Cap d'Antibes Coastal Trail

The Cap d’Antibes coastal trail or otherwise known as, “Le Sentier du Littoral, Cap d’Antibes” on the very tip of the Antibes peninsula is a pleasant way to spend an afternoon exploring more of the beautiful landscape in Cap d'Antibes.

Before you start on this hike…and it is considered more of hike than a walk, plan to spend 2-3 hours around the cape and it will require you wear proper footwear.  Beach sandals will not do.

There are no shortcuts or stores so bring enough water and food with you and depending on the time of year be prepared for some strong winds.

There are a few ways to hike this coastal trail, if it is your first time I would suggest starting from the popular Garoupe Beach, just look for signs on the south side of the beach where a wide stone path leads the way.

At first you might think this is going to be easy, but before you know it you are climbing small sets of narrow man-made stairs while teetering on the edge of the sea so be sure to make use of the hand rails provided in certain sections.

It’s all part of the adventure though and very scenic, you’ll find yourself stopping along the way, not necessarily to take a rest as it isn’t that strenuous of a trail but to take in the surroundings and photos.

I’m not normally one to pay attention to various types of vegetation but even among the sections of rocky terrain you’ll notice much of this area is still a very natural environment with loads of greenery, there are plenty of maritime pines mixed with the sweetest fragrances coming from the little flowers growing between the rocks squeezed amongst large exotic plants.

Just when you think you are getting used to the trail, you’ll walk around a corner where the views and character of the trail changes again.

The one thing that is consistent is that you are hiking next to some of the most expensive and exclusive estates in the world, they are very well protected with high stone walls and security cameras but every once in a while you will catch a glimpse inside the grounds of the majestic homes and peaceful looking gardens.

Being surrounded by such lush and dramatic scenery, it’s easy to see why one would want to have a home here.

One of the reasons I like to start at Garoupe Beach is because following the coastal trail this way will also take you towards the historic Villa Eilenroc with the grounds being open to the public for a good portion of the year, this exquisite property feels like a treat after hiking for an hour or so.

Just look for the trail signs marked “Chemin des Contrebandiers” (smugglers path), they will lead you to the Villa Eilenroc estate.

After you leave the grounds, you can continue to walk around the outside of the estate, the views in this location are some of the best.  In places you can see all the way to Cannes and if you wanted, this is where you can go for a swim at the small beach to cool down before proceeding back along the trail.

From here your choice will be to head back along the trail the same way you came or you can head towards the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc which is practically next door to Villa Eilenroc and carry on through Cap d’Antibes.

Whichever way you decide, you won’t regret taking the time to hike along the Cap d’Antibes Coastal Trail!

Cap d'Antibes

Breathtaking Cap d’Antibes.  The intimate playground of the rich, perhaps not everyone can afford the luxury of living on this southern end of the Antibes peninsula but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take the time and explore it for yourself.

Two early visitors to this area were Gerald and Sara Murphy, wealthy Americans who found a sense of freedom and play here and who have been credited with establishing the French Riviera as a summer resort destination.

Other famous notables such as Coco Chanel and Marlene Dietrich helped establish the lavish and historic Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc as the place to stay and be seen. 

And let’s not forget that it is said F. Scott Fitzgerald took inspiration in writing his novel ‘Tender Is The Night’ from living in this part of the world.

Cap d’Antibes is truly a special place, it feels a touch urban yet maintains its own quiet existence through its refinements, and the people that live here can be some of the most generous and kind you will ever meet.

Drive, bike or even just walk along the twisting roads of Cap d’Antibes, never knowing what kind of spectacular estate you will see next.  Each exclusive property here showcases the best in which the owner might be, this is where history, character and design are revered.

You won’t find a mass of shops in Cap d’Antibes, in fact there is only a handful of resort hotels sprinkled about in which to choose from, but you can also always rent a villa!

The same goes for the restaurants, there may only be a small selection of them but they are among the best.  Expect to experience a life here that is relaxing and refreshing, this area is certainly no tourist trap.

