Picasso's Antibes
See the joyful works Picasso painted here in 1946.
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Musée Picasso, Antibes
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In short
Picasso spent about two months working in Antibes's seafront Château Grimaldi in 1946, and the paintings and drawings he left became this museum. Adults pay €12, reduced €8, and under-18s go free. It opens Tuesday to Sunday from 10 AM to 6 PM, with a lunchtime break from 1 PM to 2 PM outside high summer. Allow an hour or a little more.
The Musée Picasso in Antibes is a municipal museum in the Château Grimaldi, on Place Mariejol in the old town of Antibes on the French Riviera, just above the sea walls. It holds the works Pablo Picasso made in the castle in the autumn of 1946, along with paintings by Nicolas de Staël. It suits visitors to the Côte d'Azur who want a short, focused visit with sea views, and it is separate from the Musée National Picasso in Paris.
The castle stands on the site of the acropolis of the Greek town of Antipolis, later a Roman fortification and a medieval bishopric. The present building dates from the late 14th century and was acquired by Henri IV in 1608. The town bought it in 1925 and opened the Musée Grimaldi, a museum of archaeology and history.
In 1946 the curator Romuald Dor de la Souchère offered Picasso a large room on the second floor as a studio. Picasso worked there from mid-September to mid-November and, on returning to Paris, left 23 paintings and 44 drawings with the town. By a council decision of 27 December 1966 the castle became the Musée Picasso. It was renovated from 2006 to 2008.
La Joie de vivre, 1946 ceramics and a Nicolas de Staël room
The works from that autumn, including La Joie de vivre, are full of sea creatures, fauns and Mediterranean subjects, and ceramics and drawings from 1946 sit alongside them. Later gifts and purchases added to the group.
Nicolas de Staël has a room of his own, with works made during his stay in Antibes from September 1954 to March 1955. Two ground-floor galleries opened in 2001 with funding from the Hans Hartung and Anna-Eva Bergman Foundation, and Léger and Miró are also represented. Germaine Richier's sculptures stand on the terrace, which looks straight out over the Mediterranean.
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Key information
🏰Building: Château Grimaldi above the sea walls
📅Picasso here: Picasso worked in the château in autumn 1946
🖼️Collection: Works Picasso made in Antibes, including La Joie de Vivre
🌊Terrace: Sculpture terrace over the Mediterranean
💰Currency: Euro (€ EUR)
🕕Time Zone: Central European Time (UTC+1; UTC+2 in summer)
Explore the area
Antibes old town and Provençal market 200 m
Port Vauban 600 m
Fort Carré 1.5 km
Antibes station 1.2 km
Juan-les-Pins 3 km
✦
Plan your visit to Musée Picasso, Antibes
Dates, opening hours and how to get there are below. Booking ahead secures your preferred day.
Highlights Include:
Picasso
- La Joie de Vivre
- Ceramics and drawings from 1946
Other artists
- Nicolas de Staël room
- Hans Hartung
Terrace
- Sculptures facing the sea
What They Offer
Sea terrace
Sculpture terrace over the sea walls
Shop
Bookshop
Old town
In the heart of old Antibes
Visit duration
1–1.5 hours
Timed entry required No
Terrace
Step onto the sea terrace among the sculptures.
Old town
Visit the Provençal market nearby.
Accessibility
Historic château; some areas accessible: ask the museum. The château is historic and only some areas are accessible; ask the museum.
Age limits
None.
What to pack
Ticket on your phone, ID for reduced or free entry
What to wear
Comfortable shoes
Not allowed
Touching the works, food and drink in the galleries, flash photography, large bags, selfie sticks
Amenities
Bookshop, restrooms
Tips for visiting Musée Picasso, Antibes
- Note the lunch closure from 1pm to 2pm outside the summer season.
- Step out onto the sea terrace for the Richier sculptures and the coastal view.
- Arrive by train from Nice or Cannes, as parking in the old town is limited.
- Combine your visit with the Provençal market in the old town nearby.
- The museum is closed on Mondays.
Driving
Paid parking near Port Vauban.
Public transportation
Antibes station is about 1.2 km away, a 15–20-minute walk; local buses run to the old town.
Address
The Musée Picasso is in the Château Grimaldi on Place Mariejol in old Antibes. The Provençal market is about 200 m away, Port Vauban 600 m, Fort Carré 1.5 km and Juan-les-Pins 3 km.
