Provence

Antibes

The sparkling Antibes offers its visitors a charming old town overlooking the sea and the seaside resort of Juan-les-Pins, perfect for nightlife.
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The small town of Antibes, originally a colony founded by the ancient Greeks, retains a picturesque charm today. Thanks to its location overlooking the sea, it enchants visitors with its narrow, colourful streets, overflowing with flowers and full of original craft shops and a noisy market.

Surrounding the town is a beautiful bay with crystal-clear sea, ideal for a refreshing dip. In fact, this stretch of coastline is dotted with the marvellous Plage de la Salis, with a splendid view of the ramparts of the old town and Cap d’Antibes, among sheltered coves and photogenic rocks.

Don’t miss the Picasso Museum, housed in the Chateau Grimaldi with over 50 drawings, paintings and prints by the great master.

Things to do and do in Antibes

The Picasso Museum

Antibes has all the typical charm of the French Riviera: a charming old town, surrounded by fragrant Mediterranean scrub and framed by a crystal-clear turquoise sea. All enhanced by the suburb of Juan-les-Pins, world-famous for its Jazz Festival. From the ramparts protecting it, Antibes breathes joie de vivre and cultural vivacity, offering a journey between tradition and modernity.

Old Town

1Vieil Antibes, 06600 Antibes, Francia

The old town of Antibes is one of those charming villages where you will be enchanted at every street corner: going up from Porte Marine, you can lose yourself in the labyrinth of streets of Old Antibes. To appreciate it at its best, don’t be in a hurry: take your time to stroll through the alleyways, observe the details of the ancient façades and colourful doors, smell the scent of flowers, have a drink on a sunny terrace and admire the blue of the Mediterranean contrasting with the whiteness of the stones.

In the heart of the walled city, hidden alleyways, picturesque squares, artisans’ workshops and art galleries await you. We recommend you stroll through the shopping streets and discover the many small shops and workshops offering gourmet or designer products in rue Sade, rue Clémenceau, rue Thuret, Boulevard d’Aguillon, rue James Close, rue de la Republique. Browse the many restaurants, which have panoramic terraces or hidden gardens for lunch.

Free Commune of Safranier

2Pl. du Safranier, 06600 Antibes, Francia

In the heart of old Atibes, there is a corner where time seems to stand still: in the alleys of Haut and Bas Castelet, you can admire the Free Commune of Safranier. Even today, in France, there are about a hundred free communes, neighbourhood associations whose purpose is to promote the identity of a district within a commune, clearly of medieval origin. The most famous is certainly that of Vieux Montmartre, in Paris.

The free commune of Safranier was created in 1966 to preserve and perpetuate local traditions. Numerous festivals are organised each year, such as the corn festival, the grape harvest festival in September, the chestnut festival in November and the stump festival in December, not forgetting the popular dances organised for 14 July.

The flower-lined streets of this small quarter are enchanting, all to be explored strictly on foot. In Place du Safranier, there is a commemorative plaque commemorating the stay of the Greek poet Nikos Kazantzakis: he wrote all his major works here, including his most famous novel Alexis Zorba, adapted for the cinema under the title Zorba the Greek.

Picasso Museum

3place mariejol, 06600 Antibes, Francia

At the highest point of the ramparts stands Chateau Grimaldi, home to the Picasso Museum, a must for all lovers of the great master.

The residence of bishops in the Middle Ages, from 1385 the fortress was inhabited by the Monegasque family that gave it its name: Château Grimaldi. It became the residence of the King’s governor, became town hall from 1792 and was transformed into barracks in 1820.

In 1946, Pablo Picasso used part of the building as a workshop: the great artist worked here for two months, producing many works, drawings and paintings. After his stay, he left 23 paintings and 44 drawings on deposit with the city of Antibes: La Joie de vivre, Satyr, Fauna and Centaur with Trident, Le Gobeur d’urchins, La Femme aux urchins, Still Life with Owl and Three Sea Urchins, The Goat, as well as 78 ceramics. Today it houses the Picasso museum with a rich collection of the artist’s works.

From the château terrace, there is a magnificent view of the sea and Cap d’Antibes.

The ancient walls

416 Prom. Amiral de Grasse, 06600 Antibes, Francia

A marvellous promenade starts from the Picasso Museum and runs along the ancient walls, the Promenade de l’Amiral de Grasse: following the road, you can admire unprecedented views of the town overlooking the sea and watch the boats and fishing boats arrive.

The promenade offers one of the most beautiful views of Antibes. From the ramp of Saleurs, where fish were salted in the past, walk along the sea, following the route of the ramparts built by Vauban in the 17th century to the port. Above your heads, the ancient cathedral and the Grimaldi castle dominate the old town.

Le Fort Carré

5Av. du 11 Novembre, 06600 Antibes, Francia

Fort Carré was built in the mid-16th century by decision of French King Henri II to monitor the nearby Var border. Today, it is classified as a historical monument due to its extraordinary architecture and preserved natural environment.

