Antibes - Local Info

Antibes is 20km (12 miles) from Nice Côte d’Azur Airport (NCE) on the A8 autoroute (sortie 44).Antibes is a great base for exploring the French Riviera, you are well placed to visit nearby coastal towns such as Monaco, Nice etc. as well as the inland and hill-top villages such as Eze.
Antibes is a beautiful place with so much to see and do.
Walking to the old town is easy and makes for excellent views.
There are bike lanes starting at about the outskirts of the port on the Route de Nice and Bord de la Mer. You can ride from Antibes to Villeneuve-Loubet, and probably beyond, without much difficulty, and there is also ample parking in Antibes if driving.

A street in Antibes

Days Out

Fort Carré

Fort Carré, or Fort Carré d’Antibes, is a 16th-century star-shaped fort of four arrow-head shaped bastions, that stands on the outskirts of Antibes. Henri de Mandon built the fort and then during the 17th century, the Marquis de Vauban redeveloped it.
Even though the fortress is only open for guided tours there is a nice walk around the fort.
It is open for guided tours only which are every 30 minutes summer 10:00 – 18:00 winter 10:00 – 16:30 every day except Mondays and public holidays.

Marineland, Aquasplash & the Butterfly Park

Marineland is an animal exhibition park in Antibes, France. It was founded in 1970 by Roland de la Poype. First, it was a small oceanarium with a few pools and animals but now it is one of the biggest in the world and receives more than 1,200,000 visitors per year. It is the only French sea park featuring two cetacean species: killer whales and dolphins.

Open every day of the year with 2-3 shows daily (depending on the season). Aquasplash has several pools, 13 waterslides including the Black Cannon (the fastest waterslide in France), a wave pool and many other attractions. There are snack bars and a shop.
Open June to September from 10:00 – 19:00

Opposite Marineland is Antibesland ammusement park (on the Route de Biot).

Marineland Antibes

Le Petit Train

Great fun for adults and children alike.
Leaves from place des Martyrs de la Résistance and winds through the narrow streets of Old Antibes, passing the Provencal market, Port Vauban and continuing to Juan les Pins.

Visiobulle from Juan les Pins

A sub-aqua view of the sea around the Cap d’Antibes, via a glass-bottomed boat. Departs from Ponton Courbet, bd Guillaumont (near the Juan le Pins tourist office), and travels around to the southern tip of Cap d’Antibes before returning to Juan les Pins. Trip time approx. 1 hour. Cost €12 children €6 Operates from April to September.

Museums & Galleries

Musée Picasso

Château Grimaldi, 06600 Antibes
Open daily 10:00 – 12 & 15:00 – 19:00 except Tuesday
Housed in the Château Grimaldi on the ramparts above the port is one of the greatest Picasso collections. Picasso spent 1946 painting here and gave the museum all the work he’d done here: 24 paintings, 80 pieces of ceramics, 44 drawings, 32 lithographs, 11 oils on paper, 2 sculptures, and 5 tapestries. As well as Picasso’s works a gallery of contemporary art also exhibits the art of Léger, Joan Miró, Ernst, and Calder.

Musee Naval et Napoléon (Napoleonic Museum)

Combined tickets are available from the tourist office for the museums and Fort Carré.

Batterie du Graillon
Bd J-F Kennedy
06160 Juan-les-Pins
Opening times in summer (mid June to Mid September) 10:00 – 18:00, winter (mid September to mid June) 10:00 – 16:30 Closed Mondays and public holidays

Markets

Marché Provençal

Cours Massena An authentic Provençal covered market in the heart of Antibes. Fresh fruit, vegetables and flowers every morning (except Mondays in winter).

Artisanal – Marché Provençal

Cours Massena Arts and crafts from 15:00. Easter to September every afternoon except Mondays. September to Easter Friday & Sunday afternoons.

Foire (clothing market)

Rue Fontvieille, behind the post office

Brocante

Place Jacques Audiberti, between the Porte Marine and the Place Massena. Every Thursday

Antique Markets

Thursdays – Boulevard d’Aguillon (opposite the yacht harbour) Saturdays – Place Nationale in the old town