Best time to visit Antibes
Re-score for me — drag the dial — every chart recolours live for your heat & sea limits 27°C · sea 29°C
Default 27 °C is the upper edge of the Holiday Climate Index "ideal comfort" band (Scott, Rutty, Amelung & Tang, 2016). Above this, most warm-tourism travellers report measurable discomfort.
Default 29 °C is the Beach Climate Index "bathtub" line (Morgan et al.) — where the sea stops being refreshing and starts feeling like a warm bath.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
How is this scored? HCI / Steadman / CCI gate — full methodology and citations below.
Compare with another destination
Add as many as you like — stacked below the main strips above. Each row is just the recent-window score strip and (for beach destinations) sea-temperature strip.
Tours in Antibes
6 top-rated tours via Viator. Booking links earn this site a commission at no cost to you. Map locations are approximate (centred on Antibes).
- 1
Private Solar Catamaran Cruise in Antibes Juan les Pins - 2
Private ride with sea bath in Solar Catamaran - 3
Private Sunset Cruise in Juan les Pins - 4
Provence Wine Tour - Private Day Tour from Antibes - 5
From Nice: Cannes, Antibes and St Paul de Vence Private Tour - 6
Sketch & watercolor immersion facing the sea - private workshop
Last refreshed 2026-06-16.
Similar climatesCannes100% · Menton99% · Nice99%
Other destinations with the most-alike year-round climate to Antibes (apparent temperature, rain hours, sunshine — matched within the same trip-profile). The ±N chip compares each match's typical score for the current month against Antibes's. Based on the 2020-2024 climatology, not this year's actual weather.
Month-by-month
| Month | Temp °C | Feels °C | Rain days | Rain h | Rain h/day | Humidity | Wind km/h | Sun h | UV | Interest | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 6–13 | 10 | 5 | 70 | 14.0 | 64% | 15 | 169 | 1 | Quiet | 8 |
| Feb | 7–15 | 12 | 5 | 56 | 11.2 | 63% | 16 | 185 | 2 | Quiet | 8 |
| Mar | 8–16 | 13 | 7 | 71 | 10.1 | 58% | 19 | 222 | 3 | Quiet | 9 |
| Apr | 10–18 | 16 | 6 | 85 | 14.2 | 56% | 17 | 251 | 5 | Quiet | 9 |
| May | 14–22 | 21 | 9 | 84 | 9.3 | 61% | 16 | 278 | 6 | Moderate | 9 |
| Jun | 19–26 | 27 | 7 | 65 | 9.3 | 61% | 15 | 305 | 7 | Moderate | 9 |
| Jul | 22–30 | 31 | 3 | 19 | 6.3 | 55% | 15 | 333 | 8 | Peak | 7 |
| Aug | 22–30 | 32 | 4 | 35 | 8.8 | 50% | 15 | 293 | 7 | Peak | 7 |
| Sep | 18–26 | 26 | 6 | 61 | 10.2 | 52% | 16 | 238 | 5 | Moderate | 10 |
| Oct | 15–22 | 21 | 8 | 107 | 13.4 | 63% | 15 | 201 | 3 | Quiet | 8 |
| Nov | 10–17 | 16 | 8 | 75 | 9.4 | 62% | 15 | 173 | 2 | Quiet | 8 |
| Dec | 6–14 | 12 | 7 | 90 | 12.9 | 67% | 14 | 164 | 1 | Quiet | 7 |
UV Index in Antibes by Month
UV index in Antibes peaks at 8 (high) in July, dropping to 1 (low) in January. June, July, August have high UV — SPF 30+ and sunglasses recommended.
