The Plage du Ponteil in Antibes is an ideal destination for a sunny day. It’s our favorite beach in town, offering a beautiful view of old Antibes and the snowy peaks of the Alps. Bordered by a seafront promenade, it is well-equipped and close to numerous amenities.
Here’s our guide to help you plan your visit: map, access, sand, conditions…
This guide is completely independent, based on our experiences. We visited the region anonymously, making our own choices and paying our bills in full.
Why visit the Plage du Ponteil in Antibes?
It’s our favorite beach in Antibes and even in the Provence-Alpes Côte d’Azur region! We listed it in our article on the best beaches on the Côte d’Azur, because we were overwhelmed by the magnificent panoramas it offers.
In our opinion, the 3 reasons to visit this beach are:
- Its beautiful view over the old town and the peaks of the Alps: in our opinion, it’s even the ideal place to admire the ramparts of Antibes, and one of the most beautiful landscapes in the region!
- Its length: although the beach is located in the city center, it’s larger than some of the other hypercentre beaches, such as La Gravette.
- Amenities: well-equipped and easy to access, the beach is close to restaurants and hotels, as well as a nautical base where you can try your hand at sailing.
This is a must-see beach in Antibes. See our list.
Access and map – Plage du Ponteil, Antibes
Where is Plage du Ponteil?
- In the town of Antibes, between Cannes and Nice.
- South of Old Antibes, along the Promenade de l’Amiral de Grasse.
- From the old town: 20-minute walk along the seafront
How to get there – access road
You have several options for accessing the Plage du Ponteil parking lot:
- Get there by car. These are city streets, so it’s easy to find your way around, even if there can be traffic jams, especially in high season. Allow 10min from Old Antibes.
- On foot from the old town: a pleasant 15-minute walk along the seafront promenade.
- Withenvibus line 14 (Parking du Ponteil or Ilette stop).
OUR TPS FOR RENTING YOUR CAR IN Provence
- Compare prices on our preferred platform: DiscoverCars – one of the best rated sites.
- Choose a car that is powerful enough (the roads are steep) but compact (some passages are narrow).
- Think of thecomplete insurance (some roads are tortuous and narrow).
- There is a lot of demand, book it early.
Parking de la Plage du Ponteil
Parking is available at a charge, next to the beach. It includes bicycle parking and electric charging stations. In high season, it fills up fast.
Access to the beach from the parking lot
It’s a 5-minute walk from the parking lot to the beach. There are no particular difficulties.
WHERE TO STAY IN Antibes
Option 1: near the ramparts
Close to the ramparts, to enjoy the charm of the old town and all the restaurants.
Hôtel la Villa Port – See prices, photos and availability
On the beach side (Ponteil and Salis) with views of the ramparts and mountains.
Hôtel La Jabotte – See prices, photos and availability
In Juan-les-Pins, in the heart of the peninsula.
Hôtel La Villa Cap d’Antibes – See prices, photos and availability
On the sand and in the water…practical advice
Best time to visit
Plage du Ponteil is popular and quite busy. In summer, be sure to come early to enjoy some space and peace and quiet. Outside summer, you should have no trouble finding space all day long on weekdays.
Beach type and size
A large sandy beach, Plage du Ponteil is bordered by a concrete promenade. It’s a really pleasant place to settle!
Conditions for swimming
It offers a gentle slope and gradual depth, water quality is monitored and there are no identified risks. For these reasons, this beach is ideal for safe swimming in turquoise waters.
Facilities and activities
Monitoring
The beach is supervised from 9am to 7pm from June 14 to September 15. A first-aid post is also open during this period. It’s forbidden to go to the beach all year round from midnight to 6am.
Showers, toilets, deckchairs…
This beach is equipped with showers and toilets.
Shadow
Unfortunately, there’s no shade on this beach. Don’t forget to bring your sun protection!
Nautical activities
A sailing school is located close to the beach.
Catering
Plage du Ponteil is located in town, which means there are plenty of restaurants and hotels nearby.
A LITTLE MORE patience
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Information for children, mobility, dogs, naturism…
- Ponteil Beach with children
Unfortunately, there are no games for children at Plage du Ponteil, and ball games are prohibited. However, the beach is ideal for safe swimming as there are few waves and little slope.
- Ponteil Beach with a dog
Unfortunately, pets are not allowed.
- La Plage du Ponteil for reduced mobility
Plage du Ponteil is handiplage. It is therefore accessible to people with reduced mobility. There are adapted showers and toilets. During the season, a personalized service is available 7 days a week from 9:30 am to 6:30 pm for all types of disability.
- La Plage du Ponteil and naturism
Naturism is not permitted on Plage du Ponteil.
What to see on and around the beach
Old Antibes and Château Grimaldi
From the beach, you can see the old town of Antibes, recognizable by its ramparts and château. It houses the Picasso Museum, which we recommend you visit if you want to discover new facets of this major 20th-century artist!
The Archaeology Museum
If you walk from the beach along the seafront promenade, called Promenade de l’Amiral de Grasse, you’ll come across the Musée d’Archéologie. Housed in a 17th-century Vauban fort, it is home to some remarkable artefacts from underwater excavations!
La Plage de la Salis
This beach is located next to Plage du Ponteil and the nautical base. As large as Plage du Ponteil, it has the advantage of being closer to Cap de la Garoupe. On the other hand, it’s just as busy, and we prefer the one at Le Ponteil.
Find out all our ideas for activities in Antibes in our dedicated article!
SHE MADE THE TRIP Claire
