French Riviera Swimming Bays
& Beautiful Boat Stops
From Menton’s colorful waterfront to the islands off Cannes. Explore twelve coastal destinations and discover where your private boat day could take you.
Which part of the Riviera feels like you?
A swim beneath cliffs. A quiet-feeling pause around Cap Ferrat. A colorful town seen from the sea. Or a longer journey west to the Lérins Islands.
The best itinerary begins with what your group enjoys. This guide brings together the destinations you can discuss with Beaulieu Boat Charters, with individual pages explaining the setting and the possibilities.
These are ideas for separate charter itineraries, rather than twelve stops to fit into one day. Choose a direction, leave time to enjoy it and let your skipper help refine the plan.
Cliffs, coves & coastal towns
Explore Èze, Mala, Roquebrune-Cap-Martin and Menton. Balance scenic cruising with swimming where suitable.
More time to pause
Consider Paloma, Les Fosses and Grasseuil–Espalmador. A more local itinerary can leave extra time for the water.
Cap d’Antibes & the islands
Discover Garoupe, Billionaires’ Bay, Les Ondes or the Lérins Islands. Plan for the longer cruise and return to Beaulieu.
Explore the map. Find your next stop.
Select a numbered marker to open a destination guide. Use the area buttons to focus the map and the cards below. The gold marker shows our home port in Beaulieu.
Explore all 12 destinations below.
The interactive map loads on the live page. All destination guides are available below.
Markers indicate approximate destination areas, not anchoring coordinates or a navigational route. Actual stopping positions depend on conditions, permissions and your skipper’s assessment.
Your destination collection
Map numbers match the guides below.Menton & Les Sablettes
See the old town rising above the waterfront in layers of ochre, yellow and terracotta. A memorable scenic destination beyond Monaco and Cap Martin.
Good for: old-town views, photography and an eastern coastal journey.Plage de Carnolès
A more open waterfront between Menton and Cap Martin. Discuss a relaxed swimming pause within a wider eastern itinerary, where conditions and rules allow.
Good for: open coastal views and an uncomplicated pause.Golfe Bleu
Steep slopes, a broad cove and coastal outlooks toward Monaco. Discover the landscape around Cabbé and the nearby Cap Moderne setting.
Good for: dramatic scenery, photography and architectural interest.Mala Beach
A beach tucked beneath high cliffs, with a sense of theatre on the approach. Discuss swimming and an optional lunch at Eden Plage Mala.
Good for: striking scenery, swimming and waterfront dining.Baie d’Èze
Look back toward a landscape rising steeply from the Mediterranean. The bay gives you a coastal perspective on Èze-sur-Mer and the heights above.
Good for: mountain-backed views and a scenic pause.Paloma
A green headland and intimate cove, looking across toward Beaulieu and Èze. Enjoy the natural setting and classic coastal character of Cap Ferrat.
Good for: elegant coastal scenery and time around the peninsula.Les Fosses
Rocky scenery, an old quarry and an area known for snorkeling. Consider Les Fosses when your group wants time to explore the water.
Good for: swimming, snorkeling and coastal character.Grasseuil & Espalmador
A small shoreline near Passable, with wooded slopes behind and the bay of Villefranche ahead. An understated area for a slower-paced day.
Good for: discreet scenery, bay views and a relaxed pause.Garoupe Beach
A sandier shoreline beneath the wooded Cap d’Antibes peninsula. Enjoy a different Riviera setting and views across the Baie des Anges.
Good for: sandy coastal scenery and a western destination day.Billionaires’ Bay
The famous nickname meets a surprisingly rugged shoreline. Discover rocky coves and Mediterranean vegetation beneath the Villa Eilenroc estate.
Good for: natural coastal scenery with a little Riviera mythology.Plage des Ondes
A small sandy beach, a distinctive stone tower and views toward the islands. Discuss a western itinerary and optional Eden-Roc lunch.
Good for: photography, western views and a special lunch plan.Between the Lérins Islands
Two low green islands and a distinctive Mediterranean setting. Make the waters around Sainte-Marguerite and Saint-Honorat the focus of your day.
Good for: an island destination, swimming and snorkeling.Where we stop depends on the day
Wind, sea state, other boats, local navigation and anchoring rules, and the seabed all matter. Your skipper chooses the most appropriate permitted place to stop.
Anchoring must respect protected Posidonia seagrass. A beautiful beach, scenic bay or sheltered-looking shoreline does not automatically provide an available anchorage.
Choose the experience before the exact spot
Tell us whether you want more swimming, dramatic scenery, a quieter-feeling pause or a special restaurant lunch. We can help plan around those priorities, with flexibility for conditions on the day.
Menton and Les Sablettes, for example, can be enjoyed as a scenic destination; we do not promise anchoring or swimming directly off that beach.
Planning your Riviera swimming and sightseeing stops
Which is the best bay for our charter?
The best fit depends on your group, priorities and the conditions. Tell us whether swimming, snorkeling, scenery or lunch matters most, and we can help recommend a direction.
Can we visit all twelve places in one day?
These destinations belong to different itinerary options. Choose a focused route east, around Cap Ferrat or farther west, with time to enjoy the places you visit.
Where does the boat depart?
The charters described here depart from Beaulieu-sur-Mer near Nice. The places in this guide are destinations to discuss, rather than twelve different departure ports.
Are the numbered map markers anchoring positions?
No. They show approximate destination areas to help you understand the coastline. Your skipper selects any actual stopping position according to conditions and local rules.
Can we choose a restaurant or beach club?
Yes, discuss it in advance. Availability, reservations, suitable shore access and any transfer charges need to fit your agreed itinerary.
Do western routes use more fuel?
Longer cruising routes generally require more fuel than staying close to Beaulieu. Confirm the proposed route, charter hours and fuel estimate before booking.
Is snorkeling equipment provided?
Snorkeling equipment, floats and towels are aboard L’Esquinade. Suitability for swimming and snorkeling depends on the conditions and your group’s abilities.
What happens if our preferred stop is unsuitable?
Your skipper may recommend another permitted location or route. Keeping the plan flexible helps us build the day around comfort and conditions.
Which setting would make your Riviera memory?
Send us your dates, number of guests and a few favorites from this guide. Tell us whether you prefer more cruising, more swimming or a relaxed waterfront lunch. We will help shape your private boat day.
Private Sunseeker Portofino 35 · Up to six guests · Beaulieu-sur-Mer