You’ve seen people rave about Nice, Cannes, and even Saint-Tropez, but is Antibes worth visiting? And is it worth adding to your French Riviera itinerary?
I’ll be honest, it wasn’t on my first South of France itinerary a few years ago. But that was simply because I only had a week and I wanted to check out Provence and then go to Cassis, Cannes, and Nice.
But when I came back during my 2-week solo road trip to the South of France, I knew I wanted to see what Antibes was about.
So I made a visit to Antibes, and here are my thoughts on whether or not it is worth it and what to do while there!
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Is Antibes Worth Visiting?
If you want an easy to reach town on the French Riviera that is smaller than Nice, connected to all the major towns, and has cute places to discover on its own, then yes, Antibes is 100% worth visiting!
I really enjoyed my time in Antibes for all of those reasons! Plus, they actually have sandy beaches! Unlike Nice and other spots along the French Riviera, Antibes is close to some amazing beaches that are far better in my opinion.
That being said, Antibes is smaller than Nice, and yes, there are fewer things to do. It also isn’t as close to places like Eze, Menton, Monaco, etc. If you want to easily access those places and want to visit a place with more things to do, then Nice is a better fit.
Nice also has the airport, making it easier to get to (although Antibes is a short train ride away!), and more hotel options, so that is something to consider too. Personally, if you can, I recommend visiting both! But I personally really enjoyed visiting Antibes for its smaller, more approachable vibe.
My Favorite Things to Do in Antibes
Now that you know that Antibes is a fabulous place to visit, here are some of my favorite things to do in Antibes during your stay!
1. Visit the Picasso Museum
Place Mariejol, 06600, Antibes
I know what you’re thinking, “Why is there a Picasso museum in Antibes?”
And it is located inside of the former Grimaldi Castle, and it’s built on what had previously been the Greek Acropolis of Antipolis!
That’s because when Picasso lived in Golfe-Juan nearby, he was invited to set up his studio here!
After he moved back to Paris, he actually left several paintings and sketches to the castle.
And you’ll spot many of those sketches today! I remember spotting several great sketches, and a lot of paintings with a fawn.
There are many other pieces that they have accumulated over the years, and if you’re a fan of art, especially Picasso, then you’re going to enjoy this museum.
Picasso Museum Opening Times: January until mid-June and mid-September until January: Tuesday-Sunday from 10 am-1 pm and 2-6 pm. Mid-June until mid-September: Tuesday-Sunday from 10 am-6 pm.
Picasso Museum Admission: €12 for adults, or €8 for students, groups of 10 or more (excluding guides and/or accompanying people), large families, teachers, and the entire public while exhibitions are under construction. It is free for several groups including people under 18, job seekers, etc. Check out more here!
2. Walk Along the Ramparts
I’ll be honest, by the time I got to Antibes, I was experiencing a little travel burnout. Antibes was closer to the end of my road trip, before I took the train up to Paris for the Olympics.
So on my first day, I got lunch, ate in my hotel room, and relaxed for a bit. Then, when I ventured out, I explored the ramparts.
And it was so nice! I needed a slower day, and Antibes was the perfect place to take it slower in general. And one of my favorite things that I did was just walk along the sea along the ramparts.
I passed by the Picasso Museum and visited that and just enjoyed spotting the Plage de la Gravette while I wandered.
It’s super charming and well worth it, especially if you’re feeling a little burnt out and just want a nice walk.
There are also some art installations like the Défi statue by Nicolas Lavarenne which looks like a person stepping off the ledge into the ocean, and the famous Nomade by Jaume Plensa, which features a hollow person made of words sitting with their knees to their chest.
Both are fantastic pieces to see while walking along the sea.
Also in the area is Port Vauban, where you can admire Antibes Harbor or even enjoy the nearby Ferris Wheel.
3. Marché Provençal
Cr Masséna, 06600 Antibes
If there is one thing that you need to know about me, it is that I love markets. I love Christmas markets, and I love farmers markets. And the South of France does farmers markets so well.
If you want cheeses, fruits and veggies, and other goodies, then you’ll love pursuing the covered market at Marché Provençal.
