France Guide
The Côte d'Azur
The beaches
You'll find the non-paying beaches to the west of Le Suquet towards the suburb of La Bocca along the plages du Midi, though there's also a tiny public section of beach on La Croisette, just east of the Palais des Festivals. La Croisette is certainly the sight to see, with its palace hotels on one side and private beaches on the other. It's possible to find your way down to the beach without paying, but not easy (you can of course walk along it below the rows of sun beds). The beaches, owned by the deluxe palais-hôtels – the Martinez, Carlton and Noga Hilton – are where you're most likely to spot a face familiar in celluloid or a topless hopeful, especially during the film festival, though you'll be lucky to see further than the sweating backs of the paparazzi.