© Ali Shayler
© Ali Shayler
© Ali Shayler
© Ali Shayler
© Ali Shayler
© Ali Shayler
© Ali Shayler
© Ali Shayler
Plage des Bouches du Loup Beach, Villeneuve Loubet
Sandy beach with disabled access and lifeguard in peak season
Palm trees, sparkling blue waves and soft white sand make Plage des Bouches du Loup feel like a tropical paradise.
The name means “mouth of the wolf” and refers to the fact that the beach is cut off at its eastern end by the mouth of the Loup river. The beach gets less sandy as the summer ends and during winter it looks the same as other pebble beaches in the area, until more sand is brought in at the start of the following summer.
There are pay-and-display car parks spread out all along the beaches of Villeneuve-Loubet and you only have to pay during the peak months of July and August - the rest of the year is free.
Setting & Location
A long pedestrian path runs along the back of the beach, lined with palm trees on one side and little holiday cottages on the other. There are a number of restaurants and you can also cut through to the main road, where you’ll find more eating and shopping options. The path opens out in places and it’s common to see impromptu games of boules taking place under the shade of the palm trees.
Water Safety & Clarity
The sea is fairly calm and the western end of the beach is hemmed in by a small rocky outcrop, separating it from its neighbouring beach. The beach is well-manned by lifeguards during the summer and there is a security post where you can go if you need help. Near the lifeguard hut there is also an amphibious buggy for assisting disabled swimmers in and out of the water.
Beach Quality
A sand beach, Plage des Bouches de Loup is very popular with families; no stones underfoot and perfect sandcastle-building conditions. It's clear that the sand here is brought in from elsewhere, so the water’s edge is pebbly where it washes away but the rest of the beach is soft and smooth - a rare delight on the Côte d’Azur!
Directions
Access to Plage des Bouches du Loup is easiest via the 200 bus from Nice, or you can cycle all the way there along the green cycle path that starts at the Promenade des Anglais.
