Plage de la Garoupe

The basics

In peak season, most of the beach is managed by the private club Plage Keller, though small sections remain open to the public. A gently shelving sea floor means the beach stays shallow for some distance, making it ideal for families. The beach is easily accessible from Antibes or Juan-les-Pins. Day trips from Nice or Cannes tend to visit Cap d’Antibes. By booking a private excursion, you may be able to work in a stop at Plage de la Garoupe for lunch or sunbathing.

Things to know before you go

• There are free showers and restrooms on the beach. These are the hole-in-the-floor toilets that are common in Europe.

• You can sit down to eat at Le Rocher or La Petite Garoupe restaurants, or the restaurant at Plage Keller. Advance booking is recommended for all three.

• There are no lifeguards on the public areas of the beach, although there are usually lifeguards on duty at Plage Keller.

How to get there

Plage de la Garoupe is on the Cap d’Antibes; drivers can find free on-street parking around the beach and a free car park. However, like most beaches here in the summer, it’s often busy, and finding a nearby parking spot can be challenging at the weekends. Other options include the bus line 2 or 15 from Antibes to Eden-Roc (disembarking at the Fontaine stop), or a 40-minute scenic walk from Antibes Old Town.

When to get there

The private beach club is open daily from March until the end of September. During this time, there’s still a small section of public beach where you can lay down a towel or rent a first-come, first-served sun lounger and parasol. When the beach club closes for fall and winter, the whole Plage de la Garoupe becomes public once again, although there’s more seaweed and driftwood around at this time.

Where to hike at Plage de la Garoupe

The coastal path from Plage de la Garoupe to the Baie des Milliardaires stretches for roughly 3 miles (5 kilometers), offering a scenic route that takes around two hours to complete. On a fair-weather day, start from Plage Keller car park and follow the well-maintained path eastward, winding up and down alongside the water’s edge. It’s a moderately challenging route, but hikers will be rewarded with stunning sea views and glimpses of private mansions.