Top 5 Things to Do and See in Antibes, South of France

  

POV: It’s the summer of 2023 and you’re spending it on the French Riviera…

Starting off strong with my favourite destination… Antibes!

Located in the South of France, Antibes has the perfect mix of sandy beaches, crystal clear water and beautiful architecture. Prior to my visit here, it was a town I had heard little about but it quickly became somewhere I could envision myself spending summer days in years to come.

This post will focus on things to do and see but stay tuned for part two where I'll share the Airbnb we stayed in and the restaurants we ate at during our time here <3

1. Antibes Old Town

With narrow cobblestone streets, bustling cafes, and various vintage shops, this area is a must visit. I personally love collecting souvenirs whilst on holiday (my bank account hates me for this) and was not disappointed with the selection of unique pieces on offer. There is also lots of convenience and supermarket stores in the area which allowed us to buy copious amounts of wine and baguettes for the days ahead.

Although the streets can get crowded, its hard to feel stressed or overwhelmed when there is a picture-perfect view of the Mediterranean sea around every corner. Despite dedicating an entire day to strolling around and seeing what it has to offer, I feel as though we just touched the surface of the Old Town.

2. Picasso Museum

With gorgeous views of the Mediterranean sea and breathtaking artwork, this peaceful (and air-conditioned!) museum is a welcome break from the crowds of beach-goers and summer heat. I find museums can be overwhelming as there is so much to take in and see but this one felt very manageable. We spent around 2 hours here escaping the sun and wandering around each room. If you're anything like me and love artwork and history I would add this to your lsit immediately. 

3. Port Vauban

Originally a spot I thought would be a quick stop and see turned into somewhere I spent every evening relaxing, watching the sunset, and reading. The atmosphere was serene, with French music drifting through the walls which separated the Port from the Old Town. During the day, there were market stalls which sold handmade jewellery, ceramics, and other crafts which were fun to stroll through. Although undoubtably a popular spot, it never felt too crowded. 

Although we didn't have time on this trip, we saw many tourists renting boats here. Definitely adding this to my bucket list when I inevitably revisit!

4. Billionaires Bay

If you take anything away from this blog post, it should be to visit Billionaire's Bay. I'm still dreaming of going back here. We arrived early in the morning to the welcome sight of a near empty beach. After choosing our spot, we remained here all day, sunbathing, eating baguettes with butter, and swimming in the sea. A true summer dream If you do come here I would recommend taking swimming shoes or flip flops for going in and out of the sea - the rocks can be super slippy and hard on your feet - we overhead many people come to this realisation around the time we did. 

5. Provençal Market

On our last day we stopped by the Provincial market for breakfast. As expected, it was nothing less than perfect. With a wide variety of stalls selling fresh fruit, pastries, and other foods, there really was something for everyone. The market also changes at night to host live music and drinks which we were lucky enough to walk past several times as this is the area we stayed in!

Antibes is not one to miss during the summer months and if you like the look of these spots, stay tuned for my second blog post where I'll share the Airbnb we stayed in (located in Old Town) and the restaurants we visited during our time here. 

Until next time, Au’revoir France.