What Is There To Do In Antibes France
Antibes is a perfect weekend getaway option so if you are tired of the daily hectic routine, plan a quick trip to this glorious port city. Antibes became a part of France in the 15th century but its history dates back to 500 BC reflected through the Greek posts. The natural beauty, luxurious villas, picturesque beaches and fascinating museums makes Antibes a must-visit international attraction.
Here are some of the most famous fascinations to see in the city.
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Recommended Hotels And Places To Stay In Antibes
Popular Restaurants In Antibes
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The Safranier Free Commune
An interesting activity to do in Antibes is to visit The Safranier Free Commune.
There are 129 free communes in France and Safranier is more like a village within a village. Safranier has been around since 1966, and their aim is to do good and have fun.
Stroll through the narrow streets of this area lined with restaurants and bars. It is quite cozy and interesting around here, and its a good place to learn something different.
Cap Dantibes Beach Hotel
Cap dAntibes Beach Hotel is situated near Port of Olivette and Plage des Ondes on the tip of Cap dAntibes. It is a beloved and coveted spot to land. As its name suggests it is also one of the few French Riviera hotels with a private on-property sandy beach.
At the beginning of the 20th century, the property was referred to as La Maison des Pêcheurs, when large properties such as these stretched down to the sea and only a small unassuming path led curious wanderers to Cap dAntibes.
A Baron owned the cape in those days. Today, local fishermen tell stories of how the Baron allowed fishermen to stay on the property in exchange for bouillabaisse, a local fish stew.
In 2003, the Ferrante family acquired the property. They have invested 3.5 million euros in renovations to bring the property back to life with the hope of welcoming international clientele looking for a luxurious spot to be on the coast in France.
In April of 2016, the property was redecorated with the addition of eight new rooms and suites. The single Michelin star restaurant that pays homage to the history and origin of the property named Les Pêcheurs was also given a new position, facing the sea.
There are so many things to love about this property. There is a seamless marriage of land and sea that is carried throughout the modern lines of the hotel through the skillful use of both wood and glass materials.
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Great Escapes: The Beautiful And Historic Town Of Antibes France
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Not only does Antibes host a glitterati crowd year after year, but it has also been an inspiration for iconic artists like Pablo Picasso, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Claude Monet.
The French Riviera, otherwise known as the Côte dAzur, is situated along the southern coast of France and spans from Saint Tropez to Cannes to Monaco. This beautiful stretch along the Mediterranean Sea is home to both high-profile and charming towns, including the breathtaking Antibes, the second-largest town in the French Riviera located between Nice and Cannes, which offers both luxury attractions and quaint, old-world charm.
Antibes has long drawn jetset crowds thanks to its five-star hotels, Michelin-starred dining, and the largest marina in the Mediterraneanfull of superyachts during its peak season from May and well into September.
Not only does Antibes host a glitterati crowd year after year, but it has also been an inspiration for iconic artists like Pablo Picasso, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Claude Monet, to name a few. It features red-roofed Mediterranean mansions sprouting from the hillsides, azure water, soft white-sand beaches, and canopies of pine, acacia, and cypress trees.
On Thursday, the U.S. was moved to Frances orange list of countries, meaning U.S. leisure travelers are welcome as long as they are vaccinated. For those who can, now is the perfect time to experience the allure of the French Riviera .
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The Best Value Places To Stay On The Cte D’azur
- The Hostellerie Berard et Spa in La Cadiere-d’Azur, is a charming hilltop hotel with sea views, a spa, suites with private balconies and a Michelin starred restaurant. And yes it’s listed under ‘great value’ because the rooms start from just £83 per night.
- Villa Rivoli in Nice is a Belle Epoque gem, with small but pretty rooms and a private beach just a stone’s throw away – easily one of the best places to stay in Côte d’Azur for those one budget, with rooms starting from just £59 per night.
- The Auberge de la Madone also benefits from hilltop views, but this time you’re right on the edge of a cliff, overlooking the Med.. Surrounded by olive groves and orchards, it’s not a surprise that this auberge has wonderful views from the restaurant terraces, and equally wonderful food. And all starting from around £90 per night.
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Best Place To Stay In Antbes
The Grapevine Crewhouse is the best in Antibes and the reason for this is the mangers Jason, Jen and Sacha. Who are very welcoming, helpful and fun. If you are looking for a job in the superyacht industry the guidance which the mangers give is worth its weight in gold. The accomidation is really nice and it feels like home once you have settled in. The guests when I stayed were very friendly and the place had a real moral about it. In conclusion I would 100% recomend it to both yachties and people wanting to explore the south of Frannce
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I just want to reach out and say thank you for all your support and guidance since I landed at your crew house in Antibes. The guys here run a great crew house, which Im sure Ill return to at some point thoroughout my new career. I will be recommending you to fellow greenies who are looking to break the industry. Jason is very helpful and resourceful.Sacha was a great host, very welcoming and prompt to help with any day to day questions.
