Antibes With Kids: The Perfect Family Travel Guide
Ah, Antibes with kids! Nestled along the stunning French Riviera, this picturesque town stole our hearts and became the perfect playground for our family. We embarked on a week-long journey, intending to explore the Riviera but found ourselves so captivated by Antibes that we didn’t venture much further. Here’s a little peek into our adventure and why this town deserves a spot on every family’s travel list.
How We Got There
The journey from London to Antibes with kids was smooth and stress-free, just the way we like it.
It takes only 2 hours to fly from London to Nice, which is perfect and short enough for when travelling with kids. Since we arrived at night, we opted to take an Uber to Antibes, but on our returned we took a TER train instead, which was very easy and safe to do. A local monsieur was kind enough to let us know that the tram to and from Grand Arenas to the airport is free! Who doesn’t love a good freebie?
Where We Stayed
We chose to set up camp in a rustic studio right in the heart of the cute and charming Antibes’ Old Town – a great choice when doing Antibes with kids, as being centrally located made everything much easier.
It was a cozy space, with three beds, a kitchen, dining area, and a bathroom. Despite being so centrally located, it was blissfully quiet at night, offering a peaceful atmosphere for restful sleep – because, as every parent knows, when travelling with kids, there’s nothing more terrifying than an overtired meltdown. Trust me, avoiding those tantrums is worth its weight in gold!
No Wi-Fi meant we had the perfect excuse to disconnect from the digital world and connect with each other instead. This little home-away-from-home became the base for our adventures, and you can find it here.
It was a cozy space, with three beds, a kitchen, dining area, and a bathroom. Despite being so centrally located, it was blissfully quiet at night, offering a peaceful atmosphere for restful sleep – because, as every parent knows, when travelling with kids, there’s nothing more terrifying than an overtired meltdown. Trust me, avoiding those tantrums is worth its weight in gold!
No Wi-Fi meant we had the perfect excuse to disconnect from the digital world and connect with each other instead. This little home-away-from-home became the base for our adventures, and you can find it here.
Where We Ate
Delicious croissants, family-friendly restaurants, and local markets filled our tummies and our hearts.
When travelling with kids, if shelter is the first mission, food is easily the second. Our mornings in Antibes with kids started with a delightful ritual – croissants at the boulangerie! We found ourselves repeating this delicious experience every single day.
As for the main meal, we had some fantastic ones at Chez Jules Le Don Juan and Nananère, although there’s other great options all around.
Here’s a valuable tip from Pedro: when looking for family-friendly eateries that offer great food without the Michelin star price tag, check the Michelin guide’s Bib Gourmand section. And while you’re in Antibes, Pedro insists you try their vast selection of Rosés – a perfect pairing with la vie en rose.
Full disclosure, one thing that surprised me when experiencing Antibes with kids was that none of the restaurants we visited had highchairs for babies, which was a bit problematic with Lou (our 1 year old). But don’t let that discourage you – just come prepared, and you’ll still be able to savour the famous French cuisine.
If you prefer to unwind at home, we recommend getting un poulet from the rôtisserie or just grabbing something from the Marché Provençal (which is open every day from 7:30 am to 2 pm) or from the Carrefour at Rue Lacan.
After dinner, I couldn’t tell what thrilled the girls more – our nightly trips to the playground or the ice cream treats. Our top spot for ice cream was Gelateria Del Porto – the queues might be long, but trust me, the wait is absolutely worth it. Mimi, our little Frozen fanatic (and a classic 3-year-old in every way), was also over the moon when she discovered an “Elsa Ice Cream” at one of the shops at the end of the Marché Provençal.
What We Saw And Did
Beaches And Yachts
From sandy toes to imaginary yachts, Antibes’ beaches and the Port Vauban were highlights of our trip.
After resting and eating, you’re all set to start discovering Antibes with kids. The first thing on our list was to get some sand on our feet. Our favourite beach in Antibes was Plage de la Gravette with its warm waters and perfect sandcastle-building conditions. We had so much fun pretending to be real estate moguls, selling all the sandy creations we could find to imaginary buyers.
La plage de la Gravette is near Port Vauban, home of the billionaires’ quay and some of the most expensive yachts in Europe, which gave us the opportunity to keep the imaginary money rolling and later go pretend shopping for our own yacht in our best old-money aesthetic outfits.
