French Riviera (Cote d'Azur)
La Croisette and the beaches
Cannes' palm-lined seafront is a walk, not a beach day: the free public sand is Plage du Midi west of the centre, while the Croisette beach clubs charge for loungers.
Where
Cannes, France
Opening hours
Open access (always open) for the promenade and public beach. Private beach clubs and restaurants keep seasonal hours, busiest May to September. Confirm current hours and prices on the official site.
Tickets
Free to walk the Croisette and to use the public beach at Plage du Midi. Private Croisette beach clubs charge from about €25 for a lounger and parasol, often much more in season.
Time needed
An hour or two to walk the seafront end to end and back; longer if you settle on the public sand or book a club lounger for the afternoon.
In short
Visiting La Croisette and the beaches
The palm-lined Croisette is a promenade to stroll, not a beach day. The free public sand is Plage du Midi, west of the centre; the famous Croisette beach clubs are private and charge €25-plus for a lounger. Know which stretch you're walking onto before you settle, and treat the walk itself as the attraction. It costs nothing.
A promenade first, a beach second
The thing to understand about La Croisette is that the famous part is the walk, not the sand. The palm-lined seafront boulevard, the Belle Epoque hotels, the film-festival steps and the yacht-studded bay are all free, and an hour strolling it end to end is the real attraction. Where people get caught out is the beach. Most of the sand directly in front of the Croisette is divided into private beach clubs, and they charge for everything — a lounger and parasol start from about €25 and climb steeply in high season. If you wander onto one expecting free sand, you’ll be met by a host with a price list.
The free public beach is Plage du Midi, a long open stretch a short walk west of the centre, past the old port. Bring your own towel and it costs nothing. There are also a few small free public gaps between the clubs on the Croisette itself, but they’re cramped and crowded. The simple rule: know which stretch you’re walking onto before you put your bag down.
How to do it well
Treat the Croisette as a stroll and a scene rather than a beach day. Walk it in the early evening when the light softens, the heat drops and the promenade fills with people doing exactly the same — that’s when it’s at its best, and it’s still free. If you want to actually swim and laze, head to Plage du Midi with a towel, or commit to a club lounger for the afternoon and enjoy the service it buys.
Is it worth your time? Yes, but for what it is. Don’t come expecting a relaxing free beach in front of the grand hotels; come for the walk, the people-watching and the view across the bay, and slot a swim at Plage du Midi around it. Club hours and prices change seasonally, so confirm current details on the official site.
Planning the rest of your trip? See the Cannes city guide.
