5 Best Things to Do in Antibes, France
Antibes is one of those French Riviera towns that gives you a little bit of everything: sandy Mediterranean beaches, centuries-old ramparts, picturesque and colorful street scenes, excellent food, and enough art to justify stepping away from the water for a few hours.
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Located between Nice and Cannes, Antibes is also an easy place to reach and a great addition to a larger French Riviera trip.
It’s about 20 kilometers/12.5 miles from Nice Côte d’Azur Airport and roughly 20 to 40 minutes by car depending on traffic—and in summer, there will be atrocious traffic.
Antibes is also well connected by train to Nice and other towns along the coast, including Cannes, Menton, and Monaco, if those are on your list.
But there’s plenty here to keep you busy in Antibes, and if it’s your first visit, these are the five things I wouldn’t miss.
1. Hike the Sentier de Tire-Poil
For one of the most spectacular walks on the French Riviera, head out to Cap d’Antibes (roughly 3.5–4 km or 2–2.5 miles from the old town) and follow the Sentier de Tire-Poil, a 5-kilometer/ 3.1-mile coastal trail that starts near Plage de la Garoupe, one of Antibes’ many sandy beaches.
This scenic walk is part of France’s Sentier du Littoral, the network of public footpaths that traces thousands of kilometers of the French coastline.
You might hear these coastal trails called Sentiers des Douaniers, or “customs officers’ paths,” a nod to the historic routes once used by customs officers to patrol the coast and watch for smugglers.
Here on Cap d’Antibes, this particular stretch gets the much more colorful name Tire-Poil—roughly “hair pull”—said to come from the persistent sea winds that whip around the cape and rearrange your hairstyle whether you asked them to or not.
Allow about two hours for the walk, which passes rocky coves, some seriously enviable real estate behind imposing walls, and views for miles.
Along the way, you might be able to catch a glimpse of Château de la Croë, once home to the Duke and Duchess of Windsor and Greek tycoon Aristotle Onassis, and now owned by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich.
Near the end of the trail, you’ll find Villa Eilenroc, an extravagant 19th-century Belle Époque villa designed by Charles Garnier and surrounded by 11 hectares of gardens.
The villa and gardens are open to visitors on select days, so check current opening hours if you want to combine the hike with a visit.
👉Wear proper shoes rather than flip-flops—the trail includes steps and uneven, rocky sections. Also wear a hat and sunscreen. There isn’t much shade for most of it.
2. Walk the Ramparts and Admire the Sculptures
Antibes’ ramparts are more than a scenic place for a walk.
For centuries, this was a fortified frontier town, guarding France against invaders.
Much of the old fortification was demolished in the late 19th century, but the sea-facing walls survived, creating the spectacular promenade that wraps around Old Antibes today.
Along the way, keep an eye out for sculptures such as Nicolas Lavarenne’s dramatic bronze figure “Defi” that appears to step right off the ramparts and into the Mediterranean, while at Bastion Saint-Jaume, Jaume Plensa’s monumental Nomade sits gazing out to sea and has become one of Antibes’ most recognizable landmarks.
3. Visit the Musée Picasso
The Musée Picasso isn’t simply a museum containing Picasso paintings. Picasso actually worked here.
In 1946, the artist was invited to use part of the Château Grimaldi as his studio. He spent roughly two months working in the castle and eventually left Antibes 23 paintings and 44 drawings.
The collection later expanded to include 78 ceramics he made at the Madoura workshop in Vallauris. In 1966, the château officially became the Musée Picasso, the first museum dedicated to the artist.
4. Wander Around Old Antibes
Old Antibes is best explored without much of an agenda. Wander the narrow streets around Rue Sade, Rue James Close, and Rue de la République, poke into small shops and galleries, and allow yourself to get sucked into the charm of it all.
Book lovers should detour into Antibes Books on Rue Georges Clemenceau, an independent English bookstore right in the Old Town and an excellent excuse to leave Antibes with something other than another bottle of rosé.
Place Nationale is a large square surrounded by cafés and shops, and has a brocante/antiques market on Thursdays and Saturdays, between 7:30 a.m.–6 p.m.
And if you’re turning the stroll into dinner, Antibes has some gourmet choices, including Michelin-starred Le Figuier de Saint-Esprit, which occupies an atmospheric spot near the ramparts. Restaurant le Vauban is another longtime address for upscale French cooking.
But don’t over-plan this part. There are numerous places to stop for coffee, grab a slice of pizza or a crepe, and sip wine for an hour or two while watching the world go by.
Antibes rewards the wanderer who isn’t pressed for time.
5. Eat Your Way Around the Marché Provençal
You can’t really claim to have experienced a Provençal town until you’ve stood in front of a market stall wondering how you’re going to fit three cheeses, a dozen lavender sachets, and an unreasonable quantity of olives into your luggage.
Locals have been coming to the Marché Provençal in Antibes since at least the Middle Ages, although the covered market you see today dates to the 1920s.
The one thing that’s lasted through the ages is that it’s still the edible heart of Old Antibes. It’s a good place to start your day in Antibes, too, as nothing is too far from here, including the Picasso Museum and the ramparts.
Come early if you want the market at its most local and lively. It’s surrounded by shops and small cafes and bars, too, which make excellent perches for people watching.
🌟Have More Time? See Antibes From the Water
If you have an extra half day, get out on the Mediterranean. You can rent a boat or join a small-group cruise from Antibes or Juan-les-Pins and explore the coastline around Cap d’Antibes, passing rocky coves, sandy beaches, and some of the spectacular villas you glimpse from the Sentier de Tire-Poil.
Tip: Several local companies rent small license-free boats, while private and skippered charters are available if you’d rather let someone else do the navigating. Check out my favorite apps to download for traveling to the French Riviera.
