Cap d'Antibes

Visit Cap d'Antibes, Provence

The Cap d'Antibes is situated between Cannes and Nice on the French Riviera, with Juan-les-Pins to the north-west and Antibes in the north-east of the peninsula.

Visitors to the region don't usually stay on the Cap d'Antibes itself but rather in Antibes or Juan-les-Pins, but an exploration of the peninsula is highly recommended.

The Cap itself is largely covered with the gardens and villas of the rich and famous - for the large part you can't even see the villas, apart from tightly closed entrance gates. This is one of the most exclusive places on the Riviera to live, and I imagine also one of the most pleasant - the roads are empty and the views outstanding.

Exploring Cap d'Antibes

For those of us who can't afford a villa, the coast road around the Cap is very picturesque and also very popular with walkers and cyclists - it is about seven kilometres long in total and passes one or two small ports along the way.

Beaches

A significant part of the coast around Cap d'Antibes is privately owned or inaccessible but there are a couple of publicly accessible beaches, for example, at Plages de la Garoupe and the beach at La Salis. There are other beaches that you can access for an entry charge.

Villa Thuret gardens

In the centre of the Cap d'Antibes peninsula and a little way from the coast you can visit the gardens of the Villa Thuret. With over 1600 species of plant, mostly from Mediterranean and hot temperate climates, the gardens cover more than three hectares and following the walkways around the garden you will see a wide selection of interesting plants including acacias, cypresses, palms, yuccas etc. A pleasant change from the bustle of the riviera it is also a nice shady respite if the weather is hot.

Lighthouse and chapel

At the highest point of the peninsula (on the Route du Phare) there is a lighthouse and a small chapel with a lovely name - the Chapel of Notre-Dame-des-Amoureux. Take a look in the chapel then climb to the top of the lighthouse for exceptionally far-reaching views across the coast and sea.

Other highlights

See separate features for Juan-les-Pins and Antibes for these important towns at the northern end of the peninsula - Antibes especially is a very interesting town to visit.

See Provence-Alpes-Cote-d'Azur and Alpes-Maritimes (the region and department for Cap d'Antibes) for more travel ideas...

Tourist classifications for Cap d'Antibes: Village in bloom (ville fleurie) 3*;

Suggested places to visit near Cap d'Antibes, France

Distances shown are direct, driving distances will be greater.

More suggestions: Valmasque Parc 10km; Mougins 13km; Cagnes-sur-Mer 13km; Valbonne 14km; Mandelieu-la-Napoule 16km; Theoule-sur-Mer 16km; Saint-Paul-de-Vence 17km; Opio 18km; Vence 20km; Tourrettes-sur-Loup 20km; Nice 20km;

Cap d'Antibes tourist information: sights and attractions nearby

Jardin botanique de la villa Thuret - remarkable garden (4km) : Abbaye de Lerins (Cannes) - religious monument (10km) : Parc du château de la Napoule - remarkable garden (15km) : Jardin botanique - remarkable garden (20km) : Jardin de la Villa Fort de France - remarkable garden (22km) : Jardins Ephrussi de Rothschild - remarkable garden (23km) : Baou de Saint-Jeannet - site of natural beauty (23km) : Le Vallon du Brec - remarkable garden (28km) :

See more places and a map at places near Cap d'Antibes