Beaches
The Beaches of Villefranch-sur-mer
There are four beaches within an easy walk from Villa Hippocampo. Three are located in the central village which is accessed by walking down the public stairs adjacent to the villa, across the coastal road, and continuing down the colorful narrow streets to the water’s edge. You’ll arrive at the beach within ten minutes of leaving the villa. The fourth beach is in a more remote location on the “quiet” side of the town, but is also reached in about 15 minutes. There are a few ways of getting there, all of them very fun. You can walk through town, go through the famous grounds of the Citadel, or walk through the residential area.
People travel from all over the world to visit the beaches in Villefranche-sur-Mer. The combination of clear waters, easy access, ample parking, top notch restaurants and unsurpassed views of the Cap Ferrat peninsula in one direction and the beautiful limestone cliffs in the other create a perfect place to dip into the Mediterranean.
There are four beaches in Villefanche-sur-Mer. All of them offer something quite unique. There are three beaches near the main village which are adjacent to each other but separated by small spits of land. The main beach, Plage des Marinieres is the largest and most popular and stretches for a half mile beginning at the town’s edge. It is close to snack bars and beach shops, has soft foot-friendly pebbled sand and is very family friendly. The water remains shallow for several meters into the Bay, making it ideal for a relaxed swim or a great place for young or nascent swimmers. I love this beach because parking is ample and I can sit at a café or snack shop and watch the action. There is also a beach club where there are beautifully organized chaise lounges with umbrellas and a super beach restaurant, all available for a small rental charge
Plage des Jeunes is found just a short walk past Plage des Marinieres. Walk past the picnic tables on the water’s edge and a row of volleyball courts to find a smaller more private beach. Plage des Jeunes has a rockier beach and flip flops are always better than bare feet. There are paddleboards for rent and the water becomes deep more quickly than on Plage des Marinieres. This beach is also ideal for snorkeling as it is a bit more protected than the open water of Plage des Marinieres.
Just a stone’s throw from Plage des Jeunes is a small quiet beach where the water is accessed from some flat rock outcroppings. It is best to wear water shoes here which makes accessing the water a breeze. This beach is also dog-friendly if your best friend happens to accompany you. I often see people with diving costumes on and so I imagine this is a great place to see deep sea creatures as the Harbor is among the deepest in the Mediterranean.
For those of you who appreciate absolutely crystal clear water away from the crowds in the summertime, there is a fourth beach, Plage de la Darse, which is small and quiet and located opposite the central village on the other side of the Citadel. There is almost no parking, though, and so it is best to walk there and spend the day. There are a couple of great restaurants there and a jazz club in the event you continue your beach time into the evening. This part of the village is what I consider the “working harbor” in Villefranche and so it is not set up for tourists the way the other side of the Citadel is. I find this very appealing as there are fishing boats which come and go, the local rowing club makes its home there and further afield are some family friendly apartments where you can observe local everyday life.
Villefranche has a tailor-made beach for everyone. I suggest trying out all four during your stay. They each offer something unique and will all be memorable.
