Cannes, Antibes & St Paul de Vence: Small-Group Day Trip

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Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/11

Duration7h

GroupUp to 8

LanguagesEN · FR

PickupAt your hotel

Red carpets, old stones, and the light artists chased along the Riviera

You’ll walk Cannes’ famous red carpet (yes, really), wander Antibes’ ancient ramparts by the sea, and lose yourself among Saint-Paul-de-Vence’s winding streets and art galleries—all with a local guide handling transport and stories along the way.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Cannes, Antibes, and Saint-Paul-de-Vence

Pick up at hotel in Nice
Drive to Cannes via motorway
Explore Croisette boulevard palaces
Walk on Palais des Festivals red carpet
View celebrities’ handprints at Walk of Fame
Drive coastal road to Antibes via Golfe-Juan
Stroll Antibes ramparts and Picasso museum
Pass Antibes marina and Billionaires’ Quay
Drive to Villeneuve-Loubet Marina of Bay of Angels
Visit medieval village of Saint-Paul-de-Vence
Walk cobbled streets and art galleries

The Experience

Ever wondered if walking up those red-carpet steps in Cannes actually feels glamorous or just a bit surreal? Turns out, it’s both. We started our day trip from Nice with our guide, Sophie, who somehow knew every shortcut and had stories for every curve of the coast. The van was quiet at first—maybe everyone was still waking up—but as soon as we hit La Croisette and saw the palm trees lining the boulevard, someone pointed out the Carlton hotel and suddenly we were all chatting about movie stars we’d never meet. I tried to imagine what this place must be like during the festival—probably chaos, but today it just smelled faintly of coffee and sunscreen.

The Palais des Festivals is smaller than I pictured (or maybe I’m taller than I thought?), but yeah, we did the whole “walk up the steps” thing. Sophie laughed when my friend tried to do a dramatic pose for photos—there were only a few other tourists around so it didn’t feel silly. After that, Cannes faded behind us as we drove along the coast toward Antibes. The sea was this weird shade between blue and silver under the morning clouds. Antibes itself felt different—old stone walls circling narrow streets, little shops with open doors letting out bursts of espresso smell. Our guide pointed out where Picasso lived for a while; I didn’t expect to care but somehow I did.

We stopped by the marina—“Billionaires’ Quay,” Sophie called it—and honestly some of those yachts looked bigger than my apartment block back home. It’s almost funny how normal people just stroll past them like they’re not even there. From there we headed inland to Saint-Paul-de-Vence. The air changed—cooler somehow, with pine needles underfoot and that sharp scent you only get in old villages perched on hillsides. There were artists painting quietly in doorways and an old man sweeping his stoop who nodded at us without stopping.

I got lost for a minute in one of those cobbled lanes (not actually lost-lost, but you know), staring at sunlight hitting a wall covered in vines. Someone’s dog barked from inside a gallery. It all felt slower here—as if time stretched out between each step. I bought a tiny watercolor from a woman who told me her father painted with Chagall once; maybe she was joking or maybe not—I kind of liked not knowing for sure.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel or port pickup in Nice by air-conditioned minivan, guidance from an English-speaking local expert throughout Cannes, Antibes and Saint-Paul-de-Vence, plus drop-off back at your accommodation after exploring each destination together and on your own.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleStroller friendlyInfant seats available

Operated by Liven Up Nice