Beach
Plage du Nicet
Saint-Malo · Ille-et-Vilaine
In Rothéneuf, Le Nicet is a small fine-sand cove sheltered from the wind, opening onto the Pointe de la Varde, reached only by a steep staircase of about a hundred steps.
- Suggested time
- 1 h 30 to 3 hours
- Type of place
- Small wild, sheltered cove in Rothéneuf, reached only by steps
- Atmosphere
- Secluded, wild, sheltered and green
- Getting there
- Avenue Sainte-Marie, Rothéneuf, 35400 Saint-Malo. Access only by a steep staircase.
Who this place suits
- With family
- 4/10
- As a couple
- 10/10
- With friends
- 7/10
- Solo
- 10/10
- With a dog
- 4/10
- Reduced mobility
- 1/10
These scores are calculated from what the page records: official rating, facilities, difficulty, duration and location. They are a guide, not a substitute for contacting the venue, especially about accessibility.
About
Le Nicet beach is in Saint-Malo, in the Rothéneuf district. It is a small, still wild beach, sheltered from the wind, opening towards the Pointe de la Varde. Its green setting and relative isolation explain its reputation as a discreet beach. You have to earn this peace: access is only by steps, about a hundred of them. The beach is not lifeguarded. It is therefore not well suited to pushchairs, people with reduced mobility or families looking for a first-aid post. Pets are banned from 1 April to 30 September. Le Nicet is best for a quiet break, reading, photography and careful swimming when conditions are good.
What you will see
- A small fine-sand cove.
- Access by a staircase of about a hundred steps.
Practical information
- Getting there
- Avenue Sainte-Marie, Rothéneuf, 35400 Saint-Malo; access only by a steep staircase
- Services
- Parking up above in the area
- Parking
- Can be very busy in July and August and on sunny weekends
- Pets
- Banned from 1 April to 30 September
- Accessibility
- About a hundred steps; impossible or strongly discouraged with a pushchair
- Lifeguarded swimming
- Not lifeguarded
- With family
- Not well suited to young children, given the access and lack of lifeguards
- Tides
- Strong influence; at low tide, more space and exposed rocks; at high tide, a smaller cove and the water closer
- Activities
- Careful swimming, reading, photography, lazing, a walk in Rothéneuf
- Safety
- Swim only in good conditions, no lifeguards, a long, steep staircase, slippery rocks, watch the tide, do not carry too much gear down
- Best time
- For calm, the morning; for photos, mid-tide; for swimming, mid-tide in calm seas; avoid big summer weekends
- Photography
- The top of the staircase, towards the Pointe de la Varde, the ends of the cove; late afternoon light
- Ideal for
- Peace and quiet, couples, reading, photography, careful swimming
- Nearby
- The Pointe de la Varde, Rothéneuf, the Rochers Sculptés, Le Val beach, the Havre de Rothéneuf, Le Minihic
Tips on the spot
- Check the tide times before you go, and download them for offline use.
- Check the marine weather, swell and wind.
- Read the signs at the entrance and respect the flags and instructions.
- Choose the lifeguarded area when there is one, and do not overestimate your swimming level.
- Watch children at all times, and set a family meeting point.
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- Check the water quality in season, and do not swim if there is a ban.
- Arrive early in July and August; June and September are quieter.
- Use sun cream even when the sky is hazy, and keep a windproof layer.
- Respect the dunes and vegetation, and take all your litter home.
- If in doubt about conditions, do not swim.
- Travel light: the staircase is long and steep.
- Combine it with the Rochers Sculptés of Rothéneuf, nearby.
Frequently asked questions
What kind of beach is it?
Small wild, sheltered cove in Rothéneuf, reached only by steps.
Why come here?
One of Saint-Malo’s most secluded coves, remarkable for its green setting and its view, but best kept for mobile, independent visitors, as it is not lifeguarded and the access is demanding.
How much time should I allow?
1 h 30 to 3 hours.
What is the atmosphere like?
Secluded, wild, sheltered and green.
How do I get to the beach?
Only by a steep staircase of about a hundred steps.
Is the beach lifeguarded?
No.
See also the beaches in Saint-Malo.
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