How to spend a weekend in Antibes, France

This month, my husband & I were invited to spend the weekend with our good friends in Antibes. And of course, we jumped at the chance! We enjoy spending time with our expat friends (they love travel as much as we do), and it was also an opportunity to enjoy the end of summer. Our friends have been visiting Antibes for the last several years, and we love experiencing places through the eyes of locals (or near-locals!). If you’re thinking of visiting Antibes, I highly recommend it. The cobblestone streets, creeping floral vines, and quaint boulangeries will give you an authentic French experience – right along the ocean. Read on for my Antibes travel guide.

Why this trip is worth it

The south of France is a diverse place. The area is full of both romantic towns and chic beach clubs for partygoers, but it’s also a very family-friendly destination. And Antibes is right in the middle of all of it! It’s a an easy train to Nice or Cannes, and a short drive to St. Tropez.

On top of that, the town of Antibes has it’s own charm that makes it a must-visit. Since it’s less popular than the larger cities along the coast, it’s less expensive and you’ll get a more local experience.

When to visit

We visited in early September, which was perfect. The high season of July & August had just ended, but temperatures were still warm and everything was open. However, anytime from May through October would work since the weather is fairly temperate. Just keep in mind that Antibes will be crowded and busy during July & August, like most of Europe.

How to get there

Nice is the closest major airport. You can fly directly, and then take a short 30 minute taxi or Uber into Antibes. If you’re exploring other areas of France, Antibes is short drive from Provence, and can also easily be reached from Genoa or San Remo in Italy. The Antibes train station and the port are both easily accessible, so you don’t necessarily need a car.

Where to stay

Old Town is the best place to stay in Antibes. This is where you will find cobblestone streets, local French markets, and quaint boulangeries.

Although there are a couple of hotels and bed & breakfasts, I recommend staying in an AirBnb. There are tons of affordable options in Old Town with lots of charm. You can even find a place with a view of the sunrise over the ocean!

What to do

Antibes is centrally located and accessible by train, but relatively inexpensive. That makes it the perfect base of operations for day trips throughout the south of France. However, the Old Town of Antibes has some epic activities that are not to be missed.

Visit the local market

French markets are legendary. The produce is always incredibly fresh, and you can find all sorts of local products from salts & spices to handmade bags. The marché provençal in Antibes is open 6 days a week (closed Mondays) and located right in the middle of Old Town. If you’re staying somewhere with a kitchen, one of the best activities is to buy ingredients in the morning at the market and cook dinner at home.

Spend the day on the beach

The beach in Antibes is relatively small, but it’s beautiful and has nice facilities (including showers to rinse off and bathrooms along the old wall). If you wake up early enough, you can walk down to the beach to watch the sunrise and spend the morning reading a book. It’s hard to miss if you are walking along the eastern edge of the town, but you can search for Plage de la Gravette.

Visit the Picasso Museum

Antibes has been a popular destination for many artists and writers. Picasso created many works of art in Antibes, which you can see at the Musée Picasso. It’s on the edge of Old Town close to the ocean, so it also features a terrace with a gorgeous view.

Splurge on a chartered boat

Chartering a boat for the day is always one of my most memorable travel experiences, and if you only spend money on one big activity – this should be it. In fact, we loved it so much last year that we did it again this year! It can be expensive, but if you are with a group it ends up being much more affordable.

We went through the service Click and Boat, and the whole day including a captain and gas is around €650. Split between a group of 4 or 6, it’s a good price for the experience. You can choose your destinations – we did a few swimming stops and an island for lunch.

Take a day trip to Monte Carlo

If you only take one day trip from Antibes, I recommend Monte Carlo. There isn’t much to do (unless you love luxury shopping), but the architecture is incredible to see. It’s definitely a bucket list destination. I recommend having a drink on the terrace at Le Bar Américain to watch the cars go by, and visiting the famous Casino de Monte Carlo. There are direct trains from Antibes, which run just over an hour. Nice is also a good day trip option.

Where to eat (and drink)

We had some incredible food in Antibes. Below are my favorites!

La Tour Antique

I made a reservation at La Tour Antique for our first night, and it did not dissappoint. The spaghetti alla chitarra was the best pasta of the entire trip. They don’t have outdoor seating, but the restaurant interior is really charming.

Sale / Sucre

Sale / Sucre is another amazing pasta place that is a must-visit. It’s on the edge of Old Town, but the food is worth the walk. The menu changes, but I had the truffle ravioli. The portions are huge so you can definitely split a dish with someone.

Nacionale

This restaurant is our friends’ favorite. They have tables on the town square, which make it the perfect spot for people watching. I got an unfortunate case of food poisoning mid-weekend, so I didn’t get a chance to try much of the food – but the pizzas and appetizers look delicious.

Absinthe Bar

My favorite night of the trip was spent at this absinthe bar – not because I like absinthe (I hate it!), but because I loved the experience. It’s a small below ground cellar, and there is live guitar music every night. You can’t miss the green neon sign at the entrance!

BAM Cocktail Bar

Antibes actually has a bustling bar scene, since it’s a popular port for luxury yacht crews. We didn’t get a chance to try BAM, but I walked by it a few times and loved the vibe.

What to wear

Much like the rest of the south of France, the weather is warm but mild in the evenings. If you’re traveling outside of July or August, I recommend bringing a light sweater. Check out my style guide to the French Riviera for more tips on what to pack for Antibes.