One Day in Antibes: A Perfect French Riviera Itinerary

Planning one day in Antibes, France? This easy itinerary covers the best things to do, where to eat, and how to plan a perfect day trip from Nice.

Known for its Old Town, this place is almost mythically enclosed by ancient defensive walls with some of the best scenery on the French Riviera. It delivers all of that without the pretension of nearby hotspots.

Don’t let those vibes fool you, though.

Antibes remains an exclusive spot with grand villas that are likely beyond your budget. The residents here are just going about their business at a less frenetic pace rather than showing off like some of the other spots known for luxury travel.

If you’re wondering whether one day in Antibes is worth it, the answer is yes. Here’s exactly how to spend it.

One Day in Antibes Itinerary at a Glance

Short on time? Here’s exactly how to spend one day in Antibes:

• Start with a seaside brunch at Le Rocher.
• Explore Vieil Antibes (Old Town).
• Visit the Antibes Cathedral.
• Tour Musée Picasso .
• Stop by Le Nomade.
• Watch the sunset at Fort Carré.
• Grab cocktails at the Absinthe Museum.
• Finish with dinner (Italian or local cuisine).

Is Antibes worth visiting?

Antibes is worth visiting for its arts scene, destination-worthy museums, and incredible seaside views. It’s also an easy city to visit. Situated on the Côte d’Azur between Cannes and Nice in France, it’s an easy day trip from both.

One Day in Antibes: Detailed Itinerary

Antibes is very walkable, from its scenic waterfront to its city center. If you’re starting in Juan-les-Pins, you may need to enlist the help of an Uber, but you won’t need a car or other transportation to navigate the main attractions in Antibes.

Start your day early to make the best of a visit to Antibes. Our pick was brunch in Le Rocher, but I’ll include an alternative if you want to head straight for that historic center on your Antibes itinerary.

Stop 1 Option 1: Le Rocher 

We left for our trip to Antibes from Nice mid-morning, as we wanted to begin our day trip with a food stop at Le Rocher. This is a scenic eatery on Plage de la Garoupe that serves up deliciously fresh French cuisine.

Note: As we were running a bit late for our reservation, we took an Uber for the last leg of the trip. Otherwise, it would have been a 20-minute or so walk from the train station at the Juan-les-Pins stop. 

It was admittedly a lot of maneuvering for food. As it turned out to be my favorite eatery on our tour of the French Riviera and likely the best restaurant in Antibes, it was all worth it in the end.

The comfort food on the menu was yummy — Niçoise salad, beef tartare, lamb shank, steak and frites — but there were also great views of the sea all the way around.

If you’d like to do the same, I’d recommend starting day trips to Antibes at Le Rocher. Reservations are highly recommended, no matter the time of year.

Reservations aren’t bookable online, so you’ll have to call. The friendly manager speaks English if you don’t speak French, so no worries there. We got the best seat in the house on the terrace outside, for no other reason than being generally pleasant humans.

If you have more time outside of the city center, it doesn’t get much better than Le Sentier du Littoral, about two miles of waterfront loveliness.

READ MORE: Planning more time in Nice? Check out my detailed itinerary for Nice visits.

Stop 1 Option 2: Marché Provençal

If you’re skipping Le Rocher, you can get off the train at the main Antibes stop in the city center. Head to Marché Provençal for snacks at a popular Antibes market, instead.

This is the town’s daily fresh produce market, but you can also get a variety of treats here to get you through a day of exploring.

I’m talking about all of the meats and cheese and fresh seafood. It’s easy to make yourself a little tapas-style meal with everything you’ll find here.

Stop 2: Vieil Antibes (Old Antibes)

Spending some time walking through Vieil Antibes, the Old Town of Antibes, should be on any itinerary when considering what to do in Antibes for a day. Simply put, it’s gorgeous.

It’s what you picture when you think of the French Riviera back in the day: cobblestone streets, local shops selling their wares, and bustling cafes, all protected by the medieval stone walls that now welcome you inside.

