Beach Resort Guide
Antibes - Juan les Pins
Antibes - Juan les Pins Beach Resort Guide
Introduction
Antibes and Juan les Pins are a tale of two cities located on each site of a peninsula (Cap d'Antibes): quiet, sensible Antibes is famous for its old city, while Juan les Pins is a much more modern resort, famed for its nightlife and flashing lifestyle. Colonised by the Greeks some 2000 years ago, Antibes today boasts the largest pleasure boat port in Europe, Port Vauban. The marina is renowned for its ‘Millionaires' Quay', where huge super-yachts regularly dock. Juan les Pins, on the other hand, has been drawing the stars of the music world with its much acclaimed Jazz à Juan jazz festival, which has been going strong for well over 40 years. The Cap d'Antibes, the area's exclusive and expensive tip, was a favourite playground for artists and Hollywood's celebrities in the 1940s and 1950s.
Who goes there?
Many famous artists made the area their home over the years, and Antibes and Juan les Pins still draw artists from all walks of life. They are also popular with French holidaymakers, who descend on the resort en masse in summer and are usually joined by a sizable number of Italians and Brits.
Where in the world?
Antibes and Juan les Pins lie in the south of France on the famous French Riviera, between Nice to the east and Cannes to the west. Nice Côte d'Azur (NCE) is the nearest airport.
When to go?
From June to September balmy nights are ideal for outdoor living and the chance of rain is low. The days are hot and sunny summer perfect time for a beach holiday in Antibes.
Beach
Antibes boasts some gorgeous sandy beaches, both private and public (some argue they are the best on that stretch of the Cote d'Azur), and as such they can get extremely crowded in summer. The Old Antibes Beach is quite small, but it is great for families with young children as it is very safe (it is sheltered from waves by a small breakwater). The Plage du Ponteil and Le Salis Beach (the main public beach) are much bigger, but finding a space to unfurl your towel here in the height of season can still be a challenge. The beaches at Juan les Pins on the opposite side of the peninsular are huge and well worth checking out. At the Cap d'Antibes, La Baie de la Garoupe boasts charming little beaches, most of them private, where you can rent a mattress to spend the day. For watersports Juan les Pins is your best bet: it is alleged water-skiing was invented there.
Beyond the beach
The historic town centre is full of pretty squares and narrow streets. Leave the car behind and discover the area on foot, as finding a parking space here can be tricky and some of the streets are very narrow (and pedestrianised). Make sure you check out the cathedral and the old ramparts. There are several good museums in town, the best of which are the Picasso Museum (Chateau Grimaldi) and the Peynet Museum (Bastion Saint André). Just strolling through the streets of the very upmarket Cap d'Antibes is a very leisurely way to spend an afternoon: both the exotic Jardin Thuret (boulevard du Cap) and Villa Eilenroc, one of the most beautiful villas of Le Cap (avenue Mrs Beaumont) make interesting stops on the way. Check out Notre Dame des Amoureux, at the top of Le Cap d'Antibes, a charming little chapel hidden in a pine cove not far from the lighthouse.
Family fun
There is plenty to keep children entertained on the beach, and the resort is generally child-friendly. There is an Olympic size swimming pool in town, an indoor go-karting track (ZAC des Trois Moulins, near the Antibes motorway exit), tennis courts, and two crazy golfs. Children will love exploring the underwater world from a glass-bottomed boat with Visiobulle (8 boulevard de l'Aguillon, and Embarcadère Courbet, Juan-les-Pins). And a visit to Antibes Land (Route de Biot), an amusement park with 30 rides and attractions, is another great way to keep the kids entertained for the afternoon.
Retail therapy
There are plenty of small boutiques in Antibes old town, and a colourful Provencal market is held there every day except Monday (cours Massena) from 0600-1300. Stock up on gorgeous breads and olives and local cheeses before heading to the beach for a picnic. In Juan les Pins, the main shopping streets are boulevard Wilson, boulevard d'Ardisson, boulevard de la Pinede and boulevard Baudoin. There is also a big Carrefour hypermarket (Les Semoules).
A night on the town
Well known for its happening nightlife, Juan les Pins attracts night owls from far and wide, who come here to dance the night away in fashionable nightclubs, try their luck at the casino or even indulge in a bout of late night shopping. Antibes is quieter: with a variety of restaurants, cafés, theatres, piano bars and private clubs to chose from. Party the night away to the latest dance tunes at Le Village Voom Voom (1 boulevard Pinede). For a more laid back evening enjoy cocktails and piano music from the terrace of Bar Fitzgerald (Hotel Belle Rives, 33 Boulevard Baudoin, www.bellerives.com) is a more laid back alternative.
Eating out
Both Antibes and Juan les Pins have a good variety of restaurants and cafés to choose from. Eating alfresco by the beach or in the old town is popular, and there are plenty of restaurants with patios everywhere. For Provencal specialities, try trendy Lou Ciapacan (17 rue Dautheville) (www.louciapacan.com), one of the most popular restaurants in Juan les Pins. Restaurant De Bacon (Boulevard de Bacon ) (www.restaurantdebacom.com) on the Cap d'Antibes combines a stunning ocean setting with fresh seafood and fine wine.
Getting around
A good network of local buses link Antibes and Juan les Pins, and several other local towns and cities, including Nice and Cannes. Both Antibes and Juan les Pins have train stations, with connections to all cities in the region. Taxis are also available. Cycling is also popular with the more energetic.
Exploring further afield
Nice is a good excursion for the day. There are museums and art galleries galore, including the excellent Musée Matisse (164 avenue des Arènes de Cimiez) and the Musée d'Art Moderne et d'Art Contemporain (promenade des Arts). So is Cannes, which is a mere 10-minute drive away. Inland, the Gorges du Verdon with their beautiful emerald waters and St Paul de Vence, a lovely medieval village popular with artists, make for good excursions.
Splashing out
If you are visiting in July, treat yourself to a concert or two during the jazz festival. If you really want to splash out check into Hotel Garden Beach (15-17 boulevard Baudoin ) (www.garden-beach-hotel.com) in Juan les Pins. Located on a stunning stretch of golden sandy beach to which it has direct access, the hotel boasts a gorgeous beachfront restaurant (with dining on its own private pier), a magnificent indoor pool and terrace, a state of the art fitness centre - all with fantastic views of the Mediterranean.
Flying in
Nice Côte d’Azur (NCE)
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