Best Things To Do In Antibes
A Mediterranean resort that also includes Juan-les-Pins, Antibes has 25 kilometres of coastline and is a getaway for the very rich but also one of the French Rivieras preferred destinations for French families.
You can mix afternoons at the beach with day-trips to Nice and Cannes, which are both minutes from the resort on the TER train.
Theres much to occupy you closer by, with a coastline made for walking, and a waterfront fortified by Vauban in the 1600s, now the preserve of the worlds richest people, who moor their gargantuan superyachts in the port at eye-watering expense.
Lets explore the best things to do in Antibes:
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Where To Stay In Roussillon
- La Maison des Ocres Set amidst the ochre hills in one of the most delightful villages in the country, La Maison des Ocres offers pet-friendly accommodation surrounded by a scenic southern French landscape. The 18 well-decorated guestrooms have been recently renovated and equipped with all the necessary amenities. If you are planning to beat the jetlag and unwind a bit before you paint the town red, the pool and the enclosing gardens are a great spot for that.
Where To Stay In Sainte
- La Belle Aurore Surrounded by the entrancing blues of the Mediterranean Sea, the La Belle Aurore is an impeccable abode in town, away from the bustling city yet in proximity to all the popular sightseeing places. Delivering the best of Sainte-Maxime to your doorstep, this captivating 4-star hotel presents you with a range of suites and guestrooms decorated in warm provincial tones. The onsite restaurant spoils you with the finest local delicacies and unprecedented views of the Gulf of Saint Tropez.
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Menton On The Border With Italy
Menton also has a beautiful beach with two different stretches. One long stretch when you first get off the train with hotels, casinos, restaurants, etc. Then you have the old town going east. There’s a beautiful cove, great turquoise water, a beautiful port with yachts, and a great view of the hills with pastel colored homes. Great shopping in the old town as well.
The beach in Menton is also small pebbles mixed with sand. Menton is about 35 minutes away from Nice by train. The train ride is quite spectacular along the coast there! Menton does not have the beach resort feel. It is a city where regular people live.
Where To Stay In Gordes
- Le Jas de Gordes Tucked away in a 1.5-hectare wooded park that oozes the aroma of rosemary, lavender, and thyme, Hotel Le Jas de Gordes is perfect for some R& R opportunities in complete tranquillity. The hotel has been recently redecorated to blend in with its picturesque surroundings. The rooms on the ground floor open to the garden or a lush patio, while the ones above have calming vistas. Breakfast is served in a room next to a terrace with stunning views of the lush gardens.
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Day Trip To Grasse The Perfume Capital Of France
Perched on a hilltop and surrounded by fields of flowers, this lovely town is just 20 kilometers away from Antibes. This characteristic Provençal town is a delightful day-trip destination with many cultural attractions.
Grasse is the world capital of perfume, which has been made here since the 16th century. In the countryside around the town are aromatic species of roses, jasmine, violet, mimosa, and lavender used to create exquisite fragrances.
Today, Grasse has several exceptional perfumeries. The prestigious Fragonard and Galimard factories are open to the public for guided tours.
At the Musée International de la Parfumerie , tourists learn about the history, art, and science of creating perfume. Visitors will also be delighted by the International Perfume Museum’s fragrant garden, which is filled with sustainable aromatic flowers and plants.
Another top attraction is the Musée Fragonard in the Hôtel de Villeneuve , an elegant historic mansion. The museum displays 15 important paintings by Jean-Honoré Fragonard, an 18th-century artist who is known for his delicate and joyful Rococo style.
Another joy of visiting Grasse is wandering the medieval center , with its narrow streets leading to shady public squares. The town’s main drag has many cafés, restaurants, and shops including perfume boutiques.
Hotel Le Moulin Du Roc
Exclusive and private, the Hotel Le Moulin du Roc is a spectacular retreat only minutes from the greenery and solitude of the Parc naturel régional Périgord-Limousin. On the banks of the Dronne Rive, this former mill dating back to the 17th century has just 15 rooms, which means that guests can expect privacy. Four-poster beds, wooden beams and grand fireplaces are standard, but the grounds are really where the Hotel Le Moulin du Roc stands out. Guests will have access to pools and tennis courts, and a cigar lounge, a bar, a restaurant and even cooking classes to master the regional French cuisine.