Hours: Every morning from 7:30 am-1 pm. From September through May, they are closed on Mondays. And during June through August, they close at 1:45 pm.
4. Have a Perfect Beach Day in Juan-les-Pins
While not exactly located in Antibes, but on the other side of the Cap d’Antibes peninsula is Juan-les-Pins, and it may be the best beach in all of the French Riviera.
I prebooked a beach club day at YOLO Plage here and had the BEST day! First of all, the beach here is nice and sandy! And they have a lovely pier- perfect for snorkeling. Yes, I did bring a snorkel on this trip.
But for a perfect beach day, head to this beach, rent a lounger for the day (prebook!), and enjoy.
Note: Juan-les-Pins beach was closed this year due to construction, but should be reopened in 2026.
YOLO Plage Address: 22 Bd Charles Guillaumont, 06160 Juan-les-Pins
YOLO Plage Hours: Daily during the season from 10 am-6 pm.
5. Explore the Beaches of Antibes
While I think Juan-les-Pins has an incredible beach, Antibes has beaches as well you can check out.
I loved walking past Plage de la Gravette while I was on the ramparts. This beach almost looks like a pool as it is almost entirely surrounded by rocks. So it’s pretty calm. It is a little beach, but great for a warm day if you want to take a dip and are in town.
Other beaches to explore in the area include Plage du Ponteil and Plage de la Salis.
6. Have an AMAZING Roast Chicken at Rôtisserie d’Antibes.
1 Rue Vauban, 06600 Antibes
No, this wasn’t fine dining in Antibes. But I arrived in Antibes on a Sunday afternoon and was 1) tired from my travels and 2) hungry. After parking my car in a nearby parking garage to my hotel, I was walking back and saw a bunch of people in line at this place.
So, I decided to drop off my bags and come back here for lunch. It is a takeaway spot selling roast chicken and fries.
Get the half poulet fermier with house fries and thank me later. I had a lovely meal in my hotel room just feasting on this while sipping my favorite soda, Orangina.
I credit this meal as what brought me back to life and allowed me to get back out there and explore.
Rôtisserie d’Antibes Hours: Sunday from 9 am-4 pm and 6:30-9:30 pm. Wednesday-Saturday from 10 am-1:30 pm and 6-9 pm. Closed on Monday and Tuesday.
7. Take Day Trips From Antibes
While Antibes is fantastic to visit on its own, it is also well connected to the rest of the French Riviera thanks to the train. Here are some other great spots to check out while you’re here!
- Cannes: Less than 10 minutes away via train. I love the beach clubs in Cannes!
- Nice: About 30 minutes away. You could easily explore the city, go to the Marche aux Fleurs- Course Saleya, hike up the Colline du Chateau, enjoy the Promenade des Anglais, etc.
- Villefranche-sur-Mer: About 40 minutes away. Enjoy the beach in this charming town.
- Eze: About 45 minutes away. Hike up to the top and see astounding views from this gorgeous town.
- Menton: About 1 hour and 10 minutes away. Enjoy the beach and wondering around this colorful city.
- Monaco: About 1 hour away. Visit another country and explore Monte Carlo!
- Ventimiglia: About an hour and 20 minutes away. Explore a bit of Italy on the other side of the border! I’ll be honest, though, that many people I’ve known who have visited here weren’t impressed. So I’d probably skip it.
- Grasse: About 45 minutes away. Although, it is a bit of a hike up the hill to the old city and museums. But you can enjoy the perfume capital of the world!
A Place I Wish I Had Explored While in Antibes: Cap d’Antibes
This was something that I wish I had done while I was in Antibes. However, I only had 2 days here, and the first day I mostly explored Antibes itself. On the second day, I had a much needed beach day in Juan-les-Pins.
But had I had just one more day, I definitely would have done this!
The town of Antibes is at the top of a peninsula. And I wish I had explored the peninsula more during my stay, including visiting Cap d’Antibes.
There are several more beaches here as well as the famous Bay of Billionaires. This is an iconic photo spot and amazing view.
