NEW FOR 2010 - Four public beaches have been awarded the Blue flag for water quality:
Bijou, Gazagnaire, Mace and les Rochers at La Bocca
Seven and a half kilometers of wonderful yellow sandy beaches but did you know...
Cannes spends 650,000 euros each year to reclaim 25,000 cubic metres of sand from the sea. Since 2004 it has also gained between three and seven metres of beach from the sea.
For the fourth year the town is protecting bathers from jelly fish with special nets along the Gazagnaire, Mace and Roubine public beaches. They are in place until the end of September. From next year there will be a 550 metre long underwater barrier, 90 metres off the coast, which will act like a coral reef to prevent massive waves hitting the beach along the Croisette in the winter - devastating the beach restaurants and washing away tons of sand. It has cost almost one and half million euros and is unique in the south of France.
The town has planted scores of palm trees on the public beaches to provide welcome shade. There are also 81 showers plus waste bins and loos available. Cafes (kiosks) can be found all along the 15 kilometres of Cannes coastline - from Mourre Rouge at Palm Beach to Trou de l'ancre at La Bocca on the border with Mandelieu. There are 60 people to look after your safety on the beaches including lifeguards and police. New this year - and the only one on the Cote d'Azur - is a beach lending library, Pages a la Plage at Plage Mace. Currently it has books only in French with some English magazines.
There are five beach volley ball "courts" - open to all from 8am till midnight - located near kiosks 16 and 33. Also at these points are to be found a host of watersport facilities.
The 33 private beaches and restaurants are mainly in the town along th
e Croisette and on the bd du Midi, around the corner from the old port.
Scattered among the private beaches in town are public beaches, such as Plage Mace. Many locals head for the miles of public beach along the bd du Midi and a well kept secret is les Rochers (opposite La Bocca railway station) which is great for snorkelling. There is also a special beach at Bijou Plage for handicapped people - look out for Handiplage. And there are two municipally managed beaches - Mace and Zamenoff - where you can hire sunbeds and parasols at 3.70 euros each for a half day or 6.70 all day.
Did you know...It's illegal to make love on the beach - day or night - or in any public place. Since 1990 it's also illegal to take a midnight dip, play ball games after midnight or to sleep on the beach.
Private beaches are not cheap but they are so Cannes it's worth splashing out for a day or half a day: try out L'Ecrin on the Palm Beach side of Port Canto. Sunbeds cost 20€ for the day and dish of the day 19€. It's also great just for a drink. New this year is Baoli Plage - very chic! And also on Croisette is the popular Les Dunes private beach and restaurant.
Did you know...there has to be two metres space between the water's edge and the sunbeds on private beaches to allow people to walk by?
Only nudist beach is on Ile de Sainte-Marguerite.