Exploring the Côte d’Azur from camping Parc Bellevue in Cannes

Quite last minute, I decided to book a campsite on the Côte d’Azur this summer. Our eyes fell on Esterel Caravaning in Agay. I even reserved a pitch, but it quickly became clear that we weren’t allowed to stay there with a trailer tent. Cooking outdoors is strictly prohibited here due to the fire hazard in the Estérel Massif, a Natura 2000 area. A real shame, because I absolutely love the area around Fréjus.

Without thinking too long, I chose a campsite in Cannes: Parc Bellevue. We were to stay there for seven nights and use it as a base to explore the French Riviera.

Camping close to the hustle and bustle of Cannes

Normally, I research exactly where a campsite is located. Due to the pre-holiday rush, I hadn’t done that this time. I knew that the campsite was on the outskirts of Cannes and that there was a free bus service, and that was about it. It was therefore quite a shock when, coming from the busy traffic around Cannes, we drove onto a sort of industrial estate and quickly arrived at our campsite. Doubts really set in when we got out at the campsite and saw a lot of rental accommodation.

Our doubts also stemmed from the peaceful locations of the campsites we had just come from: Les Marmottes in Chamonix and Tenuta Squaneto in Italy. In Cannes, everything was a bit different, and we had to get used to that. Fortunately, the staff at reception were very friendly and allowed us to shorten our booked seven-night stay if we wanted to. We found a nice spot at the back of the campsite, surrounded by plenty of motorhomes, caravans, trailer tents, and tents, and could start setting up.

Great spot, if only it weren't for the highway...

Our pitch (with a tap) at Parc Bellevue in Cannes turned out to be very nice indeed. It was almost at the end of a small lane, surrounded by many French campers who clearly knew each other but were all very friendly. We were also pleased with the fridge we had rented in advance, which was delivered shortly after our arrival. Everything was great. Until the noise on the campsite died down late at night, and we realised we could hear the adjacent motorway – the A8 – from our beds. Oh no!!

If I woke up briefly during the night, I could hear the lorries roaring past. And waking up in the morning, I did hear the cicadas, but combined with the traffic on the motorway. It didn’t bother us during the day, but during the night and morning, it was disruptive. Especially since it goes completely against camping in nature, which is what I love so much. For campers in a caravan or motorhome, the noise might be less disturbing than for us in a trailer tent or tent. Earplugs can easily solve this, of course, and then you really do feel like you’re in nature at this campsite. After all, Parc Bellevue is very green, with plenty of large trees providing shade.

Facilities at Campsite Parc Bellevue in Cannes

Parc Bellevue has a swimming pool, which was quite busy during our stay. During the day, there is an enthusiastic entertainment team organizing activities like aqua aerobics or pool games. The pool also has a slide, and there is a hot tub.

The restaurant with its bar and terrace can be found next to the pool. We didn’t eat or drink there. In the evenings, there was entertainment. It looked lively, but we didn’t attend that either. We couldn’t hear any of it from our pitch. You can also order bread at the campsite for the next day, and there is a small snack bar by the pool.

The sanitary facilities are decent. The block is large with plenty of toilets (with toilet paper), showers, and washbasins.

The playground isn’t very large and is slightly secluded. Our sons love playing table tennis. There are two tables near the playground, one of which is rather lopsided. There is no lighting in the evening, so it eventually became too dark to play. Further along, there is another small playground with a slide.

Visiting Cannes and the beach

Parc Bellevue is located in the La Bocca district. The famous Cannes boulevard is about a fifteen-minute drive away. It is a real feast for the eyes: the shops, the yachts, the Palais des Festivals where the annual film festival takes place, the luxury cars, and the people. It’s wonderful to wander around here for a while. Close to the campsite, a bus stops that takes you to Cannes for free. During our visit, that bus took a very long time, though there was plenty to see along the way.

Diving into the sea

The beach in Cannes is lovely. We went to the beach not far from our campsite and took the car. With a bit of luck – which we had – you can park right on the boulevard, otherwise you can use a large car park. We had a wonderful time at the beach. Despite the peak season crowds, we found a nice spot and our boys had a great time diving into the sea from a raft.

Kiosks in Cannes

One of the best things about Cannes, in my opinion, are the kiosks lining the boulevard. They sell all sorts of things: sandwiches, pizza slices, coffee, soft drinks, beer, and much more. You can take your food and drinks to the beach or enjoy them on the small terrace next to the kiosk, if there’s space. Each kiosk has a number and a slightly different selection.

Car spotting in Monaco

A visit to Monaco was on our bucket list, and this is easily doable from Parc Bellevue. We originally planned to catch the train from Cannes station. The connection is good, but on the day we went, we were already running late and a train had been cancelled. So we changed our plans and drove there the following day. In hindsight, this was also a great option. Traffic wasn’t too heavy on the way, and the parking garage turned out to be affordable.

Monaco was a success. We watched the changing of the guard at the palace, marvelled at the yachts, and our sons spotted almost every car they had hoped to see.

How was Parc Bellevue in Cannes?

In the end, we cut our initial seven-night stay down to four nights. During that time, we had a great time at Parc Bellevue in Cannes. After that, it was time to move on to quieter destinations. That said, we had a really nice time, apart from the nights with the traffic noise. The campsite is next to a large multi-sports complex with a cycling track, a football pitch, and an athletics track. My eldest son and I trained there for an hour, which is always a special experience!

Hustle and bustle on the Côte d’Azur

Do you like a bit of life and activity? Then you’ll feel right at home at Parc Bellevue. Bustling Cannes is nearby, and you can also visit other towns and villages along the Côte d’Azur from here. You can actually find some peace on the campsite – even though it was fully booked when we were there – but once you step outside, the hustle and bustle starts quite quickly. For peace-seekers, this might not be the best spot for a camping holiday.