Family Days in Cannes: Sandy Beaches, Ferry Rides

Cannes gives families sand, short boat rides and open-air time. It lacks a zoo or aquarium, so days here are built around the sea and the islands. Prices are in euros.

Choosing a beach

Cannes beaches are sand and shelve gently. Public choices:

  • Plage du Midi, on Boulevard Jean Hibert west of the old port, is public with supervised swimming in season. Dogs are not allowed.
  • Plage Zamenhof, a municipal beach, has supervised swimming from 15 June to 15 September and loungers at about €9 to €15 a day.
  • Plage Brigitte Bardot, formerly Plage Macé, is free and public, faces the Majestic hotel and allows dogs. A municipal order bars gatherings on it from midnight to 5:00.

Most Croisette beaches are private clubs charging about €25 to well over €100 for a lounger. Lifeguard dates vary, so check on the day.

Island day: Sainte-Marguerite

Trans Côte d’Azur, Horizon and Riviera Lines make the 15-minute crossing from the old port. A return fare was listed at about €19 for adults and €13.50 for ages 5 to 12. The island has no cars, and bikes and scooters are not allowed. Paths run under pines and eucalyptus. Fort Royal is open daily June to September, with free entry for under-18s. Pack water, sun cream and lunch.

Snorkelling with sculptures

Six statues by Jason deCaires Taylor lie in 3 to 5 metres of water, 84 to 132 metres off the south shore of Sainte-Marguerite. The swimming zone is marked by buoys and boats cannot moor. It is free. Only confident swimmers should go, in calm seas, with an adult beside each child. The city page describes the site.

Saint-Honorat

The abbey island has picnic areas and an easy coastal path of about an hour and a half. It is a place of prayer, so keep voices low. Planaria runs the boats, at €19.50 return for adults online, and the child fare is about €12.

Practical notes

Island ferries run to a seasonal timetable and are sometimes cancelled in rough weather, so confirm the last boat home before you leave the quay. Shade is limited on the beaches and the island paths, so carry sun cream, hats and water. UK Foreign Office advice has no warning against travel to the area, only a note that demonstrations and strikes can disrupt transport, and in crowded places keep phones and bags close because pickpocketing is the common problem.

Rainy-day and evening ideas

The Musée des Explorations du Monde in Le Suquet is free for under-18s but does not admit pushchairs. In July and August, fireworks light the bay on six evenings, free from the shore, starting at 22:00 in 2026, which suits older children.

Find family-friendly boat trips and workshops: Cannes family activities on GetYourGuide . Read more: outdoor activities in Cannes and Cannes group activities .