Antibes is just across the Baie des Anges from Nice but is much smaller and more intimate than the Riviera megapolis. The municipality includes Antibes, the toney Cap d'Antibes and Juan-les-Pins but the main attraction is Antibes' glorious old town, crammed with flower-lined streets and hidden hideaways.
There are shops and boutiques galore in Antibes. You'll have no trouble picking up clothes, shoes or jewelry.
Antibes is also known for its glorious beaches.
Antibes also makes an easy day trip from Nice. It's a quick jaunt by train and only a little longer by bus (see below).
After admiring the mega-yachts in Antibes port, head to the covered Provencal Market on the Cours Massena, the bustling heart of Old Antibes. Bordered by alluring houses, cafes and restaurants, the Marché Provençale is a great place to shop for local produce or pick up a snack for picnics. And, you can pay by card or phone if you like.
In 1946, Picasso established his studio in Antibes, where he spent his mornings on the beach and his evenings enjoying the vibrant nightlife of Juan-les-Pins. He dedicated his afternoons to creating art, and many of these works are now showcased in the 12th-century Chateau Grimaldi. This sprawling castle was built on the site of a Greek Acropolis that later became a Roman Castrum.
The collection includes pieces he crafted during his time in Antibes, along with ceramics from his period in Vallauris. The museum also features works by Hans Hartung and Anna-Eva Bergman (more on their works on my Riviera Art Itinerary). The museum also houses prestigious temporary exhibits which you can find on the museum's website. The museum is closed Monday.
Just downstairs from the Picasso Museum is the Promenade Amiral de Grasse, a lovely seaside stroll that stretches from the Port to Antibes Old Town.
Established in 1963, the Archaeological Museum is located within the Saint-André bastion, a military fortification constructed by Vauban in the late seventeenth century. The museum's two vaulted galleries house Antibes' permanent archaeological collection, featuring artifacts unearthed both on land and underwater. These findings illuminate the town's history during antiquity, as well as the stories of the Ligurian, Greek, and Roman civilizations that have left their imprint on Antibes. The museum is closed Monday. Visitor details are on the museum website.
The "Free Commune of Safranier", a sort of village-within-a-village, determined to safeguard its history. The modest village houses and flowery streets are delightful to wander and less-touristed than other parts of Antibes.
Grab a beverage in a local cafe to mix with the locals.
Antibes is graced with many kilometres of sandy beaches from Plage de la Gravette near the Old town to the beaches of Cap d'Antibes. Between are the idyllic public beaches of Plage de Ponteil and Plage de la Salis.
Plage de la Salis
My favorite place is the Restaurant Le Safranier on the Place Safranier. It's an institution in the neighborhood and serves up an array of local specialties at a reasonable price.
Antibes has a full complement of hotels at all price levels although there's a wider selection in Juan-les-Pins. Located halfway between Nice and Cannes, Antibes is a great base for exploring the coast between those two hotspots.
Book accommodation in Antibes.
Greeks from Marseilles were the first people to settle Antibes, arriving in the 4th century BC. They called it Antipolis. They were eventually supplanted by the Romans and then by the powerful Grimaldis of Monaco who ruled Antibes from 1384 to 1608. With the turbulence of the Middle Ages, Antibes found itself on the border of France and Savoy. This vulnerability prompted fortifications to be constructed in the 17th and 18th centuries. They were torn down in 1894.
The centre of Old Antibes is pedestrian only but there is an efficient network of buses to whisk you to outlying neighbourhoods such as Cap d'Antibes and Juan-les Pins, plus to nearby towns such as Villeneuve-Loubet and Biot. The local bus company is Envibus and the cost of a ticket is €1.70.
Buses to Antibes
Although a bus is the cheapest way to get to Antibes from Nice, it takes at least 30 minutes (more if there's traffic) and there are a lot of stops.
Zou runs line 620 from Nice to Antibes and on to Cannes. Board at the Parc Phoenix.
Trains to Antibes
The best way to arrive in Antibes is via the coastal train that runs between Cannes and Monaco. It only takes 20 minutes or so from the Nice train station. The Antibes train station is near the port, an easy walk from town. Buy tickets on thetrainline
For more on visiting Antibes, see the Antibes/Juan-les-Pins tourist office
Related PagesFurther Resources |
Hi! I'm Jeanne and I've been living on the Riviera for years. With my local insights your trip will be easy and fun. And, do check out my book Nice Uncovered: Walks Through the Secret Heart of a Historic City. More about me here.
