Visit Antibes : 8 Things to See

Visit Antibes : what are the things to see in Antibes?

This week, I am delighted to take you on a tour of Antibes! Antibes is a charming, sunny town nestled within its ramparts overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. Artistic and Provençal, it’s the perfect place for a change of scenery. It enjoys the ideal setting of the French Riviera, but remains a town on a human scale with all the charm of a small village and a particularly vibrant arts scene. It’s a great place to stroll around, especially in the winter sunshine…

So, if you’re wondering what to see in Antibes, let me take you on a tour to visit Antibes from every angle, through its must-see attractions as well as some unusual places that hold some wonderful surprises. But I won’t say any more… Enjoy reading!

Read also 10 Places to Visit Nice – a Local’s Guide

 

 

 

VISIT ANTIBES : PRACTICAL TIPS

   

• How to get to Antibes?

Antibes is located 35 minutes west of Nice by car and 15 minutes by train. It takes 2 hours and 15 minutes by train from Marseille (2 hours by car) and 5 hours and 30 minutes from Paris. The nearest airport is Nice Côte d’Azur (25 minutes by car).

 

• Where to stay to visit Antibes?

Here are my top accommodation suggestions to visit Antibes !

Find your hotel in Antibes at the best price !

 

 

• How long does it take to visit Antibes?

Allow one day to visit Antibes in depth, enjoying the old town and the seaside. If you have a car, you can extend your day at Cap d’Antibes, located a few minutes from the city center.

Compare car rentals to find the best price!

 

• What to bring back from Antibes?

Pissalat is a specialty of Antibes that the city has been exporting since Roman times. A type of fish sauce (made with anchovies, among other ingredients), it is also the base for the delicious pissaladière. There are many Provençal herbs and accompaniments to discover, especially at the market. And when it comes to Nice cuisine, you can also try petits farcis, socca, daube niçoise, and more.

     

 

VISIT ANTIBES : 1. THE OLD TOWN

   

The first must-see in Antibes is the old town! Far from the trendy side of the French Riviera, the historic center of Antibes is full of charm! Although small, the old town is divided into several quite different neighborhoods. At the foot of the ramparts and a stone’s throw from the port is a very intimate neighborhood, where white alleyways lead to pretty squares surrounded by stone houses and overgrown with vegetation. Strolling around here feels a bit like stepping back in time!

Right next door is the pretty Notre-Dame-de-la-Platea cathedral with its colorful facade reminiscent of Italian architecture. The neighborhood is also home to many charming cafés and restaurants.

 

 

 

 

Now let’s head to the Place Nationale, the large square in the center of Antibes. Lined with theaters and restaurants, it is also the city’s lively shopping district. The square has a lot of charm with its bandstand and elegant Provençal facades. All around, the streets are much more colorful, yellow and orange, a bit like the old town of Nice. It’s very pleasant to stroll around this neighborhood, which is sunny even on cloudy days.

This is also probably where you’ll find what you’re looking for if you’re looking for a restaurant: the Nacional Trattoria (Italian cuisine) and Le P’tit Cageot (French cuisine) are particularly good places to eat.

     

 

 

VISIT ANTIBES : 2. PICASSO MUSEUM

   

You can’t visit Antibes without stopping at the Picasso Museum! The superb building that houses it, the former palace of the princes of Monaco, overlooks the Mediterranean. It’s the perfect setting to enjoy the museum, especially on the terrace overlooking the sea and Cap d’Antibes.

The museum’s collections trace the artist’s different creative periods, particularly those when he lived on the French Riviera. Antibes was a great source of inspiration for Picasso, and he remained in the area until his death in 1973. His days were often spent at the beach in the morning, followed by creative work in the afternoon and evening. You can also visit his studio, as one of the large rooms in the palace was made available to him for his work. The museum was created during the artist’s lifetime, which is very rare in the art world.

 

As you walk through the rooms, you will notice the changes in Picasso’s painting style when he was living by the sea. Many of his paintings refer to this, and like Greek mythology, the Mediterranean is everywhere in his work!

Practical information – Picasso Museum: Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (closed from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. in low season) – €8 (€6 reduced rate, free for under 18s)

 

 

     

VISIT ANTIBES : 3. THE PROVENÇAL MARKET

 

   

Near the Picasso Museum is the Provençal market, which takes place every morning under the Cours Masséna market hall. The atmosphere is very pleasant, with an avalanche of colors and enticing smells from Provençal local products. A place not to be missed to whet your appetite!

In the afternoon, artists take over the market to exhibit their paintings, sculptures, and other creations.

 

 

 

VISIT ANTIBES : 4. THE ABSINTHE BAR

 

   

I told you Antibes had plenty of surprises in store! Hidden in the basement of a souvenir shop on the edge of the Provençal market, the absinthe bar is one of the most beautiful and unusual places in the city. Popular with artists in its heyday, absinthe was banned in 1915 to help winegrowers following the Phylloxera crisis. It has only been legal again since 2002!