We also spent time at the rocky beach near Plage du Ponteil, where we built pebble towers and attempted, though mostly failed, to create pebble sculptures.
Expectations
Reality
Expectations
Reality
One heartwarming discovery while exploring Antibes with kids was the Handiplage, a beach entirely adapted for people with disabilities. It was wonderful to see such inclusivity in a public space.
We kept embracing Antibes’ natural beauty by venturing to Cap d’Antibes, a journey that was both exhausting and exhilarating. Note to my future self: bring more water next time! The little market near Boulevard de la Garoupe was a welcome oasis after our hot walk. We refreshed ourselves with Palmiers and then set off to explore the nature trail. Although we managed to navigate it with a stroller, I wouldn’t recommend it – Pedro had to carry the stroller up and down countless stairs! But the views were worth every drop of sweat, and Plage de la Baie des Milliardaires was an absolute gem. On the way back, we took the bus, giving our tired legs a much-needed rest.
Art, History and Culture
Exploring the artistic and cultural treasures of Antibes, including a memorable visit to the Picasso Museum.
Beyond the Mediterranean coastal views and expensive yachts, Antibes is a town brimming with art. From the giant Le Nomade structure to the scattered Nicolas Lavarenne statues and other artistic quirks hidden around every corner, you’ll be breathing in so much culture that you’ll be at severe risk of contracting Stendhal syndrome!
Did you know the name “Côte d’Azur” was coined by the poet Stéphen Liégeard to describe the French Riviera? In Antibes, there’s a charming Jardin des Poètes where you can gaze at the deep blue sea and easily see why he chose such a poetic name.
After checking the poet’s garden, we visited the Picasso Museum, turning it into a fun and educational experience for the girls. We used the museum as a living gallery of examples for our Artist of The Month, and Mimi was absolutely captivated by the fact that Picasso once lived in a castle (Château Grimaldi). We had brought along Picasso’s Trousers, a picture book from our own collection, but passing by the Antibes English Bookshop, we found the perfect souvenir – Pablo Picasso from the Little People, BIG DREAMS collection. There’s something truly magical about strolling through Antibes’ vieille ville, with a Picasso book perched on Papá’s head, soaking up every page under the warm sun.
Another great spot to search for a souvenir for your kids is the Pierrot La Lune toy shop. We ended up bringing a magical music box with a Yann Tierson song from Le Fabuleux Destin d’Amélie Poulain soundtrack. The box was originally intended for the girls, but I loved it so much that I ended up keeping it for myself, away and safe from sticky toddler hands and curious pre-schooler minds.
Antibes’ centre is full of iconic buildings, and one of our favourite activities to do while travelling is sketching the buildings and scenes that catch our eyes. This not only keeps the girls entertained but also helps them see the world through a creative lens. Plus, it makes for a wonderful keepsake to cherish at home and reminisce over – or even gift to someone special when you return from your travels.
Another fun and adorable way to explore Antibes with kids is by taking the Petit Train of Antibes – we thought it was a bit overpriced (£10 per adult and £6 for children 3 to 9 years old) considering you can pretty easily walk everywhere yourself, but our little train enthusiasts had a blast waving to everyone that passed and it gave us a chance to see Juan les Pins, the more modern side of Antibes. The train departs from Rue Lacan, which I’m sure you’ll be very familiar with at some point as it’s where you can find the most popular local playground.
The Rue Lacan playground is a must for any parent when in Antibes with kids. We spent every evening there – it gave the girls a chance to burn off energy and for Mimi to practice the simple French sentences she learned prior to the trip. Both girls ended up with such happy memories and new friendships; it reminded me a lot of the “Camping” episode from Bluey (Jean-Luc team, anyone?). Isn’t it beautiful, the simple way children connect despite different cultures and language barriers? We adults could take a note or two on that.
Au revoir
As we packed up our swimsuits and tucked away our Picasso souvenirs, it was clear that in the end we didn’t need to venture far to find adventure. From Mimi’s beloved “Elsa Ice Cream” to the pebble towers that defied gravity (or didn’t), every moment in Antibes was a reminder that the simplest joys often make the best memories.
Au revoir, Antibes – you’ve officially made it into our family storybook. And to our next destination, wherever that may be, you’ve got some pretty big (and sandy) shoes to fill.
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