Cannes is renowned for its movie festival, historical monuments, and fashion institutions, and the beaches along its coast mirror the beauty of its culture. This city, located along the Côte d’Azur, aptly reflects the area’s charm: Cannes beaches are of azure blue waters teaming with energy.
- QUICK OVERVIEW
- Most Popular Beach: Croisette Beaches
- Top Rated Hotel: Hôtel Barrière Le Majestic Cannes
- Best Thing To Do In Cannes: Boat Cruise To Esterel Natural Park etc
Although relatively small, the city comprises different beaches, each popular with a particular clientele. Whether you’re looking for luxurious private beaches, family-friendly public ones, or beaches set in wilder settings, this list has options guaranteed to please everyone. Numerous breathtaking sights and fun nautical activities await you on the beaches of Cannes.
Most Popular Beaches In Cannes
The Croisette Beaches (Plages De La Croisette)
La Croisette has become synonymous with Cannes beaches, and many believe this promenade to be the real heart of the city as it offers everything you’d want from a french coastal town. It’s mainly composed of private beaches with golden sand, and there are as many options to pick from as there are tastes. We recommend checking out Miramar or Carlton beach, both adorned with harmonious decor and set in an elegant and relaxing atmosphere.
The Croisette’s two extremities are free of charge and equipped with modern sanitary facilities for those that prefer public Cannes beaches. If you’re lucky to visit the city during June, July, or August, an additional public beach opens up between the private Goeland beach and the B-Sud beach. During the Cannes film festival, these public beaches serve as open venues for film screenings during the night.
If you want to stay near the iconic Croisette, consider Hôtel Barrière Le Majestic Cannes, located a short 2-minute walk from the beaches of the promenade. Facing the Mediterranean sea, the hotel is known for its three famous on-site restaurants, which bring unique flavors to the grounds.
Best Beaches In Cannes For Families
The Pointe Croisette Beaches (Plages De Pointe Croisette)
Pointe Croisette is an alternative for those seeking out private Cannes beaches but wanting to escape the sometimes overcrowded Croisette. There, you’ll find little gems such as Ecrin beach, which promises idleness and relaxation, and Bijou Plage, popular with young families as its shore gently slopes towards deeper ends.
At the far end, you’ll find the Handiplage de Bijou Plage, a Cannes beach accessible to four types of disabilities: motor, mental, visual, and hearing. This beach meets the European assessability standards, ensuring that almost everyone can enjoy the pleasures of the sea while being safe and supervised.
The hotel we mentioned above, Hôtel La Villa Cannes Croisette, is also conveniently located a short walk away from the Cannes beaches surrounding Pointe Croisette, making it an ideal place for those wanting to stay near that area.
Best Beaches In Cannes That Are Less Touristic
Bocca Beaches (Plages Bocca)
Past the port of Cannes and towards Théoule and Mandelieu, you’ll find a charming and uncrowded row of beaches. They start from La Bocca beach and end around a beach of the same name with stones. This quiet area provides the perfect alternative for those who want to escape the city’s more crowded and flashy side.
Here, you’ll be greeted by exclusively soft sand, a few reddish rocky sea outcrops home to marine life, and a stunning view of the Esterel Mountains. Apart from the occasional volleyball courts, there aren’t many facilities around these beaches of Cannes.
Consider staying at ibis Cannes Plage La Bocca if you want a hotel that’s only a 3-minute walk from this stretch of Cannes beaches. This one has pretty views of the surrounding hills full of pine trees and is renowned for a hearty and plentiful breakfast buffet full of sweet and savory dishes and French pastries.
Midi Beach (Plage Du Midi)
La Bocca beach eventually extends into a continuation called Midi beach, which is closer to Canne’s center and stretches on for 700 meters.
Many Cannes beach clubs inhabit the white sands of this waterfront. They are generally less expensive and laid-back than the ones near La Croisette. Their relative affordability and the presence of a children’s play area make this one popular with locals and young families.
The bay’s calm waters offer a beautiful view of the Lérins Islands on the horizon and are supervised by lifeguards during peak summer months. You’ll find all the modern facilities you need, from showers to bathrooms, as well as plenty of food options and watersports activities.
Residence Veles Plage is set in a 19th-century villa that echoes the flavors of old southern France. A 1-minute walk from this Cannes beach, this refuge is home to a heated swimming pool area in the middle of an exotic and breathtaking tropical garden.
