The glittering bay of Villefranche-sur-Mer is one of the world's most majestic sights and there's no better way to appreciate it than from one of the town's beaches. Unlike most other Riviera coastal towns, there are no private beaches in Villefranche-sur-Mer. The entire beachfront is free and open to the public. Nevertheless, as beautiful as the water appears, there have been consistent problems with cleanliness, particularly on the Plage des Marinieres. There are just too many boats in that stunning bay. It would be advisable to keep your head above water as much as possible. For up-to-date information see baignades.sante.gouv.fr/

Plage des MariniEres

When locals talk about going to the beach in Villefranche, Marinieres is what they mean. It's everyone's favorite spot for a picnic and is one of the Riviera's best beaches. Find out more about Plage des Marinieres.

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Plage de l'Ange Gardien

At the far end of the beach (keep walking past the parking) is the charmingly-named Plage de l'Ange Gardien (Gardian Angel beach) that provides a somewhat more tranquil experience than the Plage des Marinières. A portion of this cove is authorized for pet owners accompanied by their dogs.

Plage de la Darse

The other beach in Villefranche is a much different experience. Plage de la Darse is at the western end of the bay next to the Port Royal de la Darce. Although it's a snap for boat owners docked at the Port to visit, other visitors are best advised to go by foot or bike from central Villefranche as there's no parking whatsoever. This tranquil beach has a beautiful setting but is not heavily frequented mainly because it's composed of large and sometimes pointed rocks. Rubber footwear is essential. There's a beach shower but no other facilities, snackbars or lifeguards. The water quality here is the most consistently clean of all Villefranche beaches.

While in Villefranche, why not sign up for a paddleboarding tour? This tour takes you through the highlights of Villefranche-sur-Mer before setting out on a paddleboard to cross the bay to Cap Ferrat.

Map

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Getting to Villefranche-sur-Mer

Villefranche-sur-Mer is an easy day trip from Nice, easily accessible by bus or train. Find out how to do a day trip from Nice to Villefranche-sur-Mer.