While Nice and Cannes seem to get a lot of the spotlight for travellers, there are two lesser-known gems located in between and are easily accessible by train, or even an Uber. We based ourselves in Antibes for a week and pretended to be a little French and live in an Airbnb apartment. We were a stone’s throw from the daily market (Marche Provencal – closed Monday), and our morning routine quickly became coffee at Nomads, pick up croissants and baguettes at the Boulangerie, and the get our supplies for lunch at the market. Our favourite place for dinner was Le Zinc, and Gelateria del Porto for gelato (so good) while taking an evening stroll. The Flea Markets at Place Nationale are worth a visit too. Besides checking at the super yachts at the harbour my other favourite place is the Musee Picasso. I first visited it in 1992 and it ignited my passion for Picasso’s ceramics, all these years later and it still gave me a thrill but go in the afternoon when the crowds have died down.
Antibes has an easily accessible beach, Plage de la Gravette, right beside the old town, but for the full beach club experience we went to the adjoining town of Juan-les-Pins. There is a nice, slightly 70’s feel to Juan-les-Pins which makes a great back drop to the people watching along the beaches. Plage Le Colombier was our choice of beach club with great food and service.
Antibes has the charm with the labyrinthe of pedestrian streets in the old town and this is where I would prefer to stay, but there is something about Juan-les-Pins if you just want a day at the beach which ticks all my boxes.