed rentals and shaded areas.
You can use the showers and changing cabins for free. However, the toilet is outside the La Bocca territory. Guests preferring activities can rent a catamaran, sail on a yacht or water skis, and snorkel. Lifeguards patrol the area during the season. There are many cheap food stalls around where you can have a budget-friendly snack.
La Bocca is chosen by romantic couples or fun-loving youth on a tight budget. Wealthy conservative guests prefer to relax elsewhere. The atmosphere at La Bocca is free-spirited: topless sunbathing is allowed. The main advantage is the availability of free space even at the peak of the high season.
Hi Beach
An ideal place for those who prefer modern design and entertainment. The private beach is divided into zones:
- A bar where you can order food to your taste
- A relaxation area with sunbeds and shaded areas
- A playground for children supervised by animators
Tourists use Wi-Fi throughout the territory. During the holiday season, you can join a lively party. Hi Beach is chosen by young couples with children and party-goers; everyone is welcome here.
Paloma Beach
Paloma is a picturesque but slightly old-fashioned place. You won’t see glamorous youth or party enthusiasts here. Paloma attracts those who appreciate the unique charm of the 1950s and 60s. There is an entrance fee. However, there is a free section nearby. The coastal area is made up of medium-sized pebbles, with wooden walkways to the water. To enter the water, you have to navigate 50 steps of large pebbles.
Such a challenge is unlikely to appeal to tourists with children. However, Paloma has natural protection from prevailing winds. The rocky shore covers the coastal area. From any point on the shore, you get wonderful views of the azure sea, villas, vineyards, and fruit gardens. The slightly old-fashioned sunbeds and umbrellas look great on the dark pebbles. Some tourists feel like they’ve stepped into a mid-20th-century art film.
The service is quite standard: sunbed and shade rentals; showers, toilets, and changing cabins. The latter are clearly insufficient. Yachting and water skiing are popular activities. Along the coast, there are restaurants and bars serving fish and seafood dishes. In the free section, the only service is toilets, which are cramped and inconvenient. Tourists change clothes in front of their neighbors, but this doesn’t seem to bother anyone.
Carlton Beach
Carlton is one of the most attractive places to relax. It is located 30 km from Nice, and only hotel guests relax here during the season. Passing tourists who are staying elsewhere are unlikely to reserve a spot. The entire coastal area is lined with screens that shield guests from prying eyes. Attentive waiters move between tables with trays full of freshly prepared dishes and cool drinks.
Guests are offered:
- Sunbed and umbrella rentals
- Showers, toilets, changing cabins
- Storage lockers
- Fine dining with waiter service
Carlton’s territory is completely blocked off; outsiders are unlikely to pass through. Guests with pets are also not allowed. Those who prefer combining passive and active rest can rent yachts, catamarans, and water skis. From any point in Carlton, you get a great view of the surroundings. There are luxurious palaces, villas, and the famous Croisette promenade. Entertainment events are regularly organized. Carlton is a place for wealthy tourists and affluent romantic couples. Children of any age might find it boring.
Petite Afrique Beach
This place ranks ninth in the rating of Nice resorts. It is deserted because the path to it lies through the yacht port of Beaulieu-sur-Mer. The area is covered with coarse sand, making it pleasant to walk along the shore. However, the water is often murky due to the sand. Petite Afrique is picturesque: palm trees and shrubs grow around it. But the bay is quite narrow, so it feels crowded in the water.
The infrastructure is standard: umbrellas, sunbeds, showers, toilets, and changing cabins. Activities include a volleyball court and yacht rentals. When the wind changes, jellyfish enter the water, so be careful when entering the water.
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