Yachts sway in the port of Antibes, a traditional city and popular holiday destination on France’s Cote d’Azur. Part of the French Riviera, the town stretches along the Mediterranean coastline and has a number of quiet beaches, as well as a sublime old town. Located just a few kilometres east of Cannes, on the road to Nice, Antibes is enclosed by 16th century castle walls and the forests of the Cap d’Antibes peninsula.
The central streets of Antibes come from a postcard, where flowers dominate the balconies of dreamy amber-coloured townhouses. Encased by city walls, the town embodies the preconceptions of the French Riviera, with cute cafes and designer boutiques mixing with medieval-era vistas. The compact old town is mostly explored on foot and has plenty of hidden treasures. A couple of beaches fringe the old town, and the sand extends onwards to Juan-les-Pins, where art deco elegance stands over the coast. The town’s fort provides popular anchorage for superyachts cruising along the Riviera.
Antibes is a place to explore at leisure, a place where getting lost should be part of the itinerary. Most streets seem to lead to Cours Massena, a covered food market filled with tapenade, olives, cheese, and Corsican charcuterie. Car parking is limited, and it’s often easiest to travel by train to Antibes, as the town is on the main Nice to Cannes line. Buses are also a possibility, and the town is only a 25-minute road journey from Nice International Airport.
The town was founded by the Greeks, over 2,000 years ago, then flourished under Roman rule. Castle ramparts were added in the Middle Ages then protected by the town’s most famous ever resident. Napoleon grew up here and made his name as a young general.