Stop 3: Promenade Amiral-de-Grasse

Return to the water and walk along the Promenade Admiral-de-Grasse. This will take you to perhaps one of the most popular spots in the resort town: the Château Grimaldi, now the Musée Picasso.

Take your time and enjoy the views from here.

We spotted some people fishing on what appeared to be homemade rods and fish-catching devices among the million-dollar homes for sale. We looked them up online as we passed “For Sale” signs, so we can vouch for that figure.

Stop 4: Antibes Cathedral

On the same grounds as the Château Grimaldi, the Antibes Cathedral is worth a quick stop before getting artsy at your next stop.

It may not be as exceptional as other cathedrals you may have visited across France, but it is recognized as a national monument for its examples of Renaissance art inside.

Fun fact: Saint Paul is said to have visited the site before it was rebuilt in the 18th century.

If you’re looking for this one on your map apps, it may be listed under one of its more impressive names: Cathédrale Notre-Dame-de-l’Immaculée-Conception d’Antibes or Cathédrale Notre-Dame-de-la-Platea d’Antibes.

Stop 5: Musée Picasso

You’ve seen one Picasso museum, you’ve seen ‘em all, right?

Well, no.

This Picasso museum is special because it’s housed in the Château Grimaldi, where Picasso lived and worked for several months in 1946.

The museum features a good-sized collection of his work, in part because Picasso himself donated much of his art to the museum.

Start on the terrace if it’s free of people for beautiful views of the sea and a sculpture garden. During our visit, the terrace was featuring works from  French sculptor Germaine Richier.

If you love a good museum but aren’t all that into Picasso, have you met Brian? (He enjoyed his visit regardless.) You have other options, too:

• If you’re here for the art, add Musée Peynet et du Dessin Humoristique to your agenda. It’s a small museum that’s a quick stop for fans of the work of satirist Raymond Peynet.
• Interested in history? The Musée d’Archéologie d’Antibes may be worthwhile. We didn’t hit this one up, but the small collection features a variety of Roman artifacts.

Optional Stop 6: Lunch

We were absolutely stuffed from our meal at Le Rocher, but if you only snacked at the market, you may be ready for a light nosh. Here are two more delightful restaurants in Antibes for lunch:

• Bistro & Co. RoofTop Bar: Speedy service and budget-friendly prices make this one popular for day trippers to Antibes. The menu’s casual. Enjoy a variety of sandwiches for a lighter meal or plates of pasta as heavier fare.
• Salé/Sucré: Enjoy fresh ingredients in a cozy setting at this friendly cafe. If you love seafood, that’s the way to go here. Their octopus linguine is a favorite.

Stop 7: Port Vauban

Every town on the French Riviera needs a harbor where you can park your yacht during your stay. Port Vauban in Antibes may be the most impressive, and it’s one of the best free things to do in Antibes.

During our stroll through, we came upon what must have been billionaires’ row. Each boat just seemed bigger than the last until we reached the Dilbar.

Fun fact: If you don’t know about this super-yacht (we didn’t), it’s the fourth longest yacht in the world and the largest by volume. It’s owned by some Russian billionaire who doesn’t need to be named here and generally, just too big.

While at the port, you can walk along the old rampart walls to see beautiful views below until you reach Le Nomade.

The sculpture, owned by the city and created by Catalan artist Jaume Plensa, is of a man made of steel letters looking out to sea. San Diego has a similar version from Plensa if you find yourself in America’s Finest City. 

While at the port, you may also spy scantily clad women having photo shoots with the yachts in the background. I didn’t explore this further.

Stop 8: Fort Carré

The 16th-century fort is named for its shape, as Fort Carré is “the squared fort.” Visiting Fort Carré is a bit of a hike from the city center if you’re walking on foot, as we did, but it’s still worth a stop if you have the energy. It’s a beautiful place.

The walk itself is pleasant and along the harbor. The boats get more reasonably sized as you get further away from Port Vauban.

