Plage du Midi (Cannes)

Plage du Midi is the stretch of free public beaches along the Boulevard du Midi in Cannes, just west of the old port, running toward La Bocca and Mandelieu-la-Napoule. The Cannes tourist office lists it among its family beaches: it is quieter than La Croisette, holds the Blue Flag and faces the Esterel massif and the Lérins Islands.

700 metres of public sand with rafts and kiosks

The public beaches of the Midi are nearly 700 metres long, with sand below the coast road and kiosks above it at regular intervals. Lifeguards watch the swimming area in high season, and older children can swim out to rafts and floating games. A few private beaches, such as Waikiki, rent loungers and parasols, but most of the sand is free.

Square Mistral, free volleyball courts and kiosk food

Opposite the beach, the Square Mistral has play equipment for children, shade and a pétanque ground. Two beach volleyball courts at 16 Boulevard du Midi are free to use all year. The kiosks, among them Kiosque 17 and Kiosque 34, sell sandwiches, salads and burgers for less than the private beach restaurants. There is little natural shade on the sand, so bring a parasol.

Youth sailing sessions and wakeboarding nearby

The Cannes youth water sports centre, just over 100 m from the Plage des Sports, runs introductory sessions for children aged five to ten and for teenagers. Cannes Esprit Glisse, about 200 m away, offers towed buoys, wakeboarding and wakesurfing.

Esterel sunsets and ferries to the Lérins Islands

To the west the red rocks of the Esterel rise behind the bay, and offshore lie Sainte-Marguerite and Saint-Honorat, the Lérins Islands. The beaches face south, and sunset over the Esterel is a reason to stay into the evening. Ferries from the old port, about 1 km away, cross to the islands for a quieter day of coves and paths.