Glittery and glamorous, Cannes attracts money just by being beautiful. The beaches are sandy, the boutiques smart , the restaurants elegant. Cannes is an easy and popular day trip from Nice. Wealthy French people retire here, and anybody with a yacht simply must make a stop here, preferably during the famous Cannes Film Festival in May.
Not that Cannes goes back to sleep the rest of the year! There's a year-round schedule of prestigious conferences, events, festivals and concerts. (see the Palais des Festivals site for a full calendar of Cannes events).
Cannes may not have the cultural scene of Nice but when you stroll down La Croisette, admiring the parade of women clad in the latest fashion and men clad in the latest cars you might not much care.
Stay in Cannes
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If you arrive by train, get away from that bleak neighbourhood as soon as possible. Ah, that's better.
Now head to the seaside promenade La Croisette for a nice stroll, admiring the curve of the bay. La Croisette is an easy 10-minute walk downhill from the train station and is great for people-watching.
Cannes's legendary Festival Palace is not just for the film festival. There are dozens of other events throughout the year (You can find the event schedule here). But if it's not hosting an event why not take a picture climbing the famous red carpet?
Outside the Palais is a line of handprints from the stars who have visited Cannes (Sharon Stone, Clint Eastwood, Penelope Cruz, Julia Roberts and nearly 150 more).
The old Grand Hotel of Cannes became a contemporary art museum that has recently reopened after an extensive renovation. Past exhibitions have featured artists such as Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, and more recently cutting edge contemporary artists. It's location on La Croisette makes it an easy and relaxing stop.
Cannes fruit and vegetable market is where locals pick up their produce. It's a great place to pick up cheese, fruit and simple salads for a picnic.
This colorful old street is packed with boutiques and souvenir shops. Need a bathing suit or beachwear? You're sure to find it here. Rue Antibes, the street that runs parallel is also a good place for fashionistas to check out. All the major brands are here.
The charming rue Misericorde is worlds away from glitzy La Croisette.
Don't miss the 18th-century Chapelle de la Misericorde.
Built in 1617, it's a jewel of old Cannes. Peek inside for a look at the splendid baroque altar.
Perhaps stretch out on one of Cannes' beaches? Unlike the beaches in Nice, they're sandy not pebbly. There's a choice between super-elegant high-end private beach restaurants or free public beaches. There's even a city-managed beach that rents loungers, parasols, lockers and showers at a greatly reduced cost.
Take the picturesque rue Saint-Antoine as it winds its way up the hill to the tiny Suquet neighbourhood, the last remnant of Vieux Cannes. The hill was originally settled by monks in the 10th century, and the area remained a small fishing village for centuries before Cannes grew into a glamorous resort town.
Perhaps because of its old-timey, unhurried ambiance the city supports an artists residence in Le Suquet, Suquet des Artistes, where local artists can live, work and regularly exhibit their art.
Don't miss the 12th-century well set into a wall.
Wander onto the side streets for a glimpse of local life.
At the top of the hill is the Notre Dame d'Esperance church.
Completed in the mid-17th century, this Gothic-style church is notable for its 19th century organ and a succession of beautiful chapels. Notice the chapel dedicated to Saint Peter decorated by local fishermen.
But perhaps the best reason for climbing to the top is the view over Cannes.
Before descending, check out the Museum of World Explorations.
Located in the former stronghold of the monks of the Lerins islands, this museum (formerly Musée de la Castre) displays art and objects from Oceania, the Himalayas, Iran and Mediterranean antiquities. Temporary exhibitions are often devoted to Cannes history. The medieval courtyard and gardens have been carefully restored. You can even climb the tower for a sweeping view of the region (admission €6.50; open Tues-Sun).
If you have more time in Cannes, I highly recommend a boat trip to the Ile des Lérins. Frequent boats leave all summer to the verdant Ile Sainte-Marguerite (15 minutes) and Ile Saint Honorat (30 minutes) Both are car-free and lined with mostly rocky beaches.
The Ile Sainte-Marguerite is where The Man in the Iron Mask was once imprisoned. You can also visit the Royal Fort, built by Richelieu and reinforced by Vauban in 1712. It's now the site of a Maritime Museum.
The Ile Saint-Honorat is a little further and even more peaceful.A refuge for monks between the 11th century and the French Revolution, it was built to allow them to resist invaders from the sea. Today, the current monastery, whose construction began in 1863, houses a congregation of Cistercian monks.
A superlative restaurant that honours its home--the Hotel Martinez. The ingredients are luxurious and the preparation innovative and refreshing. The Michelin team has awarded La Palme d'Or one star
Table 22
Chef Noel Mantel takes his inspiration from fine Italian cuisine and then lets his imagination loose. His risottos are perfection on a plate.
La Table du Chef
The prices are unbeatable and the quality is excellent at this convivial local establishment. Chef Bruno Gendarme whips up the most scrumptious dishes from market-fresh local ingredients.
L'Affable
The classics (foie gras, rognons de veau) mix with regional dishes
like aioli and dorade to compose a finely balanced menu. The style
is contemporary and a €30 fixed-price lunch menu is most reasonable.
Cannes is a pricey destination but those ready for world-class luxury won't be disappointed. La Croisette is lined with four and five-star hotels. The finest of the lot is the five-star Hotel Martinez, the hotel of choice for celebrities visiting Cannes. For old-world splendor head to the Carlton Hotel, also on La Croisette. Bear in mind that heading away from La Croisette brings much better deals. The three-star Hotel Villa Botanica is only steps from La Croisette and offers excellent service.
Once upon a time, Cannes was bordered by reeds which provided the rationale for its original name, Canna. The modest sea settlement was backed by a high hill, Le Suquet, upon which early Romans built a fort that served as a defensive post for many centuries.
What was it defending? Mostly the offshore Lerins islands which were the target of frequent raids by the Saracens, French and Spanish. Cannes nevertheless remained on the sidelines of history until 1834. That was the year that a certain Lord Brougham was prevented from reaching his hideway in Nice by a cholera epidemic. He was forced to stay in Cannes and, pleasantly surprised, decided to build a villa and return every year with his aristocratic British friends. Cannes became fashionable and stayed fashionable. Its new foreign friends built lavish villas that attracted everyone from Maupassant to the Rothschilds to the Russian aristocracy.
Flights to Cannes usually land at the Nice International Airport although there is a small airport at Cannes for private planes. See ground transport from Nice Airport.
Trains to Cannes all stop at the main train station, the Gare. Check schedules and buy tickets on thetrainline.
Buses to Cannes
Bus 620 (€2.50) from Parc Phoenix is cheap but it takes over an hour and makes many stops along the way. It ends at the Cannes train station.
Bus 81 from Nice Airport is quicker but costs €19 and takes the very un-scenic autoroute.
By bus. Cannes's bus network is run by Palm Bus. Tickets are €1.70 which you can buy from the driver.
The Cannes tourist office is located in the Festival Palace. The official Cannes municipal website, has tourist information in English.
Hi! I'm Jeanne Oliver--tour guide and author and I've been living on the Riviera for years. With my local insights your trip will be easy and fun. And, do check out my book Nice Uncovered: Walks Through the Secret Heart of a Historic City.
