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Most travelers jetting off to France have scoped out the Eiffel Tower, world-renowned art museums, and endless sidewalk cafes, but to escape the city grind and sky-high prices, we recently unveiled France’s secret beach on the northern coast as an alternative to not only Paris.
But even as spectacular as this side of France may be, there’s no doubt most travelers have the beautiful Côte d’Azur (French Riviera) atop their travel wishlists.
While I personally loved my trip to Marseille, one of the most sought-after beach cities in France, it’s certainly not for everyone.
The same way travelers can be shocked by how gritty Athens is with graffiti-lined streets just below the iconic Acropolis, the same goes for Marseille, a vibrant seaside city with a delightful waterfront, world-class restaurants, and stunning islands, yet possessing an edgy undercurrent where unsightly spraypaint, dark-lit street corners and alleyways are a turn-off for those thinking they booked a flawless beach getaway.
According to the BBC, those looking for a reliable vacation spot along the French Riviera where you’ll feel safe without the hassle of elbow-to-elbow crowds, should follow in A-listers’ footsteps to a hush-hush peninsula nestled between Nice and Cannes.
Cap d’Antibes: France’s Hobnob Paradise
Other than Cap d’Antibes undergoing an arts renaissance with a fun jazz festival on the docket for summer, among other centennial celebrations, this region of the Côte d’Azur is more well-known as a celebrity haven.
You may know Cannes draws a crowd, especially for Hollywood’s elite, given it hosts the famous Cannes Film Festival each year.
Well, many of these one-percenters find themselves vacationing seaside in Cap d’Antibes at lavish retreats such as BBC-backed Belles Rives, a century-old Art-Deco treasure leading the charge in the region’s artistic festivities this year.
Cap d’Antibes exudes exclusivity, but is perhaps more welcoming to all types of travelers than ever before, as it breathes new life into the arts, enticing more visitors.
While summer is both literally and figuratively a hotspot for celebs, you never know who you’ll cross paths with.
Enjoy Golden Beaches To Yourself: Spring Is The Best Time To Visit
BBC hypes spring as the best time to enjoy a lot more to sprawl out like a starfish on Cap d’Antibes’ golden shores, particular now to early June as temperatures are a blissful 65 – 76 degrees until the official start of summer.
But just know the region surrounding Cap d’Antibes can be a little too breezy any time of year. In other words, it’s a haven for nudists!
Despite the postcard-perfect coastline wrapping the peninsula, you should expect a sight for sore eyes if you don’t do your homework first.
For starters, avoid Batterie Beach and Cape Taillat, unless you want an eyeful of birthday suits — not exactly the beach you wanna be on the “skins” team tossing the ol’ pigskin around.
These are TripAdvisor’s top 5 beaches in the region with no references of exhibitionists:
- Juan les Pins (Main Beach)
- Plage de la Gravette
- Plage des Ondes
- Plage du Ponteil
- Plage de la Baia des Milliardaires
Just note that there is a difference between Antibes, the coastal city (a gem in its own right), and the more isolated and exclusive Cape d’Antibes, tucked away from the more notable cities dotting the French Riviera.
Despite some stunning beaches in the region where beachgoers let loose, they are a small portion of the population, but travelers should be aware of this to avoid unwanted surprises.
The Perfect Base To Explore The French Riviera
BBC named Cape d’Antibes fourth on a list of ‘Nine European vacation destinations to visit in 2025′ and largely because of its exclusivity, going hand-in-hand with prime real estate.
As such, Cape d’Antibes makes for a great base to explore the surrounding area. For example, Metro just highlighted one of Europe’s most beautiful train rides passing through Antibes, Cannes, and Menton, all French Riviera paradises.
Best of all, you can find fares as low as $13 — a steal of a deal in such a lavish destination.
Hotels will surely be your most expensive splurge when staying in Cap d’Antibes, but it’s one of those places where rates match the service and luxury you receive.
For example, if you want to up your chances of bumping into a famous face, check out Cap d’Antibes Beach Hotel, a 5-star retreat perched along Les Pêcheurs Beach and home to Michelin-starred restaurant Les Pêcheurs.
Otherwise, a select few boutique hotels nestled between staggering seaside chateaus are much more palatable at rates in the $100s, such as Hôtel Miramar Cap d’Antibes.
Sam Sears
Sam, our Lead Writer & Journalist based in San Diego has visited 36 countries and written over 1000 articles with a focus on sharing his own travel experiences and shining a light on lesser-known gems.
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Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
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