Sand, not shingle

Much of the coast around Antibes is pebbles and rock. Juan-les-Pins is the exception. Here the public sand beaches run continuously from the town centre, beneath the Pinède Gould, along the Boulevard Edouard Baudoin and on out of town towards Golfe-Juan. The seafront hotels of Juan-les-Pins all look out over this curve of bay.

Public and private

Along the shore, free public stretches alternate with private beaches. The tourist office explains that the private beaches rent out mattresses and parasols, serve food and in some cases offer water sports, and that some are run by the town itself. The town's beach map names, among others, the Grande Plage de Juan-les-Pins, the Pinède and the Gallice, the last close to Port Gallice.

In season

The public beaches have lifeguard posts in summer, together with showers and toilets, and there is always somewhere nearby for a drink or a bite to eat.

Making it easy

• Come early in July and August, when the sand fills up by late morning.
• For parking, the Palais des Congrès car park on the Chemin des Sables and the Port Gallice car park are the closest large options; the train station is in the centre of town.
• In the evening, walk the seafront from the pine wood towards the port as the light goes – one of the pleasures of Juan-les-Pins.