The Riviera attracts many tourists who come here to bath and sun bath. However our beaches can't stand a comparison with the beaches of the Atlantic or even the Var.
Indeed here the beaches are narrow and between Nice and Antibes, they are pebbly only. But as if it wasn't enough the ground desends very quickly under the water. You can't stand on your feet 4 meters beyond the sea shore.
In summer, it's overcrowded. To enjoy them, go early in the morning. That's the best moment : it's cooler and the sun is less dangerous.
To find sand you have to go to the ends of the Departement : Cannes, Menton, Monaco, Villefranche sur Mer. In Antibes, it's sandy on the Juan les Pins side and on the salis beach, South of the old town. But the looong beach North is pebbly.
No hidden beach in little inlets, Calanque's style, or in the pinetrees, as in some places in the Var departement. The best we can offer for these kind of beaches are a few ones on the Capes, especially the Cape Ferrat. An other option is the Islands of Lerins.
As far as tidiness is concerned, several cities got the pavillon bleu for some of their beaches : Antibes, Cannes, Nice, Cap d'Ail.