Overview
The promenade was laid out in the 1860s along what had been a coastal path, and the Carlton, Martinez and Majestic hotels followed. Most of the sand is private and charged by the day, though public stretches remain at either end. The handprints of film stars are set into the pavement around the Palais des Festivals.
Highlights
Walk it in the evening, when the light is low and the shops are open late. The public beach at the eastern end, near the Palm Beach point, is free and less crowded. In May the whole boulevard is closed to traffic and given to the festival, which is the best and worst time to visit.