Looking for things to do in Juan-les-Pins

Since Antibes and Juan-les-Pins are so close to each other, the things to do in are normally the same things to do in Antibes and vice versa. By car, going from Juan-les-pins to Antibes and Antibes to Juan-les-pins only takes a couple of minutes, and you can even walk or bike between the two towns.

In this article, we’ll, therefore, focus on the things to do in Juan-les-Pins, but also include some of the top things to do in Antibes as well, as there are many interesting and popular things to do there. There are plenty of things to do in Juan-les-Pins and Antibes and to be able to experience all of the amazing activities, you need more days than just one or two. The good news is that since the towns are situated so close to each other, you are able to transport between them and have a schedule packed with activities in the two cities.

Things to do in Juan-les-Pins -Antibes

Le Sentier du Littoral, Cap d’Antibes 

If you are looking for outdoor activities and want to experience the incredible nature and beautiful Mediterranean of Provence, hiking the Le Sentier du Littoral trail in Cap d’Antibes should definitely be on your list of things to do in Juan-les-Pins and Antibes.

The hike takes you on an amazing trail along the ocean with some absolutely amazing sceneries.

Do note that the hike can be a little dangerous in some places with uneven grounds and sharp rocks, with the trail meandering right along high cliffs looking down at the water on some places so be careful, and most importantly, wear the right shoes.

If you’d like to enjoy the beautiful surrounding landscapes of Antibes and Juan-les-Pins and Cote d’Azur, this is it. The stunning blue water, the lovely contrasting rocks against the Mediterranean and the gorgeous trail will provide you with a magnificent experience.

If you have Antibes as your hub, you can take bus number two from Old Antibes and then walk to plage de la Garoupe. You can also do the reverse.

Along the trail, there are a number of great places where you can sit down and enjoy a lovely picnic while admiring the surroundings.

Have in mind that if you’re here in the summer, it can get very warm here, especially considering there’s no shade.

The trail that stretches along the water is narrow and high in some places, so it may or may not be ideal for children. Also, make sure you bring water because there are no real spots where you can refill your bottle or drink water.

Have in mind that the trail might be closed on days when it’s windy because if the winds are strong and the waves big, it can be extremely dangerous to be blown or exploded down into the sea or falling on the sharp rocks.

Walking the whole trail will take you about 1 hour if you do it quickly, but if you want to stroll and enjoy the view, and enjoy a picnic on the way, it can up to several hours.

Chapelle de la Garoupe

This is a stunning chapel situated in Antibes. The chapel was previously in a very bad state, and the building very rundown, so after two years of restoration, the chapel of Garoupe reopened its doors to visitors.

The chapel is classified as a historical monument and is definitely worth visiting if you enjoy beautiful architecture and sceneries.

The chapel is situated on the Sanctuary of La Garoupe and is thus a popular place for tourists to visit as it offers a jaw-dropping panorama view of the city.

In ancient times, the chapel was dedicated to Selene who was a goddess of the moon. 

According to the legend, Saint Helena, the mother of Emperor Constantine who made Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire, stopped at the site and wished to see a chapel built on the plateau of the Garoupe. The rest, is, of course, history. The sanctuary here is a historic pilgrimage chapel. Furthermore, at the site, there are also an interesting Madonna and Child statue crafted from wood and entirely gilded.

Apart from just going here to visit the chapel, the site itself is a delightful place to visit. It’s a perfect place to just relax and enjoy the calmness and maybe enjoy a picnic.

Garoupe Lighthouse (Phare de la Garoupe)

Visiting the Group lighthouse is an activity that you should add to your list of things to do in Juan-Les-Pins and Antibes.

The lighthouse is one of the most powerful lighthouses on the whole Mediterranean coast, and the light has a whopping reach of 52km for boats and 100km for aircrafts.

If you visit the Cap of Antibes, you should definitely visit the lighthouse on the way and make sure you don’t miss it.

The lighthouse is a beautiful sight, but at the same time, the walk to the lighthouse with a steep climb and stunning surroundings is what makes this a perfect experience and activity of things to do in Juan-les-Pins. Also, the views that you have when you reach the top make the hike well worth it.

