To visit Antibes is to combine an old town enclosed by ramparts, the Picasso Museum facing the sea, Fort Carré, Cap d’Antibes and the sandy beaches of Juan-les-Pins. What to see in Antibes, how to plan two or three days and when to go according to Météo-France normals: here are the essentials.
The second-largest town in the Alpes-Maritimes after Nice, Antibes (officially Antibes Juan-les-Pins) lies about 10 km (6 mi) east of Cannes and 23 km (14 mi) south-west of Nice. It stands on the site of ancient Antipolis, founded by the Greeks, north of Cap d’Antibes, with Nice visible across the Baie des Anges.
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Antibes at a glance
- Location Alpes-Maritimes, French Riviera, between Cannes and Nice
- Sights old town and ramparts, Picasso Museum, Fort Carré, Port Vauban, Cap d’Antibes, Juan-les-Pins
- Getting there Antibes station (TER and TGV); timetables on the SNCF website; nearest airport Nice Côte d’Azur
- In town old town on foot, local bus network
- Entry Schengen rules; US and UK citizens visa-free for up to 90 days
- Ideal length 2 days, 3 with a beach day
What to see in Antibes: the highlights
Old Antibes and the ramparts
The historic centre, within the ramparts, occupies the site of ancient Antipolis. One of the ways in is through the Porte Marine. The Provençal market, the small Gravette beach tucked beneath the ramparts and Place du Safranier (where the Greek writer Nikos Kazantzakis lived from 1948 to 1950) are all explored on foot.
The Picasso Museum (Château Grimaldi)
Housed in the Château Grimaldi, on the site of the old Greek acropolis, the Picasso Museum recalls the painter’s stay in 1946: he had a studio here for about two months and left many works behind. Renamed the Picasso Museum in 1966, the château holds about 245 works by the artist, as well as works by Nicolas de Staël, Fernand Léger and Hans Hartung. Check current exhibitions on the town’s website.
Fort Carré and Port Vauban
North of the old town, Fort Carré overlooks the entrance to Port Vauban, a marina and commercial harbour described as one of the largest in Europe. The fort was a set for the James Bond film Never Say Never Again (1983). Beyond it lies the pebbly Plage du Fort.
Cap d’Antibes
A wooded, residential peninsula south of the town, Cap d’Antibes can be explored along the Tire-Poil path, an old customs officers’ trail. At the top, the Garoupe lighthouse, rebuilt after it was destroyed in 1944, offers a 360° view. On the east side are the sandy Garoupe beaches. Also worth seeing: the Villa Eilenroc, a public property whose park is open under certain conditions, and the Villa Thuret, a 4-hectare (10-acre) botanical garden with « Jardin remarquable » status.
Juan-les-Pins
West of the cape, Juan-les-Pins, the seaside district of Antibes, has golden sandy beaches facing due south towards the Lérins Islands. This is where Europe’s first jazz festival was born on 7 July 1960, which became Jazz à Juan. Check the festival website for this year’s dates.
The Archaeology Museum
The Archaeology Museum presents the Greek and Roman past of Antipolis, including the Terpon pebble. A short visit, useful for understanding the town’s history.
Note: Marineland Antibes, which opened in 1970, closed permanently in 2025.
Itinerary: Antibes in 2 or 3 days
| Day | Morning | Afternoon | Evening |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Old Antibes, Provençal market, ramparts | Picasso Museum, then Gravette beach | Port Vauban |
| 2 | Fort Carré | Cap d’Antibes: Tire-Poil path, Garoupe lighthouse | Juan-les-Pins |
| 3 (optional) | Beach at Juan-les-Pins or La Garoupe | Train to Cannes or Nice | Back to Antibes |
Antibes is a good base for exploring the French Riviera by train: Cannes to the west, Nice, Monaco and Menton to the east.
When to go to Antibes
From May to October, with June and September as the best compromise: 26.3 °C (79 °F) in the afternoon in June, 25.9 °C (79 °F) in September and little rain. July and August are the hottest (29.6 °C, 85 °F, in August) and driest (1.8 and 2.5 rainy days). Autumn is the season of heavy rain: November is the wettest month (155.6 mm, 6.1 in), ahead of October (132.5 mm, 5.2 in). Winter stays mild (highs of 13.5 °C, 56 °F, in January), ideal for museums and walking on the cape.
| Month | High °C (°F) | Low °C (°F) | Rain mm (in) | Rainy days | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 13.5 (56) | 4.2 (40) | 88.3 (3.5) | 6.3 | ⚠️ Mild, museums, cape |
| February | 13.9 (57) | 4.3 (40) | 59.7 (2.4) | 5.1 | ⚠️ Mild, quiet |
| March | 16.2 (61) | 6.5 (44) | 58.0 (2.3) | 5.2 | ⚠️ Mild spring |
| April | 18.5 (65) | 9.0 (48) | 74.0 (2.9) | 6.8 | ✅ Pleasant, walking |
| May | 22.3 (72) | 12.8 (55) | 47.0 (1.9) | 4.9 | ✅ Ideal, start of the season |
| June | 26.3 (79) | 16.7 (62) | 30.2 (1.2) | 3.6 | ✅ Ideal, beach |
| July | 29.1 (84) | 19.1 (66) | 17.1 (0.7) | 1.8 | ⚠️ Hottest, dry |
| August | 29.6 (85) | 19.1 (66) | 24.3 (1.0) | 2.5 | ⚠️ Hottest, dry |
| September | 25.9 (79) | 15.7 (60) | 89.8 (3.5) | 4.8 | ✅ Ideal, still warm |
| October | 21.6 (71) | 12.4 (54) | 132.5 (5.2) | 7.4 | ⚠️ Mild, more rain |
| November | 17.2 (63) | 8.2 (47) | 155.6 (6.1) | 8.6 | ❌ The wettest |
| December | 14.3 (58) | 5.0 (41) | 103.0 (4.1) | 6.2 | ⚠️ Mild, rainy |
How many beach days per month?
