Best Beaches in Nice, France

A quintessential town of the glamorous French Riviera, Nice is beautiful and sunny all year round. Besides strolling around its lovely streets, you can’t help but make your way to the beach.

The capital of the French Riviera boasts 8 kilometers of beaches alongside the Promenade des Anglais and Quai des Etats Unis. Lapped by the shining-blue Mediterranean Sea, the beaches in Nice share top-notch facilities and a relaxed seaside ambiance.

Unlike other best beaches in the French Riviera, the beaches in Nice are mostly covered in pebbles. Some are public, and others private. So, prepare your sunglasses and beach towel, and choose from this list of the best beaches in Nice, France.

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Map of Best Beaches in Nice

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Best Public and Private Beaches in Nice, France

NOTE: I took the pictures in this post at the end of May. If you visit Nice during the summer holidays, expect more crowds.

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Plage de la Réserve

La Réserve Beach in Nice is located next to La Réserve, a chic restaurant with sea views, between the Plage des Bains Militaires and Coco Beach. Less touristy than the central Nice beaches, you’ll be quiet outside of the summer holidays!

There are two large (narrow) pebble beaches and a succession of small coves with beaches laid out in the rock. Access to the beach is tricky, via stairs (or ladders, if you decide to sunbathe on the rock), but it’s a paradise for swimming, and the view of the Cap de Nice and Mont Boron is breathtaking.

This is an unsupervised beach, but a lifeguard station is available on Coco Beach, about a hundred meters away. There are showers, WCs, paid parking, and fishing is possible.

From the Port Lympia, it’s a nice stroll to the beach. On the way, there’s a kiosk where you can buy cold beverages and ice creams. If you are in central Nice, you can take bus line 30 or tram T32, La Réserve stop.

Plage des Bains Militaires

The Bains Militaires Beach is located in East Nice, between the port and the Cap de Nice. It is the closest beach to the Port of Nice and is at the end of the pier for Corsica.

Plage des Bains Militaire is famous in France because it was the setting of the (French) film Brice de Nice. When I visited, there were many kids.

This small pebble beach is not very big but is less touristy than the central beaches in Nice. Above all, it offers a nice setting for swimming, with a beautiful view of the iconic bar Le Plongeoir (on the left, out of this picture). However, you need to be cautious here, as the movement of large boats can cause significant waves.

This is an unsupervised, non-smoking beach with showers and WCs. A sailing center (Club Nautique de Nice) is located right next door.

From the Port Lympia, it’s a nice stroll to the beach. On the way, there’s a kiosk where you can buy cold beverages and ice creams. If you are in central Nice, you can take bus line 30 or tram T32, La Réserve stop.

Plage de Castel

The Plage de Castel (or Castel Beach) is among the most famous in Nice! It is the easternmost beach of the Quai des Etats-Unis, in front of the Hotel Suisse and Castle Hill. Very close to the city center, the access is from the seaside promenade using stairs (about thirty steps).

The Castel Beach in Nice is a public pebble beach. There is also a private beach (part towards the port of Nice), which is open from April to September. This part has a rather chic restaurant, sun loungers for rent, showers, WCs, and paid parking.

Plage de l’Opéra

Located in front of Nice’s Opera House, Plage de l’Opéra is the closest beach to Old Nice and the city center. Plage de l’Opéra is ideal for a quick swim after sightseeing, but it is usually very crowded in the summer.

This public pebble beach is not supervised (a lifeguard station is nevertheless located nearby). There are showers, WCs, and paid parking. A private beach is also available (on the right towards the Casino), and it has a restaurant and the possibility of renting sun loungers.

Plage de Beau Rivage

The Beau Rivage Beach in Nice is located next to the Opéra Plage, at the junction of the Promenade des Anglais and the Quai des Etats-Unis. It is the only beach in Nice with a section of (artificial) sand. This sandy area is available for children to play in the morning and is used as a beach in the afternoon.

This public beach is supervised during the summer and has showers, WCs, and paid parking. It also has a private area with a restaurant and sun lounger rental.

Between Plage de Beau Rivage and Plage de l’Opéra, it is possible to do parasailing! This is your opportunity to see the bay as you have never seen it before, as well as Nice, its Old Town and the famous Promenade des Anglais. Read more about parasailing in the Bay of Angels and book your flight here.

Beach for Kids: Li Rateta

Are you visiting Nice on a family holiday? This kids’ beach club will allow you to enjoy the beach with peace of mind!

Formerly known as Florida Beach, Li Rateta Beach is a supervised beach club organized by the city of Nice. It offers a range of activities for children aged 6-12, such as swimming lessons, sailing, kayaking, and supervised swimming. The beach pavilion provides bouncy toys, trampolines, and canoes for kids to enjoy.  You can read more about the activities and courses offered on the official site (in French).

And there you have it, the list of the best beaches in Nice, France, for a quick swim or a day under the sun. Which Nice beach tempts you most?

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