Located on the Saint-Roch peninsula, the Fort is built on a rock overlooking the sea from its 26-metre height: its patrol walkway rises to 43 metres and offers a 360-degree panoramic view .

The Fort is surrounded by a 4-hectare protected park, which is home to typical Mediterranean flora and fauna. The park is owned by the Conservatoire du Littoral and is part of the Natura 2000 project.

The Provençal market

6Cr Masséna, 06600 Antibes, Francia

Located in the heart of the city’s historic centre, the Provençal market is an unmissable stop during a visit to Antibes.

From Tuesday to Sunday mornings, in Cours Masséna, in front of the Town Hall, some fifty local producers are positioned, offering the best of Provençal gastronomy in a profusion of colours and heady fragrances. You can browse among the stalls of florists, horticulturists, fishmongers, pork butchers, cheesemakers and producers of Provençal handicrafts.

Port Vauban

7Av. de Verdun, 06600 Antibes, Francia

Facing the ramparts of Old Antibes, the old Port Vauban is Europe’s largest marina and home to the world’s most luxurious yachts, some of them over 100 metres long: the port covers an area of 25 hectares and boasts a mooring length of 4200 linear metres, with 1650 berths, accommodating all types of vessels.

Its international clientele gives the old town of Antibes a cosmopolitan character: English is spoken in many pubs in the area and it is common to meet sailors and travellers from all corners of Europe.

Installed on the seafront, overlooking Port Vauban and its Milliardaire Quay, is Le Nomade, by the Catalan artist Jaume Plensa, a monumental work 8 metres high: it is one of the most Instagrammable places in Antibes.

Plage de la Salis

8Bd James Wyllie, 06160 Antibes, Francia

On the outskirts of Cap d’Antibes and close to the centre lies this fine sandy beach with crystal-clear waters, ideal for a relaxing day at the beach.

With a marvellous view of the town, the beach has small kiosks on the sand and is perfect for a few hours of swimming.

Jazz Festival

925 Bd Edouard Baudoin, 06160 Antibes, Francia

In the exceptional site of the Gould pine forest, facing the sea, the Jazz Festival has brought together the greatest jazz musicians from all over the world since the 1960s: it is the oldest and most famous jazz event in Europe. Through this extraordinary musical event, Juan-les-Pins has become a true international capital of Jazz.

Beyond the festival, the Pinède remains the town’s lungs: overlooking the sea, this beautiful green area offers a children’s playground, a merry-go-round, modern sculptures and delightful benches in the sun or in the shade of centuries-old pine trees. In summer, every evening the pine forest comes alive with music, events and shows.

Best day trips from Antibes

Antibes is not only a town full of charm and social life, but also offers an enchanting natural panorama just a few kilometres away. You can walk the various paths of Cap d’Antibes, relax on its enchanting beaches or discover the richness of its seabed.

Cap d'Antibes

10Cap d'Antibes, 06160 Antibes, Francia

Away from the hustle and bustle of the city, the coastal path called Sentier de Tirepoil is located at the southern end of Cap d’Antibes. It is an old customs path, winding along the coast of Cap d’Antibes. It has become a preserved tourist trail, which will take you on an unforgettable walk through wild nature and turquoise-coloured coves.

Along the way, you can also admire huge private villas overlooking the sea. This walk is one of the must-do activities in Antibes: calculate 2 hours round trip from Garoupe beach to the famous Villa Eilenroc, a total of 5 kilometres.

Marineland Park

11306 Av. Mozart, 06600 Antibes, Francia

The Marineland Park is a favourite and recommended family activity. Protected species, breathtaking shows and even the possibility of staying on site, with hotels and restaurants at your disposal, await you.

With your children, you can discover 40 species represented by 3,000 animals, learn how they live, what their environments are, their codes of communication, their rules of life and their habits, through a variety of educational activities dedicated to the world of the sea: a journey to learn about the richness of the seabed and useful gestures for preserving the blue planet.

Within the walls of Marineland, you will also find Aquasplash, one of the largest water parks on the French Riviera, Adventure Golf, a rich mini-golf course, and Kid’s Island, a children’s amusement park with many animals to see.

Garoupe Lighthouse

12Phare de la Garoupe, Rte du Phare, 06160 Antibes, France

One of the best vantage points to admire the spectacle of the Antibes creeks is this belvedere, 103 metres above sea level.

While the Garoupe lighthouse has been a powerful landmark and guide for fishermen since the early 19th century, a pretty little church is dedicated to Notre-Dame de Bon Port, in memory of the sailors who braved the storms.

Best beaches in Antibes

With its 25 kilometres of coastline, Antibes Juan-les-Pins boasts many beaches, suited to every type of need: you will find coves that are small or large, easily accessible by car or off the beaten track, made up of pebbles or sand, very sunny for sunbathers or pleasantly shaded, more suitable for families with children, equipped with showers and toilets or extremely wild.