A lovely spot to capture some of the best views of the region is the Garoupe Lighthouse perched smack dab in the middle of Cap d’Antibes, so large, it can be seen from as far away as Cannes and Nice.

One way to find the lighthouse is to walk about a kilometer up the Chemin de Calvaire from Plage de la Salis, you will find signs posted everywhere on how to reach the lighthouse.

As for beaches, the most popular one seems to be Garoupe Beach, it’s large with immaculately clean, soft sand and it also happens to be an excellent area for swimming in the crystal clear Mediterranean Sea.

Make sure you arrive early so that you can rent a lounge chair and if you’re hungry, here is where you will find those few beach snack bars and restaurants.

And here’s an insider tip: a couple of the reasons Garoupe Beach is so popular is because of how it is situated, facing east it is protected from the wind and also the glare of the summer sun isn’t as strong when people are looking for a break from the heat.

No matter what time of the year you travel through, Cap d’Antibes presents an ease and elegance that must be experienced for yourself.

Antibes

Antibes is a place in the French Riviera along the sea between Nice and Cannes that has a pleasant old world charm yet still maintains all the sophistications that a small city has to offer.

The history of Antibes goes back to 5th century BC when it was used as a Greek colony due to it being a naturally protected port which also then made it an important trading center.

This way of life still stands today where Port Vauban is in full operation mooring some of the world’s largest and most luxurious yachts, especially along the Quai de Milliardaires where celebrities such as Beyonce, Jay-Z and Rihanna usually charter their vacation yachts situated across the port from Fort Carre.

Next to the port is what is affectionately known as, “Old Town Antibes” an area still surrounded by many of its original fortified walls.

Having lived within this part of Antibes in 2012, I can tell you that one of the most wonderful things you can do there is to wake up early on a sunny morning and make your way along one of the many cobbled pedestrian streets to browse through any number of the outdoor public markets that sell everything from fresh food such as at the Provencal Market, with other markets selling clothing and even antiques.

Alongside the markets are a vast array of boutiques selling anything you can imagine from one of a kind items of clothing and jewelry located next to some of the best restaurants in the Cote d’Azur.  And don’t forget to visit the Picasso Museum within Chateau Grimaldi!

Antibes quickly feels like home, the people are friendly and inviting, there is a strong sense of community here, and also a large number of English speaking individuals with seemingly everyone willing to help you out with whatever you needed. 

And be sure to check out the local establishments such as the Blue Lady Pub, popular places like these are fun with new friends and excellent venues to spot the hot ‘Yachties’ working out of the port for the main yachting season.

One of the other things to be enjoyed in Antibes is the beaches, it would almost be a sin not to take a break and walk to any local beach of your choice.

When there, I usually head to Royal Beach located just south of Old Town towards Cap d'Antibes, like the other beaches it is clean and perfect for a refreshing swim but I also found out this can be a fun cruising type beach, yet not overtly so.

Since there are no gay nightclubs in Antibes (yet), you’ve got to do what you can. Apps like Grindr can yield results but it was easy to meet people at the beach and surprisingly even in the grocery stores you might find the odd guy flirting with you.

Without even trying you will likely pass through Place General de Gaulle in Antibes, this area has some beautiful architecture such as the Grand Hotel which houses the Monoprix grocery and department store and also the Maison du Tourisme d'Antibes.

The square is unique in how it is surrounded by trees in which to relax under on a park bench with the main area having a large water feature that will surprise a tourist or two when they aren’t looking as it shoots water high up from ground level.

If you were looking for the Antibes train station, from Place General de Gaulle go to avenue Robert Soleau next to the Grand Hotel and follow it a few blocks northwest.

Antibes has a very good bus and train transportation system that are a cinch to navigate and will get you to and from cities like Nice and Cannes, both being short distances away.

So if you find yourself in the French Riviera, plan a day or two in Antibes, you'll be glad you did.