Antibes

Antibes is a perfect holiday area with a choice of sandy or shingle beaches and a family orientated environment. The Antibes area is great for families for the beaches and the activities on offer including the water park, Aquasplash, and Marineland.

To give our guests more information about the Antibes area, here is an overview of each town.

Central Antibes and the Old Town of Antibes

Built between the bays of La Salis and St-Roch, lies this vibrant ancient fortified town. Despite its thriving tourist trade, Antibes manages to retain its dignity and authenticity. The delightful old quarter, understated yet impressive architecture, and the provincial market at Cours Masséna make for idyllic wandering on a lazy afternoon. The town is a reminder of the region’s richness in produce, especially the carnations, roses, and tulips which are Antibes’ biggest export. Antibes is a town brimming with history and culture with its ramparts, Fort Carre and the Chateau Grimaldi, a medieval castle, now a museum devoted to the works of Picasso. Beyond the city centre, pebbled beaches give way to pale beige sand and secluded creeks culminating in the Cap d’Antibes where you can view some of the most expensive villas in the world. With its humble personality, the biggest marina on the Côte d’Azur, pavements cafes, bars and terraces, along with small boutiques and craft shops, Antibes will charm the pants off you. We have a selection of Antibes apartments and houses just waiting for you to book.

Cagnes & St-Laurent-du-Var

A little along the coastal road, half way between Nice and Antibes, this area is most famous for the medieval town of Haut-de-Cagnes and Renoir's house. The yachting community has been coming to this sea-lovers paradise for decades. Impressive boats line the marinas and fantastic restaurants line the promenades. You can dine at many fine-dining restaurants (it hosts three Michelin starred restaurants), or at one of at least 50 eateries that are more modest. A contented family vibe pervades the whole area and kids and adults alike can participate in all manner of water sports.

The two-mile stretch of the Promenade at Cagnes has undergone fantastic redevelopment in 2007. It now boasts palm trees a plenty, skater heaven smooth surfaces and is alive with plentiful fantastic gourmet restaurants and bars, most overlooking the sea. At St-Laurent-du-Var the Promenade is quaint with an abundance of sea-food restaurants, ice-cream parlours and snack bars as well as a few bars and discos.

At just five miles from Nice Airport, with decent car parks and transport links, this is a perfect base to explore the whole of the Riviera.

St-Paul-de-Vence and Vence

Culture vultures flock here to see the legacies of artists and poets such as Jacques Prevert, Jean Cocteau, Braque, Bonnard, Chagall, Derain, Dufy, Matisse, and Picasso. Their first stop is the hotel with famous adjoining restaurant, La Colombe d'Or where struggling artists like Picasso, Miro, Leger, and Lurcat often resided. The hotel and restaurant is awash with their early work, these young men having painted for their suppers.

Well known for its rocky setting in the middle of impressive hillsides, here ancient fortresses, chateaus, and houses are now flourishing art galleries, craft shops, restaurants, and hotels. Stone lintels and iron artifacts upon their facades are the give away to their true age. Stroll around this true medieval little village with worn stone stairs and cobbled paths breathing in tranquil mountain air.

Biot

High on a hilltop sits the medieval village that appears to have grown organically from the sea. Famous for its pottery and glass-blowing roots, Biot still diligently produces remarkable wares and you can watch the sculptors in actions at La Verrerie de Biot, just outside the village. Fine diners will be impressed with the two Michelin starred restaurants and art lovers can feast on the modern Musée Fernard Leger that holds over 400 of his paintings and drawings.

Craggy rocks in abundance; this is hiker’s paradise and a hideout from the maddening crowds.

Juan-les-Pins

It is easy to see why Juan-Les-Pins is twinned with the French Quarter of New Orleans. This sea-side resort has been famous for its jazz since the 1960s and Jazz a Juan throughout July is still one of the most prestigious international annual events. And what a setting – the Pinede Gould with its pine trees and lapping waves behind the stage ensures that internationally-acclaimed musicians and avid fans flock here in droves.

Quaint and picturesque it might be, but with its casino, nightclubs and waterfront cafes, it retains some of its reputation as the party-going capital of its hey-day in the 1920s. You can still party till dawn here all summer long.

The Promenade du Soleil, and the small inlets of long sandy beaches which run over two miles from the base of Cap d'Antibes to Golfe-Juan makes for a fantastic summer holiday.

Juan Les Pins is so close to Antibes that it is often referred to as Antibes Juan. It is just two minutes by train to Antibes from Juan-les-Pins. Cannes is just a ten minute drive. Like many places on the Riviera, it is also a great base to explore further a field with its own train station and excellent bus links.

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