Note: Entry to the fort is only allowed via guided tour. Tours run about every half hour from 10am until dark Tues-Sun, so hours depend on the season. If you visit in inclement weather, tours may be canceled.

Tickets are very reasonable, and you’ll get an interesting look at medieval life. Our tour was run in both French and English. If you get there around the last tour time, as we did, you’ll be treated to sunset views from the top of the fort.

READ MORE: Spectacular sunsets are just one reason to love France. Read all about why we moved here!

Stop 9: Place Général de Gaulle

Place Général de Gaulle, or Antibes’ town square, should be coming alive now.

Take a stroll to check out the shops of Antibes, the fountains, and the cafes. Rest your feet if you must before the indulging begins at your next two stops.

Stop 10: Absinthe Museum

The Absinthe Museum is one of the more unusual things to do in Antibes.

It’s not really a museum, per se, although when you enter the Absinthe Museum, you’ll see some advertisements and various absinthe-related items throughout the room.

There are several hats around that I’m pretty sure they want you to put on while you’re drinking. As a former teacher, I know a lice trap when I see one. It’s more of a place to drink some absinthe.

First, you’ll need to learn how to do so, which the staff will show you. Here’s a clip of what it looks like:

If you’re as clueless as we were, drinking absinthe involves dripping water over a sugar cube that’s suspended over a glass full of your chosen poison.

They have a number of varieties to suit your tastes, all reasonably priced. It wasn’t a scary experience at all. “I wouldn’t cut my ear off for this,” was overheard in our group at one point. As far as the taste overall, the licorice flavor wasn’t exactly my cup of tea.

We had the place to ourselves when we got there, but two more groups wandered in off the street while we drank our drinks. That’s when the fun really started.

I don’t mean we saw any green fairies. I mean, the owners put on a concert video of the Bee Gees, which is always welcome. 

You also don’t HAVE to drink absinthe while you’re there. They have a full cocktail menu, along with beer and wine. I chose Champagne for our second round myself because I was in France.

You can also have some absinthe IN your beer, which makes it more palatable in my opinion. 

Stop 11: Dinnertime

Bellies warmed by absinthe, you’re probably ready for some food. We chose Nacional Trattoria for dinner. It’s an Italian place, which you’ll find is common in this part of the country due to its proximity to Italy. 

We shared a bottle of wine, three appetizers, truffled mashed potatoes, and two pizzas among the four of us. We also had four scoops of gelato, because we were feeling those Italian vibes.

Now, you certainly don’t need to order quite as much as we did, but we had come from an absinthe bar, and everything sounded so good. It WAS good. I have no regrets. 

As with any town on the French Riviera, it’s best to make a reservation wherever you end up when you’re considering where to eat in Antibes. You can make your booking by giving them a call.

Here are two more options for dinner in Antibes:

• Café Brun: This charming cafe in the heart of Old Town is dog-friendly, kid-friendly, and a great way to try the food of the region in a more casual way. Reservations are available via their online form.
• La Petite Escale: Treat yourself to what many locals and visitors alike call the best restaurant in Antibes. Prices are reasonable for the modern French cuisine you’ll eat from the husband and wife team here. Call to book.

Stop 12: Antibes Nightlife

We ran to the train station after dinner to catch what I affectionately called the “warm blanket train” back to Nice’s city center. If you’re not ready to call it for the day, you can explore what to do in Antibes at night.

If you take one thing away from this Antibes blog, it should be this: Make sure to watch the train schedule if you haven’t purchased tickets ahead of time. On our trip, trains ran right up to midnight, but schedules can vary.

Here are a few Antibes bars and nightcap spots if you’re feeling frisky at this point:

• Drinkers Club: We didn’t feel any pretension on our visit to Antibes, but Drinkers Club hangs its hat on its welcoming vibes. If your trip coincides with anything sports-related, this pub will likely be bumpin’.
• Entre 2 Vins: This wine bar also has a full food menu that looks quite yummy, but they’re known for their extensive vino collection. The staff will be happy to offer suggestions if you’re unsure where to start.
• Sisters Bar à Bons Vins: This wine bar is run by sisters, but I bet you already knew that. They’re also twins. I bet you didn’t guess that…maybe. In any case, there’s wine, games, and a friendly staff. What’s not to love?

