Five best beaches on the Cote d’Azur
With beaches carpeted with beautiful bodies surrounded by an equally as stunning landscape, exclusivity, glamour and cosmopolitanism is certainly at the heart of the Cote d’Azur. If you have had the privilege of visiting this stretch of ultra-glam coastline, then you’ll appreciate why the Absolutely Fabulous film was set in the region in 2011.
If you’ve not had the privilege of ticking the French Riviera off your ‘been there done it’ list, then you can only take our – and the BBC’s – word for it when we say that the Cote d’Azur is absolutely fabulous.
Check out five best beaches on the Cote d’Azur.
Plage de Notre-Dame, Ile de Porquerolles
The beach on the north-east coast of Ile de Porquerolles, an island on the Cote d’Azur, has been described as looking like it’s straight out of a Bounty advert. The scent of pine trees and eucalyptus blows over the island while painted fishing ships bob up and down in the translucent waters of this crescent shaped bay. Most of the island is a nature reserve where bikes riding down the myriad of sandy paths provide a much cleaner mode of transport. Yes it’s safe to say that the Plage de Notre-Dame is one of the region’s most magnetic beaches.
Calanque Creek
When asked what town is synonymous with the luxury and opulence of the Cote d’Azur, St. Tropez immediately springs to mind. Golden sand beaches provide the perfect place for beautiful bodies to soak up the sun, but for those looking for a more tranquil spot to lay down their towel, the rocky outcrop of Calanque Creek will do much more than suffice.
Plage de l’Almanarre, Hyeres
Somewhere between Nice and Marseille, the Plage de l’Almanarre can be found, a stunning beach which runs to the rustic town of Giens. Being windswept and invigorating, this atmospheric beach is a popular spot for kite and windsurfers.
If you are a nature lover or have kids in tow then heading to the marsh area of the beach to check out the area’s famous pink flamencos is well worth the effort.
Boulevard de la Croisette
Of course one simply couldn’t write a Cote d’Azur ‘best of’ without mentioning Cannes and its legendary Boulevard de la Croisette. This world-renowned beach is naturally a hot spot for the French Riviera elite or anyone wanted spend an afternoon celeb watching. If you’re really lucky you may even spot Patsy and Eddie propping up one of the exclusive bars that line the Boulevard de la Croisette.
Pampelonne Beach
Another ultra-exclusive beach on the Cote d’Azur is Pampelonne Beach in St. Tropez. This famous seaside resort attracts a hive of glamorous beach goers all summer long. This excellently facilitated beach boasts some of the most exclusive clubs and bars in the region and instead of water melon and beach balls being sold you can expect to be pestered to have your foot massaged or buy a glass of champagne or two!