As the last French town before Italy, Menton has a long, varied coastline that has been well-managed to please beach buffs. From the rocky beaches on the western side to the stretch of private beach restaurants in the east, there are beaches to suit all tastes and budgets. The western beaches are rocky but east of the Borrigo river, beaches become progressively sandier.
As Menton is the last town before the Italian border, you'll hear more Italian than French on the beaches and in the restaurants in summer. Italian influence is also apparent on the menus which lean towards pasta and fish.
The water quality is good to excellent on Menton's beaches. Even beaches around the port have seen their cleanliness improve in recent years. (see baignades.sante.gouv.fr/)
Western Beaches
The following three beaches are quite similar. All have lifeguards in July and August but for sustenance you'll have to make do with La Marbella restaurant.
Plage du Borrigo
The westernmost beach here is narrow and rocky. Mainly frequented by locals, there is parking nearby and beach showers.
Plage du Casino
Also narrow and rocky, this beach is close to the Menton Casino where there is some street parking. Facilities include wheelchair access.
Plage du Marché
The rocks get smaller on the eastern end of this beach which is an extension of Plage Casino.
Plage de Fossan
This wide beach is on a curve of sand, pebbles and rocks. More sheltered than the other beaches, the water is calm and shallow making it perfect for kids. Also attractive to the little ones is the park and kiddie play area on the eastern end which is also tree-shaded in parts. Fossan is a no-smoking beach.
Eastern (Garavan) Beaches
Sandy, calm and with beautiful views of Menton's old town and the mountains, these are the best beaches and, of course, the most crowded in summer. Lying on Garavan bay, the beach area begins after the Old Port with the public beach, Sablettes, and then turns into a string of private beach-restaurants before the public and private Rondelli beaches. There's paid parking adjacent to Rondelli and free parking just beyond.
Plage Sablettes
Just east of port, this beach is calm and sheltered with a mixture of sand, pebbles and gravel. Wide with packed-down sand, the shallow waters are great for kids. For grabbing a bite of food, head east where there are snack places on the coastal road as well as beach-restaurants.
Plage Rondelli
This wide, sandy beach on a shallow cove is a great family beach as the water is invariably calm, the drop-off is gentle and there's a lifeguard. Most of the beach is taken up by private beach restaurants, however. The public portion is small and can be cramped in summer. The beach is an artificial one which is to say that there's a relatively thin layer of sand over concrete. It's comfortable enough to walk on but planting an umbrella can be a challenge. There are plenty of restaurants and shops on the walkway that connects Rondelli with Sablettes as well as a stall for snacks and drinks on the beach.
Private Beach-Restaurants
Stay in Menton!
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The prices for a lounge chair and umbrella can dip as low as €15 in the shoulder season, among the cheapest on the Riviera. At the height of the season you can find a lounge chair and umbrella in the first row for €30 pp. Few places offer online booking. Just choose a beach, show up early and pay on the spot.
Les Sablettes Beach
La Pergola
Jardin des Ambassadeurs (Hotel des Ambassadeurs)
Plage l'Helios
Plage Napoleon (Hotel Napoleon)
La Dolce Vita
Access
The train station in Menton is about a 10-minute walk from the eastern beaches. To reach Garavan beaches take bus No 1 to the Les Sablettes stop or leave the train at the Garavan stop.