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Follow The Trail Of Past Artists Around Antibes
Antibes has numerous artists who fell in love here and painted the small citadel town on the Mediterranean the town has celebrated their fame by putting stands at the places where the artists set up their easels and captured the scenes forever. Pick up the Antibes Juan-les-Pins Tourist Office’s easy-to-follow map which takes you around all the stands showing the original works of art.
The guided walk shows the marketplace before it was covered with the present cast-iron structure as painted by Emile-Charles Dameron, past the view of “The Rocks of l’Ilette and the Fortifications” by Eugène Boudin painted in 1893. Theres a Claude Monet picture of Antibes with the snow-capped Alps in the background, a view from the Boulevard de Bacon, and a delightful picture by Ernest Meissonier of riders on the Salis beach in 1868. You will also see a familiar Picasso piece.
Since many of the originals are in museums in the United States, you may recognize some of the art.
View Thousands Of Old Postcards
Musée de la Carte Postale
The Musée de la Carte Postale in Antibes is an engaging way to learn about how the exchange of information has transformed from postcards used frequently at the beginning of the 20th century to the cell phone and internet modes of modern communication. You can view thousands of original, international postcards from many eras and learn about the history of different means of communication in both the temporary and permanent exhibitions.
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See The Sights On The Cap Dantibes
The Cap dAntibes is a promontory running south from Antibes and Juan-les-Pins. Long and narrow, its easy to walk across from west to east but if you want to explore a bit more and have time, either take the local envibus and stop off at different places or drive.
Its a wonderful, wooded, hilly area, full of chic villas down little lanes that lead to nowhere except a great view. The jewel in the crown is the stately highly-rated Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc also see the Naval and Napoleonic Museum. If the weather is punishingly hot and you crave greenery, walk through The Jardin Botanique de la Villa Thuret, created by the botanist Gustave Thuret in 1857.
Not to be missed is the little La Garoupe Sanctuary chapel with its ships and models this fishermens chapel is full of evocative reminders of those lost at sea. The nearby Phare de la Garoupe lighthouse is one of the most powerful on the coastthe beacon can be seen by boats for 25 miles out to sea.
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Cannes Town Where To Stay In Cannes For Tourists
The Old Town area of Cannes is also called Le Suquet and is located just above Vieux Port. As you might guess, Old Town has less glitz and glamour of the French Riviera, but more history and spots of interest. Cobblestone streets wind up and down the hills of Cannes, past boutique shops, souvenir stands and many excellent restaurants.
You wont find as many chains here, and as a result, fewer Cannes hotels than other nearby areas, but there are many smaller options for basing yourself here in Cannes town. Make sure to climb to the top of the hill at least once for breathtaking views of Cannes city, the French Riviera and the Mediterranean Sea.
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Vallauris Where To Stay In Cannes For Foodies
Another great option for families to stay near Cannes is Vallauris, which also features many apartments and villas for rent. Often combined with the nearby coastal town of Golfe Juan, the region of Vallauris Golfe Juan is most famous for pottery, thanks in part to Picasso who lived here for several years until the mid-1950s.
This area is a good mid-way point of the towns along the French Riviera, with Cannes just 15 minutes away and Nice only 30 minutes away. The marina here is very popular for large yachts, and the town has many interesting museums and attractions, as well as bars, restaurants and nightlife.
The 8 Best Hotels On The French Riviera
Courtesy of Oetker Collection
A celebrity playground for decades, the French Rivieras glitz and glam is mostly thanks to the vast assortment of luxurious hotels that dot the coastline. Whether youre hoping to stay at a trendy beach club or an Art Deco relic, these nine hotels offer posh accommodations, decadent world-class dining, and often other top-tier amenities like swanky spas or outstanding personalized service.
Courtesy of Grand-Hotel du Cap-Ferrat
A Four Seasons property that dates back more than a century, Grand-Hotel du Cap-Ferrat has housed the likes of Elizabeth Taylor and Winston Churchill. Perched above the Mediterranean, the views cant be beaten. However, the hotels centerpiece is the famous pool club, Club Dauphin, which showcases a cerulean infinity pool that blends into the adjacent sea. If you want to splash out, book a pool suite, which boasts a private infinity pool shrouded by Aleppo pine trees.
An Art Deco beauty, Hôtel Martinez was recently overhauled by famed French designer Pierre-Yves Rochon, who breathed a touch of modernity in the property while retaining vintage vibes and breezy marine-inspired accents. Boasting 409 spacious rooms , Martinez is just steps from the Palais des Festivals and overlooks the Bay of Cannes. Its also home to La Palme d’Or, a recipient of two Michelin starsthe only restaurant in Cannes to receive the distinction.
Courtesy of Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc
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