A celebrated coastal resort appreciated by artists and writers like Pablo Picasso, Jules Verne and Guy de Maupassant, its beaches and summer weather make Antibes an unmissable destination.
The town has the biggest marina in the Mediterranean area and enjoys an ideal geographical location between Cannes (6 miles) and Nice (12 miles).
Neighboring towns are within an easy reach: A network of buses and trains provides access to Monaco, Cannes and Nice every 30 minutes. As for Saint-Tropez, it’s 70 minutes away by boat.
Indeed, with Nice International Airport just 11 miles away, Antibes is a well-connected, pleasant town where you will immediately feel safe.
With its 75,000 inhabitants in Winter, it is now the third biggest town in the department, and although its population doubles during summer, Antibes remains on a human scale and has retained its charm and cultural heritage.
Antibes is not an expensive town and offers a wide range of restaurants, snack bars and convenience stores. You can get a take-away lunch at a reasonable price.
The best way to discover the city is on foot, by bike or by scooter. The bus serves the whole city efficiently during the day (10€/week). In the evening, there are many cabs (student prices).
Antibes enjoys a Mediterranean climate in harmony with the carefree way of life in this unforgettable town. With over 300 days of sunshine a year, the town benefits from exceptional light and temperatures that are always pleasant.
The Summer is hot and dry with temperatures of around 28°C (82°F) and a light breeze often makes the heat more bearable.
Winters are mild and the temperature rarely drops below 9°C (48°F).
Antibes is the perfect destination for anyone wishing to take advantage of the Côte d’Azur sunshine. It has 16 miles of sandy and pebbled beaches, some of which are just a stone's throw from the town center. All beaches are renowned for their water quality and most have life guards, showers and toilets. You will have a choice of a large number of beaches (la Gravette, la Salis, le Ponteil etc.) where you can enjoy many water sports or simply have a swim and sunbathe!
Follow the waymarked coastal trail to explore little coves with crystalline water. You will catch a glimpse of the famous Eden Roc, one of the largest luxury hotels in the world, and the Belles Rives, so highly regarded by Hemingway and Scott Fitzgerald. From the Cap, in front of the Garoupe chapel, you can enjoy a unique panoramic view of the town. In good weather you might even catch a glimpse of Corsica and Italy!
In the evening, in Juan-les-Pins, a multitude of pubs and discos make the town a paradise for night-owls. Fancy a walk by the sea? The Cap d’Antibes is the place. It is an idyllic spot that is home to grand villas and beaches that are completely unique.
Antibes is also a city for art-lovers. The pine forest of Juan-les-Pins is the setting of the famous Antibes Juan-les-Pins jazz festival in July. Miles Davis, Sidney Bechet and Louis Armstrong are just some of the musicians to have put this international festival on the map. But the town is also a renowned hot spot for painters. The Picasso museum, in the Château Grimaldi, is a reminder that in 1946 the painter chose Antibes for many of his paintings (La Joie de vivre, La Femme aux oursins etc.) as well as ceramics. Renowned writers such as Prévert, Audiberti, Julien Green and Maupassant have also been seduced by the beauty of the city that was originally known as "Antipolis".
From high on the city walls you will look out on the Fort Carré, a fortress overlooking the town. From there you can take a walk along the Port Vauban or head towards the old town.
The old town of Antibes will reveal the “fortified city” in all its authenticity. You have to wander through its narrow streets to appreciate the scents of Provence, before taking a walk around the Safranier quarter.
The Provençal market, on Cours Masséna, will satisfy lovers of local gastronomy and introduce you to the unique flavors of local produce (cheeses, olive oil etc.).
At the many restaurants on the Place nationale you can enjoy regional specialities (daube (stew), pissaladière (onion, anchovy and black olive deep crust pizza), petits farcis (stuffed vegetables) and more).
In the morning, at the Port Vauban, local fishers will sell you their fish of the day (sea bream, wolf-fish and so on).
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