The setting is superb: you have to go down to the basement to discover one of the cellars hidden beneath old Antibes. The oldest date back to the 9th century! The decor, based on old advertising posters, is very original and takes you back in time!

The experience is also unusual: you have to don a hat to taste the precious nectar. You’ll be transported back in time as you pour water from the fountain onto a sugar cube placed on a spoon and let it slowly dissolve into the absinthe. You can try white or green absinthe, between 50 and 70 proof… (Please note that alcohol abuse is dangerous for your health, so drink responsibly!)

   

 

 

     

 

 

VISIT ANTIBES : 5. THE FREE COMMUNITY OF SAFRANIER

   

 

If you’re wondering what to do in Antibes, don’t miss the free community of Safranier! This is one of the curiosities that most appealed to me when visiting Antibes! This neighborhood is an unusual enclave in the heart of the city, as it has been independently managed by a dedicated mayor since 1966. It was created at the time around the Place du Safranier to perpetuate traditional festivals and strengthen ties between residents.

Today, it is home to many artists and residents who are proud of their neighborhood traditions! Festivals are still celebrated here, including the giant aioli, the square ball competition, and the grape harvest festival.

This residential neighborhood has a special charm with its narrow, colorful streets lined with flowers! There is a relaxed atmosphere reminiscent of villages such as Saint Paul de Vence or Villefranche-sur-Mer. It is a really nice place to stroll around, even if the Commune Libre du Safranier only covers a few streets… Don’t miss this neighborhood if you visit Antibes…

 

 

 

     

 

 

VISIT ANTIBES : 7. LES BAINS-DOUCHES

 

   

You will no doubt notice if you visit Antibes that it has wonderfully preserved its artistic soul. And the public baths are proof of this! These former military premises built into the ramparts have been converted into artists’ studios, where you can chat, philosophize, and admire their creations. The small community of artists here changes from time to time, but they are all passionate about their work.

So don’t hesitate to step inside their public baths to discover their works. Some studios have superb stone walls that perfectly complement their tenants’ creations. As you wander through the streets, you will discover that art is particularly important in Antibes and the surrounding area. Some villages are famous for their crafts, notably Biot for glassmaking and Vallauris for ceramics.

Practical information – Bains Douches: opening hours vary, free admission

 

 

 

     

VISIT ANTIBES : 7. PORT VAUBAN

   

 

The pretty Port Vauban in Antibes is the largest marina in Europe! The port is somewhat of a glitzy area of Antibes, with an area closed to the public that is home to the largest yachts! However, it is still very pleasant to stroll along the quays and enjoy the view of the ramparts of Antibes. In the distance, you can also see the Fort Carré, a former military fortress that can still be visited today.

 

     

VISIT ANTIBES : 8. WALK ALONG THE SEASIDE

 

   

Let’s finish our tour of Antibes by the sea! The promenade along the Mediterranean is dotted with reproductions of paintings in the exact spot where they were painted. It must be said that Antibes has inspired artists from Monet to Boudin!

Try to walk at least as far as the Pointe de l’Ilette to admire the superb view of the old town of Antibes. You can see its stone towers and colorful houses, which seem to be trapped within the high walls of the ramparts. In the distance, the mountains of the hinterland, sometimes covered with snow, complete the picture-postcard scene…

You can then stroll to the beaches of Ponteil and La Salis. The walk can even be extended to Cap d’Antibes, a little further south (see “What to do around Antibes”).

 

 

 

WHAT TO DO AROUND ANTIBES ? 

 

 

Cap d’Antibes (10 minutes away): the peninsula south of Antibes is an unspoilt area that can be explored on foot, thanks to the coastal path that winds its way between woods and a heavenly bay. However, most of the cape is privately owned and you can only guess at the sumptuous villas hidden behind the gates…

Cannes and the Lérins Islands (25 minutes away): While Cannes is known for its film festival, it is also a pretty town with hidden wonders off its coast: the Lérins Islands. An idyllic setting with unspoiled nature, this is a must-see in the region.

Nice (35 minutes away): the capital of the French Riviera remains a must-see in the region! Between the Promenade des Anglais, the colorful old town, the castle hill, and the pretty port, discover 10 Places to Visit Nice – a Local’s Guide

Grasse (40 minutes away): famous for its perfumers, Grasse is above all a charming, sun-drenched town perched on the heights of the French Riviera, a few kilometers from Antibes. It is full of secrets that have made it the perfume capital of the world over the centuries! Discover The Ultimate Guide to the Top Things to See in Grasse!

For more ideas on things to do in Antibes, don’t hesitate to visit the tourist office website!

   

This blogpost follows an invitation from theAntibes-Juan-les-Pins Tourist Office. However, I remain entirely free to express my own opinions and am completely sincere in my recommendations! A huge thank you to Lucy for her warm welcome and kindness!

     

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