Leisure Options In Antibes

Most of the sporting activity in Antibes revolves around the sea, the sand and the great outdoors. There are miles of walking trails, all of which offer incredible views and a number of private and public beaches waiting to be lounged on. The town also boasts gym facilities of the highest quality and all the usual water sports you would expect from a well-heeled town like this.

Beaches

There are 48 beaches along the 25kms of coastline that surround Antibes and Juan les Pins. Each one has its own unique character and atmosphere. There are small family beaches where children can play, sporting beaches with all the popular water activities on offer and long beaches with fine golden sand, which are perfect for sunbathing.

Most of the good beaches are private, but you are welcome to stay here if you rent a mattress for the day. The private beaches usually have restaurants on-site which serve up delicious fresh seafood. The main public beach is La Salis, on the edge of the Cap d’Antibes. Public beaches are very crowded during the summer months, so it’s a worthwhile investment to pick a nice private beach and rent a mattress for the day.

Hiking and walking trails

There are a number of really nice walking trails around Antibes. Most of them are fairly short, but require a bit of effort to reach the destination. The Smugglers Path is one of the more popular trails. It begins at the end of Garoupe Bay and follows a charming and wild little path that wraps around the cape. The views of the sea and rocks on one side and magnificent gardens and villas on the other make for a pleasant walk. It takes about 1 hour, 30 minutes and covers some rugged rocky terrain.

The other world-class walk in Antibes is the Sentier Tirepoil, which runs about two kilometres along the edge of the Cap d’Antibes. It begins casually at the Plage de la Garoupe on a paved walkway with incredible views overlooking the bay and the faraway Alps. Once you round the cape, the paved promenade gives way to a rocky pathway that winds its way along the 50 foot high cliffs. The signs that read: ‘Beware: death’ remind you that this path can be dangerous in bad weather. The walk, which takes about 2 hours, is well worth the effort, especially at sunset.

There are two other parks in Antibes which have running and walking paths mixed with sporting fields and picnic spots. The Parc de Vaugrenier and Parc de la Valmasque are both a couple of kilometres north of town.

Water sports

There are many choices when it comes to water sports. The underwater diving off of Antibes is full of deep, craggy rocks, which provide shelter for lots of sea creatures. Deep sea fishing is another popular day activity. These fishing excursions run during the summer months and take you out in the beautiful Mediterranean for 10 to 12 hours of fully equipped fishing.

If you want to learn how to sail, there are three sailing schools in the area. The ECCM is a regatta training school which also gives courses on sailing and navigation. They offer classes year-round and have different levels of training and lengths of sailing trips, most of which happen during the summer.

Land sports

If you get tired of all that lovely blue water, there are lots of things to do on land. Fitness buffs can get all the training they need in any of the 12 first-rate gyms in the area. Antibes also has 28 municipal tennis courts, a shooting range and three football stadiums. For something more entertaining, there are several mini-golf courses, a kart racing track and a very nice regular-sized, 18-hole golf course. If the kids need some attention, you can visit Antibes Land. This amusement park features a butterfly jungle and Provençal farm in addition to the usual rides.