Cannes beaches: public, private, and which one to pick
The short answer
Cannes has more than seven kilometres of fine sand, and the shore is split between public beaches and some thirty private ones. From Montfleury the nearest beaches are 700 metres away. For a family the tourist office recommends Zamenhof and Brigitte Bardot on the Croisette, both public. Twelve of the town’s beaches carry the Blue Flag in 2026.
Public or private, what changes
The Croisette beaches are mostly private and run by the hotels: you lunch with your feet in the sand, rent a sunbed, and some have a pontoon. About fifteen stay open all year. The public beaches cost nothing and take up all the rest of the shore.
On the Croisette itself, two public beaches are recommended for families by the tourist office, Zamenhof and Brigitte Bardot, because their size leaves room to play. The accessible beach sits by Bijou Plage, near the Pointe Croisette.
The beaches locals prefer
The Pointe Croisette and Gazagnaire beach, towards the Mouré Rouge harbour, are quieter and known mainly to locals. Kayaks and stand up paddles leave from there, and the sailing base opens onto the bay.
To the west, along the boulevard du Midi, the Rochers beach nestles between ochre rocks: the tourist office warns that in summer you need to lay your towel down by eight in the morning. The Guillaume Apollinaire promenade serves them all, with a view over the islands and the Estérel.
The Blue Flag, and what it tells you
In 2026, twelve beaches and three harbours in Cannes carry the label: Bijou, Font de Veyre, Gare marchandises, Gazagnaire, both Sainte-Marguerite island beaches, Midi, Mouré Rouge, Riou, Rochers de la Bocca, Sud Aviation and Trou de l’Ancre. The label covers water quality and environmental management, not comfort.
Worth knowing before choosing: two of those labelled beaches are on Sainte-Marguerite island, so a fifteen minute boat ride away. The others are reachable on foot or by bus from the centre.
Questions that come up
- Do Cannes beaches cost money?
- Not all. Some thirty private beaches charge by the day, often with a restaurant, but the public beaches are free and cover most of the seven kilometres of shore. On the Croisette itself, Zamenhof and Brigitte Bardot are public.
- Which beach with young children?
- Zamenhof and Brigitte Bardot on the Croisette, recommended by the tourist office for their size. The coves of Sainte-Marguerite island also work, with calm water, provided you accept the fifteen minute crossing.
- How far are the beaches from the apartment?
- Seven hundred metres for the nearest, about ten minutes on foot from Montfleury. The Croisette and its beaches are 1.3 kilometres away, and the residence gives beach access.
Dates taken from Office de tourisme de Cannes on 2026-09-21. Office de tourisme de Cannes
The Montfleury apartment
Four guests, a terrace over the gardens and a parking space included, 700 m from the beaches and 1.3 km from the Palais des Festivals. Rated three stars.