best beaches in southern France

there are some small towns on the coastal rail line with better beach than the bigger towns. you can base in antibes and ask locals about it.

Lauri Sorry to answer your question with a question but it is important. When you say best beaches what do you mean? Do you mean the whitest sand, sand at all (many Riviera beaches are pebble or grit), free as opposed to paying, best scenery around the beach, access to beach toys such as paragliding, jet skis, etc., access to beach huts, umbrellas, bars, recliners, etc; private coves? There are all flavours of the above all along both the Italian and French Riviera, and differently, west of there along the Provence coast. What would you like to find?

there are a lot of really nice beaches from St tropaz to Cannes. we preferred the smaller more private hard to access beaches along the area near Le Trayas. Sometimes a steep rocky walk down the bluffs/path but very worth the effort. but there a lot of very nice public easy to access beaches as well.

Try looking into one: http://www.lhoteldelaplage.com/indexfr.html Le Lavandou is minutes from the lovely village of Bormes-les-Mimosas. We were there this past May and really liked this sandy beach. The water was crystal clear. We had one of the balcony rooms facing the beach, on the second floor.

Lauri - Hard to say what is best but we loved the Plage du Passable on Cap Ferrat. I'd stay at the Hotel de la Darse in Villefranche sur Mer.