Cannes for Families: Beaches and Boat Trips

Think of a family day in Cannes as three anchors: a beach, a boat and an evening. The town has no zoo or aquarium, and the nearest marine museum is in Monaco, so the sea and the islands carry the plan. Prices are in euros.

Anchor 1: the beach

All Cannes beaches are sand. Three that suit families:

  1. Plage du Midi, Boulevard Jean Hibert. Public, gently shelving, supervised in season; no dogs.
  2. Plage Zamenhof. A municipal beach with supervised swimming from 15 June to 15 September and loungers at about €9 to €15.
  3. Plage Brigitte Bardot, formerly Plage Macé. Free, facing the Majestic, dogs allowed, and closed to gatherings between midnight and 5:00.

Private clubs on the Croisette start around €25 for a lounger and climb steeply in July and August. Supervision dates differ from beach to beach, so ask on arrival.

Anchor 2: a boat to Sainte-Marguerite

The ferry leaves the old port and lands in about 15 minutes. Listed return fares were about €19 for adults and €13.50 for ages 5 to 12. No cars, bikes or scooters are allowed on the island, which suits children who like to run. Picnic spots sit under pines and eucalyptus. Fort Royal has free entry for under-18s and opens daily June to September. A day on the island needs water, hats and a plan for the last boat.

For strong swimmers, the six underwater statues off the south coast lie 3 to 5 metres down inside a buoyed zone, free to see. Keep children within reach and skip rough days. The city’s guide covers the rules.

For a quieter outing, Île Saint-Honorat has picnic areas and a coastal path of around an hour and a half; it is a monastery, so voices drop near the abbey and smoking is not allowed. Planaria runs the only boat: €19.50 return for adults online, about €12 for children.

Anchor 3: an evening

In July and August the bay hosts fireworks on six evenings, free from the shore, with 2026 shows at 22:00. For a wet day, the Musée des Explorations du Monde in Le Suquet is free for under-18s but cannot take pushchairs.

Safety and comfort

Boats run to a seasonal schedule and can be cancelled in rough weather. Keep a hold of phones and bags in crowds, which is the usual trouble here, and note that UK advice has no warning against travel to the area.

For ready-made family outings, try Cannes family tours on GetYourGuide . Read more: Cannes outdoor activities and the 2-day Cannes itinerary .