The 10 best beaches in Nice

Stretching over four miles along the Baie des Anges, the Promenade des Anglais is home to most of Nice’s pebbly beaches. Fifteen private and 20 public beaches hug the bay, opening up to restaurants, water sports, and sun loungers covered with umbrellas. While private venues have more luxurious amenities (think changing rooms, towels, and loungers), these beaches are seasonal and only appear from April to October. Whether you’re looking for a playground with lifeguards or a seaside restaurant where you can go from bar to beach bed, here are 10 of the best beaches in Nice to choose from.

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Opera Beach

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+33 4 93 62 31 52

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Formerly known as the Opéra Pavillion, Opéra Plage is Nice’s oldest private beach, originally debuting in 1889. Run for generations by the Maiffret family, Michel and his wife, Chantal, took the reins and transformed the private beach into one of the most popular. in Nice, where your wish is the command of the staff. Forgot your bikini? The sales assistant will slide in and give you a look at your collection. Dreaming of a massage by the sea? A masseuse can be sent directly to your beach bed, which is conveniently located opposite the old town on the Promenade des Anglais. The beachfront terrace also serves food from noon to 5 pm daily, offering cold dishes that can be eaten by the beach on one of the 400 new loungers, available to rent from 9 am to 6:30 pm.

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The stone

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+33 4 93 88 17 23

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One of the newer private beaches to debut on the shores of Nice, Le Galet, named for the galets or pebbles of the Côte d’Azur, is the epitome of Riviera elegance. Think zen wood blinds, navy blue beach beds, and sleek white umbrellas that stretch out to the sea. Officially open seasonally (April to October), the restaurant and beach bar welcome lunch as soon as the weather warms up, which happens quite quickly in Nice. Located in the heart of the city, opposite the old town and the Albert 1er gardens, this beach offers one of the best views of the parade during the carnival season in February. The location is a draw, but the food is definitely worth the visit alone. Pick your Italian-inspired meal, from truffle pizza to creamy buffalo mozzarella slices, and be sure to save room for a scoop of homemade chantilly topped ice cream.

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Castel Plage

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+33 4 93 85 22 66

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Open from 10 am to midnight from April to September, the private Castel Plage, located at the end of the Promenade des Anglais below Castle Hill, is the best option for those looking to spend an entire day soaking up the water, making a break for lunch between dives in the sea. Beach beds can be rented for half (17 euros) or full days (20 euros), but if you want to make sure you have a bed ready and waiting when you arrive, call and reserve the day before (specifying which row you’re in. I like). This is the kind of perfect place to stay on Sundays in the summer, savoring Provencal rosé as you dine from the restaurant’s Niçois-inspired menu (which can be ordered by the sea) with ingredients sourced directly from the local market.

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Ruhl plague

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+33 4 93 87 09 70

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The family-run Ruhl Plage debuted in 1920 along the Promenade des Anglais, near the Théâtre de Verdure and Albert 1er gardens. The Old World-inspired private beach features a children’s saltwater pool (with a lifeguard on duty) and 80 private cabanas equipped with showers. The beach is open every day from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. and beds are available for rent (€ 22) from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. from noon to 4:30 p.m., transforming into a tapas bar at 6 pm

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Beautiful shoreline

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+33 4 92 00 46 80

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Open seasonally from May to September, Beau Rivage is a private beach with two very different sides: an open-air Zen restaurant that opens up to loungers, and the lively lounge with a new tapas menu and DJ theme nights. Sitting at the foot of the old town on the Promenade des Anglais, Beau Rivage (which is open from 10 a.m. to midnight) draws a crowd of locals and tourists thanks to its prime location and lounge chair menu courtesy of the new seaside bistro, The Beachstraw At night, the beach takes on a St. Tropez vibe with evenings by the sea with theme parties and live music.

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Blue Beach

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+33 4 93 87 10 36

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Water sports fans can get their parasailing, wakeboarding and waterskiing at Glisse Evasion, which is located right next to the private Blue Beach on the Promenade des Anglais. Blue Beach also offers water sports and is one of the few private venues open year-round, featuring beach beds, a children’s pool, and a seaside restaurant. During the summer, the beach is open from 8 am to midnight, and the restaurant is open for lunch and dinner. The rest of the year, the beach closes at 7 pm

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Military Baths

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Located near the Corsica ferry terminal near the port, Bains Militaires is more of a local secret as it sits on a residential side of town, away from the bustling Promenade des Anglais. The former private military beach is now open to the public, but you won’t find any facilities (except a shower) like on other beaches in the city. The small stretch of beach embraces the Club Nautique, which offers sailing lessons and lunches on the terrace by the sea. While the beach lacks its own restaurants, you will find a few restaurants within walking distance along the harbor.

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The Beach Sailboat

The closest beach to AC Hotel Nice, Voilier is considered one of the widest beaches along the Baie des Anges, with public and private spaces for sunbathing, as well as a play area for children. The beach is open seasonally from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., but travelers can visit the restaurant year-round for lunch and dinner inspired by Italian and Mediterranean cuisine, such as the infamous tagliata. In the afternoons in summer, the beach club opens for evenings that stay until 10 pm

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Carras Beach

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Carras Beach, located near the airport on the west side of the Promenade des Anglais, is the only official beach that allows pets, as well as one of the only handicap-accessible pests with wheelchair access. From May to September, Jet Evasion offers water skiing (making it the only one in Nice to present this water sport). The public beach lacks restrooms and a restaurant, but there is a lifeguard on duty every day during the summer and two free public parking lots near the port and La Lanterne beach.

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Villefranche sur mer

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Drive east towards Monaco, and the first town you will come across is Villefranche-sur-Mer, whose crescent-shaped beach is a local favorite as the pebbles are smaller and more alike. to the sand than to the rocks. From Nice’s main train station, the journey is only 15 minutes to the beach, Plage des Mariniers. The shore is dotted with bar stalls and a few seaside restaurants like Palm, but it’s worth venturing out into the old town to one of the more prominent restaurants like Les Garçons. The beach at Villefranche is great for swimming (and snorkeling) as the shallow waters are easy to get in and out of, but you won’t find facilities like restrooms or lifeguards.