Things I Loved Doing Solo in Antibes

I went to Antibes alone and honestly - it was one of the best choices I’ve made in a while. Something about the Riviera feels designed for solo travel: small streets you can wander without getting lost, cafés where nobody cares if you’re at a table for one, and sunsets that don’t need an audience. I ended up finding little adventures that felt even better because I experienced them on my own. Here are the highlights.

Morning Wander at Marché Provençal + Wine Tasting

Every solo trip deserves a good market morning, and Antibes’ Marché Provençal is basically therapy disguised as grocery shopping. Stalls are overflowing with things you want to photograph before eating: glossy olives, hunks of cheese that look sculptural, lavender bundles that smell like a spa. I grabbed a bag of figs and just strolled around, pretending for a moment that I was a chic local doing my weekly shop (reality check: I was in a wrinkled t-shirt with no tote bag, but still).

The market is the kind of place where you can stand too long at a stall and suddenly the vendor insists you try three different types of tapenade. I didn’t complain.

Later that afternoon, I joined a wine tasting nearby. It turns out Provence rosé really is that good - it’s not just something influencers invented. The host poured us glasses while sharing stories about the vineyards, and I sat there quietly buzzing from both the wine and the fact that I was having such a cliché French Riviera moment… but in the best way. Being solo was perfect for this -I could just sip, listen, and float in my own little rosé cloud without having to chat too much.

Cycling Around Cap d’Antibes at Sunset

Renting a bike and heading around Cap d’Antibes was one of those last-minute decisions that turned out golden. The path winds along cliffs, beaches, and villas so grand you start to wonder if anyone actually lives there or if they’re just set decorations.

Halfway through, I pulled over at a little seaside café - Café de la Plage Keller, and treated myself to a quick espresso overlooking the water. Best decision ever. The caffeine perked me up just in time for the evening glow, and sitting there solo with my coffee felt so peaceful, like I had stumbled into my own secret Riviera ritual.

As the sun started dipping, the whole place shifted - golden light hitting the sea, shadows stretching across the road, the air cooling down. It was one of those “main character” moments, where you’re pedaling with the wind in your hair thinking: Yes, this is exactly how my biopic should open. I stopped a few times just to watch the water glow pink and orange.

If you ever want a reminder that solo travel can feel cinematic, cycling the Cap during sunset is it. Bonus: I didn’t have to argue with anyone about how fast to ride.

​​Pedal Smart: Safety Tips for Cycling Cap d’Antibes

A quick note for anyone thinking of cycling around Cap d’Antibes: the Riviera can get pretty busy in the summer months, so it’s smart to check traffic before heading out and try to avoid the city center during peak hours. Stick to the hard shoulder when you can, ride in small groups if you’re with others, and keep things safe - no risky maneuvers, and follow the local traffic rules. Respect the environment too, the area is delicate, so don’t litter, start fires, or wander onto private property without permission. Bring water, sunscreen, and a hat if you’re cycling during the hotter hours, and make sure your bike is in good shape, with working lights if you plan to be out late. Let someone know your route, pack a puncture repair kit, and use the dedicated cycle paths wherever possible - they make the ride easier and safer. If you want, there are plenty of marked routes on quieter roads, and you can find them on Antibes’ cycle routes page.

Strolling Port Vauban & the Billionaire’s Quay

Port Vauban is technically a marina, but really, it’s an open-air museum of how far money can stretch. The Billionaire’s Quay is lined with yachts so enormous they make normal boats look like rubber duckies. Some even had helicopters casually perched on deck, because apparently one mode of luxury transport isn’t enough.

Walking there solo turned out to be the perfect way to take it all in. No one rushing me, no polite “okay, let’s move on now” - just me, gawking at the floating palaces, chuckling at their names, and secretly imagining what life on board must feel like. On one side you’ve got medieval stone ramparts whispering of knights and cannons, and on the other side, yachts the size of apartment buildings whispering of champagne and private chefs.

And maybe, just maybe, I’ll be back here one day - not just strolling the quay but stepping onto my own deck, laptop in hand, running my business between ports. For now, I’m happy to play tourist. But let’s just say the idea didn’t feel all that impossible while I stood there, watching the sun hit the water.

 A Night at Absinthe Bar - A Hidden Bohemian Gem

One evening, I stumbled or maybe tripped into Absinthe Bar, tucked into a vaulted Roman-era cellar beneath the Marché Provençal. No neon lights shouting “Look at me!”, just a big green sign whispering “adventure awaits.” This place doubles as a mini museum, with pewter furniture from 1860, vintage posters, antique absinthe fountains, and a cave-like setting that feels like stepping into a bohemian time machine that’s happy to pour you a drink.

It’s not just the décor that’s dramatic - the drink itself has legend behind it. Absinthe, aka la fée verte (the Green Fairy), was once the forbidden muse of artists like Picasso and Van Gogh. It was banned for decades before finally making a comeback in 2003, and this bar is one of the few places where you can sip it like the bohemian icon Protestants of the Belle Époque used to.

So what exactly is absinthe? Think of it as a strong, herbal spirit, usually green, made from botanicals like wormwood, anise, and fennel. It’s not a shot-you-down drink - it’s more of a ritual. A glass of absinthe is served with a special slotted spoon, a sugar cube, and a carafe of cold water. As you slowly drip the water over the sugar, the clear green liquid turns cloudy white in a beautiful little chemistry show. The taste? Herbal, a bit licorice-like, and surprisingly smooth when diluted. It’s less about getting tipsy fast and more about slowing down, savoring, and maybe imagining you’re in a smoky Parisian café in the 1890s.

Here’s how a solo night of fun unfolded: I squeezed into one of the roughly ten tables (it gets packed, so showing up early is a must), grabbed a glass of absinthe, balanced a sugar cube on a silver spoon, and dripped water over it until the liquid turned milky - sipped, sighed, and, well, felt very fancy. Even more fun? There’s a hat stand, where hats get passed around like party props, I ended up in something ridiculous and honestly owned it.

Live music fills the cellar on weekends - Friday and Saturday nights usually feature a piano man. Some evenings, a singer named Adam takes the spotlight. It’s a small stage, but the tunes fill the room and you can’t help but bob along. Locals, tourists, and solo wanderers like me all end up laughing or singing or just appreciating how delightfully odd and welcoming the place is.

Honestly, I’ve been to bars all over the world, but few have made me feel like, “Yep - I need to come back here.” Maybe that’s the Green Fairy’s doing, or maybe it’s the atmosphere. Either way, if you’re solo in Antibes, this is one underground stop you don’t want to miss.

Final Thought

Antibes solo gave me markets that felt like theatre, sunsets on two wheels, music that wrapped around me like company, and a marina full of billionaires I’ll never meet. And that was more than enough. Traveling alone here didn’t feel lonely - it felt like the town was keeping me entertained. If you’re considering Antibes solo, do it. Just maybe pack a tote bag so you don’t look like a lost tourist at the market, like I did.