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Best Beaches In Cannes For Water Activities
Gazagnaire Beach (Plage Gazagnaire)
Gazagnaire beach is a hub for watersports enthusiasts. Although it’s equipped with all the modern facilities and is close to restaurants and taverns, this public Cannes beach remains relatively less crowded. Several companies along the coastline offer a range of activities, from kayaking and paddle boarding to diving and snorkeling.
Hôtel La Villa Cannes Croisette is the perfect place to relax after a day full of watersports activities. This property has a heated outdoor pool area with a sun terrace and a lounge bar where you’ll get to enjoy champagne made from the hotel’s vineyards.
Wild Beaches In Cannes
Portet Creek in Sainte-Marguerite Island (Crique Du Portet, Ile De Sainte-Marguerite)
Portet creek is one of the most beautiful and little-known coves on the island of Sainte Marguerite. It is surrounded by soft flat rocks and is made up of small pebbles.
You’ll have to walk through ground inhabited by a wonderfully smelling Eucalyptus tree for 20 minutes to get to it. The scenery that greets you will be well worth it: pine forests lapped by turquoise waters filled with marine life.
Although it is the less known Cannes beach of the island, the cove is relatively small, so make sure to come early in the morning to be able to lay down your towel somewhere comfortable.
Dragon’s Point Creek in Saint- Marguerite Island (Crique Pointe Du Dragon, Ile De Sainte-Marguerite)
The Dragon’s point is the best-kept secret when it comes to the beaches of Cannes: a little corner of peace and greenery bathed in turquoise waters with a formidable view of the Mediterranean sea.
Located on the South-East of the island, this cove is sheltered by the shadows of a pine forest and a small cemented observatory deck that used to be a bunker.
If you get the chance to visit, make sure to check out the surrounding cove, as Dragon’s point is split into different parts by rock formations.
Trinity Creek in Saint-Honorat Island (Crique De La Trinité, Ile de Saint-Honorat)
Trinity Creek is located in the northeast of Saint-Honorat island. Although towel space is limited, many smaller creeks and coves surround the area – ensuring that you’ll find your own place if you look around.
This little piece of paradise is located further away from the main hustle of the island, so this one is only for true lovers of solitude. There isn’t any sand here, and we highly recommend an appropriate pair of water shoes to avoid being uncomfortable.
Alternatively, you could reach the cove by kayak, allowing you to discover the surrounding Cannes beaches of the island. The atmosphere is wild: dense Mediterranean vegetation and historical remains.
Saint Sauveur Creek in Saint-Honorat Island (Crique Saint Sauveur, Ile de Saint-Honorat)
You’ll find the Saint-Sauveur cove on the northwest of the island, near a chapel bearing the same name. Like most coves on the island, this one is settled by fine pebbles and surrounded by trees that offer a bit of shade.
It’s one of the only coves in the Saint-Honorat, which also has a small beach where you can adequately lay down a towel. The area has a few sanitary facilities and a restaurant about 300 meters from the beach.
Various small boats often take refuge near this Cannes beach as it offers a stunning view of the bay of Cannes and the bigger Sainte-Marguerite island. The water there is also incredibly calm and serene, perfect for a pleasant swim.
The islands we mentioned above are part of a naturally protected area, so there aren’t any establishments providing accommodations on them. Alternatively, consider staying at Residence Gameau, a short walk from the port and a 1-minute walk from other beaches in Cannes. This accommodation consists of private studios and apartments with fully equipped kitchens.
Best Beach With A View Of Cannes
Aiguille Beach (Plage De L’Aiguille)
The Aguille beach consists of two Cannes beaches: a sandy public one and a pebbled privatized one with a restaurant. A preserved natural environment surrounds both beaches as they are located in the natural park of Pointe de l’Aiguille. Both are enclosed by wooded hills providing shade and are far from the noise and traffic of the city.
The water is as beautiful as any on the Côte d’Azur. But the distinctive beauty of this place stems from the exceptional panorama it offers of Cannes and its surrounding neighborhood. Those not fans of crowds will surely enjoy the area as it remains relatively uncrowded all year long.
Consider staying at Hôtel Club Port La Galère if you wish to experience true tranquility while still being able to reach Cannes in a few minutes. This property is famous for its unique and interesting architecture, which faces the bay of Cannes.
Enjoying The Best Beaches In Cannes
Cannes has an array of different beaches, each with its own flavor. From a lively atmosphere to a more secluded experience, the beaches of Cannes have much diversity to offer. Although this city is a tremendously popular tourist destination, there are also plenty of less crowded and public Cannes beaches to check out.
