Saint Tropez and Cannes may be best known for glamour and seaside style, but they’re also excellent destinations for families. Between calm beaches, easy day trips, small museums, and scenic walks, both towns offer plenty to keep children happy and adults relaxed.
This guide outlines the best family-friendly attractions in each place, along with tips on timing, comfort, and simple planning so your Riviera trip feels easy, organized, and genuinely enjoyable for everyone.
Why visit Saint Tropez and Cannes with kids?
Families tend to choose the French Riviera for the sun, scenery, and Mediterranean calm. But Saint Tropez and Cannes offer more than just beaches: they bring culture, gentle hikes, maritime adventures, and kid-friendly museums. Since these two towns lie about an hour apart by road or sea, many families split time between them. If your travel plan includes a sea-based segment, you might look into a multi-day Yacht Charter France for flexible, scenic transfers and privacy. Splitting your itinerary this way gives you both landscape variety and easier logistics, no repeated hotel moves for little ones.
Below, I break down what’s best in each place: beaches, outings, food stops, and smart timing. Use the sections as a pick-and-choose depending on how many days you have and your kids’ energy.
Saint Tropez: relaxed coastal charm with surprises
Saint Tropez might have a reputation for luxury yachts and busy marinas, but it’s also surprisingly calm once you step away from the crowds. Families can find quiet beaches, short coastal walks, and museums that hold kids’ attention just long enough before ice cream time. Everything here moves at an easy pace, which makes it one of the best spots on the Riviera to combine rest with gentle exploration.
Beaches where kids feel safe and free
Saint Tropez’s beaches differ in character. For families, Plage de Pampelonne is the go-to: long stretch, gentle slope into the water, and multiple beach clubs that supply toilets, showers, and snacks. Early morning (before 11 a.m.) is quieter, and you can walk parts of it without booking a bed in advance. Later, it gets crowded—but there are quieter segments farther east.
Another option is Plage de la Bouillabaisse, closer to town. It’s narrower but calmer and more accessible. Kids can dip in shallow parts while you keep an eye from the sand.
Explore the Citadel and maritime museums
The Citadel of Saint Tropez (Musée de la Gendarmerie et du Cinéma) gives kids a dose of history neatly packaged. The ramparts have views over the bay and the town, and inside, display rooms include props, uniforms, and local history with visual appeal. The walk up is moderate—useable for school-aged children.
Nearby, Musée de la Marine houses ship models, marine artifacts, and occasional temporary exhibitions that kids often find intriguing. The combination of towers and displays makes it feel interactive. Plan 1 to 1.5 hours here.
Day trips and easy nature walks
If your family enjoys light walking, take the coastal path from Saint Tropez toward Cap Camarat or Gigaro. The views are excellent, the trails manageable (not steep), and you can break for a picnic or beach stop en route. For shorter legs, head to Île de Porquerolles via ferry (from Hyères), which has bike rentals and soft trails. It’s a longer excursion but rewarding.
Another idea: rent a small electric boat (with no license) from Port Grimaud. Let kids steer under your supervision; it’s safe, local, and gives a different vantage on the shoreline.
Where to eat without the fuss
Inside Saint Tropez, cafés like Sénéquier or La Ponche offer casual pastries or light lunch fare. For relaxed family dinners, head slightly inland to quieter neighborhoods where prices and noise levels ease. Priority: somewhere with outdoor seating and a kids’ menu (many local brasseries do).
Cannes: glitz meets calm pockets ideal for families
Cannes may be famous for red carpets and film stars, but it’s also surprisingly easy to enjoy as a family destination. The city’s layout, smooth promenades, and well-kept beaches make it simple to move around with children. There’s a pleasant rhythm to the day here, mornings by the sea, lazy lunches in shaded cafés, and evening walks along the waterfront when the air cools. With the right timing, you can enjoy the Riviera’s elegance without the usual crowds.
Beach choices and timing to beat crowds
Cannes’s main stretch, La Croisette, has public beaches and private clubs. The private ones offer showers, loungers, and umbrellas—convenient when you don’t want to carry gear. But for budget-minded families, early access to public beaches means finding a quiet strip before midmorning crowds settle in. Arrive by 9:30 a.m. for best choice.
For something more tranquil, try the Gazagnaire or Riviera Nord beaches, slightly away from the main promenade. These see fewer day-trippers and are easier to manage with kids.
Palais des Festivals and promenade walks
Cannes isn’t just glam; it has pockets of depth. The Palais des Festivals et des Congrès often hosts family-friendly exhibitions or film previews. Even if you don’t attend, walking the red carpet steps and exploring the adjacent square is fun for older children who know Cannes’s film reputation.
Then take the Promenade de la Croisette in the evening. The light is better after 6 p.m., the traffic eases, and ice-cream shops and fountains keep younger walkers engaged. Bring a stroller if your children might need breaks.
Île Sainte-Marguerite and ocean adventures
A short ferry ride (about 15 minutes) from Cannes takes you to Île Sainte-Marguerite, which is ideal for calm nature and history. The island has Fort Royal, a museum, and shaded trails by the coast. It’s a great half-day trip: avoid the midday heat by starting in the morning.
Back in Cannes harbor, consider glass-bottom boat tours or short excursions that let children see marine life without diving. Check schedules in advance: some run only on certain days or seasons.
Local markets and low-stress diversions
Cannes’s Marché Forville (morning market) is lively and educational. Kids can see local produce, olives, cheeses, and sometimes small street musicians. It’s a grounded break from beach time.
Also worth a stop: Musée de la Castre, which sits atop Le Suquet. It’s compact (lands, maps, musical instruments), and its terrace gives panoramic views. Use it as a refresh moment rather than a long slog.
Sample 3-day itinerary: blending both towns
| Day | Morning | Afternoon | Evening / Dinner |
| Day 1 (arrive in Saint Tropez) | Relax at Plage de Pampelonne or Bouillabaisse | Visit Citadel / Musée de la Marine | Dinner inland, stroll through Old Port |
| Day 2 | Coastal walk or boat outing to Porquerolles | Lunch on the move, alternate beach stop | Return, casual dinner near harbor |
| Day 3 (move to Cannes) | Travel/settle in Cannes, visit Marché Forville | Palais des Festivals walk, then Croisette beach | Evening promenade + dinner along Croisette |
If you have a 4th day, insert Île Sainte-Marguerite between beach and museum time in Cannes.
Why this mix works for families
Kids often get tired of unvaried routines, sun, sand, rinse, repeat. By mixing soft hiking, small museums, shallow boat rides, and relaxed evening promenades, you keep interest up without overextending energy.
Saint Tropez gives you breathing room and texture (history, hidden coves); Cannes gives cinematic sparkle and accessible island escapes. And also, choosing a multi-day Yacht Charter allows you to transit between the towns without bus transfers or packing up every morning. That floating base becomes a comfort zone for kids and a practical way to link sun destinations. Your mornings are freer; evenings are less constrained.
Above all, flexibility matters. If a site feels too much, skip it better to dwell a little where everyone feels well than force a checklist. You’ll find that even resting in a quiet café or watching boats at the quay is, for many children, a meaningful moment.