Bonjour! Welcome to Antibes, a picturesque town that perfectly blends old-world charm, luxury, wealth, and natural beauty. The pleasant old town located within ramparts, lively markets selling tasty local food, interesting museums, luxurious villas and yachts, magnificent beaches, and coastal trails with striking views attract thousands of travelers each year… No wonder many felt, and still fall, for its captivating charm – Pablo Picasso, Scott Fitzgerald, and us sure did! Here are our favorite things to do in Antibes, France.
Note: Antibes can be divided into 3 parts: Old Town, Juan-les-Pins, and Cap d’Antibes.
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Antibes, France FAQ
Antibes is located in the Provence-Alpes-Cote d’Azur region in the Alpes-Maritimes department in southeastern France. It’s just a short drive from popular nearby places like Cannes, Nice, Monaco, or Villefranche-sur-Mer.
Antibes is a very pleasant town on French Riviera with many activities to offer, definitely worth visiting. From strolling among charming old town streets and admiring art created by famous artists to spending time in stunning coastal surroundings admiring views and gazing at superyachts and billionaire’s villas… Whether you are an art enthusiast, a history geek, or a nature lover – there’s something for you in Antibes.
Antibes is most famous for Port Vauban – the Mediterranean’s largest port, which is home to some of the world’s largest and most luxurious yachts. The city is also known for its old town located within the ramparts, connections to Pablo Picasso, gorgeous beaches, beautiful sea views, and luxurious villas.
Our travel video from Antibes
Things to do in Antibes France
Antibes old town
Antibes old town is located within the ramparts and there’s no better way of getting to know it than just getting lost exploring its charming streets and squares. Cobblestone streets are filled with stone and pastel-painted houses, historical landmarks, lively markets, boutique and craft shops, and many cafes and restaurants.
From the ramparts that surround the old town, you can also admire wonderful sea and coast views. Wherever you turn, you’ll find something interesting! Without a doubt, exploring the old town is one of the best things to do in Antibes.
Among Antibes’ old town streets, you’ll find points of interest like the Picasso Museum, Provencal market, Antibes Cathedral, Amiral-de Grasse Promenade, Place Nationale – Antibes Main Square, and popular shopping streets – Rue Sade, Rue Thuret and Rue Georges Clemenceau.
Antibes Tourist Office is located on Place Guynemer, a little bit further from most attractions.
Port Vauban
Port Vauban is the largest yachting harbor in Europe, with 1500 moorings serving boats of all sizes, from small local fishing boats to luxury yachts. One of its parts, “Billionaires’ Quay” was created especially for the jaw-dropping superyachts owned by the wealthiest people in the world.
It’s an amazing place for a long walk peppered with amazing views, not only for yachting enthusiasts. But beware – you can easily spend an hour or two there! It’s totally one of the best things to do in Antibes, which you don’t wanna miss!
Le Nomade sculpture
While in Port Vauban, be sure to hop on the ramparts to take a closer look at the Le Nomade sculpture (eng. The Nomad). It’s made of a web of letters that create a human form that seems to gaze out into the horizon. It’s a perfect symbol for Antibes, a town that has welcomed travelers for centuries. Also, be sure to get inside Le Nomade, and travel within him for a while.
From the ramparts, you can also take a look at yachts and boats from a different perspective and just admire nice panoramic views of the town and the sea. Stairs leading to ramparts are located near Plage de la Gravette.
Picasso Museum
Picasso Museum (fr. Musée Picasso) is located in Chateau Grimaldi, a beautiful 14th-century castle overlooking the azure Mediterranean Sea, where the artist lived and worked in 1946. Inside you’ll find an impressive collection of Picasso’s works, from world-famous pieces to lesser-known gems, including paintings, drawings, sculptures, and ceramics. In addition to Picasso’s works, the museum exhibits paintings by Nicolas de Staël and a large collection of modern art.
Entrance to Picasso Museum costs €12 for a normal ticket, €8 for a reduced one, and is free for children under 18 years old (September 2026). For current prices and opening hours visit antibes-juanlespins.com website.
Antibes Cathedral
Antibes Cathedral is located right next to Picasso Museum. Its origins date back to the 5th century, but the external form of the building we can see today is mostly from the 18th century.
The cathedral is best known for the wooden doors carved by a local artist in the 18th century and the 16th-century Our Lady of the Rosary altarpiece. Antibes Cathedral is listed as a Historic monument. Entrance is free during opening hours.
Provencal Market
For a taste of local life, head to bustling Provencal Market (fr. Marché Provençal). It’s a traditional covered street market where you’ll find a wide range of fresh products like fruits, vegetables, meat, baguettes, cheeses, spices, flowers, and other provencal products.
We decided to buy a socca (crispy chickpea pancake made in an open-fire mobile oven), crispy baguette, and local cheese – yummy! A visit to Provencal Market is a must-do thing to do in Antibes for foodies.
The market is open every day except Monday.
Promenade Amiral de Grasse
If you’re looking for a place in Antibes for a lazy stroll with nice views, be sure to head to Promenade Amiral de Grasse, located along the ramparts.
Besides fantastic sea and town views, along it, you’ll find several sculptures, the Picasso Museum, and the Antibes Cathedral. Its biggest con is that it’s located along a road so it can get loud sometimes.
Antibes beaches
We don’t think anyone needs to be convinced that Cote d’Azur is a real beach paradise. So of course another of the best things to do in Antibes is hitting one of its amazing beaches!