Opening Hours
- MondayClosed
- Tuesday10:00-13:00, 14:00-18:00
- Wednesday10:00-13:00, 14:00-18:00
- Thursday10:00-13:00, 14:00-18:00
- Friday10:00-13:00, 14:00-18:00
- Saturday10:00-13:00, 14:00-18:00
- Sunday10:00-13:00, 14:00-18:00
- 1 January – 14 June10:00 AM – 1:00 PM, 2:00 – 6:00 PM
- 15 June – 15 September10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Last entry: About 30 minutes before closing
Closed on Mondays and on 1 January, 1 May, 1 November and 25 December.
1 January – 14 June: 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM and 2:00 – 6:00 PM; 15 June – 15 September: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM. Check the autumn timetable.
Special events
Temporary exhibitions in summer.
Best times to visit
Morning, leaving time for the old town afterwards.
Best days to visit
Weekdays.
Best months to visit
Spring and autumn.
Admission tickets
Prices and how to get tickets.
Musée Picasso Antibes: Entry
Municipal museum ticket.
- Permanent collection
- Sea terrace
Ticket prices
€12 adults, €8 reduced (students, teachers, large families, groups of ten or more); under 18s and job seekers free; €15 card for the town's municipal museums over seven days
Opening hours
Closed now · 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM · Last entry About 30 minutes before closing
Visitor policy
Cancellation and prepayment
Tickets are generally non-refundable; check the museum's booking terms.
Children and admission
Under 18s enter free.
Groups
Groups must book in advance with the museum.
Pets
Only assistance dogs are admitted.
Photography
Personal photography without flash is generally allowed in the permanent collection; some temporary exhibitions forbid it.
Bags
Large bags and suitcases must be left in the cloakroom or are refused; bags are checked at the entrance.
Smoking
Not permitted inside the museum.
Accepted payment
At the desk by card.
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Travelers are asking
Yes, Tuesday to Sunday with a lunch break, except 1 January, 1 May, 1 November and 25 December.
He worked in the Château Grimaldi in autumn 1946.
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Where to stay near Musée Picasso, Antibes
Hotels closest to Musée Picasso, Antibes, nearest first, so you spend less time on the road and more time there.
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Hôtel Le Negresco5-star hotel
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from$550.00/ night
- Free WiFi
- Fitness center
- Air conditioning
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Answers based on the Antibes tourist office information.
General
In 1946 Picasso was offered a studio in the Château Grimaldi and worked there for about two months. He left 23 paintings and 44 drawings, and the castle became the Musée Picasso in 1966.
No. The Musée National Picasso in Paris is a separate national museum in the Marais. The Antibes museum is municipal and focuses on Picasso's time on the Riviera.
The museum shows works by Nicolas de Staël, who lived in Antibes in the 1950s, and pieces by Léger, Hartung and Miró. Germaine Richier's sculptures stand on the terrace.
La Joie de vivre is one of the paintings Picasso made in the Château Grimaldi in autumn 1946. It is a centrepiece of the museum.
The present castle dates from the late 14th century. It stands on the site of the acropolis of the Greek town of Antipolis.
Yes, a 15-euro card gives access to the municipal museums of Antibes for seven consecutive days.
Musée Picasso, Antibes is in France. The street address and directions are under How to get there on this page.
Comfortable shoes.
Explore the area on this page lists 5 places around Musée Picasso, Antibes, among them Antibes old town and Provençal market and Port Vauban.
Booking
A full adult ticket costs 12 euros in 2026 and a reduced ticket 8 euros, for students, teachers and large families. Visitors under 18 enter free.
Timing & weather
In 2026 it opens Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 to 13:00 and 14:00 to 18:00 until 14 June, and 10:00 to 18:00 without a break from 15 June to 15 September. It is closed on Monday.
An hour to 90 minutes is enough for the collection and the terrace.
Getting there
Walk 15 to 20 minutes from Antibes station, about 1.2 kilometres, or take a local bus to the old town.
Nice Côte d'Azur Airport (NCE) is the airport for Musée Picasso, Antibes, about 11 km away in a straight line.
Families & accessibility
Only some areas of the historic château are accessible. Ask the museum before visiting if you need help.