Best months in detail
September
10/1018–26°C · 6 rain days (61h) · 238 sun hours · 52% humidity · Moderate crowd · UV 5 (moderate) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 6 (high)
June
9/1019–26°C (feels 27°C) · 7 rain days (65h) · 305 sun hours · 61% humidity · Moderate crowd · UV 7 (high) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 8 (very high)
May
9/1014–22°C · 9 rain days (84h) · 278 sun hours · 61% humidity · Moderate crowd · UV 6 (moderate) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 7 (high)
Every month
Show the other 9 months in detail
January
8/106–13°C (feels 10°C) · 5 rain days (70h) · 169 sun hours · 64% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 1 (low)
February
8/107–15°C (feels 12°C) · 5 rain days (56h) · 185 sun hours · 63% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 2 (low)
March
9/108–16°C (feels 13°C) · 7 rain days (71h) · 222 sun hours · 58% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 3 (moderate)
April
9/1010–18°C (feels 16°C) · 6 rain days (85h) · 251 sun hours · 56% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 5 (moderate) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 6 (high)
July
7/1022–30°C (feels 31°C) · 3 rain days (19h) · 333 sun hours · 55% humidity · Peak crowd · UV 8 (high) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 9 (very high)
August
7/1022–30°C (feels 32°C) · 4 rain days (35h) · 293 sun hours · 50% humidity · Peak crowd · UV 7 (high) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 8 (very high)
October
8/1015–22°C · 8 rain days (107h) · 201 sun hours · 63% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 3 (moderate)
November
8/1010–17°C (feels 16°C) · 8 rain days (75h) · 173 sun hours · 62% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 2 (low)
December
7/106–14°C (feels 12°C) · 7 rain days (90h) · 164 sun hours · 67% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 1 (low)
There is no single day when everything is open
Antibes has an unusual problem for a Riviera town: its sights do not share a calendar, and the rules actively contradict one another.
The Villa Thuret botanical garden is a working state research station run by INRAE, so it opens Monday to Friday and closes every weekend of the year — with exactly two exceptions, the first Sunday of June and the third Sunday of September. The Villa Eilenroc does the opposite: gardens on Wednesday and Saturday, the villa on Saturday only. The Picasso Museum in the Chateau Grimaldi closes on Mondays and keeps a 13:00-14:00 lunch closure except between 15 June and 15 September. The Marche Provencal shuts on Mondays from 1 September to 31 May.
Monday is therefore the worst day here outside summer, Sunday is the worst for the Cap gardens, and there is no day on which all four are open at once.
Sources: INRAE — Jardin botanique de la Villa Thuret, opening hours , Antibes Juan-les-Pins tourist office — Musee Picasso
How many days do you need in Antibes?
Two. One for the old town, the Marche Provencal and the Picasso Museum in the Chateau Grimaldi; one for Cap d'Antibes, the coastal Sentier de Tirepoil and the gardens. Check the weekday first — the sights keep incompatible schedules and Monday closes both the market and the museum off-season.
What is the best month to visit Antibes?
May, June or September. August peaks near 28C and is the crowd peak, when the Riviera is at its fullest. Between 15 June and 15 September the Picasso Museum drops its midday closure and the market runs daily, so summer is genuinely simpler to plan even if it is busier.
Is Antibes better than Nice or Cannes?
Antibes is smaller and more lived-in than either, with an intact old town, a working market and the best Picasso holding on the coast. Nice is far larger with better transport and museums; Cannes is glossier and built around its festival calendar. Antibes suits a slower two-day visit; Nice makes the better base.
What is at the Picasso Museum in Antibes?
Picasso worked in the Chateau Grimaldi from mid-September to mid-November 1946 and left 23 paintings and 44 drawings in the castle's custody, later adding 78 ceramics made at Vallauris. The museum closes Mondays, and keeps a 13:00-14:00 lunch closure outside 15 June to 15 September.
When is Jazz a Juan?
July, in the Pinede Gould at Juan-les-Pins — the 2026 edition ran 9 to 19 July as the 65th. Founded on 7 July 1960, it is the oldest continuously running jazz festival in Europe, though not the oldest outright: Nice held one in 1948. Dates shift annually, so check before booking.
Can you walk around Cap d'Antibes?
