Right along the Riviera, dozens of towns and cities will be hosting a festive winter swim during the holidays, including the Principality of Monaco. Here’s when and where to find them.
Cold water swimming has become huge in popularity thanks to industry icons like Wim Hof and the stream of potential benefits of the icy practice can bring, from improving immunity to decreasing inflammation.
Once favoured by Victorians, the sport is now very much back in the public eye and there are plenty of opportunities to try it out for yourself between now and New Year – albeit in the slightly milder Mediterranean than the piercingly cold waters favoured by The Ice Man.
NEAR MONACO
Just down the coast, Beaulieu-sur-Mer will be hosting a swim on Saturday 23rd December at 11am on the Plage des Fourmis. There is no charge to take part and there are changing rooms available for post-swim comfort.
In Monaco, the swim will be happening on Christmas Eve at 9.30am sharp on Larvotto beach.
There are two locations to choose from on New Year’s Day in the Alpes-Maritimes, with a dip run by local Antibes association Day One on the Plage de la Salis from 11am and a second in Golfe-Juan on the Plages du Soleil, although a time for this latter event is yet to be confirmed.
ELSEWHERE IN THE RIVIERA
The Var has some great options too, starting with a “new to the calendar” event in Saint Mandrier on Saturday 23rd December from 11.30am on the Plage du Touring. Mulled wine will be served after the swim!
Sainte-Maxime is the place to be on New Year’s Eve, with a rather organised and robust-sounding event planned for 11am. Participants should arrive at 10am for a 10.30am “muscle warm-up”. Click here for more information and to register for the very popular event.
Also on Sunday 31st December is the swim off the Plage de San Peïre in Roquebrune-sur-Argens-Issambres, which will start at 9.30am. A pre-swim dance to get warmed up is on offer as well as a competition for the funniest costumes.
The Plage du Parc in Cavalaire-sur-Mer will be the scene of a swim at 11am the same day, with snacks and mulled wine available afterwards to warm up chilly bathers in a festive way.
Le Pradet’s Plage de La Garonne will host its New Year’s Eve swim at 11am.
Finally, on New Year’s Day, swims will take place in Toulon at Anse des Pins at 11am, with a warm-up beginning at 10am, and in Bormes-les-Mimosas on the Plage de Favière from 3pm.
Join the Monaco Life community – the largest English media in the Principality.
Sign up for the Monaco Life newsletter, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram , LinkedIn and Tik Tok.
Photo source: Nick Fewings, Unsplash