Villefranche-sur-Mer is built around a deep, sheltered bay, with Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat on its doorstep and Nice a few minutes west. The result is a generous choice of places to swim, from a rare sandy beach a short stroll away to the hidden coves of the peninsula, all of them clear, calm and very close to the villa's gate.
Plage des Marinieres
The closest swim, and for many guests the favourite, is Plage des Marinieres, the calm sandy beach that curves along the bay of Villefranche below the old town. It is about a seven-minute walk from the villa, which makes it the natural choice for an early dip before breakfast, when the water is glassy and the boats are still asleep at their moorings.
Because the beach sits inside the bay it is sheltered from the open sea, so the water tends to be calm and shallow as it shelves out, which is reassuring with children. There is a string of simple cafes and restaurants behind the sand for a long, slow lunch, and the railway station is right there if you want to combine a morning swim with a train along the coast.
Around Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat
A short hop away, the green peninsula of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat hides some of the prettiest swimming on the Riviera. Plage de Passable is the best known, a gently sloping beach that looks back across the water to the Cap and out towards Villefranche, lovely in the late afternoon as the light softens. On the far side, Plage Paloma is a quieter favourite, framed by pines and villas.
The real treat here is the sentier du littoral, the coastal walking path that traces the edge of the peninsula. Follow it and you will pass tiny coves and rocky platforms where you can slip into the sea away from any crowd, with the whole bay opening up around you. Wear comfortable shoes and take your time; it is as much a walk as it is a swim.
Swimming in the bay
What makes this stretch of coast special for swimming is the bay itself. Villefranche has one of the deepest natural harbours in the Mediterranean, which is why the great liners used to anchor here, and that depth and shelter give you water that stays clear and remarkably calm. From roughly spring to autumn it is warm enough for long, unhurried swims, and on a still morning you can strike out from the sand and feel as though you have the whole bay to yourself.
If you would rather not leave the terrace at all, the villa's own heated infinity pool is there for lazy days, with the bay laid out below you. Some of the best afternoons are spent doing exactly that: a swim, a book, and the boats crossing the water far down the hill.
Practical notes
A few small things make beach days easier here. Some beaches are sand and some are pebble or shingle, so it is worth packing beach shoes, and a pair of water shoes for younger swimmers, so any cove is comfortable underfoot. Most beaches have both free public stretches and private beach-club sections where you can hire a lounger and be brought a cold drink, so you can choose your own level of comfort.
Mornings are almost always the calmer time, before the day-trippers arrive and while the water is at its clearest, so an early start is well rewarded. Bring shade and water on hot days, and keep an eye on little ones near the rockier coves. None of this is complicated; the pleasure of being here is how close and how easy the swimming is.
Make a day of it
Turn a swim into a proper outing on the water. These are curated, bookable experiences along this stretch of coast, all on tickadoo.
Booked through tickadoo. Your in-villa concierge can suggest and arrange these too, just ask.
Common questions
Plage des Marinieres, the calm sandy beach in the bay of Villefranche, is the nearest swim. It is about a seven-minute walk from the villa, which makes it the easy choice for a morning dip before breakfast.
It varies. Plage des Marinieres is one of the rare sandy beaches on this part of the coast, while many others, including stretches around Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, are pebble or shingle. It is worth bringing beach shoes so any beach is comfortable underfoot.
Yes. Villefranche has one of the deepest natural harbours in the Mediterranean, so the bay is sheltered and clear, with calm, easy swimming that is pleasant from roughly spring to autumn.
Plage de Passable, which looks back across the water to the Cap, and Plage Paloma are the two best known. The sentier du littoral, the coastal walking path, links several pretty coves around the peninsula.
Yes. The villa has its own heated infinity pool, which is there for lazy days when you would rather not leave the terrace, with the bay laid out below.