Travel to Antibes

Travel to Antibes

Antibes, once known by the name of Antipolis, in Cote dAzur is a busy town that is a favourite with holiday makers. There is much beauty to be seen in the old town with its fortifications along the coast, tiny lanes lined with lovely shops selling all sorts of curios, sidewalk cafes and restaurants. Today Antibes is affectionately called Antibes-Juan-les-Pins. The Juan-les Pins part is thearea that many tourists flock to as this is where the beaches and the nightlife can be found.

Transportation to Antibes

The closest airport to Antibes is the international airport at Nice which is about 22 kilometres away. There are several bus, taxi and train services to the airport. Train and bus services to Antibes are available from many local and major European cities. Antibes is on the main Paris-Lyon-Avignon-Nice-Italy and the Nice-Cannes lines. There are several roads leading into different parts of Antibes; for a scenic coastal drive used the RN98 and RN7 from Cannes, Nice/Cagnes sur Mer, or choose to drive straight into the city by using the A8 and exiting at junction 44. Do note that all the routes are very busy during the peak holiday seasons.

What to see

There is just so much to see in Antibes that it would be impossible to cover it all in a day or two. The La Garoupe Beach, on the Cap dAntibes, is a favourite with holiday makers. The lighthouse, at the highest point of Cap dAntibes,has many plush and expensive estates which are worth viewing. Thisis where Madonna and a few other movie stars stay when they wish to avoid the media at Cannes. The old port was the site from which the Crusaders departed on their journey to the Holy Lands. Today, however, there is verylittle remaining of the past and the porthas beenthoroughly modernised. In fact it is now one of the largest marinas in Europe. Fort Carre, a 16th century fortress,is where Napoleon Bonaparte was imprisoned when Robespierre fell. The fort was built on the site of the St Laurent Chapel which in turn was built over the ruins of the Temple of Mercury. Although the Fort is not open to the public it is quite pleasant to walk around. Antibes has several interesting markets to explore including the Marche Provencal, a covered market that sell fresh flowers, vegetables , fruits, cheese and other products. TheFoire clothing market, which is located behind the local post office and is only open on Thursdays, is the best market style shopping for local clothing. History lovers should make it a point to visit the Museum of History and Archaeology which exhibits items from Antipolis. The Picasso Museum is named after the famous artist Pablo Picasso and exhibits many paintings that he donated to the museum. For some peace and quiet spend some time at the Botanical Gardens.

Day trips

Cannes, in the French Riveria, is host for the yearly International Film Festival, where many famous stars gather. It has fancy boutique hotels, expensive shops and splendid beaches. Nice is another popular tourist destination with plenty of sights and activities. There is shopping, water sports, sunbathing, live bands, museums and operas to be enjoyed in this fascinating city located just a few kilometres away from Antibes. Other areas worth visiting are Breil-sur-Roya, an 18th century mountain town and Monaco, withits excellent climate and beautiful setting on the Cte d'Azur

Activities and leisure

Cycling, 4WD jeep tours, hiking, golfing, go-karting and horse riding are all available at Antibes. From the marina, tourscan be arranged,in a glass bottomed boat allowing you to see the rich marine life. Antibes Land, besides Marineland, is a small amusement park that also has a jungle area with hundreds of butterflies.

Visitors are spoilt for choice when it comes to nightlife andentertainment as there are many bars, restaurants, clubs and discos. Shopping in Antibes is pleasant as visitors can choose from markets, charming shops or modern outlets to purchase souvenirs and a wide array of goods.

Safety issues

Although Antibes attracts hundreds of tourists during the peak seasons it is generally a safe place to holiday. However, like all other tourist destinations there are the occasional purse snatching and pick pocketing. Visitors are always advised to be careful with their belongings and to have travel insurance for peace of mind.