Where to Stay in Antibes (2026): Old Town, Juan-les-Pins or the Hills?
- Bertrand
- Jan 3
- 3 min read
Updated: Jan 3
At a glance
Old Town (Vieil Antibes) — Walk to the market, museums, Port Vauban and the ramparts. Narrow lanes, lively in the evenings, parking is limited. Good for couples, short stays and anyone who wants everything on foot.
→ Parking notes: see our guide Parking in Antibes (2025).
Juan-les-Pins — Sandy beaches, beach clubs and a relaxed seafront. Handy for families and anyone who wants to spend most days by the water. Parking is easier if your accommodation has a space.
Hills / Central (Boulevard Albert-1er & nearby) — Quieter streets, more space, better chance of parking or a dedicated space. 10–20 minutes’ walk (or a short bus) to Old Town or the beach.
Ready to choose?
Old Town (Vieil Antibes)
What it’s like
A network of pedestrian streets with cafés, the Marché Provençal, the Picasso Museum and the harbour close together. You can walk almost everywhere.
Good to know
Streets are narrow. For arrivals, plan a quick bag drop and then park.
Nights can be lively near the central streets in high season.
Beaches: Plage de la Gravette (by the harbour) and Plage du Ponteil/Salis (10–20 minutes’ walk).
Stay here (examples from our apartments portfolio)
Via Marenda — two bedrooms, terrace and basement parking. Old Town location.
Picasso 1 — close to the market and the ramparts (Old Town).
Juan-les-Pins (beach side)
What it’s like
A small resort area with a sandy shoreline, shallow water and plenty of places for an ice cream or an early evening drink. It’s livelier in July–August, quieter the rest of the year.
Good to know
Families like the sand and easy access to the water.
Seafront streets are busy on sunny days; look one or two streets back for calmer spots.
Parking can be seasonal near the beaches; a private space is handy in summer.
Stay here
Jardin des Îles — two bedrooms, outdoor space and parking.
Central / Albert-1er & the Hills
What it’s like
Residential streets with local shops, wider pavements and a calmer pace. Many homes here offer balconies or terraces, and parking is usually simpler than in the Old Town.
Good to know
Walking times: roughly 10–15 minutes to Ponteil/Salis beaches, ~10 minutes to the edge of Old Town (varies by street).
A sensible choice for longer stays or if you plan day trips by car.
Stay here
Albert 1er — one bedroom with reserved parking, easy walk to Ponteil.
Le Beauvert — two bedrooms, terrace and parking.
No-car stays vs car stays
No car
If you’ll mostly explore Antibes itself and hop along the coast, you can manage without a car. Trains serve Nice, Cannes and Monaco; buses cover nearby beaches. The Old Town works well for this.
With a car
Useful if you’ll visit places like Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat (Villa Ephrussi), Eze or hill villages. Choose an apartment with parking (Old Town options exist, but are limited) or base yourself in Juan-les-Pins/the hills where spaces are more common.
3 simple itineraries
48 hours (no car)
Day 1: Morning market (Cours Masséna), Old Town ramparts, Picasso Museum, Ponteil beach late afternoon.
Day 2: Train to Cannes (old harbour and Le Suquet), back for dinner in the Old Town.
72 hours (family, beach-first)
Day 1: Juan-les-Pins beach.
Day 2: Morning in Old Town (market + Gravette beach), ice cream at the harbour.
Day 3: Boat to the Lérins Islands (via Cannes) or a relaxed day split between beach and park.
5 days (with a car)
Day 1–2: Antibes Old Town + Cap d’Antibes coastal path (Sentier de Tire-Poil).
Day 3: Villa Ephrussi & Villa Kérylos (Cap-Ferrat/Beaulieu).
Day 4: Eze or a hill village.
Day 5: Free day for a favourite beach or museum.
Map: the three areas at a glance
FAQs
Is Antibes walkable?
Yes. From the Old Town you can reach the harbour, market and nearby beaches on foot. Juan-les-Pins is flat and easy for pushchairs.
Where should a family stay?I
f the beach is the priority, Juan-les-Pins is convenient. For a mix of food, market and short walks to the sea, Old Town or Albert-1er work well.
Which area is quietest in summer?
Residential streets near Albert-1er and the hills are generally quieter than the Old Town and the Juan-les-Pins seafront.
What about parking?
Old Town parking is limited; several of our apartments include spaces (see above). In Juan-les-Pins and the hills it’s usually easier.
Full details: Parking in Antibes (2025) → /post/parking-in-antibes-2025
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