Best of all, at the top, you have a charming café which serves drinks and snacks up until 8.30pm which is a great reward after having hiked for a while. Just sitting there and enjoying the calm atmosphere and beautiful sceneries are absolutely amazing.

Juan-les-Pins Main Beach

If you want to add relaxing on the beach to your list of things to do in Juan-les-Pins, you should definitely experience the main beach of Juan-les-Pins

The main beach is situated ion the opposite side of the peninsula from Antibes, and just like most beaches on the French Riviera and in Antibes, the beach is incredibly crowded during summer. The good news is that if you visit off-season just after the summer season has ended or just before it, the crowds are instantly smaller.

The main beach of Juan-les-Pins is a long beach stretch made up of lovely fine sand, lined with restaurants and bars. Some of the restaurants located on the beach serve top-class food.

Most of the beach is made up of private beaches, which means you have to rent your own sun chair, however, there are parts that are free for the public. These, of course, get very crowded during summer. Because of the public beach being so heavily crowded during summer many people find it well worth spending some money to relax on the beach in Juan-les-Pins in peace without having other people crowd the area around you, as well as get access to a comfortable mattress and umbrella.

Along this beach stretch, you’ll also find a number of different shops here, including a boardwalk which supplies you with beautiful views.

Le Nomade

Le Nomade isn’t a huge activity in Juan-les-Pins and Antibes, but many people still consider it well worth visiting at least if you are close by. In other words, it’s not worth going to Le Nomade solely for going there, but if you are close by, why not take a look.

Le Nomade is a sculpture which has been made by Spanish artist Jaume Plensa. The sculpture sits atop a restored waterfront fort making for a lovely sight.

The sculpture is very beautiful and very special, and it is situated on grounds which previously where a fortified tower. In the 17th century, however, the fort was completely destroyed, and a few decades later, the Bastion Shipyard was built here. This came to be the place where Captain Cousteau’s famous ship Calypso was kitted out. In 1985, however, the shipyard was closed, but now, the area features the Nomade sculpture by Catalan artist Jaume Plensa.

• The statue can be watched every day except on Mondays.
• From 1st September to 30th May: from 10 am to 6 pm.
• From 1st June to 31st August: from 10 am to 11 pm

Parc de la Pinède

You should definitely add this park to your list of things to do in Juan-les-Pins. It is a timeless park which barely changes year after year but creates a wonderful oasis in the middle of the busy town of Antibes.

The park is perfect for children, and here, you’ll also be able to find an old-fashioned carousel and small bumper cars. The park works as a great contrast to the high pace and busy town of Juan-les-Pins and surrounds you with a calmness and relaxing atmosphere.

The Pinede park is the main park of Juan-les-Pins, and here, you’ll find a number of different things, such as a fenced children’s playground with mini trampoline, climbing frames, rocking horses, slides. and of course, beautiful plants, trees’and flowers.

The park was updated in 2013, and this update meant mores safety matting, as well as a few new attractions that are available to access by wheelchair-bound and children.

At the playground, you’ll find a number of different seats for families, and best of all, you’ll also find a tap where you can take and drink water. Right at the playground, there are no toilets, however, there are some toilets in the greater park. At the park, there is an automated accessible pay-toilet, so make sure you bring coins.

There’s also a toilet across the road from the park towards the seaside where the Jazz Festival is staged every year.

As the French Riviera can be warm in the summer to say the least, you’ll be happy to hear that the playground is part-shaded by trees, just like the rest of the park.

This means that you can sit and relax in the parts where there is shade and hide from the warm sunlight.

The park isn’t just for children who want to play, but it can and should also be a part of the adults’ plans of things to do in Juan-les-Pins. In fact, you’ll find a number of beautiful flower gardens as well as park benches where you can sit down and relax for a minute and enjoy the pleasant atmosphere. The park is filled with beautiful pine trees that create an absolutely lovely shade. Also, the park is home to many squirrels, so keep your eyes open for those cute little animals.

The park and the surrounding areas are the pla ce where the iconic and big Jazz Festival is on, so during this time, you’ll find plenty of people who sit in the park with picnics and listen to the concerts rather than purchasing tickets.

Port Vauban

Port Vauban is the harbor of Antibes, and this is definitely worth visiting, no matter if you are a huge fan of yachts or not.

