Right above the beach near the port of Saint-Jean Cap-Ferrat, there is a pedestrian path (paved sentier littoral) that leads you almost to the Villa Kerylos in Beaulieu-sur-Mer.  It's called The Promenade Maurice Rouvier and it is a lovely way to enjoy the gorgeous scenery and beautiful homes along the coastline that lead to this exclusive and quaint little town. The stroll will take 45 minutes. You can rest on one of the many benches in the shade of the pine trees as you make your way to Beaulieu-sur-Mer. 

   As you walk the Promenade Maurice Rouvier you will pass the sugar pink villa that is Villa Socoglio - or La Fleur du Cap - actor David Niven's home until his death .

     Actor David Niven's lived here in his final years until 1983,  just one of the many beautiful villas that grace this peaceful and idyllic refuge of the rich and famous.

     Previous owners have included Charlie Chaplin, and it has recently been entirely refurbished for its current owner, name undisclosed.

     As you continue to walk along the seafront promenade, you will see many stately Belle Epoque villas that evoke the days when Beaulieu was the very height of fashion and artistic and cultural refinement. Although you can't go inside, you can catch glimpses of the luxurious villas tucked behind steel gates and electrified high fences.  You'll see signs indicating Villa Namouna, which once belonged to Gordon Bennett, the owner of the New York Herald, who sent Stanley to Africa to find Livingstone; Villa Léonine, former home of the marquees of Salisbury; and Isaac Singer, founder of the sewing machine company.  Residents have also included the likes of Gustave Eiffel, engineer and builder of the famous tower. Then, there is Paul Allen's "Villa Maryland."    Current residents include Andrew Lloyd Webber and Paul Allen (co-founder of Microsoft).  This is the Villa  where Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, Zahara, Maddox, Pax, and Shiloh stayed until Angelina gave birth.  Angelina apparently has a French mother and wanted her twins born in France.  This is also the location for many select private parties during the Cannes Film Festival.                                              

      Don't expect soft sands.  Depending on the tides, the shore surface is usually covered with light-gray gravel that has a finer texture than beaches at other resorts nearby.

     Along the waterfront is plage des Fourmis, a perfect crescent of sand that draws a crowd of bathers. It's tucked right under the promenade, in front of the white Belle Epoque Casino in Beaulieu-sur-mer.  Baie des Fourmis (Bay of Ants) alludes to the black rocks "crawling" up from the sea. The name doesn't quite fit, but the walk will give you great views of the sparkling Mediterranean and surrounding mountains. From the beach, you can muse over the size of the yachts in the nearby port or admire the Mediterranean style of the Villa Kerylos to the east. The beach umbrellas for rent add a splash of color, but you can have fun at the beach without renting anything.

Plage des Fourmis                                               Port de Plaisance

     On the other side of the coast toward Eze and Monaco, a longer stretch of beach, the public plage Petite Afrique, offers more sand to more families. One small marina is located at the east end of the beach on the Baie des Fourmis. The main yacht basin, though, is past the east edge of town.  Africa Plage rents mattresses for 8€ ($10) per day and sells snacks and drinks.