To estimate truly summery days, we took the average number of days when the high reaches 25 °C (77 °F): about 20.1 in June, 30.0 in July, 30.5 in August and still 20.0 in September, against 5.0 in May and 2.9 in October. Over a weekend, the risk of rain ranges from 0.1 day in July to 0.6 in November. Destination de Voyage calculation based on Météo-France.
| Month | Rainy days over 2 days | Days ≥ 25 °C (77 °F) in the month |
|---|---|---|
| January | 0.4 | 0.0 |
| February | 0.4 | 0.0 |
| March | 0.3 | 0.1 |
| April | 0.5 | 0.2 |
| May | 0.3 | 5.0 |
| June | 0.2 | 20.1 |
| July | 0.1 | 30.0 |
| August | 0.2 | 30.5 |
| September | 0.3 | 20.0 |
| October | 0.5 | 2.9 |
| November | 0.6 | 0.0 |
| December | 0.4 | 0.0 |
To compare with the rest of the coast, see our page on when to go to the French Riviera.
Getting there and getting around
- By train: Antibes station is served by TER trains on the Mandelieu – Ventimiglia line and by TGVs to other major French cities. Timetables on the SNCF website.
- By air: Nice Côte d’Azur airport is the nearest international airport.
- In town: the old town and the harbour are walkable; the cape and Juan-les-Pins can be reached by bus.
- Day trips: the coastal TER line (Mandelieu – Ventimiglia) serves Cannes and Nice, among others.
Where to stay in Antibes
Old Antibes and the harbour put you within walking distance of the museums and the station. Juan-les-Pins suits a beach stay and evenings at the jazz festival. The residential Cap d’Antibes is mostly second homes.
If you… then…: choosing your trip
| If you… | Then… |
|---|---|
| love art | the Picasso Museum, then the Archaeology Museum and the ramparts |
| want a sandy beach | Juan-les-Pins or La Garoupe |
| like walking | the Tire-Poil path and the Garoupe lighthouse on the cape |
| come without a car | stay near the station and take day trips by train to Cannes and Nice |
| come out of season | aim for April-May or September-October, avoiding November, the wettest month |
Entry requirements, health and safety
- US citizens: France is in the Schengen area, which you may enter for up to 90 days for tourism or business without a visa. Immigration officers may ask for proof of sufficient funds and a return ticket, and France does not recognise the 12-page US emergency passport for visa-free entry (U.S. Department of State, travel.state.gov, last updated August 11, 2025).
- UK citizens: no visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period as a tourist. Your passport must have been issued less than 10 years before the day you arrive and be valid at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave the Schengen area. The EU Entry/Exit System (EES) may require fingerprints and a photo at your first entry (UK FCDO, GOV.UK, updated 22 October 2026).
- ID: you must be able to prove your identity when asked by the police, or within 4 hours at a police station (GOV.UK, updated 22 October 2026).
- Health and emergencies: UK travellers need a GHIC or a valid EHIC for medically necessary state healthcare, which is not a substitute for travel insurance; the European emergency number is 112 (GOV.UK).
- Wildfires: the risk is highest in the south, particularly along the Mediterranean coast and in Corsica, in hot, dry weather; causing one, even by accident, is illegal. Call 18 (fire) or 112 (GOV.UK, updated 22 October 2026).
Practical tips for Antibes
- Swimming: stick to lifeguarded areas and follow the posted instructions.
- Heat: in July-August, sightsee in the morning and take water on the cape path.
- Electricity: 220 V, 50 Hz, type E sockets; US plugs need an adapter (france.fr, checked 26 October 2026).
Frequently asked questions
How many days do you need to visit Antibes?
Two days for the old town, the Picasso Museum, Fort Carré and Cap d’Antibes; three with a beach day or a trip to Cannes or Nice.
What is the best time to visit Antibes?
June and September, for the warmth (26.3 and 25.9 °C, 79 °F) and little rain. November is the wettest month according to Météo-France.
Where can you swim in Antibes?
On the sandy beaches of Juan-les-Pins and La Garoupe, at Gravette beach below the ramparts, or on the pebbly Plage du Fort.
Why is there a Picasso Museum in Antibes?
Picasso worked in the Château Grimaldi in 1946 and left many works there; the château became the Picasso Museum in 1966.
Is Marineland Antibes open?
No: the park, which opened in 1970, closed permanently in 2025.
Our sources
- Météo-France, Antibes climate data sheet (06004009), 1991-2020 statistics, consulted on 23 October 2026
- Wikipedia: « Antibes », « Musée Picasso (Antibes) », consulted on 23 October 2026
- Town of Antibes Juan-les-Pins (antibes-juanlespins.com), consulted on 23 October 2026
- Destination de Voyage calculations: rainy days over a weekend, days at 25 °C (77 °F) or above
- Entry requirements, health and safety checked on 26 October 2026: U.S. Department of State, France country information (last updated August 11, 2025) and UK FCDO, GOV.UK foreign travel advice for France (updated 22 October 2026)
- France tourism board (france.fr), electricity requirements, checked 26 October 2026
- Our methodology
Updated October 2026.
To go further, see our guides to the French Riviera and France, and our destinations in Europe.