If you are a fan of yachts, you’ll be absolutely astonished by the yachts that dock here. Some of the world’s largest yachts regularly stay here, especially during the summer, so chances that you get to see them are quite high.

The harbor has a large number of beautiful superyachts here as it is  Europe’s first marina in tonnage. It has 1642 berth places including 19 berths for superyachts along the well-known IYCA. 

The port is situated in the heart of the French Riviera, between Monaco and St Tropez, and a part of why the harbor is so attractive to the enormous yachts is its strategic location, nestled in an area of amazing architectural and cultural heritage, and incredible scenery.

Port Vauban is often even referred to as the ‘Capital of Yachting’, and Antibes is, with its amazing harbor defined as a port town.

The city is turned towards the sea and has 23 km of coastline and 5 marinas. What more can you ask for?

Also, even if you’re not a huge fan of yachts, the surrounding areas of the port are themselves some of the top things to do in Jan 

Musee Picasso

Among the things to do in Juan-les-Pins Antibes, this is definitely among the top of activities.

The Picasso museum is one of the most popular museums on the French Riviera, and it is so because of many reasons. First off, the Picasso Museum is situated in the old town of Antibes with absolutely incredible surrounding buildings, right on top of the enormous protecting walls of Antibes. Also, the building in which the museum is located in is beautiful as well.

What makes this museum even more special and a more convincing activity of the things to do in Juan-les-Pins and Antibes is the fact that Pablo Picasso actually lived in the house with his wife.

The museum occupies the Château Grimaldi and is an incredible stone castle with views of the sea. The museum gives insights into Pablo Picasso and the life he lived on the French Riviera, especially the works he created when living here. The place where the museum is situated helps give context to Picasso’s paintings, as they’re painted during a special time of his life.

The museum also showcases, apart from Picasso, its collection of contemporary art including pieces from the most important movements of the 20th and 21st centuries. 

• Address: Château Grimaldi, Place Mariejol, Antibes 4 Chemin des Douaniers
• Official site: http://www.antibesjuanlespins.com/en/art-et-culture/picasso-museum

Marché Provencal

The Marché Provencal is one of the most popular things to do in Juan-les-Pins and Antibes among tourists and locals.

The Provencal market is a highly popular and iconic traditional French Riviera market where, every day, the sellers put out their stalls of traditional French and Provencal products with a special emphasis on vegetables, fruit, and other foods such as fish and spices.

Here, you’ll also be able to find fragrances and an endless number of fresh regional produced products such as cheese, flowers, and much more.

Because of this market’s true Provencal atmosphere, many tourists find visiting this market among the top things to do in Juan-les-Pins and Antibes as it allows them to experience the true Cote daze culture, not just the boring and regular tourist places.

Note that the market is open every day except Mondays from 1st September to 31st May), in the covered hall, cours Masséna, from 6 am to 1 pm.

Musee PEYNET et du Dessin Humoristique

This lovely museum in Antibes is definitely well worth visiting if you are in Juan-les-Pins or Antibes.

It is a unique museum which displays a collection of various sculptures, humorous drawings, and comic strips.

The museum was founded and opened in 1995 and is dedicated to the cartoonist Raymond Peynet and his work.

His sixty-year-long career has shaped this museum and is represented here through the exhibitions. These include everything from lithographs, etchings, drawings etc.

Also, the museum regularly hosts temporary exhibitions with the purpose of showcasing other cartoonists’ works.

Address: Place National, Antibes

Fort Carré 

If you are in Juan-les-Pins or Antibes, you have to visit Fort Carré.

It has been featured in a James Bond movie and is truly a special fort.

The fort is situated on the peninsula of Saint-Roch, built on a rock 26 meters above sea level which provides a stunning 360-degree panoramic view. 

The fort was built on the orders of King Henry II of France in the second half of the sixteenth century and was once used as a sentry post and a site for defending Antibes. Furthermore, the fort is also surrounded by four beautiful hectares of parkland with typical Mediterranean flora and fauna. As you can see in the photo, the Port Vauban harbor can also be found south of the fort.

This is definitely an experience out of the ordinary and certainly worth visiting.

Notre-Dame de Bon Port

This is the largest church in Antibes and something that should be on your activity plans of things to do in Juan-les-Pins and Antibes.

