Routes
The Best Beaches in and around Nice, by Scooter
In short
The best beaches near Nice are all within a 30-minute scooter ride. Nice itself has pebble beaches, free public ones alternating with paid beach clubs, plus the rocks of Coco Beach. For sand, ride to Plage des Marinières in Villefranche. For quiet coves, try Passable and Paloma on Cap Ferrat, Beaulieu or Èze-sur-Mer.
First-time visitors are often surprised: Nice's famous seafront is lined with pebbles, not sand. Once you know that, the Riviera's beaches become a game of choice. Smooth stones and blue chairs on the Promenade des Anglais, ladders into deep water at Coco Beach, a sandy bay in Villefranche, pine-shaded coves on Cap Ferrat. Here are the best beaches in Nice and nearby, with how to reach them by scooter and what to pack.
Nice beaches: pebbles, public beaches and beach clubs
The Baie des Anges curves for several kilometres along the Promenade des Anglais, almost entirely in pebbles. The upside: the water stays wonderfully clear, because there is no sand to stir up. The downside: the stones are hard on bare feet and sometimes hot by midday.
The seafront mixes two kinds of beach:
- Public beaches are free and open to all. Bring your own towel, and most have showers.
- Beach clubs (private beaches) alternate with them all along the front. You pay for a sunbed, a parasol, often a restaurant and waiter service. Prices depend on the club and the season, so check on the spot or online before you go.
The beaches near the Old Town and the Jardin Albert Ier are the liveliest. Head west towards the airport and the atmosphere gets quieter and more local. One rule worth knowing: since 1 July 2025, smoking is banned on beaches in France, Nice included.
Coco Beach and La Réserve: where locals swim
Ride past Port Lympia towards Cap de Nice and the coastline turns rocky. The beaches of La Réserve mix large pebbles with little coves cut into the rock. A bit further on, Coco Beach is not a beach in the usual sense at all: flat rocks with carved paths and ladders down into the sea. The water gets deep quickly, which is perfect for strong swimmers and snorkellers, less so for small children. A lifeguard post operates in season. There is no car park on site, which is exactly where a scooter shines: use the two-wheeler bays nearby and walk the last stretch.
Beach hopping east of Nice: our scooter route
East of Nice, the Basse Corniche links some very different beaches in a few minutes' ride. The whole route suits a 50cc: our scooters, limited to 45 km/h, are completely at ease on these coastal roads.
- Coco Beach, Nice 5 min from Port Lympia
Start with an early swim off the rocks of Cap de Nice, when the morning light skims across the bay.
- Plage des Marinières, Villefranche-sur-Mer about 15 min from Nice
The answer to "is there a sandy beach near Nice?". Villefranche's main beach runs for several hundred metres along the bay, one of the rare sandy beaches on this stretch of coast, mixed with pebbles in places, with calm, clear water. It has lifeguards in season, a private beach on part of it and a paid car park nearby. The railway runs just above, so expect the odd passing train.
- Plage de Passable, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat about 20 min from Nice
On the west side of the peninsula, facing Villefranche across the bay. Fine gravel, sand and small pebbles, a free public section next to a private beach restaurant, and paid parking nearby. The coastal path starts close by.
- Plage Paloma, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat about 25 min from Nice
Below the Chemin de Saint-Hospice, a small pebble beach looking across to Beaulieu, with the hilltop village of Èze in the distance. Its set-up has changed in recent years, so check locally what is open. Roadside spaces are scarce, which makes a scooter a real advantage. Near the harbour, Plage Cros deï Pin is one of the largest beaches on the peninsula and a good family option.
- Baie des Fourmis and Petite Afrique, Beaulieu-sur-Mer about 25 min from Nice
Beaulieu is known for being sheltered from the wind. The Baie des Fourmis, below the gardens and facing the Villa Kérylos, is a small family beach of fine gravel. Further east, the larger Petite Afrique stretches beneath pine trees at the foot of the cliffs.
- Èze-sur-Mer about 30 min from Nice
A long pebble beach below the perched village, with a few rocky sections. The train station is right next to it and parking is limited: on summer weekends it fills up fast, so come early.
Want to mix swimming with sightseeing? Our Cap Ferrat and Èze day trip turns this coast into a full-day loop.
Which beach is right for you?
| You want | Go to |
|---|---|
| Sand, with kids | Plage des Marinières in Villefranche, Baie des Fourmis in Beaulieu |
| Deep water and snorkelling | Coco Beach and La Réserve, Nice |
| City buzz and beach clubs | The Promenade des Anglais beaches |
| Peace, pines and fewer people | Passable, Paloma, Petite Afrique |
| An easy stop on the way along the coast | Èze-sur-Mer |
Tips for a beach day by scooter
Parking near the beach
Always use marked two-wheeler bays: never the pavement, and never the pedestrian or cycle lanes of the Promenade. In Villefranche, on Cap Ferrat and at Èze-sur-Mer, spaces go quickly in high summer, so park at the edge of the area and walk in. Our guide to scooter parking in Nice covers the rules. And lock the scooter with the high-end lock we provide, even for a twenty-minute swim.
What to pack in the under-seat trunk
- A thin towel (a fouta or a travel towel) that dries fast and folds small.
- Water shoes: on Nice's pebbles and the rocks of Coco Beach, they make all the difference.
- Sunscreen, sunglasses and a bottle of water.
- A T-shirt or light jacket for the ride home: wet skin cools down fast at 45 km/h.
While you swim, do not leave passports, phones or wallets under the seat: keep them with you in a small dry bag. Our two-tone Riviera 50, with its under-seat storage and room for two, is made for exactly this kind of day.
Timing
In July and August, leave early: before 10 am, parking spaces and the best patches of pebbles are still free. Late afternoon brings golden light and a calmer sea, especially in June and September when the water is still warm. If you are visiting in spring or autumn, the beaches are quieter, and our scooter rental guide for Nice explains how to make the most of a longer stay.
Your scooter, delivered to your door
The easiest start to a beach day is a scooter waiting at your accommodation. We deliver free within Nice, by appointment, with two helmets, gloves, a lock and third-party insurance included: see scooter delivery to your hotel or Airbnb. After that, every morning is a new cove.
FAQ
Are the beaches in Nice sandy or pebbly?
The beaches in Nice itself are pebbly. For sand, ride 15 minutes east to Villefranche-sur-Mer, where Plage des Marinières mixes sand and pebbles. Beaulieu and Cap Ferrat also have beaches of fine gravel.
Do you have to pay for the beach in Nice?
No. Public beaches are free and open to everyone. They alternate with private beach clubs, where sunbeds, parasols and food are paid for at prices set by each club.
Can I reach the Cap Ferrat beaches on a 50cc scooter?
Yes. Villefranche, Cap Ferrat, Beaulieu and Èze-sur-Mer are reached via the Basse Corniche and coastal roads, which suit a 50cc limited to 45 km/h perfectly.
Do I need water shoes for Nice beaches?
They are not compulsory, but they are strongly recommended. Pebbles are tough on bare feet and can get hot, and the rocks of Coco Beach and La Réserve are much easier to enjoy with them.
