Nice or Antibes for South of France Homebase

Posted by travelbug_a_g on 10/15/25 02:36 PM

My partner and I are traveling on a 14 day trip in France, ending with four full days in the South of France. We are deciding between Nice or Antibes as a homebase. Any recommendations or rationale for choosing either? We will be traveling in cities large and small-ish prior (Paris, Strasbourg, Lyon) and this will be the last leg of the trip. We will be in the South of France the first week in June. The main concern we have is eating out and having access to solid restaurants.

Would Antibes be more relaxing? Nice more access to day trips? Any insight is helpful!

Posted by Lulu348

Indiana

10/15/25 03:49 PM

1152 posts

We just got back from Nice, our 2nd time, two weeks ago. We visited Antibes the first time. Nice just has so much to offer with Old town, access to the hilltops fairly easily. The beaches are pebble, but the private ones (like blue beach), are so darn European with waiter service. The promenade de Anglais for gorgeous strolls. My vote is Nice. You will not feel like you are in a city, but a town.

Posted by Gooster

Nice, France & San Francisco

10/15/25 04:17 PM

798 posts

It may depend on what time of year you are going? Antibes (or nearby) has sandy beaches, but it can have less to offer in the offseason as a base. Nice is less seasonal but may be too crowded for some in peak season, but has quiet spots as well and has better connections and choice of activities, especially in the offseason.

Posted by avirosemail

northern CA

10/15/25 04:39 PM

3200 posts

Local train connections are about the same; bus connections are somewhat better in Nice.

Nice beaches are colorful and pebbly; Antibes beaches are sandy, slightly less colorful.

Great dining can be found everywhere, so long as you don't go by crowdsourced ratings in review apps.

Tourists always go ga ga over the Cours Selaya in Nice but the semi-covered market in Antibes still has some regular vendors, not just tourist booths.

Either way, use the Promenade Anglais to get past the point on the other side of Nice from Antibes to where the WWI memorial is, and you will shed 80% of the tourist traffic.

Posted by jphbucks

SoCal

10/15/25 07:45 PM

2138 posts

I see no incentive to pick Antibes over Nice. Antibes is a tourist town; Nice is a large working city. I suppose that's the primary question: which is more appealing to you? It's easier to get to other seaside towns like Villefranche-sur-Mer, Cap Ferrat and Menton from Nice. All these are worth visiting, with Villefranche-sur-Mer being my favorite. Lunch there at La Mère Germain is a treat one shouldn't miss.

Secondary comment: the "sandy" beaches I saw in Antibes were a bit sandy and a bit pebbly. Nice actually has a small section of beach that they've covered with sand, but the locals don't seem to seek it out.

Posted by GoYears

10/15/25 07:52 PM

32 posts

We stayed in Nice at a vrbo on the Promenade. Beautiful area, walked all over. The promenade is very busy with traffic and people, but nice views., especially the ocean. The vrbo is NJ Blue Promenade. would recommend. We took day to Antibes. It is also very nice, worth going. Nice is bigger and has many options.

Posted by mrbrianmgibbs

10/15/25 10:24 PM

57 posts

I've stayed in both Antibes and Nice.
I'd choose Antibes over Nice in terms of natural beauty, ease of living, and comfort.
Nice, being the larger venue, has a lot to offer. During our first visit, based in Nice, we enjoyed the glamour of the Promenade des Anglais and environs. Beach-facing cocktail bars, the view, the liveliness. A year later we stayed in Antibes, visiting Nice as a day trip, and swore to ourselves Antibes was the place to stay.