The Cathedral has a rose-colored facade according to traditional Provençal Baroque architecture.

The cathedral is situated in the heart of the old town of Antibes, and can as such be accessed easily no matter if you’re in Juan-les-Pins or Antibes.

The entrance of the cathedral is absolutely stunning, with intricately detailed doors which were sculpted by Jacques Dolle during the 18th century. 

While the outside is magnificent, it is the inside that’s most incredible.

Inside the cathedral, you’ll find amazing artwork inside the cathedral, including the Vierge du Rosaire painting by Louis Bréa from about 1513. 

This iconic painting depicts Mary holding the Christ child.

If you enjoy beautiful architecture, especially traditional Provencal architecture, and incredible churches, this is definitely worth a visit.

Cathedrale Notre Dame de la Platea d’Antibes 

The Antibes cathedral, in French named Cathédrale Notre-Dame-de-la-Platea d’Antibes, is a Roman Catholic church and cathedral which can be found in Antibes. The cathedral is a national monument, built in the 5th or 6th century.

Rumors have it that St Paul was arrested here on a journey to Spain in 63 AD. Since being built, the church has undergone a number of changes and transformations.

In fact, in 1124, the church was partly destroyed, then rebuilt in the early 13th century. The current facade of the church is in Italian style after having been rebuilt in 1747 after a heavy bombardment. 

When stepping inside, you’ll find some absolutely amazing artworks which date back all the way to the Renaissance and modern periods. One object which can be found is the crucifix from the middle of the 15th century in the choir. The transept chapel painted by Provençal artist Louis Brea in the 16th century: it represents The Virgin with the Rosary. The carved portal by Jacques Dole which dates back to the beginning of the 18th century.

The church

It was formerly the seat of the Bishops of Antibes, later the Bishops of Grasse. It was not restored after the French Revolution and was added by the Concordat of 1801 to the Diocese of Nice.

The church has a long and rich history, and therefore, it is an incredible venue and monument to visit for tourists who want to explore stunning architecture and the Cote daze history.

Plage du Ponteil

Plage du Ponteil can be found in the west of central Antibes. Plage du Ponteil is a beach with beautiful silky, white sand which stretches about a kilometer from Royal Beach Restaurant in the east to the Antibes Yacht Club. If you want to make beach relaxation and sunbathing one of your activities and things to do in Juan-les-Pins and Antibes, Plage du Ponteil is a great beach to spend time at.

There, you can, apart from relaxing in the gorgeous sunshine, swim in the azure blue waters, and enjoy a picnic, also rent kayaks and paddleboards.

The benefit of this beach is that it is a bay and thus sheltered from harsh winds. The water at this lovely sandy beach is shallow for quite a long distance which makes it a great beach for children and families.

For further safety, lifeguards are on duty from mid-June to mid-September here, and and the beach is also handicap accessible.

Along the beach is a pedestrian promenade with benches where you can sit down and relax, many of which are shaded by trees, which makes it possible to sit there in the middle of the day as well.

Plage du Ponteil is considered to be one of the most beautiful beaches in Antibes, and the beach is completely free.

No matter if you’re in Juan-les-Pins or Antibes, the beach is easy to access, and if you come by car, there’s also a long parking situated along the beach. Between September 16 to June 14, parking is free. After that, parking costs €3 from 8 am to 2 pm or from 2 to 7 pm. You can also pay €5 for the entire day.

This beach is generally calmer than the main beach of Juan-les-Pins and therefore more relaxing, but don’t mistake that there won’t be any people during summer, because during the high season, it is packed.

Eglise Notre Dame de la Pinede

This is an absolutely gorgeous church located just across the park which has already been listed here as one of the things to do in Juan-les-Pins.

The church is built in a stunning architecture, and if you wish to enter, you can do so, too.

Musee National Fernand-Leger

This museum is a French national museum situated in Biot, Alpes-Maritimes. While the museum isn’t situated in Antibes nor Juan-les-Pins, the museum is situated close to Antibes and only takes some minute to get to. This is why we still decided to include it in the list of things to do in Antibes since many people find it well worth visting.

The Fernand Léger Museum is dedicated to the work of the twentieth-century artist Fernand Léger. The museum was originally privately owned, but now, it is a state museum completely entitled to him.

It was in 1955 when the museum was built. It was done so after the death of him by Nadia Léger and Georges Bauquier. In 1957, constructions of the museum began, and in 1960, the museum opened 

The gardens of the museum were Henri Fish. This garden doesn’t just include flowers but is a part of the museum experience itself as it contains sculptures based on Léger’s work.

If you’re interested in art, this museum is certainly worth visiting!

Thuret Garden (Jardin Thuret )

Looking to experience the nature of Provence, beautiful flowers, and plants, them Thuret garden is the place to visit.

The Thuret garden is a 3.5 hectares renowned botanical garden located on the grounds of the Villa Thuret, 90. THe garden is open weekdays without charge.

In 1857, the garden was created by Gustave Thuret. Gustave was, unsurprisingly a botanist best known for studies of reproduction in algae. Gustave used it to conduct plant acclimatization trials.

The garden was bequeathed to the nation in 1878, and in 1927, it was attached to the Institute of Agronomic Research.

Today, if you plan to visit, it can be good to know that the garden contains about 2,500 trees and shrubs in its collections. This number represents about 1,600 exotic species from all over the world, including South Africa, Australia, California, Chile, and Mexico, and more. Furthermore, about 50 to 100 new species are also planted each year. in the garden.

If you enjoy gardens, plants, and the lovely calm atmosphere of gardens, Thuret garden is the garden you must visit as it is undoubtedly one of the best gardens on the French Riviera

Palais des Congrès Antibes Juan-les-Pins

If you are looking for things to do in Juan-les-pins which are located in Juan-les-Pins, this is one of the activities you can embark on, and values to visit.

Inside of the Congress building in Antibes is the tourist office, and here you can get help with all of your tourist questions.

The building is quite new and built in a very modern design, however, it is mainly used for conferences, and so if you aren’t here specifically on conferences, there might be no real reason for you to enter, other than to admire the building and to visit the tourist office.

Musee d’Archeologie

If you’re interested in history and museum, you’ll be happy to see that there’s another museum on the list of things to do in Juan-les-Pins.

Another museum worth visiting is the archeological museum.

The archeological museum in Antibes isn’t just any museum but a museum that is definitely worth visiting.

• It is open every day except on Monday and the 1^st January, 1^st May, 1^st November, 25^th December.
• From November to January, closed on Sunday.
• Open from 10:00am to 13:00pm and from 2:00pm to 5:00pm.
  From February to October, open from 10:00am to 12:30pm and from 2:00pm to 6:00pm.

Late night opening in July and August on Wednesdays and Fridays until 8:00 pm.

At this museum, you can find collections of objects which have been found during various excavations in the city of Antibes and the surrounding waters. 

During the years that the city has been excavated, lots of objects have been found which tell the story about Antibes past. The museum showcases typical objects which have been found here which can be traced back to the wrecks of Etruscan, Greek, Phoenician and Roman ships. These objects include things like ceramics, amphorae, mosaics, coins and other everyday objects. Many of the objects represented in the collection are objects which date back to Antibes’ beginnings. This was a time when it was an ancient Greek settlement and then a Roman city. 

If you not only want to learn more about the history of Antibes but also experience interesting objects which date far back, this museum in Antibes is certainly a special experience and one of the things to do in Antibes which suits a lot of people.

• 1, avenue Général Maizière
• Bastion Saint André
• 06600 ANTIBES
• France
• Telephone 
• +33 (0)4 92 90 53 36

La Baigneuse

This is a statue situated along the promenade at Juan-les-Pins. It isn’t a statue worth taking a detour for, but if you are passing by, it’s worth taking a look at this statue.

Parc Exflora

This delightful park is made up of 5 hectares and is public.

As you would expect, the garden and park embraces Mediterranean traditions and plants and showcases different expressions of the Mediterranean garden. This includes expressions from ancient Rome to the exuberant Riviera of the 19th century.

At the park entrance, there’s a main terrace which is designed in an  Italian Renaissance style, and this terrace gives the visitors a magical view of the garden.

The park has many roses which are meant to illustrate the famous production of roses of Antibes.

The garden at this park offers a stunning view of the Mediterranean sea and the Lérins Islands.

