Cannes has two kinds of beaches: glamorous private beach clubs along La Croisette, where you pay for a lounger and waiter service, and free public beaches where you simply lay down a towel. The best choice depends on your budget and style. For a classic Cannes day, book a lounger at a Croisette beach club; for families and budget travelers, Plage du Midi, Plage de la Bocca and the public stretches near Pointe Croisette are hard to beat.

Most Cannes beaches are sandy with a gentle slope into the water, which makes them good for swimming and paddling. They are at their liveliest in July and August, when lifeguards are on duty and every lounger is taken by mid-morning. Here is how the main beaches compare, from the town center outward.

Quick comparison

Beach	Type	Best for
Carlton Beach	Private	Classic Croisette glamour
Long Beach	Private	People watching and lunch by the sea
Plage du Midi	Public	Free sand close to the old town
Plage de la Bocca	Public	Families and more space
Plage des Rochers	Public	Quieter swimming and red rocks
Palm Beach and Plage Zamenhof	Public and private	Shallow water at Pointe Croisette
Bijou Plage	Public	Calm water, accessibility and water sports
Esterel coast coves	Public	Wild scenery and snorkeling

Private beaches on La Croisette

Carlton Beach

The Carlton hotel's private beach sits right across the boulevard from one of the most famous facades on the Riviera. Like the beaches of other big Croisette hotels such as the Martinez, it offers padded loungers, umbrellas, lockers and drinks and meals served to your sunbed.

The beach is built up with a deck, tables and a restaurant, so it does not look wild, but the sand is groomed and the water is clean. Non-guests can usually rent a lounger, at a premium. For many visitors the convenience and the setting are worth it for at least one day. Book ahead in high season and during events such as the Cannes Film Festival in May.

Long Beach

Long Beach is another private beach club on La Croisette, right in the center of town. It has a beachside restaurant and waiter service to the loungers, and it is a lively place to watch the Croisette go by. During big events, including the film festival and the summer fireworks shows over the bay, beach clubs like this one are a comfortable spot to soak up the atmosphere.

For more beach club ideas along the coast, see our guide to the best beaches on the French Riviera.

Public beaches in Cannes

Plage du Midi

West of the old port, below the old quarter of Le Suquet, Plage du Midi is a long, free, sandy beach running beside Boulevard du Midi. It has a relaxed local feel, with ice cream stands and casual restaurants nearby.

Behind it rises La Croix-des-Gardes, a hillside park that was once the grounds of a private villa. It makes a lovely morning walk and picnic stop before an afternoon on the sand. The sunsets over the Esterel hills from this side of town are some of the best in Cannes.

Plage de la Bocca

Farther west, around the bay toward the Cannes-Mandelieu airport, Plage de la Bocca is one of the widest public beaches in Cannes. The La Bocca neighborhood is more residential and less polished than the Croisette, which is part of its appeal. The sand is soft, the water is shallow near the shore and it is popular with families. It still gets busy on peak summer weekends, so arrive early.

Plage des Rochers

Plage des Rochers combines turquoise water with reddish rocky outcrops and tends to be less crowded than the beaches in the center. There are freshwater showers, but facilities are limited, so check for toilets nearby and bring an umbrella for shade, as there is little natural cover.

The beach lies close to Boulevard du Midi and the train station at Cannes-la-Bocca, which makes it easy to reach by public transport, although road noise can carry onto the sand. Beach volleyball, cyclists and joggers add to the local, active feel. Smoking is banned on many Cannes beaches, so look for signs and respect them, since fines apply.

Palm Beach and Plage Zamenhof

At the eastern tip of La Croisette, the Pointe Croisette area looks out toward the Île Sainte-Marguerite. Palm Beach is a laid-back spot where kids can watch windsurfers and kitesurfers and the boats heading in and out of the harbor.

Nearby Plage Zamenhof sits in a cove that is sheltered from the wind, with shallow, calm water that is ideal for swimming. It is a city-run beach with services in summer, such as showers, toilets, changing rooms, lifeguards and inexpensive umbrella and lounger rental, usually split into morning and afternoon sessions. Rules on food, alcohol and opening hours are set by the city each season, so check signs on arrival. Parking is limited; the paid underground car park at Parc Croisette is the easiest option.

Bijou Plage

Between Port Canto and Pointe Croisette, Bijou Plage curves along two sandy coves with shallow water. It has a water sports center where you can rent small sailboats and pedal boats, and it is one of the beaches in Cannes set up for wheelchair users, with assistance, ramp access and adapted toilets in season.

Dogs are generally not allowed on Cannes beaches during the summer season. Rules and dates change, so check the town's current regulations if you travel with a pet.

Beyond Cannes: the Esterel coast

The stretch of coast between Cannes and Saint-Raphaël is known as the Corniche de l'Esterel. The Esterel massif is made of volcanic rock that glows deep red against the blue sea, and the coast road winds past dozens of small coves and beaches.

• Agay is a small resort town with sandy beaches and clear water in a sheltered bay.
• Plage de la Baumette, near Agay, is a small beach with blue-green water and greenery behind it.
• Plage des Anglais is a tiny beach and pier, perfect for a quiet swim surrounded by red rocks.

Many coves are pebbly at the waterline and sandy farther back. Parking is free at some spots but fills quickly in summer. The most memorable way to see this coast is from the water: hire a boat for the day, or join one of the day cruises from Cannes that anchor near the Lérins Islands and the Esterel for swimming and snorkeling.

Tips for a beach day in Cannes

• Arrive before 10 a.m. in July and August to find space on public beaches.
• Reserve private beach loungers in advance during peak season and festival periods.
• Bring water shoes for rocky coves on the Esterel coast.
• Check current prices for loungers and parking; private beaches vary widely.

Plan the rest of your stay with our list of things to do in Cannes, or keep exploring the coast with the best beaches in Antibes, the best beaches in Nice, the best beaches in Monaco and the best beaches in Menton.

Summary

Cannes offers something for every kind of beachgoer. Choose a Croisette beach club such as Carlton Beach or Long Beach for full service and glamour, the free sands of Plage du Midi and Plage de la Bocca for an easy, budget-friendly day, and Bijou Plage or Plage Zamenhof for calm, shallow water. For dramatic scenery, head west to the red rocks and quiet coves of the Esterel coast.