The best beaches of Nice are the ones that allow you to soak in the full splendor of the city while providing hours of sunshine and intense turquoise seas as backdrops. Nice beaches are entirely made out of pebbles, with some having hard-rock coastlines.
- QUICK OVERVIEW
- Most Popular Beach: Reserve Beach
- Top Rated Hotel In Nice Near The Coast: Hotel Le Saint Paul
- Top Rated Hostel In Nice With Great Location: Villa Saint Exupery Beach
- Best Thing To Do In Nice: Sightseeing Cruise Of The French Riviera
They are many to choose from. Most are family-friendly and almost all are perfect for various watersports activities. Whether you are looking for private or public beaches at Nice, here are some pebbly, rocky, or sandy shores to enjoy your time in this wonderfully elegant city of the Cote D’Azure.
Most Popular Beach At Nice
Reserve Beach (La Réserve)
La Reserve beach is a crowd favorite amongst Nice’s locals. It occupies a narrow pebble beach and a succession of small coves where some choose to lay towels on rocks. The beach isn’t supervised, and the waves can sometimes be considerably large; as such, you won’t find many children here.
This Nice beach tends to get quickly crowded, so you should come early to grab a spot when visiting.
Hotel Le Saint Paul is located 30 meters from many beaches in Nice and offers direct views of the courtyard and surrounding sea. This property has a superb restaurant on-site, an interior decorated in neutral tones, and a luscious garden.
Best Beaches Of Nice For Families
Beau Rivage Beach (Plage Beau Rivage)
Beau Rivage is the name of a stretch of pebbles-mixed-with-sand, which is public and very popular with young families. If you’re looking for sandy beaches at Nice, check out its extremity near the Paillon River. This stretch also has a private section of the same name, frequented by beachgoers who prefer to casually lay in the sun on comfortable mattresses with a drink in hand.
This private Nice beach is renowned for having 5-star amenities and facilities to match. To give you an idea: their parasols also act as solar panels to enable you to charge your phone.
If you want to experience a similar 5-star setting, consider staying at Albert 1er, a short 2-minute walk from the beach. This beautiful hotel sits across the Paillon River with rooms and terraces overlooking the salty waters of the sea and the fresh ones of the river.
Voilier Beach (Voilier Plage)
Voilier beach is half public and half private. While the private side is popular with young families due to its gentle waves and fine gravel, the public one attracts beachgoers looking for sandy ground (establishments add artificial sand to many beaches of Nice). Parents will be glad to note that the private part is also home to a small playground.
Regardless of which area you visit, you’ll find your satisfaction on this small stretch which is fully equipped with all the necessary sanitary facilities on both ends.
Consider staying at AC Hotel Nice by Marriott, a mere 1-minute walk from this Nice beach. This accommodation is known for its ‘Zen Garden,’ opened 24 hours a day, and its rooftop terrace and swimming pool.
Centenaire Beach (Plage du Centenaire)
Centenaire beach is the only Nice beach located in the city’s downtown area. This gravel stretch has access for people with reduced mobility and is supervised during summer. Although the majority is public, a small section is privatized by a restaurant that provides mattress rentals.
The public section is popular with young families since it is crossed by the Peillon river, which serves as an amusing backdrop for kids. This beach in Nice is also famous for its installation of ropes that help people get out of the water without falling victim to the usual crawling-and-scrambling associated with walking on slippery pebbles.
To stay close to this beach, consider the Hyatt Regency Nice Palais de la Méditerranée, which is just a 1-minute walk from this beach. This unique art-deco accommodation is a popular establishment in Nice due to its on-site casino.
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Best Private Beaches Of Nice
Opera Beach (Plage De L’Opéra)
Opera beach is the oldest private Nice beach and has been run by the same family since 1889. It is set in a classic and refined establishment known for its luxurious services. Here, you’ll find watersport activities, massages, cocktails, and an extensive wine list. For those who love seafood, we recommend trying out their fresh grilled sea bass – popular with locals!
Hotel Cresp is a 2-minute walk from Opera beach, bordering a pedestrian street near the old town of Nice. Here, you’ll experience a retro stay in a 19th-century french building a mere 100 meters from the Promenade des Anglais.
Le Galet Beach
For fans of boats but prone to seasickness, Le Galet, furnished and decorated with yacht decor, will mimic a cruise ship experience while ensuring that your feet stand on solid grounds. This Nice beach is named after the many pebbles that inhabit the city, and here, the atmosphere is friendlier and more relaxed than what you might expect.
This beach in Nice is very popular with younger crowds. On-site, you’ll find a lounge bar and restaurant that provide creative cocktails, delicious poke bowls, and lots of nightly parties.
Le Meridien Nice is also near this private Nice beach, making it an ideal option for staying around the area.
Blue Beach
Blue beach is one of the few private beaches in Nice that opens all year round. It is also one of the few that also caters directly to kids. Parents will enjoy eating at its fine restaurant or partaking in the many offered watersports activities. And children are sure to swim in the swimming pool or trampoline.
If you aren’t a parent or child: beach beds surrounded by lush palm trees and yucca plants should still be an appealing thought for relaxation.
To stay near this beach in Nice, consider Hotel Le Negresco. This accommodation overlooks the Promenade des Anglais and is often regarded as one of the city’s symbols due to its long history and architectural significance.
Best Beaches In Nice for Watersport Activities
Carras Beach (Plage de Carras)
Carras beach is one of the largest beaches in Nice, stretching 350 meters along the sea. It has wheelchair access for people with reduced mobility. Part of it even has sand to accommodate a volleyball court. This Nice beach is popular with fans of speed as it is one of the few where you can go jet skiing.
