A Guide to Hiking the Sentier du Littoral of Antibes

The sentier du littoral (coastal walkway) by Antibes is a 1-2 hour hike along a narrow, coastal trail that is somewhat of a hidden gem among the flashy destinations of Monaco, Eze, or Nice along the Cote d’Azur.

I think it’s a lovely way to experience a part of the Riviera coast – following a super cool path that takes you right along the water’s edge, traversing winding stairs, through cool little alcoves and beaches, and providing gorgeous views. As far as walks go, you really can’t beat it!

How to Get to the Sentier du Littoral by Antibes

Many people spend a day in Antibes while staying in Nice. Taking a day trip to Antibes is truly one of the best things to do in Nice – Antibes is a beautiful city with lovely beaches, and of course, this stunning coastal path.

The easiest way to get to Antibes from Nice is by train, which only costs about 4 euro per ride and takes about 20 minutes. Check what platform your train is leaving from, and make sure to validate your ticket in the orange machines before you board (very important).

Getting From the City of Antibes to Cap d’Antibes

If you arrive by train from Nice (or any other city), you will be arriving at the Gare d’Antibes (Antibes train station). The Sentier Littoral starts at Plage de la Garoupe (Garoupe beach) on Cap d’Antibes (the cape of Antibes).

The walk between those two places is pretty long, about 50 minutes. If you don’t want to walk, you can either catch a taxi or an uber, or take a (much shorter) bus ride.

The gare routière (bus station) is just about a five minute walk from the train station. It’s located at 1 Place Guynemer. You will take the #2 bus to the Fontaine stop – this should take about 15 minutes.

Once at the Fontaine stop, walk east on Blvd John Fitzgerald Kennedy (apparently the Kennedy’s frequently summered in the area and stayed at a Hotel on this street). Turn right on Blvd de la Garoupe, and finally right on Chemin de la Garoupe to get to the beach.

It’s an easy 10 minute walk from the station to the beach. On the far end of the beach, the trail starts!

The Sentier du Littoral Trail

The sentier du littoral trail winds all along the coast of the cape with a variety of landscapes. The most iconic sections tend to get very narrow and go down close to the water as you walk along those craggily rocks that just scream “Mediterranean” to me.

These sections often have great lookout points or coves where the water will crash into large sprays as the waves are forced to narrow suddenly against the rocks.

Other sections feature charming stone work – from stairways to covered walks to old buildings. Still other sections widen out and feel more park-like as you walk along the edge of the grounds of some very ritzy properties, and you can admire some really exquisite landscaping.

The variety means you’ll never get bored, and, of course, the whole way you have great views of the sea!

The trail ends at the Bay of Antibes Billionaires (yes, it’s really called that.) The bay has a rocky beach and some really cool stone formations to explore. There are a few spots where you can spread out a picnic, relax and enjoy the views!

While it’s quite a rocky beach, the views are really beautiful and it’s still one of my favorite beaches on the French Riviera.

We spent a couple of hours walking and exploring the trail and all the cool little spots. It’s a very easy walk, despite some stairs and some uneven, rocky spots. If you are with young kids, you’ll want to keep a very close eye on them, as there are a few spots with steep drop-offs into the sea.

We were there in the beginning of April, and there were just a handful of other people on the trail. I’m sure there are more people in summer, but I get the impression that it’s not a super touristy trail or highly trafficked trail, while still being well-known locally.

Getting Back

Once you are done at the Bay of Antibes Billionaires, there is a little path that takes you back out to a regular road. It will connect you to Avenue Mrs. Beaumont, which will take you back to the bus station on Blvd John Fitzgerald Kennedy.

The walk is about 10 minutes long and is really fun – it’s down quiet streets, past big manors and estates that you can peek at as you walk by.

Tip: Double check the bus timetable before you leave so you know about when to get to the bus stop, and to make sure you don’t miss the last bus!

Practical Information

Other Day Trip Options

From Nice or Aix-en-Provence, you can also visit many other beautiful villages in France. We visited and loved the beautiful cities of Menton and Monaco.

The Calanques of Cassis are a stunning place to hike, and La Gorge du Verdon is a beautiful canyon. Pont du Gard is a really impressive Roman aqueduct. There are so many places to explore in Provence!

Final Thoughts

Overall, we loved this pleasant afternoon walking the sentier du littoral of Antibes and would definitely recommend a stop at this off the beaten path location in Provence!

You might also be interested in:

• Where to Eat in Nice (Best Foods and Restaurants)
• A Definitive Guide for Hiking the Calanques of Cassis
• Visiting Pont du Gard: An Old Roman Aqueduct

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