Swimming in the Bay of Villefranche

The Bay in Villefranche sur Mer is wide, grand, and deep, and most importantly, it's warm.

About the bay

The bay is one of the deepest natural harbours in the Mediterranean, reaching depths of up to 95 meters. The bay itself is 500 meters across, so there's plenty of space to get your technique down.

Weather

We've covered the weather in Villefranche in an article in #practical-info, so be sure to check it out! Otherwise, June and July are by far the warmest times to go swimming, but you'll see swimmers up to 4 months afterwards.

Warnings

While it is safe to swim in the Bay of Villefranche, you should be aware of a few things before hopping into the water.

Jellyfish

Jellyfish (called meduse in French) are prominent in the bay, and you have to be cautious when entering the waters on some days and during some months. This map shows you the most recent jellyfish sightings around the French Riviera, so be sure to consult it if you're looking to avoid getting stung.

Marine traffic

Be aware that areas that are not closed off by buoys will have boats and marine traffic in them, so it can be quite dangerous to swim out to the centre of the bay.