Antibes is the forgotten coastal city of South of France. Surprisingly, it is also the third most populated after Nice and Cannes. The gorgeous destination will allow you to see the French Riviera with different eyes, far away from the crowd. People tend to fall in love with this place for very obvious reasons. Antibes is charming, beautiful and full of hidden corners. Here’s our brief guide to enjoy a slow-living type of day à la française.
8h00
Having an early in Antibes is always a good idea. Head over to Marché Provencal located in the heart of the city to buy some local produces. The market is open daily from 06:00 to 13:00 and offers a variety of delicious food. Here you will find fresh fruits, vegetables, meats, spices, cheese and more.
9h00
Just a few meters away from the market, Nomads specialty coffee shop is the perfect place to sit down a little and enjoy a morning coffee. You will soon notice that the baristas know most of their loyal customers orders. The space is small, cosy and serves a variety of sweets and of course, amazing cappuccinos.
10h00
Now that you’re caffeinated, take a stroll through Musée Picasso. Constructed in the late fourteenth century, the castle was formerly known as ‘Château Grimaldi’ and was home to descendants of the powerful Grimaldi family. The landmark was later acquired by the City of Antibes, and in 1946, Pablo Picasso was invited by curator, Dor de la Souchère, to set up his studio inside. Picasso inhabited the place for six months before returning to Paris, leaving behind 23 paintings and 44 sketches, which you can still find in the museum.
Today, Musée Picasso is said to be the first museum dedicated to the famed artist. Once inside, you won’t want to miss the sweeping views from the terrace, which also features a permanent collection of sculptures by French sculptor, Germaine Richier.
12h30
It will probably be time to sit down again and enjoy a bite or two. What better way to continue your day other than a delicious crispy falafel. We recommend falafel, a small restaurant just a few steps away from Marché Provençal. We suggest their delicious falafel pita sandwich and their vegetarian platter to try a bit of everything.
14h
You can’t spend an afternoon without a delicious ice cream in Antibes. Next to Antibéa Comédie d’Antibes is a tiny ice cream shop named Passion Glaces. The perfect pick-me-up sweet to keep going with your walk around the city.
15h00
Spend the afternoon doing almost nothing other than getting lost in the old town of Antibes. Afternoons in South of France are always quieter giving you the opportunity to slow down a little. There’s plenty to photograph along the narrow alleyways that are lined with boutiques selling provincial goods, such as soap, lavender, and olive oil.
17h00
We believe the apéro time is the highlight of our day, especially on the French Riviera. This is the perfect way to celebrate a slower pace of life while enjoying delicious products from Marché Provencal. Head over to Cap d’Antibes with a basket full of local products, wine and a bathing suit. We also recommend La Belle-Iloise, an independent family cannery company that offers a variety of sardines, mackerel, tuna, spreads, practical for an apéro on the go. Lastly, enjoy the warm sunset and fall in love, once again, with the Mediterranean sea.