Beaches in Antibes

We visited the French Riviera in the fall. While we had great weather for a day in Antibes, it certainly wasn’t beach weather. I will say it was nice to enjoy off-season prices during our French Riviera fun times, despite some rainy days in Nice.

If you’re visiting in the summer, you’ll probably want to spend some time at the beach in Antibes. Antibes is actually quite a popular beach destination in the warmer months, with a variety of both public and private beaches.

Just keep in mind that sunbathing is a popular pastime for visitors to Antibes, so get to your chosen beach early for your spot in the sand.

Here are a few top options for Antibes beaches:

• Plage de la Gravette: This is one of the more popular beaches in Antibes in the middle of Old Town. That proximity does mean it gets crowded, so start early if this is your chosen patch of sand.
• Plage du Ponteil: This mostly public beach has a sliver devoted to the Royal Beach Club. The views here are superb. You’ll be swimming with views of the rampart walls around you.
• Plage de la Salis: Enjoy the soft sands of this one just south of Plage du Ponteil. Locals consider this the cleanest beach in Antibes, but you won’t see much trash or murky water anywhere during your stay.

With More Time in Antibes

Outside of the scenic beaches, there’s still more we’d love to return to if we found ourselves back in Antibes. We were only there on a day trip, after all.

Here are a few Antibes things to do that remain firmly on our list:

• Climb to the top of a plateau to catch a view from Garoupe Lighthouse.
• Eat all of the gelato at Gelateria Del Porto.
• Test your luck at the Casino de Juan-Les-Pins.
• See the Gothic stylings of Chapelle Saint Bernardin.
• Walk the gardens of Parc Exflora.
• Compare that to the gardens of Jardin Botanique de la Villa Thuret, or the Thuret Botanical Gardens.
• Tour Villa Eilenroc, a stunning property on the Cap d’Antibes, and imagine living during the Belle Époque.
• Plan your trip around the Jazz à Juan festival, an event honoring Antibes as the sister city of New Orleans.

How to Get to Antibes From Nice

You can get to Antibes from Nice on a train from the Nice-Ville train station. There are usually a few trains per hour, so you’ll have some options when you’re buying your tickets for an Antibes day trip from Nice.

Book tickets online or at the train station if you’re not the anxious sort.

The fastest ride should only take you about 20 minutes, so it’s truly the most convenient option for a day trip to Antibes from Nice.

You have two options for getting off the train once you approach Antibes. If you’re short on time, head straight for the city center and Gare d’Antibes, the main train station in Antibes.

The stop just past, Juan-les-Pins, is what you can take if you want to explore, naturally, Juan-les-Pins. This is a resort town of sorts that is a part of greater Antibes.

As we really wanted to try Le Rocher, an eatery that was outside of the city center, we rode all the way to Juan-les-Pins.

Where to Stay in Antibes

We were visiting Antibes on a day trip from Nice, so our overnight accommodations were back in Nice. The property we stayed at in Nice that I’d recommend is the Hostel Ozz Nice by HappyCulture.

It was comfortable and budget-friendly, which is all I can ask for when I’m trying to save some euros for exploring the Riviera.

If you want to stay overnight to enjoy the nightlife (and potentially explore day trips from Antibes), that’s certainly an option. Check out the map below for some options:

Antibes Trip FAQs

Antibes is the epitome of the French Riviera.

We visited Antibes for a one-day itinerary and immediately fell in love. I don’t need to talk myself into a repeat visit. I know it’ll happen.

In fact, if there are any benefactors out there who’d like to send us there for a month, or even a road trip along the French Riviera, we’re game whenever you are!

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