Best beaches in Antibes for summer

The town of Antibes has some of the best beaches in the area, right on the town's doorsteps. So you don't need to go far to sun yourself and take a dip in the sea.

Plage de la Gravette – Antibes' urban beach

Perhaps the most famous of the Antibes' beaches, the Plage de la Gravette is a horseshoe-shaped stretch of sand located just below Antibes medieval. Right in the middle of the old town, this public beach is perfect for a quick swim while exploring Antibes.

Plage du Ponteil – breathtaking views

With stunning views of the Alps and the medieval ramparts, Plage Ponteil is a long sandy beach is predominantly public, although one corner is taken up by the Royal Beach Club. Backed by a lovely promenade with park benches, this beach offers plenty of facilities and is a favourite with the locals. Just be aware that it can get very crowded in the summer.

Plage de la Salis

Plage de la Salis runs along the base of the Cap d'Antibes from the Antibes Sailing Club. This laid-back beach has soft white sand and wonderful views of the Old Town towards the Alps. The entire stretch of beach is public so, like neighbouring Plage Ponteil, it tends to get packed in the summer.

Plage du Fort Carré and Plage de la Fontonne – Antibes' pebbled beaches

The iconic Fort Carré marks the end of the stony beaches and the beginning of Antibes’ sandy beaches. As such, those looking to escape the summertime crowds have the option of visiting the pebbled beaches that begin at the rocky and narrow Plage du Fort Carré and stretch westwards to the wider and busier section called Plage de la Fontonne. With a lovely view of the city of Nice with the Alps rising up behind, these beaches are not without charm, particularly in the evenings when the stones cool down and they fill with families picnicking and swimming in the long twilight hours.

Cap d'Antibes boasts small, charming coves that hide some of the best-kept secrets in the Riviera. Views are also pretty spectacular, overlooking the towns of Antibes or Juan les Pins depending on which side of the rocky headland the beaches are located.

Plage de la Garoupe – charming little beach

Nestled in a small cove on Cap d’Antibes, Plage de la Garoupe is one of the prettiest beaches on this stretch of coast. Silky-soft white sands sloping into crystal clear waters, lots of little boats at anchor and the rocky headland is a snorkeler’s heaven to explore. The tradeoff is that most of the sand is private during the summer.

Port de l'Olivette Beach – Instagram hot spot

The small beach by the Port de l'Olivette is a popular spot, not only with sunbathers but also with keen photographers thanks to the brightly coloured small boats that bob in the crystal clear waters. With a fine mix of pebbles and sand in a small curved cove looking out across the bay, this is a lovely place to spend the day.

Cap d’Antibes' rocky coves – secluded wilderness

The hidden beaches of Cap d’Antibes are wild and beautiful, offering a seclusion and crystal clear waters difficult to find on the town beaches in mid-summer. These are rocky, quiet coves with hidden bathing platforms cut into the rock and stunning views but no facilities whatsoever. You’ll often face a bit of a hike getting to them as well!

From the Port Gallice to the edge of Vallauris-Golfe-Juan, the beaches in Juan les Pins are a combination of public stretches of sand and glamorous private beach clubs.

Plage de la Gallice – peaceful public beach

One of the few entirely public beaches in the area, Plage de la Gallice is found just next to Port Gallice, at the very start of the Cap d’Antibes. A pretty peaceful place, it’s a long way from the road and has a more secluded feel than the open Juan les Pins beaches.

Plage du Crouton – small, sheltered stretch of sand

Plage du Crouton is sheltered and offers a nice alternative to the main beaches in Juan les Pins. Located at Port Crouton, this small strip of fine white sand is also known as Plage Les Pecheurs and is divided into a public stretch and a private beach, where you can hire sun loungers, parasols and enjoy food and drink service on the sand.

Grande Plage – Juan les Pins' main beach

Grande Plage is the ‘big beach’ of Juan-les-Pins and also one of the widest. Entirely public and offering good facilities within a short walk of town, it’s no surprise that this beach is absolutely heaving in high summer. With a palm-lined boulevard behind and gorgeous views over to the Cannes Lerins Islands and the Esterel mountains, Grande Plage beach has a lovely setting.

This is only a selection of the beaches in and around Antibes. Take a look at our complete list and, if you'd rather take a more active approach to your beach holiday, find out all there is to do here this summer.