Plage du Midi

Plage du Midi is Cannes' best-kept secret — or rather, not a secret at all to the locals who flock here each summer to enjoy a beach that is genuinely, entirely free. While the famous La Croisette gets most of the international attention with its parade of luxury hotels and celebrity associations, Plage du Midi to its west has golden sand of equal quality, the same warm Mediterranean water, and a refreshingly unpretentious atmosphere where Cannois families, students, and year-round residents come to enjoy their seaside city without the theatrical glamour of the festival strip.

The beach extends for approximately one kilometre westward from the old port area, protected by the natural shape of the Cannes bay and backed by a pleasant coastal thoroughfare. The sand is clean and golden, the water entry gradual and family-friendly, and the water itself the warm turquoise of the western Mediterranean. Beach volleyball nets are set up in summer, small snack stands sell ice cream and refreshments, and the general vibe is of relaxed, democratic enjoyment of the French Riviera in its most accessible form.

Plage du Midi offers a useful counterpoint to the sometimes overwhelming glamour of central Cannes. The budget-conscious traveller will find everything they need for an excellent Riviera beach day here without the premium pricing of the Croisette concessions. It is also markedly less crowded than La Croisette during peak summer weeks — the relative obscurity caused by its slightly peripheral position means you can often find a comfortable spot on sand that is impossible at the more famous sections.