Making the Most of Antibes

Success in Antibes comes from matching expectations to reality. This isn't a party destination like Juan-les-Pins in July or a purely cultural stop like hilltop villages. It's a living town that happens to have exceptional assets—museums, beaches, history, cuisine—integrated into daily life.

Stay at least two nights to understand Antibes's rhythm. Spend mornings in the old town when locals dominate. Hit beaches during traditional lunch hours when French families take siestas. Return to town for evening rampart walks as light transforms the bay. Take time for a proper meal, respecting the pace that makes dining here memorable.

Most importantly, resist over-scheduling. Antibes rewards wandering—through market stalls, along ramparts, between beaches, among port cafés. The town's modest size means you can't really get lost, just temporarily misdirected toward new discoveries.

This is Antibes's gift: a place sophisticated enough to have attracted Picasso and Graham Greene, yet relaxed enough that fishermen still matter more than film stars. Come expecting a typical Riviera resort and you'll miss the point. Arrive ready to embrace a real community that happens to occupy one of the Mediterranean's most beautiful settings, and Antibes will reveal why it's captured creative souls for centuries.# Chapter 7: Menton - Italian Influences and Garden Culture

At the Riviera's eastern edge, where France meets Italy, Menton cultivates its own distinct paradise. Here, the Alps tumble directly to the sea, creating a microclimate so mild that lemons grow year-round and tropical plants flourish outdoors. This "Pearl of France" feels different from its glamorous neighbors—quieter, more refined, arguably more beautiful, and certainly more affordable.

Menton rewards those seeking authentic Riviera life without the pretense. Its Belle Époque architecture remains lived-in rather than museumified. Its beaches welcome families rather than fashionistas. Its restaurants serve honest Italian-influenced cuisine to locals who remember when their grandparents spoke Mentonnais. Most remarkably, its extraordinary gardens—both public and private—offer accessible beauty that rivals any exclusive resort.