Monaco has some of the best private beach bars and clubs in the Riviera, but it’s also home to three secret spots so low-key that not even the locals know about them.
At barely three kilometres in length, it would be impossible to expect a beautiful, long sandy beach like Saint Tropez’s Pampelonne or even Nice’s pebbled Promenade des Anglais here, but size doesn’t always matter, and Monaco is home to several gems for those looking for a change from the glitz and glamour.
First up on our list of places you simply have to visit is La Crique des Pêcheurs or Fisherman’s Cove, which is pictured above.
Found at the foot of The Rock, close to the Musée Océanographique, this place is super secluded and is accessible via a staircase leading out from Level –3 of the Parking des Pêcheurs. You can also get to it on foot from the Digue de l’Avant Port.
It’s a gravel beach without any swimming supervision. The water gets deep quickly and can be rougher than other spots along the coast so only enter the sea if you’re a strong swimmer.
Not too far away is the much bigger, but equally uninterrupted, Plage du Solarium or Solarium Beach.
The look of this secret spot falls between Brutalist swimming pool and concrete amphitheater thanks to the massive steps on the outer side of the Port Hercule harbour wall. Even in the height of summer, barely a handful of people visit the beach each day, mostly to bask in the sunshine and enjoy an al fresco lunch, so there’s plenty of space to spread yourself about.
Like at Fisherman’s Cove, there are no lifeguards here and the surge can be a lot to manage for some, especially as there’s nowhere to put your feet down!
Lastly comes the Pont de Fer Beach, which is slotted between the two private enclaves belonging to Société des Bains de Mer’s Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort and Monte-Carlo Beach.
It’s not strictly within the Principality’s boundaries – it’s actually in France and belongs to the commune of Roquebrune Cap Martin – but is right below one of Monaco’s biggest tourism draws and sports venues, the Monte-Carlo Country Club.
It’s a stony beach, like many others in a region where soft sand beaches are in the minority, and quite a lot of the local seagrass washes up on its shores; two attributes that put the majority of beachgoers off. But if you’re staying at this end of the Principality and want a peaceful few hours facing the sea, this is an easy-to-find and easy-to-get-to solution.
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Featured photo: Elise Goy, Unsplash