Where to Stay in Antibes — The Neighbourhoods Explained (2025 Edition)

How this guide complements our planning checklist

This article focuses on where to base yourself — the pros/cons of each neighbourhood and who they suit. For practical trip prep (car vs no car, when to visit, day trips, A/C and more), read our companion piece: 10 Tips to Ideally Prepare Your Stay in Antibes – French Riviera.

Quick orientation

• Old Town (Vieil Antibes): 16th century lanes, markets, Musée Picasso, ramparts, pocket beaches (La Gravette, Ponteil, Salis). Mostly pedestrian; parking is limited and premium.

• Juan‑les‑Pins: The sandy‑beach side of Antibes with summer buzz, beach clubs and watersports. A short hop to Old Town by bus/bike.

• Cap d’Antibes: Pine‑fringed headland with wild coves and viewpoints; quieter and more residential between beaches.

• The Hills/Residential belts: Space, parking and often pools; ideal for longer stays and drivers.

  
  

Choose by travel style (so you don’t waste time)

Couples & culture‑seekers → Old Town (museums, markets, restaurants, instant atmosphere).

Families with small children → Juan‑les‑Pins (wide sandy beaches, easy facilities).

Swimmers & walkers → Cap d’Antibes (coves and the coastal path; nature first).

Long stays, workations, drivers → Hills/Residential (parking, space, terraces, often pools).

Nightlife & beach clubs → Juan‑les‑Pins (choose second/third row back for quieter nights).

Car‑free city‑break → Old Town (train/bus links; everything on foot).

Need the full planning checklist (car vs no car, best months, day trips)? See: 10 Tips to Ideally Prepare Your Stay.

Old Town (Vieil Antibes) — Atmosphere at your doorstep

Vibe: Honey‑coloured lanes, café terraces, Provençal market, rampart walks and small beaches.

Who it suits: Couples, culture fans, food lovers, car‑free travellers.

Walkability: Excellent — Marché Provençal, Port Vauban, Musée Picasso, Place Nationale and beaches are all strollable.

Trade‑offs: Narrow streets; limited vehicle access; parking is scarce.

Micro‑areas & practical notes

• Around Place Nationale: classic Old Town feel, café life and easy access to shopping streets.

• Near Port Vauban & La Gravette: handy for families who like a quick dip.

• Ramparts side: gorgeous sea light and views; some streets exposed to sea breezes.

Stay suggestions (examples on our site)

• Via Marenda — 2‑bed with terrace and rare private parking; minutes from the market and ramparts.

• Picasso 1 — characterful apartment close to museums and lanes.

Central Antibes (Albert‑1er axis) — Balanced & Practical

Vibe: A sweet spot between the Old Town and beaches (Ponteil/Salis), with supermarkets and transport close by.

Who it suits: Guests who want walkability without being deep in the lanes, and anyone seeking easier access to both town and sea.

Why base here: You can stroll to the market and the waterfront while enjoying wider streets and easier loading/parking options.

Stay suggestions (examples on our site)

• Albert 1er — 1‑bed with reserved parking; 5 minutes to Plage du Ponteil and the Old Town.

• Le 5 Soleau — 2‑bed near transport and shops; walk to Old Town/beach.

• 5B Soleau — 1‑bed, calm yet central.

• Le Cosy — 2‑bed in the city centre, 9‑minute walk to the Old Town and beaches.

• Le Guillaumont — 2‑bed with balcony; handy for restaurants and market.

Juan‑les‑Pins — Sandy beaches & summer energy

Vibe: A classic Riviera resort feel: long sandy arcs, beach clubs, watersports and evening buzz.

Who it suits: Families, beach‑first holidays, groups of friends.

Walkability: Excellent along the seafront; Antibes Old Town is a short bus or bike ride.

Trade‑offs: Livelier in July–August; expect more noise near the main promenade.

How to choose a quiet spot

• Look one or two streets back from the seafront for calmer evenings.

• Around the pine park (Jardin Pauline/Palais des Congrès area) or Rue des Iles, you’ll find a softer atmosphere but easy beach access.

