Nestled in a grove of pines trees, this Cap d’Antibes hotel is legendary. F. Scott Fitzgerald’s inspiration for the fictional Hotel des Etrangers in his novel “Tender is the Night.” These days it is the go to hotel for the stars during the Cannes film festival. Enjoy a drink at the sunset bar, prices are not for the fainthearted! The compensation for your 35-euro champagne cocktail awaits you on the terrace: the most amazing sunset on the Côte d’Azur.
Just opposite the bay of Cannes lies the picturesque Lerins islands, Ile Sainte Margarite and Il Saint Honorat. Ferries shuttle back and forth to Sainte-Marguerite from Juan-les-Pins and Cannes throughout the day. The port area, where the ferry lands, has cafés and restaurants including the renowned La Guerite. It is a short walk to the Fort Royal where you can see the now-bare little cell where the Man in the Iron Mask was incarcerated. The prison has been replaced by a museum. Once there, unwind on the quiet forest trails and have a picnic lunch, or find a rocky cove to swim from.
Il saint Honorat houses a monastery where the monks produce wine from their vineyards, honey, lavender oil, and liquors. There are no restaurants on the island and the ferry goes from Cannes port.
This is a beautiful walk up through a pine shaded stony path, it is about a kilometer from the beach, the incline is steep and it is best to attempt it in the morning or evening in summer. The view down to Juan-les-Pins over the pines and olive trees will make you forget the effort. Start the walk from the most southern point of Salis beach past the small harbour. You’ll see a steep stony pathway with a sign ‘Chemin de Cavalaire’ which takes you past several stations of the cross. At the top you’ll be rewarded with not only the view but the Chapel Notre Dame de Bon Port, patron saint of seafarers, and a café to stop at for refreshments.
This is a stunning rugged walking path around part of Cap d’Antibes that follows the rocky promontories and cliffs below the sumptuous villas of the Cap. It links the Chemin des Douaniers with the beach at La Garoupe, and continues for 3.2 kilometres around the perimeters of extensive estates, through tunnels in the rock and along cliff tops. Wear good footwear and be prepared for lots of steps up and down, but the magnificent natural scenery is well worth it. Start at the far end of Plage de la Garoupe just past Plage Keller and take the path at the far end of the beach (as you face out to sea).
The old town is quite compact, after visiting the Provencal market, head for Promenade Amiral de Grasse for a walk around the ramparts, passing the Picasso museum and cathedral, meander a bit here and wonder down Rue du Saint Esprit and Place du Revely. A few streets worth a special mention are Rue de Lavoir, Rue James Close, Rue Sade and Rue Clemenceau, it is there at the fountain that you can then treat yourself to some excellent people watching from a shady café terrace and watch the world go by.
Le Safranier is a pretty, flowery little corner of the old town of Antibes stretching from Rue de Tourraque through to the much photographed Rue de bas Castelet. The main square and particularly the restaurant la Taverne du Safranier is the place where the locals get together. In addition to being the hub of all the various festivals that take place year round, such as the May fêtes, the feast of the yule-log, and the chestnut festival The square is also known as the place where Nikos Kazantzakis wrote the famous Zorba the Greek.