While here, I would have loved to have hiked the Sentier du Littoral. This is a coastal path and it begins at Plage de la Garoupe and is an easy hike that lasts for about a couple of hours. It’s about 4.8 km (about 3 miles), and it only takes about a couple of hours because you’ll likely want to stop and take photos along the way!
This is definitely on my list for my next visit!
Where to Stay in Antibes
I will say that a downside to staying in Antibes is that it definitely doesn’t have as many options as nearby Nice or Cannes.
But there are still some lovely hotels to check out! Here are some:
La Place Boutique Hotel: This is where I stayed while in Antibes, and this was a great little spot! It’s in a great location for exploring, and I walked around the city from here. There is also the great roast chicken takeaway spot (Rôtisserie d’Antibes) that I enjoyed for lunch while here! Just note there isn’t an elevator here, so it was a challenge lugging up my big suitcase.
Hotel Le Sud: This is actually over in Juan-les-Pins, but this cute hotel even has its own pool and is near the beach!
Hotel La Villa Port d’Antibes & Spa: This hotel has its own spa and pool. Plus it is a great upscale hotel in the heart of Antibes.
Hotel du Cap-Eden-Rock: Oh, and if you’ve got money to spend, this splurge-worthy 5-star getaway is in Cap d’Antibes near the Bay of Billionaires.
How to Get to Antibes and How to Get Around
Antibes is pretty easy to get to thanks to its train station.
You can book train tickets on SNCF Connect and easily hop around the French Riviera!
And once you’re in Antibes, you can walk to many places. You will have to take the bus or train to Juan-les-Pins.
However, I was visiting Antibes while on a 2-week South of France road trip. So I just rented a car and drove everywhere instead. It was nice to be on my own time, and I didn’t have to lug around my beach bag very far in Juan-les-Pins.
Plus, parking was pretty easy to find in both Antibes and Juan-les-Pins. For my hotel, Hotel La Place, I parked at the nearby parking garage. Just note it can be a little pricey for 24-hour parking in Antibes.
For Juan-les-Pins, I found spots at Courbet Parking.
When to Visit Antibes
Honestly, Antibes is a fabulous place that you could visit year-round! Yes, it is more popular from June-August, but I was there in July and didn’t find it super crowded or crazy at all, especially compared to other places in the South of France.
But for nice weather, I’d say between late May-early October is a great time to visit Antibes, with late May and early June, as well as late September/early October being better to beat the crowds. It may even be warm enough for a swim!
But honestly, even in July I didn’t find it bad! Just make reservations for your hotels, beach club, restaurants, etc. in advance and you’ll be fine!
And if you don’t care about swimming, then it’s a lovely spot year-round! It’s also far less crowded outside of the summer!
So, is Antibes worth a visit? I absolutely think so if you’re searching for a slower paced place to base yourself on the French Riviera. It was the perfect spot to stay while recovering from travel burnout, and I found it delightful!
Would you like to visit Antibes?
Want more South of France travel ideas? Check out these posts!
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- Best Things to Do in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat
- Is Eze Worth Visiting?
- Nice in One Day
- How to Spend 1 Day in Cannes
- 3 Days in Cannes Itinerary
- Perfect Weekend in Saint-Tropez
- Top Things to Do in Grasse
- Best Things to Do in Cassis
- Ultimate 5-Day Provence Itinerary
- Best Lavender Fields in Provence
- How to Visit the Lavender Fields in Sault
- How to Visit the Lavender Fields in Valensole
- Gordes Travel Guide
- Best Things to Do in Saint-Remy-de-Provence
- One Day in Avignon
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- Best Luberon Villages
- My Epic 10-Day Corsica Road Trip
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Kat is the France travel expert behind France Voyager. After studying abroad in Grenoble and traveling throughout France, she fell head over heels for the country. She has since visited many times since 2012 (including visits to 10 of the 13 regions in Metropolitan France) and is sharing all the tips for visiting France in this blog, which she has run for 4 years. Kat shares places she has traveled to and provides tips based on her own personal experiences of traveling and living in France. Aside from France Voyager, Kat also has a couple’s travel blog called World Wide Honeymoon and a podcast that she co-hosts with her husband, Chris, called the World Wide Honeymoon Travel Podcast.