The towns and villages to discover during your holidays near to Antibes together with the leisure activities

Possessing a central position on the Côte d’Azur, among many points of interest, Antibes is an ideal destination for holidays. Here is a quick tour covering the major places and sights to see in and around Antibes.

The Old Town: Not to be missed!

Shopping or walking, every occasion is perfect for meandering around Antibes. Typical to this area, the Old Town should not be missed for its unique boutiques, walking around the ramparts, enjoying a glass on a café terrace or dining in the sun.  For a complete visit consult our Guide to Old Antibes.

The Port at Antibes: A real dream

Yachts and more yachts! With a deep harbour, the Port of Antibes can welcome the most beautiful boats in the world. Wander around Vieux port and at the end of the quay you will discover some real marvels.

The Antibes beaches

Different to Nice, the beaches at Antibes are of sand. Narrow but very pleasant, they have the advantage of being very calm. It is rare to find waves, especially in summer! Although not ideal for surfers, it is great for swimmers and families with young children. Exiting Antibes, after Fort Carré, the beaches change to pebbles. The beach extends to the Villeneuve-Loubet Marina.

You can enjoy water sports (Jet Ski, water ski etc…) here. These activities are mainly available at the entrance to the Cap d’Antibes or on the beach between Fort Carré and the Baie des Anges marinas.

Theme Parks and Aquatic Parks

Marineland is an almost obligatory place for a visit to enjoy spectacles during the day and even at night (in the summer) performed by the dolphins, killer whales etc… A mini golf, theme park, and a park with aquatic games (Aqualand) are nearby. To visit Marineland we would recommend you take a whole day to fully enjoy the park and its spectacles.

In winter the Nice Carnival is a real attraction

In February and March, the Nice Carnival has become an almost obligatory event to enjoy. Numerous spectacles are programmed. It takes place Friday, Saturday and Sunday for the weekends and Tuesday and Wednesday during the week. The Battle of Flowers takes place during the day (Saturday and Wednesday). Night events are also in the programme (Saturday evening marks the beginning and end of the carnival). Access to the stands is payable but certain zones are free (even some of the best places!). 

Menton and the Lemon Festival

The Lemon Festival takes place in February and March (around the same dates as the Nice carnival). Numerous parades take place day and night: the Golden Fruit parade, Night Parades, Citrus design exhibitions, Garden of Lights, and the Children’s carnival. You can easily reach Menton for this unique festival from our holiday rental properties on the Côte d’Azur.

The Festival at Cannes

The Cannes festival takes place during the month of May. During the Film Festival, accommodation is very expensive at Cannes and often reserved for professionals (prices can reach up to €5,000 for a week, impossible to find accommodation for less than €2,000 per week). For accommodation at a reasonable price a holiday rental property at Antibes or in its surroundings is a solution. Access is by train, the SNCF station at Cannes is only a few minutes from the foot of the Croisette.

Grasse and visits to its perfumeries

Grasse is situated at around 30 minutes from Antibes. The major interest of this town lies in a visit to its perfumeries. The visits are generally free and at the end you can purchase perfumes at factory prices!

The îles de Lérins

The ‘îles de Lérins’ can be seen outside Cannes. Access is by boat. Numerous walks can be made to discover the islands of Saint Honorat and Sainte Marguerite. Visit the monastery, the church and the fortress on the island of Saint Honorat.

The Towns and villages to discover during a stay in Antibes

The list of sites to visit in the Alpes Maritimes is very long. Here we have listed a selection that should not be missed:

• Biot: Visit the glass factories
• Vallauris: Visit the ceramic factories
• Valbonne: Visit the town
• Saint Paul de Vence: Visit the town
• Gourdon: Visit the town and enjoy the superb view on the coast
• The Villa Ephrusy de Rothschild at Saint Jean Cap Ferrat is one of the most beautiful renaissance style palaces on the Côte d'Azur and has magnificent gardens.
• Monaco: Visit the town, the museums and the Casinos
• Italy: Here you are less than one hour from the Italian border. Two great markets take place there on Friday and Saturday.