Along Antibes’ coastline, you’ll find many magnificent beaches, perfect for soaking up the sun and taking a refreshing dip in clear azure waters. You’ll be spoiled with choices! So no matter if you’re looking for a lively beach with many amenities around, or a more quiet and secluded spot – you’ll find it in Antibes.
Here are some of the best beaches in Antibes:
- Plage du Ponteil and Plage de la Salis – lively, long, sandy beaches located just beside each other with calm waters and various amenities located close to the old town.
- Plage de la Garoupe – small beach in Cap d’Antibes with private areas, many amenities, and amazing views.
- Plage de la Gravette – small sandy beach located right next to the port, below the ramparts with a nice view over the town.
- Plage de Juan les Pins – lively wide sandy beach with many bars, restaurants, and amenities around.
Other nice beaches in Antibes include Plage des Ondes, Plage de I’Olivette, Plage Pointe Ouest, and Plage de Fontonne Ouest. The map at the bottom of this post has them all marked.
Fort Carre
Fort Carre (fr. Le Fort Carré) is a 16th-century fort with a unique star shape, located not too far from the Vauban Port and Antibes old town (about 1.5km). Its construction was ordered by King Henry II, to protect the town and its surroundings.
Inside, you can explore various rooms like a chapel, kitchen, gunpowder room, or barracks, and take a walk on 43-meter-high ramparts. If you want to learn more about the Antibes’ history or just admire magnificent panoramic views from a higher point – Fort Carré is a must-visit.
To visit Fort Carre you have to join a 30-minute guided tour, also held in English. Entrance costs €5 for a normal ticket, and €3 for a reduced one (September 2026). For current prices and opening hours visit antibes-juanlespins.com website.
Cap d’Antibes – Sentier du Littoral trail
A trip to Antibes wouldn’t be complete without visiting the stunning Cap d’Antibes. It’s a natural area located about 4km from the old town which can be explored via a 5km-long waterfront trail called Sentier du Littoral.
It starts and ends at Garoupe Beach, to which you can get by car, bus, taxi, or a walk from Antibes center. The trail curls around the rugged Cap d’Antibes coastline, providing striking views at every step. For us, hiking this trail was one of the most memorable things to do in Antibes which we’d love to experience once again!
Along the trail, you can spot some villas hidden in lush greenery, and find some small beaches perfect for a short break or even a whole day out. The highlight of the trail is the Bay of Billionaires, with amazing views and nice beaches. You can also visit 19th-century Villa Eilenroc via guided tour.
Overall, Sentier du Littoral is a bit rocky, but relatively easy trail. Don’t forget to wear good shoes (no flip flops please) and take some snacks and plenty of water. Also, during summer days it can get really hot so try to go early in the morning or late afternoon.
Garoupe Lighthouse
Want even more panoramic views of Cote d’Azur? Be sure to head to Garoupe Lighthouse located at the highest point of Cap d’Antibes. You can either get there by car or via the Chemin du Calvaire trail. Whatever you choose – views of the coastline and French Riviera towns from the top are worth it! We found Garoupe Lighthouse as an amazing spot for watching the sunset – highly recommended!
If you wish, you can also visit the lighthouse with a free guided tour – 25 minutes, max 10 people. 116 steps will take you to 103m a.s.l and will allow you to enjoy the magnificent views from the top. For more information and opening hours visit antibesjuanlespins.com website. On-site, you’ll also find a small chapel, Notre-Dame de Bon Port.
Explore local attractions
How to get to Antibes, France?
Antibes is located about 10km from Cannes, 25km from Nice, 50km from Monaco and 60km from Menton. The most convenient way to get to the town is by car, train or bus.
Where to park in Antibes?
In Antibes town you can either choose one of the garage parking lots dotted around the town, or try your luck and find a space in this free parking lot located just a few steps from Port Vauban.
In Cap d’Antibes leave your car in this free parking lot near Plage de la Garoupe.
To Antibes by train
You can easily get by train to Antibes from many nearby places like Nice, Cannes, Menton, Cagnes-sur-Mer, Grasse, or Villefranche-sur-Mer. To learn more about train connections that interest you visit sncf-connect.com or rome2rio.com website.
To Antibes by bus
You can also quite easily reach Antibes by bus. For example, a trip from Nice will take about 35 minutes, 20 minutes from Cannes, and 1 hour from Menton. To learn more about bus connections that might interest you visit rome2rio.com website.
Camping Antibes
If you’re traveling by camper, places like Camping Parc Des Maurettes or Camping Eden Biot might interest you. They are located close to Antibes.
Antibes France Travel Guide – Summing up
Now you know what Antibes and its surroundings are all about and why you should add it to your Cote d’Azur bucket list. A list of things to do in Antibes is quite long so we’re sure that every traveler will find something perfect for himself.
No matter if you’re looking for natural beauty, sandy beaches, a charming old town, art, culture, history, or partying all night long… Antibes has it all. Enjoy your time!
Our opinion about Antibes
For us, a visit to Antibes was a day trip from nearby Cannes where we lived for a few weeks. We visited it in mid-October and back then it was still full of tourists and… beachmakers as the weather was really nice on that day. During one day we explored Antibes’ old town, walked the Sentier du Littoral trail, and watched the sunset on Garoupe Lighthouse.
What we liked most about Antibes was definitely exploring Cap d’Antibes, it’s such a beautiful natural wonder! Strolling in the old town and gazing at superyachts was also fun, but it didn’t impress us as much as Cap d’Antibes’ surroundings.
Restaurants, accommodations, and map
Check out various recommended places below.
Where to eat in Antibes?
Here are your best, high-rated options in Antibes:
