Plage de la Gravette, Antibes | Top 150 Bikini Destinations
ANTIBES, CÔTE D’AZUR / FRANCE
Through the ramparts to
Plage de la Gravette.
Swim beside the old town walls, then follow the waterfront from Port Vauban to the Cap.
Plan your beach day ↘TOP 150 BIKINI DESTINATIONS / CÔTE D’AZUR
A sandy cove
behind the harbor wall.
Plage de la Gravette is a small, sheltered arc of pale sand between Old Antibes and Port Vauban.
Start at the harbor gate and give the morning to the sand. In the afternoon, trade your towel for shoes and walk past the market and the Picasso Museum, or head south along the waterfront.
ON THE WORLD MAP
France’s Mediterranean coast
Plage de la Gravette, Antibes, Côte d’Azur
01 / GETTING THERE
Start in Nice.
Arriving in Antibes
Antibes railway station entrance.
Photo: Abxbay · CC BY-SA 4.0Get around Antibes
Old Antibes and Gravette are easy to combine on foot. For a car, use the Pré aux Pêcheurs garage near the harbor.
On the beach
The city lists lifeguards from mid-June through mid-September, 9 am to 7 pm. Check the posted flag and municipal swimming advisories before entering. Beach status ↗
02 / BEACH ESSENTIALS
Know before you go.
A sheltered public beach with restrooms and showers, and food a short walk away in Old Antibes.
01 / HOW TO GET THERE
Walk in through Porte Marine
Allow about 15 minutes on foot from Antibes station via Port Vauban, or take the Envibus shuttle to Porte Marine. The paid Pré aux Pêcheurs garage is near the gate. Check the operator for current rates and reservations. There is no published fill time. Aim for a morning arrival on summer weekends.
Official garage rates and booking ↗02 / BEACH ACCESS
Use the harbor-side approach
From Porte Marine it is a short, mostly level walk to the beach edge, about two to three minutes. Use the harbor-side approach for a stroller or wheelchair. Loose sand makes the final stretch harder. Check the posted conditions after rough seas. The return is along the same route.
03 / THE SAND
Pale, fine sand
The main crescent is sandy, with stone breakwaters at its edges. Dry sand can get hot at midday. Sandals help on the approach. Water shoes are optional on the central sandy stretch.
04 / FOOD & WATER
Buy provisions in the old town
Bring drinking water and pick up lunch in Old Antibes before settling in. The covered market is a short walk away. Check its current days and hours, and carry a few euros for market purchases. A regular on-sand vendor and drinking fountain could not be confirmed.
05 / CHAIRS & UMBRELLAS
Bring your own shade
No regular lounger or umbrella rental was confirmed at Gravette. Bring portable shade for the open sand. The ramparts cast shade over parts of the beach later in the day.
06 / RESTROOMS & SHOWERS
Public toilets and showers
The regional tourism board lists public restrooms and showers. The city lists the beach’s lifeguard and first-aid post from mid-June through mid-September, 9 am to 7 pm. Separate changing rooms, fixture hours, and any restroom fee could not be confirmed.
03 / THE BEACH
A day at Plage de la Gravette.
Between the old town and the Cap
Aerial view of Plage de la Gravette beside Old Antibes and Port Vauban.
Photo: Abxbay · CC BY-SA 3.001 / MORNING
Through the gate
Enter from the harbor and choose a spot on the sand.
02 / SWIM
Swim inside the cove
Read the flag and stay within the marked swimming area.
03 / WALK
Walk the waterfront
Head south past the ramparts toward the town beaches.
04 / LUNCH
Lunch in Old Antibes
Take the short walk back through the gate for lunch.
Swim in the morning when conditions allow, then have lunch by the market. Walk south past the ramparts to Ponteil and La Salis, or head southwest to Juan-les-Pins for the evening. On a rainy day, check the Picasso Museum’s hours and see the collection inside Château Grimaldi.
04 / NEARBY BEACHES
Three beaches south of Gravette.
Ponteil and La Salis are close enough to combine on foot. La Garoupe sits farther south on the Cap. Distances are straight line.
Plage du Ponteil
A long public stretch of sand with shallow water and a view toward the old town.
- Best for
- An easy waterfront walk
- Facilities
- Seasonal lifeguards, public toilets and showers, nearby parking
- Good to know
- Ask the summer beach staff about assisted access.
Plage de la Salis
A shallow, sandy shore by the small Port de la Salis.
- Best for
- A walk along the ramparts and a second swim
- Facilities
- Seasonal lifeguards, public toilets and showers, parking by the port
- Good to know
- Use the marked swimming area away from the harbor entrance.
Plage de la Garoupe
A sandy cove on Cap d’Antibes with a public stretch and nearby concessions.
- Best for
- A swim before the Tirepoil coastal walk
- Facilities
- Public restrooms, seasonal first aid, parking at Boulevard André Sella
- Good to know
- The public beach remains open during access works. Check the city’s current route before driving.
Distances are straight-line from Plage de la Gravette. Facilities change by season, so check on the day.
05 / MUST-SEE PLACES
From the old town to the fort.
01 / OLD ANTIBES
Picasso Museum
See the works Picasso made in Antibes in the château where he worked in 1946. Check the city’s opening hours and book a ticket for a rainy afternoon.
Museum hours and tickets ↗ ↗02 / PORT VAUBAN
Fort Carré
Walk around the harbor to the fort on the far side. Check the tourism office for visit times and access to the ramparts.
Fort visit information ↗ ↗03 / COURS MASSÉNA
Marché Provençal
Browse the covered produce market before heading to the beach. Check the market’s days and hours if you are visiting out of season.
Municipal market hours ↗ ↗EXPLORE THE AREA
Plage de la Gravette and the Antibes waterfront.
Find the harbor north of Gravette, the museum and market to the south, and the two public sandy stretches farther down the waterfront.
Open the interactive map ↗BEYOND THE BEACH
Life around the harbor.
The harbor sits north of the old town, with the Cap farther south.
Château Grimaldi
Stone facade of the Picasso Museum in Antibes.
Photo: Clemensfranz · CC BY-SA 3.0
The Safranier quarter
Place du Safranier in Old Antibes.
Photo: Tiia Monto · CC BY-SA 3.0
Old Antibes lanes
A narrow lane on Rue du Bas Castellet in Old Antibes.
Photo: Abxbay · CC BY-SA 4.0
Fort Carré
Fort Carré above the harbor in Antibes.
Photo: Javier B · CC BY 3.006 / SIX HOTELS
Find your base.
RAIL STATION QUARTER
Hôtel Le Collier
$ Budget · €79–179 per double room in the published season · checked in November · Rate details
A practical base for early trains with the station across the road. About 1 km from Gravette in a straight line.
Hôtel Le Collier official site ↗GAMBETTA
Hôtel de l’Étoile
$ Budget · €76–135 per double room · checked in November · Rate details
Town-center rooms within walking distance of the market and harbor. About 800 m from the beach in a straight line.
Hôtel de l’Étoile official site ↗LA PAROUQUINE
Best Western Plus Antibes Riviera
$$ Mid-Range · €100–400 per double room · checked in November · Rate details
Rooms on Avenue de Nice with parking for trips along the coast. About 1.5 km from the beach in a straight line.
Best Western Plus Antibes Riviera official site ↗ILETTE
Royal Antibes
$$ Mid-Range · €100–350 for a Classic room by season in the published season · checked in November · Rate details
A waterfront base near Ponteil for walks in both directions. About 800 m from Gravette in a straight line.
Royal Antibes official site ↗SARAMARTEL
Hôtel La Villa Cap d’Antibes
$$$ Upscale · €150–440 per double room · checked in November · Rate details
A hillside stay with a pool for time away from the waterfront. About 2.3 km from the beach in a straight line.
Hôtel La Villa Cap d’Antibes official site ↗PORT GALLICE WATERFRONT
Cap d’Antibes Beach Hotel
$$$$ Luxury · €400–2,500 per double room in the published season · checked in November · Rate details
A seasonal waterfront stay near Port Gallice, about 2.5 km from Gravette in a straight line. Check the next season’s opening dates before booking.
Cap d’Antibes Beach Hotel official site ↗
WHEN TO GO
Choose the day you want.
At Météo-France’s Nice station, average July and August highs are about 28°C (82°F). The city lists Gravette’s lifeguard station from mid-June to mid-September. Check local advisories and the beach flag before entering. Climate normals ↗
07 / FOOD, LANGUAGE & LOCAL LIFE
From sand to table.
From the Provençal market
Entrance to the covered Marché Provençal in Antibes.
Photo: Javier B · CC BY 3.0What to order
Try pissaladière, a flatbread topped with slow-cooked onions, or order fish from a waterfront kitchen. Look for seasonal produce at the covered market.
Local habits
Say bonjour when entering a shop or café. Check the restaurant’s service hours and reserve ahead for a weekend dinner.
A LITTLE FRENCH
Useful on the beach and in town.
- Bonjour
- Hello
- L’addition, s’il vous plaît
- The check, please
- La baignade est-elle surveillée ?
- Is swimming supervised?
- Une carafe d’eau, s’il vous plaît
- A pitcher of water, please
SIX RESTAURANTS
Where to eat.
PHILIPPE ROCHAT
Imperia Pizza
$ Budget · €10 for pissaladière or €11.50 for a margherita · Priced menu
Order the onion flatbread at least 24 hours ahead or choose a pizza for takeaway. The shop lists Thursday as its closing day.
Imperia Pizza official site ↗ANTIBES-LES-PINS
Pizza Gargantua
$ Budget · €15–17 for the Pizzaiolo or Gargantua pizza
A takeaway stop on Avenue de Cannes. The shop closes Tuesdays outside July and August. Call ahead to order.
Pizza Gargantua official site ↗ILETTE
Chez Mô
$$ Mid-Range · €20.50 for the weekday set lunch
Try the daily main with a starter or dessert. The lunch deal excludes weekends and holidays. Book ahead.
Chez Mô official site ↗JARDIN PAULINE
Le Patio
$$ Mid-Range · €18 for two courses or €22.50 for three
A garden-side lunch at Les Strélitzias. The restaurant opens daily, with these prices excluding Sundays and special events. Reserve directly.
Le Patio official site ↗VIEIL ANTIBES
Le Vauban
$$$ Upscale · €32 for the set lunch or €59 for five courses
Book for a menu built around the market, with fish and seasonal sides. The set lunch runs Wednesday through Sunday, excluding holidays.
Le Vauban official site ↗PINÈDE WATERFRONT
La Passagère
$$$$ Luxury · €145 for three courses or €175 for the vegetarian tasting menu, spring · Priced menu
A seasonal dinner overlooking the water at Hôtel Belles Rives. The spring menu lists dinner Wednesday through Sunday. Book ahead and check the current menu.
La Passagère official site ↗
By the old market
Small boats in the shelter of Port de l’Olivette.
Photo: Egaowakaii · CC BY 4.008 / CÔTE D’AZUR AFTER DARK
Three bars.
L’Absinthe Bar
A cellar bar by the market with absinthe served with water and sugar. Check the tourism listing before heading out. Official bar listing ↗ ↗
NYKAT
An Old Antibes cocktail bar with alcohol-free drinks and piano or DJ nights. Check the bar’s program for the evening. Drinks and music ↗ ↗
Paseo
Stop for a drink at Hôtel Juana in Juan-les-Pins. Check the lounge’s schedule before making the trip from the old town. Lounge menu ↗ ↗
Stay in Old Antibes to walk back from the harbor. If you spend the evening in Juan-les-Pins, check the last train or arrange a taxi before dinner.
09 / ANTIBES EVENT CALENDAR & MONEY
Plan around the celebrations.
Les Voiles d’Antibes
The last edition took place late May, at Port Vauban, with classic yachts racing offshore and a public regatta village at Bastion Saint-Jaume. The organizer lists early June for the next edition. Check the current program ↗ before traveling.
Les Voiles d’Antibes official site ↗Jazz à Juan
The last festival ran early to mid-July, with outdoor concerts at Pinède Gould in Juan-les-Pins. Use the festival’s ticket office ↗ for booking and access details.
Jazz à Juan ↗Currency / Euro
France uses the euro (EUR, €). Carry a little cash for market purchases and confirm card acceptance at the stall.
European Union country profile ↗10 / WHAT TO WEAR
Dress for sand and stone.
THE BEACH KIT
Swim.
Walk.
Stay out.
On the sand
Wear the Antibes Lilac bikini with a loose shirt and sandals you can wear from the sand to the market.
On the walk back
Slip on sandals for hot sand and the paved harbor approach. Pack sunscreen for the exposed waterfront.
In town
Bring a light layer and something dry to change into for a meal in the old town.
11 / BEFORE YOU LEAVE
Good to know.
Which airport should I use?
Nice Côte d’Azur Airport is northeast of Antibes. Use the airport’s regional transport guide to connect to Antibes by train, or arrange a transfer.
Is Gravette suitable for swimming?
The breakwaters shelter the cove. Antibes rated Gravette’s bathing water sufficient in its July report. Check the flag, lifeguard hours, and any local restrictions before going in.
Can I reach the beach without stairs?
The short harbor approach reaches the beach edge without a cliff staircase. The loose sand can still be difficult for wheelchairs and strollers.
Can I rent a beach chair at Gravette?
A regular rental operator could not be confirmed. Bring shade and a towel if you plan to stay on the public sand.
Can I get there without a car?
Yes. Walk from Antibes station via the harbor or take the Envibus town shuttle to Porte Marine.
FOG & FOUNDRY / SWIM
Lilac on the Côte d’Azur.
A lilac bandeau bikini set for a day between the sand and the harbor gate.
Shop the bikini ↗
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