The garden is made in an 18th-century style and tradition, and thus, it contains a labyrinth of cut shrubs, creating a playful green space

If you’re passionate about gardens, plants, flowers, or simply just want to find a calm atmosphere of nature, Parc Explore is certainly worth a visit.

Chapelle Saint-Bernardin

This stunning chapel is classified as a historical monument and dates back to the 16th-century. Accordingly, it is a church in Gothic gothic style, which has been built for the Brotherhood of the White Penitents of Saint Bernardin. 

The church showcases incredible details and architecture and is absolutely stunning to look at.

Address: 14 Rue du Docteur Rostan, Antibes

Canoeing and kayaking

If you want your list of things to do in Juan-les-Pins and Antibes to include more action-filled activities, why not go canoeing or kayaking?

The waters around Antibes and Juan-les-Pins are absolutely magical, and with a canoe and kayak, you can go from the two respective places. It is especially beautiful to go canoeing or kayaking outside the enormous protecting walls of the old town of Antibes. There are a number of different places in both Antibes and Juan-les-Pins where you can rent canoes and kayaks.

Vieil Antibes (Old Town)

How you can you visit Antibes or Juan-les-Pins without adding visiting the old town to the list of things to do in Juan-les-Pins and Antibes?

The old town of Antibes is one of the most iconic old towns on the French Riviera with a long and rich history and has absolutely stunning buildings, built in a very traditional style which reflects the time the town was built.

The history of the old town of Antibes is incredible, and in order to experience it, you have to be there, and see it with your own eyes – the buildings, the views, the atmosphere, and the sceneries.

The buildings have small, narrow streets, winding cobblestone, filled with small traditional French boutiques, just like you’d imagine from a traditional Provencal town.

It has many picturesque cafés and restaurants where you can sit down and relax for a minute, and as it is located right next to the Mediterranean, it offers some of the most incredible views.

The old town of Antibes or vieil Antibes truly has a typical character of an old Mediterranean city. Old Antibes is a medieval quarter with a great charm and a place you certainly must visit if you want to experience true Procenval culture and way of life.

Cap d’Antibes and Juan-les-Pins Beaches

The coastline of Antibes and Juan-les-Pins and Antibes are some of the most beautiful coastlines on the French Riviera, and the beach scene of these towns is something that draws a lot of tourists.

Cap d’Antibes peninsula creates some absolutely stunning bathing spots and sceneries, and Juan-les-Pins coastline with comfortable white sand is everything you may ask for for a day on the beach on the French Riviera. 

The beach life has helped shape both Antibes and Juan-les-Pins and has influenced them heavy, and throughout their history, when sunbathing and swimming became something trendy, the tourists flocked to these towns.

 In the area, there are 13 public beaches. These 13 beaches are made up of everything from small protected beaches to larger beaches with waterfront restaurants.

There are, in other word beaches for all preferences and tastes here.

If you are looking for things to do in Juan-les-Pins and Antibes, enjoying the lovely beaches is definitely something you shouldn’t miss.

Chemin des Douaniers

The Cumin des Douanier makes up a five-kilometer coastal walk which creates an amazing hiking/walking experience with magical scenery. Walking this path allows you to see more than just the traditional tourist sights in the city.

The path begins at the ramparts of the Old Town. The path then leads to a small cove, eventually leading you to the parklands of private castles. From here, you continue around the mainland and continue until the tip of Cap d’Antibes at the Villa Eilenroc. As you’re walking, you’ll be able to enjoy magical sceneries and jaw-dropping nature.

If you’re going to take this path, have in mind that the path is rocky so make sure you bring good shoes.

Jazz à Juan Festival

This is one of the most iconic festivals Riviera, and certainly in Juan-les-Pins. No matter if you’re a big fan of jazz music or just like the music, the Jazz festival should definitely be on your list of things to do in Juan-les-Pins if you are there during the time of the festival, because it creates the whole town into a music festival that explodes into a very special and joyous atmosphere.

The well-known Jazz à Juan festival, Juan-les-Pins on the French jazz festival is held in Antibes every July.

Initially, the jazz festival was held as a tribute to the famous Jazz musician Sidney Bechet who was a huge fan of Antibes. Since its start, it has welcomed some of the world’s most iconic jazz musicians.

Official site: http://www.jazzajuan.com/en-us/home.aspx