10 Best Beaches in Nice

Plage de la Réserve has a pleasantly secluded feel, tucked between the sea and steep cliffs. The convenient location near the centre of Nice means it gets busy, but the crowd is mostly locals making the most of the weather. Pick a sunny spot and enjoy the view of Phare de Nice lighthouse and the ferries coming into Nice Port.

The beach is a mix of smooth rock and fine gravel, with a deep bay. Locals love to dive from the rocks or the top of a diving platform. Next to the beach is a striking Art Deco restaurant, La Réserve de Nice, which serves fresh local fish accompanied by stunning sea views.

Le Voilier Plage is a wide stretch of beach with abundant space and a gentle slope to the sea, making it particularly popular with families. It's right in the middle of the Baie des Anges, with fine gravel, clear blue water and small waves. There are toilets and cool showers where you can rinse off after a dip.

One half of Le Voilier Plage is public, the other half private. Spend a little extra for the private part to get access to more upscale facilities, day beds to lounge on and a restaurant. More importantly for parents, the private half includes a colourful play area for kids.

Lido Plage is buzzing during summer, as it’s the main hub for water sports in Nice. Go wakeboarding or water skiing, take a kayak trip along the coast or float around the bay on a banana boat. Parasailing is also popular, and it's not unusual to hear gleeful shrieks as people take off from the beach.

Swimmers like to dive off the remnants of an old pontoon out in the water, left over from a former casino. The beach is Nice's usual light gravel and deep blue waters. It includes a restaurant, Bocca Mar, which has its own dedicated section of beach. A good selection of bars, bistros and tapas restaurants lines the promenade.

Opéra Plage features a wide public beach and the oldest private beach in Nice, spread in front of the city's sumptuous opera house. Managed by the Maiffret family since 1889, the private beach offers excellent service and classic Riviera refinement. Luxurious sun loungers are set up beneath vintage blue-and-white-striped parasols to take advantage of the gorgeous bay views.

Whether you need a cocktail delivered to your lounger, a massage or a local or international newspaper, staff are happy to help. Eat at the swanky beachside restaurant, where broiled sea bass and rib steak are accompanied by a constantly updated wine list. Nice Old Town, Nice Cathedral and the Palais Lascaris Museum are just a short stroll from the beach.

Plage du Centenaire is a broad, sweeping gravel beach backed by a wide pedestrian promenade. The beach is accessible for wheelchair users, and it's also one of the few beaches in Nice where smoking is banned. It's divided by the Peillon river, which flows under the promenade and out into the Baie des Anges.

During the warmer months, the beach has a lifeguard and temporary facilities, but out of season, it's just a nice quiet stretch of shingle to park your beach towel. On the other side of the promenade is a beautiful 19th-century park, Jardin Albert 1er, filled with palm trees, rose gardens and tinkling fountains. Music festivals take place in the park every summer.

Plage des Marinieres in Villefranche-sur-Mer has something no other beach in Nice can lay claim to: sand. Bring along your bucket and spade, and delight in finally being able to build sandcastles. The sheltered bay means the water is warm and shallow, popular with swimmers and snorkellers. The beach is a hit with local families, so expect it to be bustling in summer.

The bay itself looks stunning, with boats bobbing in the water and colourful houses along the steep slopes. There are numerous beachside cafes and restaurants to choose from, and ice cream stalls set up along the sand in the summer. Plage des Marinieres is a scenic 15-minute bus journey along the coast from Nice.

Plage Beau Rivage, a private beach opposite the luxurious Beau Rivage hotel, is the place to be seen in Nice. This glamorous spot features waving palm trees, lavish sunbeds and top-tier facilities. Relax on a plush sun lounger under a wide parasol, while attentive staff cater to your every need, delivering everything from snacks and coffee to cocktails and champagne.

Enjoy a dip in the Mediterranean, or take advantage of Beau Rivage's water sports facilities. Above the beach, the gourmet restaurant serves a delicious mixture of tapas, finger foods and inventive Mediterranean flavours. After sunset, cocktails on the terrace are accompanied by DJ sets or live music.

Plage de Plateforme is backed by steep cliffs, making it a bit of a sun trap and more private than the beaches along the promenade. There's no sand on this southwest-facing beach, but the smooth stone of its pier is surprisingly comfortable. Spread out a beach towel and work on your tan.

If you're an adventurous swimmer, Plage de Plateforme is a great spot for a dip, with ladders at the edge of the platform leading straight down to deep pools of glittering turquoise water. Currents can be strong, so take care when bathing. The beach is accessible on foot along a well-maintained coastal path, which takes around 20 minutes.

Plage de Carras is one of the few beaches in Nice that welcome pets, so it's your best choice if you're bringing along furry friends. This section of promenade features benches shaded by broad canopies, great if you or your pet want to get out of the sun. The beach is also easy to access for wheelchair users.

Plage de Carras is also the only beach in Nice where you can use personal watercraft, such as jet skis. Boats are available for hire at Jet Evasion between May and September. There's also a beach volleyball court and, at the western end of the promenade, a small port that's mostly used for diving and bathing.

Plage de Sainte-Hélène is at the western end of the sweeping Promenade des Anglais, which runs the length of the waterfront. Fewer people make it out this far, which means more space to spread out your beach towel. Appreciate the tranquillity while admiring views of the sparkling Mediterranean and the peak of Mont Boron across the bay.

The wide gravel beach is punctuated by heaps of rocks that are great for scrambling or sunbathing. Along the waterfront, the restaurants are small and friendly, and mostly serve homey French or Italian cuisine. For something a bit more upmarket, sip cocktails at the glamorous rooftop bar of Radisson Blu. Buses number 12 and 34 stop right next to Plage de Sainte-Hélène.