Stay suggestions (example on our site)

• Jardin des Îles — 2‑bed with garden and terrace; ~3 minutes to the beach.

Why base here: The best sand in the commune and a relaxed, beach‑club rhythm. If your holiday revolves around the sea, this side makes logistics effortless.

Cap d’Antibes — Nature, coves & big‑sky views

Vibe: Pine groves, rocky coves and villas tucked between the headland’s two coasts.

Who it suits: Swimmers, walkers and anyone seeking a picture‑postcard coastline.

Walkability: Spot‑to‑spot; shops are limited, so factor in a supermarket stop.

Trade‑offs: Fewer budget options; public buses run but a car makes exploration simpler.

Don’t miss

• The coastal path (Sentier de Tire‑Poil) on calm‑sea days for cinematic scenery.

• The viewpoints around La Garoupe.

The Hills & Residential Quarters — Space, parking, pools

Vibe: Quiet streets and leafy terraces, often with private parking and sometimes pools.

Who it suits: Longer stays, drivers, families who prefer space over central buzz.

Walkability: Variable; plan on using a car or local buses.

Trade‑offs: Beaches and Old Town become a short drive rather than a stroll.

Stay suggestions (examples on our site)

• Le Vallon — 1‑bed overlooking gardens with a large swimming pool and dedicated parking.

• Le Beauvert — 2‑bed with generous terrace; great for outdoor dinners; parking available.

Why base here: Value for space, easy parking, and relaxed evenings on the terrace — ideal if you’ll also do day trips up and down the coast.

Getting between bases (so everything stays easy)

• Old Town ↔ Juan‑les‑Pins: frequent buses; cycling is flat and scenic along the seafront.

• Old Town ↔ Cap: local bus routes plus coastal walks; consider e‑bikes in warm months.

• Hills ↔ centre: buses exist but a car makes grocery runs and beach time simpler.

For transport decisions (including whether you even need a car), refer to our planning companion: 10 Tips to Ideally Prepare Your Stay.

Three sample stays (to help you picture the week)

A. Car‑free culture break (3–4 nights, Old Town): Morning coffee on Place Nationale → Musée Picasso → lunch at the market → ramparts stroll → sunset at Ponteil. Day two: train to Nice or Cannes.

B. Family beach week (Juan‑les‑Pins): Beach‑club morning → nap/swim in the afternoon → gelato walk on the promenade. Mid‑week: boat to the Lérins Islands or a picnic at La Salis.

C. Space & view (Hills): Breakfast on the terrace → drive down to La Gravette or Salis → siesta by the pool → dinner in the Old Town. Day trips by car to Biot (museum & glass), Èze or Monaco.

FAQs

Which area is best without a car?

Old Town — everything is on foot and the train/bus network covers coastal trips.

Where is parking easiest?

The hills/residential belts and properties that include private parking. In the Old Town, parking is limited and paid.

Where are the sandiest beaches?

J uan‑les‑Pins offers the broadest sandy stretches; Old Town has smaller sandy spots (La Gravette, Ponteil, Salis).

What’s a balanced location for both beach and Old Town?

Look near Ponteil/Salis or the Albert‑1er axis — e.g., our Albert 1er apartment offers reserved parking and a 5‑minute walk to beach and Old Town.

Ready to choose?

• Old Town examples: Via Marenda · Picasso 1 . Port Rivage

• Central (balanced): Albert 1er · Le 5 Soleau · Roi Chevalier · Le Guillaumont

• Juan‑les‑Pins (beach‑first): Jardin des Îles

• Hills (space, pool, parking): Le Vallon · Le Beauvert

Not sure which fits you? Tell us your priorities (walkability, terrace, A/C, pool, parking) and we’ll shortlist options for you: /contact

For practical prep (car vs no car, timing, day trips), read our companion piece: 10 Tips to Ideally Prepare Your Stay in Antibes – French Riviera

Related reading & resources

• What to do: Top 10 Restaurants in Antibes & Juan-Les-Pins

• Day‑trip idea: Villa Ephrussi – why it’s worth it

• Questions? Contact us