But stay away from it if you fear dogs: it’s one of the only beaches in Nice accessible to our four-legged companions! Therefore, dog owners taking their pets out for a beach day like to visit here.
Logis Hôtel Villa Victorine is a 2-minute walk from this Nice beach and has its own private garden and shaded terrace. This property is set in a provincial and authentic atmosphere and is family-run.
Lido Beach (Lido Plage)
Lido beach is Nice’s hotspot for watersports enthusiasts. Here, you’ll find activities of all kinds: kayaking, banana boating, water-skiing, and wakeboarding. There are even towed buoys for those who fancy bumpier rides.
This public Nice beach is one of the only in the city that still has a pontoon, reminiscent of a casino destroyed during WWII. Like the rest of Nice beaches, it’s made out of small gravel and is surrounded by privatized sections and plenty of restaurants and bars.
After a day filled with watersports, consider staying at the nearby Westminster Hotel & Spa Nice to recuperate your energy. A short 1-minute walk from the beach, this hotel features Belle-Epoque style interiors and houses many different facilities.
Best Non-Pebbly Beaches In Nice
Platform Beach (Plage de la Plateforme)
Platform beach is a unique Nice beach since it offers beachgoers a flat and smooth stone dock to lay their towels on. The pontoon used to belong to a Hotel, but it is now frequented by locals with a penchant for swimming.
There are a couple of ladders to enable a safe descent into the glistening waters, but currents can sometimes get intense. Do exercise caution when going into the water. Note that this is also a popular spot for naturists.
Hotel Le Saint Paul is the nearest accommodation to this beach in Nice. It is also near the popular La Reserve beach and provides the perfect headquarters to explore this quieter quarter.
Ruhl Beach (Ruhl Plage)
Ruhl private beach offers a refreshing setting in Nice: forget about sand, pebbles, or stone. Here, the atmosphere is distinctly vintage, and the sunbathing platforms are made of wood, reminiscent of old French riviera decor—the platform descends into the sea, saving your feet from discomfort.
There’s a saltwater pool on the premise, which is kid-friendly and regularly supervised by a lifeguard.
Consider staying at Le Meridien Nice if you want to stay near this Nice beach as it is a short 1-minute walk from it. This property offers everything you’d expect from a hotel situated on the beautiful Promenade des Anglais.
Best Beaches In Nice That Are Less Touristic
Coco Beach (Plage Coco)
This beautiful public Nice beach is little-known to tourists due to its tricky access and relatively small size. You won’t find pebble or sand here but pure rocks with different pathways carved into them to serve as entry points and flat areas for sunbathing.
Although swimming is a bit more chaotic due to the larger waves, this beach is supervised during summer, making it safe. In terms of facilities, you’ll find showers and a restaurant nearby.
Similarly, Hotel Le Saint Paul, is also located next to this beach in Nice, making it ideal if you wish to stay around the area.
Sainte-Helene Beach (Plage de Sainte-Hélène)
Although it is still near the famous Promenade des Anglais, Sainte-Hélène beach is located at its western point, which makes it relatively remote and less crowded. This public Nice beach offers the same prominent surroundings: uninterrupted views of the Meditteranean, with green hills marked by buildings to the left and right.
During the summer, lifeguards supervise the pebbled coast. You might want to pay extra attention to walking here or bring a pair of adequate shoes as you might find random small piles of rocks along the coast.
Although the Radisson Blu Hotel Nice is located a bit further from the city center, it is well connected to diverse transport options and very close to this Nice beach.
Best Sandy Beaches At Nice
Marinieres Beach (Plage des Marinières, Villefranche-sur-Mer)
If you’re tired of dragging your feet on pebbles, check out the nearby Marinieres beach. This one is located in Villefranche-Sur-Mer, a mere 20 minutes by public transport from the center of Nice. Here, you’ll get to dip the soles of your foot in soft fine sand and inviting waters.
This beach is popular with families as it is equipped with an anti-jellyfish net and stretches for 700 meters, ensuring plenty of space to build sand castles. The area has sanitary facilities and a nearby restaurant where you can eat with your feet in the water. Since it remains close to the other beaches of Nice, some parts have a few stones mixed in with sand.
Many people like staying around the Villefranche-sur-Mer and Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat areas since they are a short ride to Nice beaches and have a more provincial french feel. We recommend checking out the well-rated Royal Riviera, which sits atop the peninsula of Cap-Ferrat.
Fosse Beach (Plage de la Fosse, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat)
Fosse beach offers an exceptional and breathtaking environment surrounded by luscious green vegetation, red-tiled roof villas, and sparkling, calm, inviting waters. The seabed teems with wildlife of all kinds, and the waters are clear, ideal for snorkeling.
This cove stretches for about 300 meters, most of which constitutes a mixture of sand and small pebbles.
Consider staying at Hôtel de Charme Brise Marine to enjoy what the surroundings have to offer. This family-owned hotel provides unbeatable views of the sea.
Enjoying The Best Beaches Of Nice
With its warm weather, lovely surroundings, and inviting beaches, Nice is a top destination for beach-goers all around the world. And we can see why! No matter which beaches in Nice you end up going to, you’re in for some enjoyable time by the water.
Although you might grow tired of walking on pebbles, remember that a good pair of water shoes will save you from discomfort. Gravel also has a positive side: there won’t be any sand to stick to your body!
