With only a weekend in the south of France and on a budget, how much could I see and do?! This post will give an overview of my quick getaway to a more traditional area of the south of France, while still visiting the bigger, well-known cities, on a budget.

The south of France is beautiful, very picturesque, and only a stone’s throw away from London. Yet, bizarrely, this was my first visit. I wanted to shatter the illusion I had created in my mind of such a destination being for the “elite”, with thoughts of St Tropez, and the glitz and glamour of the Cannes Film Festival. It has a reputation for being expensive, but it can be done to suit your pocket.

I went out of season (mid-October) and stayed in Antibes but also spent afternoons visiting Cannes and Nice.

Antibes

Antibes, situated on the Côte d’ Azur on the French Riviera, between Nice and Cannes, is possibly a city overlooked by many.

It offers traditional French charm with a calm, sophisticated, cosy feel and beautiful beaches.

It is very scenic, has an arty feel and is also well known for its annual jazz festival which takes place in July each year. The old town is calm and lovely to walk around.

Flights are reasonable from London (BA £86 – hand luggage only), flying into Nice.

I arrived at 11.00pm, by which time, there was no public transport to Antibes available. Ubers are readily available (Uber €35 from the airport).

I stayed at Hotel Helios in Juan-les-Pins (£146 for two nights). It is a lovely 4* boutique hotel located approximately 100m from the beach and in a central location. The hotel has two restaurants on the beach, which are open April – September. Otherwise, there are plenty of other eateries nearby.

I speak minimal French, so Google translate was my friend. You will find less English speakers than in Paris, in the smaller towns.

The centre of Antibes is 10 mins by foot from Juan-les-Pins. I spent the morning and part of the afternoon of my first day exploring Antibes.

Things to do

• The promenade in Juan-les-Pins’ has some of the area’s best private beaches. As it was out of season, not everywhere was open, but weather was still mild (approx 21⁰C), and I enjoyed strolling along the beachfront. I recommend going at the end of September/beginning of October if you plan to spend more time on the beach but without the flood of people.

• Stroll through Parc de la Pinede, in the centre of Juan-les-Pins.

• Free walking tour – WhatToDoAntibes (https://www.whattodoantibes.com/) offers free walking tours (tip-based) for Antibes, Cannes, Nice and Monaco.

• Visit the Provencal Market, in the heart of the old town. The market sells locally grown fresh vegetables, local cheese, spices, soaps, olives, etc. to leather goods and much more. Buy, taste or wander, it has a very authentic feel.

Visit Musée de Picasso (€8 entry fee for adults). Picasso lived in Antibes for a short while and was inspired to produce several pieces. They are now on display in the house in which he used to live. There are also some impressive works by Germaine Richier.

• Le Nomade – the eye-catching sculpture by Jaume Plensa sits gracefully on the waterfront, visible from a distance. Take pictures or just sit here and chill.

• Place de Gaulle – mooch around the square situated in the heart of Antibes with fountains, antique stores, lots of shops, supermarkets and cafes about.

• Get lost walking through the quaint old town. Sit outside and dine while people-watching or take a walk along one of Antibes beautiful relaxing beaches. Alternatively, daydream about your billionaire partner while taking in the sights of the internationally known impressive yacht marina.

“A hairy moment”

While strolling along the yacht marina, I was not approached by a billionaire offering to take me out in his yacht, but rather by a man who eagerly approached me and literally put his hands in my hair, and ruffled it up while shouting “J’adore, J’adore, J’adore”.

Well, I was lost for words (and felt slightly violated), mainly because I don’t know how to say “get your hands #£&%*!@ out of my hair” in French!

Cannes

I then headed to Cannes for the rest of the afternoon. When thinking of Cannes, I think of the film festival, celebrities, glamour and beaches. This wasn’t the case for me, as it rained all afternoon and a lot of construction work meant I couldn’t see the beach, but c’est la vie.

• Bus from Antibes to Cannes – number 200 costs €1.50 one way takes approximately 30 minutes.

• The Tourist office (1, Boulevard de la Croisette, 06400 Cannes) is very helpful and has a photo booth for fun pictures and celebrity handprints.

• The Petit Train de Cannes is an easy way to get an overview while seeing the sights. It has audio commentary and costs €12 per person. This was very handy on a rainy day.

Nice

The bus from Antibes to Nice is, again €1.50 one way and takes approximately 30 minutes.

• Take a stroll along the infamous Promade de Anglais, which was built by the English and definitely has an English feel (it felt a little bit like Brighton, to be honest!). Or, simply sit and take in the ocean view.

• For a great view of the Promenade and the city in general, take a hike up Le Parc de La Colline du Château (Castle Hill) for a panoramic view of the city.

• Old Town – Nice also has a very beautiful old town with plenty of places to eat and drink to suit all budgets.

In summary, a weekend in the South of France on a budget is possible and can still be enjoyable.

The south of France is charming, and was Antibes definitely my favourite part. It doesn’t have to be expensive, as a lot of activities can be done for free, or at a minimal cost. I look forward to exploring other areas.