One of the jewels of the French Riviera, Antibes boasts amazing views, a stunning promenade, high endshopping, and eye-popping real estate prices. But, Antibes isn’t just for the billionaire class. Many sites, likethe lighthouse which has the best views of the city, the Antibes Cathedral, and the promenade, are free.
Antibes also has an excellent market featuring local produce, meats, cheeses, and flowers. And, some of thebest eats are inexpensive, like the Fougasse bread and seasonal deep-fried zucchini flowers. Lazily sip a glassof Rose with your Tourte de Blettes and forget about what you’re spending on your hotel.
One of the best markets in Provence is right here in Antibes; the Marche Provencal.
The French are rightly proud of their local produce and the Marche Provencal is filled with seasonal fruits and vegetables from the Provence region. Most products have a little sign showing the product’s origin.
There’s also flower vendors, meat and fish mongers, and cheese stands. One of my favorite stalls is run by Patricia who sells dried herbs and spices. She makes all her own blends like the Za’atar and is generous with the samples. It’s a great treat to take home with you or to give as gifts because the little bags of spices fit easily in your carryon.
Pro tip #1: Don’t touch the produce. Tell the vendor what you want and they will select it for you.
Pro tip #2: Be sure to get to the market early for the best selection. It closes between 1 and 2, depending on the season.
The closest airport to Antibes is Nice. There are direct flights to many cities in Europe and seasonal flights to a few North American locations.
The best way to get from the airport to Antibes is the train. It takes less than 20 minutes while the bus is 45 minutes or longer. Taxi or Uber is a much more expensive alternative.
From Paris, there is a high speed that can get you to Antibes in 5.5 hours, just make sure you get the direct train as connecting trains take longer–sometimes much, much longer.
Brent Petersen is the Editor-in-Chief of Destination Eat Drink. He currently resides in Setubal, Portugal. Brent has written the novel “Truffle Hunt” (Eckhartz Press) and the short story collection “That Bird.” He’s also written dozens of foodie travel guides to France, including one for Antibes. Brent’s podcast, also called Destination Eat Drink, is available on all major podcasting platforms.