Yes — the Sentier de Tirepoil coastal path runs roughly 5 km around the headland and takes about two hours. It is a municipal path that closes officially in gales rather than merely being inadvisable, and sections can shut for cliff-securing works, so check the current status before setting out.
What is the wettest month in Antibes?
November, at around 137mm, with July driest at about 13mm — one of the sharpest wet-dry splits on the Riviera. Autumn rain arrives as heavy short storms rather than persistent cloud. February is coldest with lows near 4C, mild enough that winter walking on the Cap is pleasant.
Is Port Vauban worth seeing?
Yes, and the scale is genuinely unusual: around 1,500 berths, capacity for yachts up to 160 m, and 18 superyacht berths on the quay inaugurated in 1986. You can walk the quayside for free. It is one of the few places where the Riviera's yachting economy is visible rather than implied.
Which weekday should you avoid in Antibes?
Monday, outside high summer — it closes the Picasso Museum year-round and the Marche Provencal from 1 September to 31 May. Sunday is the one to avoid for the Cap gardens, since Villa Thuret is a working research station shut every weekend. A Wednesday or Friday gives the fewest conflicts between the four main sights.
Is Antibes worth visiting?
Yes — it has the ramparts, an intact old town and a daily covered market, which sets it apart from the more manicured Riviera resorts. The Picasso collection is exceptional for a town this size. The one thing to plan carefully is the day of the week, since nothing here shares a schedule.
Frequently asked questions about visiting Antibes
When is the best time to visit Antibes?
September is the highest-scoring month (10/10 on the Holiday Climate Index). Typical conditions: 18–26°C (6 rainy days). The top three months by score are September, June, May.
What is the worst time to visit Antibes?
August is the lowest-scoring month (7/10, capped by extreme heat). Typical conditions: 22–30°C (4 rainy days).
Is Antibes too hot in summer?
2 months (July, August) trip the heat deal-breaker in our scoring: apparent temperature crosses the comfort cap, so even with clear skies and low rain the score is held down. Plan around it if heat tolerance is low.
When are crowds lowest in Antibes?
Search-interest seasonality (Google Trends 2021-2025) is lowest in November and peaks in August. Interest tracks both in-trip visitors and lead-time planners, so treat it as a "destination is on people's minds" signal rather than literal arrivals.
Which months in Antibes have good weather but fewer tourists?
September (climate 10/10, crowd index 47) and March (climate 9/10, crowd index 19) — shoulder months with above-average climate and below-median search-interest. Often the best value-for-weather trade.
What is the UV index in Antibes by month?
UV peaks at 8 (high) in July and is lowest in January at 1 (low). Monthly peak values: Jan 1, Feb 2, Mar 3, Apr 5, May 6, Jun 7, Jul 8, Aug 7, Sep 5, Oct 3, Nov 2, Dec 1.
What is the UV index in Antibes in July?
July is the peak UV month in Antibes, with a daily-peak UV index of 8 (high). Apply SPF 30+, wear sunglasses, and seek shade during midday hours.
How high can UV get in Antibes on the sunniest days?
Most days look like the monthly average, but on the sunniest ~1 in 10 days UV climbs higher than the mean suggests. July is the worst case: typical days average UV 8 (high), but the top 10% of days reach UV 9 (very high) — and even higher. Months where the sunniest days routinely exceed the typical reading: April, May, June, July, August, September. Plan sun protection for the worst case, not the average.
Is air quality in Antibes bad for travelers?
PM2.5 (fine-particle pollution) exceeds the WHO sensitive-group guideline (15 µg/m³) in 1 month: February. The worst month is February with a typical-day mean of 11 µg/m³ (moderate); on the worst 10% of days PM2.5 reaches 20 µg/m³ (unhealthy for sensitive) and higher. People with asthma, heart conditions, or sensitive children may want to avoid these months or limit outdoor activity. Source: CAMS via Open-Meteo.