The best beaches in Nice, France

Discover the beaches of Nice

The entire coastline of Nice is a stretch of beautiful beaches, from the Old Town to the airport, with both public and private beaches right in the heart of the city. In all, Nice has over 8 kilometres of public beaches! All of Nice’s beaches are stone beaches (what the French call “galets”), so we recommend using our free beach mats, available at reception. There are showers available at the beaches, but no lockers, so bring only what’s necessary. Private beaches which dot the coastline have their own restaurants with  French cuisine and fully-stocked bars.

Crystal clear turquoise water in the city centre is one of the main attractions of Nice. All through the long Nice summer, you can enjoy sunbathing on the beach just metres from the old-town. Although most are public, some are private and offer food and bar service, plus lounge-chairs and umbrellas.

Beautiful Nice beach on the Côte d’Azue

Public Beaches in Nice.

Carras Beach- Handicapped accessible Beach

This is one of the largest and most westerly beaches that extends over 350 meters and has wheel-chair access. A sandy beach volleyball court has been laid out and is available for public use.

La Reserve Beach

Visit the secluded La Reserve Beach

This beach is situation after the port of Nice and is more secluded and quieter; it’s a favourite of locals who want to avoid the crowds without leaving the city. Not far from the beach is a food truck called ‘La Gratta’ with some excellent Pan Bagnat, a traditional Nicois sandwich. Next to this beach is also a famous and up-scale restaurant called Le Plongeoir, for foodies who don’t mind spending a little more on exceptional seafood. It’s also a great place for sunset drinks. For a more bistrot style meal, restaurant Le Club Nautique is reasonably priced and has the best view of any restaurant in town, with a sweeping view of the bay of Nice. 

Opera Plage.

Located just below the old-town, it’s one of the most accessible and popular beaches in Nice, right in the centre of everything. Here, you can find Water Skiing, Wake-boarding, Para-sailing, Flyboarding and Water Donuts, all of which you can sign up for at reception with discounted rates !

Private Beaches: Eat, Drink & Relax in Style in Nice.

Castel Plage

Relax at Castel Plage Beach Club

A beautiful private beach with a restaurant and rows of beach-chairs and umbrellas, Castel Plage is an art-deco paradise tucked away in the eastern-most corner of the Nice beaches. A great place to watch the sunset with a drink and good Mediterranean cuisine.

Le Galet

A beach, lounge bar and restaurant, the décor imitates a cruise-ship or yacht experience, with ropes, large wooden panels and huge pergola. The Galet puts comfort and style first; you can sit just metres from the water and enjoy a beautiful lunch in a quieter and more intimate atmosphere than the public beaches. They’re open during the evening with kitchen service and friendly staff.

Beach-View Bars

A number of luxury hotels offer rooftop terraces for a sunset drink with a view of the whole bay; while more expensive, the view cannot be beat – check out the Meridian hotel for aperitif at sunset.

Relax with a cool drink in the Meridian Hotel.

Alternatively, the south side of the Old Town is lined with bars and restaurants overlooking the beach; check out Movida for funky latin music with a sea-view, or Waka Bar for mainstream hits and refreshing cocktails.