Plage Macé

Plage Macé is a free public beach on the Boulevard de la Croisette in the centre of Cannes, on the French Riviera in France's Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region. It sits beside the Palais des Festivals, about a three-minute walk from the building that hosts the Cannes Film Festival, and is one of the few places along the Croisette where visitors can use the sand without paying a private beach club. The beach is fine sand, with a gently sloping bottom and clear, usually calm Mediterranean water in summer, sheltered by the curve of the bay. It is a strip rather than a cove, relatively narrow and backed directly by the palm-lined promenade, so it can feel crowded on summer afternoons. The mood is lively and urban rather than secluded: families, festival visitors and day-trippers share the space, with the private clubs of the Croisette on either side. Showers are available, lifeguards patrol in the summer season, and sunbeds can be rented from operators nearby, though the public sand itself is free. Food and drink are easy to find, with cafes and restaurants along the Croisette and around the Palais within a few minutes' walk. No dedicated parking serves the beach itself; visitors usually arrive on foot from the town centre, from the Old Port or from the train station, or by bus along the Croisette. Underground car parks near the Palais charge by the hour and fill during events, so public transport or walking is usually simpler. The beach is at its best from June to September, when the water is warm and services are fully staffed. During major events such as the film festival, the surrounding area becomes extremely busy and access to some sections may be restricted. Outside summer the beach is quiet and works mainly as a promenade viewpoint over the bay.