Museum of Archaeology (Antibes): visit + photos

When you visit Antibes, you’ll undoubtedly want to take a stroll along its ramparts, on the shores of the Mediterranean. Walk along the Promenade de l’Amiral de Grasse, linking Old Antibes to Plage du Ponteil, and you’ll come across the Bastion Saint-André. Built by Vauban at the end of the 17th century, it houses the Musée d’Archéologie d’Antibes. We were delighted to visit it, learning more about the city’s origins through some remarkable objects.

Here are our practical tips for planning your visit to the Musée d’Archéologie in Antibes.

Discover our article on the Musée d'Archéologie d'Antibes!

This guide is completely independent, based on our experiences. We visited the region anonymously, making our own choices and paying our bills in full.

Content masquer

Is a visit to the Museum of Archaeology worthwhile?

What you can see

Access to the Musée d’Archéologie in Antibes

Practical tips for visiting the Archaeology Museum

Is a visit to the Museum of Archaeology worthwhile?

Absolutely! This museum presents objects from underwater and land excavations, which we found fascinating! The tour is chronological, and begins with an introduction to the origins of Antibes, through relics (ceramics, bowls, etc.) attesting to the presence of the Etruscans and Greeks in the area. Then we’re plunged into Roman times. The rest of the tour is more thematic, looking at beliefs in ancient times and the differences between rural and urban life.

Having enjoyed our visit, we have listed this museum in our article on the best museums in Antibes.

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

See our complete selection of the best hotels in Antibes

See all accommodations available on your dates >>.

What you can see

The Antibes “galet”

The visit begins with a presentation of the origins of Antibes, in particular through ceramics attesting to the presence of the Etruscans, then the Greeks, on the territory. However, it was a pebble, probably made of serpentine, that most caught our attention. Dating from the 5th century BC, it contains the oldest inscription in Antibes, and one of the few pre-Hellenistic Greek inscriptions found in the Marseille colonies!

Roman coins

We then discovered Antibes in Roman times, thanks in particular to these coins dating from 44 B.C. In bronze, they depict the head of Apollo adorned with laurels, and on the reverse, Victory crowning a trophy, through the figure of Artemis, Apollo’s twin sister. This shows that the city, recently Romanized, was still under Hellenistic influence.

Ceramics

The next section of the tour focuses on Antibes as a colony of Marseille. The Mediterranean world as a whole is explored through some sixty vases and ceramic objects produced by the civilizations of the Italian peninsula (natives, Greeks, Etruscans and Romans). Our favorite is this impressive Attic vase, made in the Athens region in the 7th century BC. Can you make out its motifs, created using the “red-figure” technique?

Objects from underwater excavations

We then discovered objects from underwater excavations (amphorae…) carried out in Anse Saint-Roch and numerous shipwrecks. They attest to Antibes’ role in the development of trade links as early as the 6th century BC. It’s these wooden anchors with lead jaws that have impressed us the most. We’d never seen one before, but these massive anchors (4th-5th centuries), which succeeded stone ones and preceded iron ones, were impressive!

Objects linked to ancient beliefs

Visitors are then introduced to funeral beliefs and practices in Antiquity. A number of funerary blocks are on display. We were particularly interested in this terracotta statuette from Roman times. It represents the most revered god of the time: Mercury. Can you catch a glimpse of its attributes? In his left hand, he holds a wand surrounded by intertwined snakes surmounted by 2 small wings, and a purse in his right, reminding us that he is the god of crafts and commerce.

A beautiful mosaic (late 2nd century AD)

The visit then plunges us into the rural world, with weaving machine tools and this beautiful mosaic from the late 2nd century A.D. This black and white geometric limestone pavement adorned a gallery bordering the courtyard of a presbytery, and was embellished with a fountain.

Oil lamps

Our tour ended with a section devoted to everyday objects from city life in Antiquity. In addition to the lead pipes, we were able to observe these very well-preserved oil lamps. Various types were on display. We were able to discover oil lamps with rounded spouts, but also with open channels and convex medallions.

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Access to the Musée d’Archéologie in Antibes

Where is the museum?

The museum is located in the Vieil Antibes district, along the Promenade de l’Amiral de Grasse.
It’s a 5-minute walk from the city center and a 10-minute walk from Plage du Ponteil.

Access by car and parking

Parking is difficult in the vicinity of the museum. We recommend parking in a pay parking lot. The Ponteil parking lot and Q-Park La Poste are a 10-minute walk away.

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.

See the cars

See our tips

Public transport access

The Musée d’Archéologie is close to numerous bus routes. A 5-minute walk away, you’ll find the “Avenue Braquier” stop served by line 14, as well as the “Maizière” stop served by lines 2, 14, 30 and 31. We recommend that you consult the transport network map on the official website here.

Visiting difficulties

The tour is not particularly difficult. It is accessible to people with reduced mobility and the visually impaired thanks to adaptation tools. Only the courtyard floor in front of the entrance is slightly bumpy.

PLAN YOUR STAY IN Antibes

Practical tips for visiting the Archaeology Museum

Schedules and prices

Here are the museum opening times:

March to October, Tuesday to Sunday: 10am – 1pm / 2pm – 5:30pm.
November to February, Tuesday to Saturday: 10am – 1pm / 2pm – 5:30pm.
Closed January 1, May 1, November 1, December 25.

Museum rates are as follows:

Full price: €5
Reduced admission: €3 (students, large families…)
Free admission for under-18s, jobseekers…

For the full list of free and reduced-rate beneficiaries, visit the official website here.

Please note that this visit is included in the Pass’Musées d’Antibes Juan-les-Pins. For €15, it gives you free access to the Musée Picasso, the Fort Carré, the Musée Peynet et du Dessin Humoristique and the Musée d’Archéologie for 7 days. To find out more, click here.

How long

Allow 1 to 2 hours for your visit, depending on your interest in archaeology.

Best moment

We advise you to visit in the morning to minimize the number of visitors, especially during the summer months. Then why not take advantage of the Plage du Ponteil? For more ideas, read our article on what to do in Antibes.

View of the entrance to the Musée d'Archéologie.

Direction of visit

There is only one way to visit. We recommend you follow it, as it’s a chronological route.

Eating out

Numerous restaurants are located close to the museum. To find out which one to choose, read our article on the best restaurants to eat in Antibes!