In the centre of Antibes, there are three remarkable beaches. The most attractive is Plage de la Gravette13, below the old town and behind Port Vauban: this sandy beach is surrounded by ramparts and offers a splendid view of the tip of Cap d’Antibes.

Further to the west, towards Cap d’Antibes, Plage du Ponteil14 is labelled Handiplage, i.e. suitable for handicapped persons. Away from the road, this long sandy beach offers one of the most beautiful views of Old Antibes.

Cap d’Antibes holds wonderful beaches: the most famous is Plage de la Garoupe15. Largely private, this small sandy cove is truly enchanting thanks to its Mediterranean maquis setting and its crystal-clear waters.

But the most fascinating beaches of Cap d’Antibes are the most hidden ones: first of all Bay of Antibes Billionaires16, accessible from the customs path. In fact, this path hides beautiful coves in a paradisiacal landscape: within Anse de l'Argent Faux17 you will find several small beaches and a small natural pool in the rock. These out-of-the-way places will offer you the tranquillity that you are unlikely to find on the large beaches of Antibes: you can swim, but also go scuba diving, discovering the remarkable depths of the Mediterranean. Most of these wild beaches and coves offer no services and are unsupervised.

Completely different Les plages de Juan Les Pins18: here there is a series of sandy tongues, very touristy and definitely crowded in the summer months.

Map

In the following map you can see the location of the main places of interest mentioned in this article.

Where to stay in Antibes

The town of Antibes, with its historical and cultural heritage, has become one of the most famous seaside resorts in the Alpes-Maritimes. From Cap d’Antibes to the old town, via the tourist district of Juan-les-Pins, you will find a plurality of establishments and hotels where you can sleep in Antibes.

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In the centre of Antibes

Despite the hordes of tourists that flock here every summer, the city centre still offers an authentic Provençal atmosphere in the heart of the Côte d’Azur.

The old town has retained its popular soul, an atmosphere that you can breathe as you wander through the alleyways, wash houses and markets steeped in history. The heart of Antibes has some prestigious hotels where you can stay a stone’s throw from the city’s monuments and must-see sights.

Hotel
Hôtel Josse
Antibes - 8, Bd James Wyllie
8.6Fabulous 1.272 reviews
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Hotel
Marineland Hôtel
Antibes - 1715 Route de Nice
8.2Very good 1.008 reviews
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Hotel
Hotel Relais Du Postillon
Antibes - 8 Rue Championnet
8.2Very good 922 reviews
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In Juan les pins

Those who want to swim, sunbathe, stroll and enjoy the nightlife in bars, restaurants and discos will almost certainly choose Juan-les-Pins, on the west coast of Cap d’Antibes, the luxurious seaside resort of Antibes.

Juan-les-Pins is a tourist destination for thousands of holidaymakers every year, who come to enjoy its beaches, nightlife, dreamy climate and the famous Juan-les-Pins Jazz Festival. In particular, the places par excellence for evening nightlife are the Pinede, the Partouche casino, the Garden Beach Hotel and the Avenue Guy de Maupassant, around which the bar and restaurant district winds. In addition, Juan-les-Pins offers the widest range of accommodation available for sleeping in Antibes.

Hotel
Best Western Astoria
Juan-les-Pins - 15 Avenue Maréchal Joffre
8.1Very good 1.919 reviews
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Hotel
Hôtel Le Sud
Juan-les-Pins - 5, rue Marcel Paul
8.3Very good 776 reviews
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Hotel
The Originals Boutique, Hôtel Les Strélitzias
Juan-les-Pins - 2 Rue Pierre Commanay
8.1Very good 689 reviews
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How to get to Antibes

The town of Antibes Juan-les-Pins is located in the heart of the Côte d’Azur, in the Alpes-Maritimes department in the southern region (Provence Alpes Côte d’Azur), nestled between Cannes and Nice, 1 hour’s drive from the Italian border and 1 hour’s flight from Paris.

By plane

Nice international airport is only 20 km from Antibes Juan-les-Pins. It then takes 20 to 40 minutes, without traffic, to get to the city by hiring a car directly at the airport.

Otherwise, you can take the bus, from the bus stop located at Terminal 1 or opposite Terminal 2: the number 250 express goes directly to the centre.

By train

The SNCF station in Antibes is served by TGV trains, mainline trains and regional trains. The TER provide regular connections from all towns on the Côte d’Azur to Antibes station.

Antibes Weather

What's the weather at Antibes? Below are the temperatures and the weather forecast at Antibes for the next few days.

Sunday 15
10°
14°
Monday 16
12°
14°
Tuesday 17
11°
12°
Wednesday 18
12°
13°
Thursday 19
12°
17°
Friday 20
10°
14°

Where is located Antibes

The city of Antibes Juan-les-Pins is located in the Alpes-Maritimes department in the southern Provence Alpes Côte d'Azur region.

Insights on Antibes

Juan-les-Pins

Juan-les-Pins

Juan-les-Pins is a charming seaside resort on the Côte d'Azur, a stone's throw from the city of Antibes: it is famous for its beaches and its nightlife.
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