Whether you decide to visit Cannes during its famous film festival or at another time of year, you’ll find that this charming town has plenty to offer.
In July 2023, I had the chance to visit the city as a guest of the local tourist office. Under the pleasant guidance of their press liaison officer, I got to discover some of the best spots Cannes has to offer visitors. I’m happy to share these places with you in this article.
The History of Cannes
Before we talk about what to do and see in Cannes, let me give you a general but important tip:
Anyone who has ever read my blog knows my motto is “Knowledge = Enjoyment,” which means historical knowledge will upgrade your enjoyment of the trip, no matter where in France you travel. So, to prepare you for your visit to Cannes, I recommend taking a few minutes to read the article The Story of Cannes: Snakes, Saracens, and a Film Festival, which tells you how Cannes went from a remote fishing village to the world’s capital of cinema and glamour.
What to Do and See in Cannes?
Now that you’ve finished reading about the history of Cannes, it’s time to get down to business. There’s plenty to see and do in Cannes, whether you’ve arrived during the famous film festival or just came for a regular vacation.
A Boat Trip to the Îles de Lérins
Before we start exploring the town of Cannes itself, it’s worth saying a few words about the two islands right off its coast.
One of the things I loved most when I lived on Guernsey was the fact that not far from there are two more small and magical islands, which you can reach by ferry in a short time, about 20-40 minutes (depending on the island’s distance from Guernsey).
The story in Cannes is very similar. Not far from there are two magical islands:
- Sainte-Marguerite: an island that fans of Alexandre Dumas (1802-1870) won’t want to miss, since this is where the Man in the Iron Mask was held (for part of the time).
- Saint-Honorat: home to monks of the Cistercian order (yes, these are the same monks who freed Cannes from Muslim occupation and ruled it until the 16th century).
I got there on a large, luxurious speedboat, which lets you dive near Île Sainte-Marguerite. If you feel like treating yourself, I highly recommend them. If you’d like to take a tour similar to the one I took, feel free to click this link.
Note that you can reach both islands by ferry for 20 euros per person (as of July 2023). It’s very easy to explore them, since the paths and attractions are clearly marked and traveler-friendly. Here are a few ways you can get to these islands quickly and easily:
The Palais des Festivals of Cannes
True, it’s an ugly building (in the 1980s it was even called “the bunker”), but it’s hard, and not advisable, to ignore it. If you arrive during the film festival, you can try standing at the edges of the red carpet and spotting movie stars. If you arrive outside the festival, you can walk down the red carpet yourself, wave to the bewildered crowd, and feel, for a moment, like a movie star.
Besides being home to the festival, the building also houses a casino (in case you arrived in Cannes with more money than your pockets can handle). If losing money while sipping a martini isn’t your thing, you’ll be happy to know that the Cannes tourist office is also located there.
A Walk Along La Croisette Promenade
This is a 3-kilometer promenade that lets you enjoy a panoramic view of the islands near Cannes while walking along the city’s beaches, lined with palm trees, grand hotels, and expensive boutiques.
If you want to feel like you’re in Hollywood, don’t miss Cannes’s “Walk of Fame” (Chemin des Étoiles), where you’ll find the handprints of French movie stars. Kids, on the other hand, might be less excited about movie stars’ handprints, but don’t worry, they’ll have plenty to do here too, thanks to the amusement rides scattered along the promenade.
Later in this article I’ll recommend a few hotels, but no matter where you stay, don’t skip a visit to the Majestic Hotel, located at number 10 and considered one of the grandest hotels in Cannes. It opened in 1926, and even though it’s nearly 100 years old, it manages to stay current, especially thanks to the parties it hosts, featuring some of the world’s best DJs. Here’s a short video about this charming hotel:
At number 47 you’ll find La Malmaison, which used to be the tea house of the Grand Hôtel. Nothing remains of the hotel (an ugly tower was built in its place in the 1960s) and tea is no longer served there, but today you’ll find an art gallery in its place.
Keep walking a bit further toward number 58 and you’ll discover one of the iconic hotels of the French Riviera, the Carlton Hotel. The hotel reopened not long ago, and you can see in the following video what changed and why it’s considered one of the most glamorous hotels in Cannes, and in France as a whole (unfortunately the video is in French, so those who don’t speak the language can just let the visuals speak for themselves).
By the way, take a look at its pair of towers, don’t they remind you of something? So no, your mind isn’t in the gutter: the inspiration for these two towers really was a pair of breasts. And not just any breasts: those of the famous 19th-century courtesan La Belle Otero (1868-1965). This woman deserves an article of her own on my site someday, but until then, you’re welcome to read a bit about her here: Secrets of the Courtesans’ Quarter.
Had enough of giant luxury hotels? You’ll have to bear with a bit more, because if you head to number 73 you’ll find the Martinez Hotel. Unlike the previous hotel, which is built in Belle Époque style, this one, opened in 1929, is built in Art Deco style and has 476 (!) rooms, which made it the largest hotel in France at the time (and also a rather unlucky one, since it opened right as the Great Depression hit). The hotel survived the crisis, and today it’s considered one of the most indulgent hotels in Cannes (and also one of the priciest).
Feel free to check out the following video and discover the charm of this hotel.
Shopping on Rue d’Antibes and Where Napoleon Camped
I imagine that while strolling along the promenade you came across luxury shops like Louis Vuitton and other brands. These, for the most part, aren’t stores for ordinary mortals, and the products sold there are like museum exhibits: just for looking. So what do Cannes locals do when they want quality shopping at reasonable (relatively) prices? They head to Antibes.
This street was originally created as a road connecting the city of Toulon to the town of Antibes. But it quickly became the main shopping street of the city, and you’ll find chain fashion stores alongside boutiques of unique designers.
I’m not a big fan of shopping myself, but that doesn’t mean I’ll deny you the pleasure of spending your money on clothes, jewelry, and more :-). Since I had very little time to visit there, I don’t have great photos of the street, so let me recommend watching this one-minute video instead, which will show you exactly which stores you can find there:
From Rue d’Antibes, turn left onto Rue des Belges and from there onto Rue du Bivouac Napoléon. That’s where Napoleon stopped for a short rest after escaping from the island of Elba (if the topic interests you, feel free to read this article). Napoleon is long gone from the area, but there are some pleasant cafés here where you can sit with a glass of pastis and wait for him to come back.
At the end of Rue Bivouac Napoléon you’ll find Place du Général de Gaulle, and from there head to Allée de la Liberté. At the northern end of the street you’ll find Rue Félix Faure, named after the President of France Félix Faure (1841-1899), during whose term the Dreyfus Affair took place (if you want to read about his mysterious death, you can do so in the article The President’s Deadly Mistress). On this street you’ll find the statue of Lord Henry Brougham (1778-1868), the man responsible for turning Cannes from a forgotten fishing village into what it is today.
A Visit to the Marché Forville
If you consider yourself a foodie (like me), you have to go to this market.
This is the big market of Cannes, and here you’ll find an abundance of fish, meat, vegetables, and fruit. Alongside all that, you’ll also find prepared food stalls, cafés, and restaurants where you can eat some of the most famous dishes of Provence, including socca, a chickpea-flour pastry that’s somewhat similar to pizza (but without cheese or tomato sauce).
Opening days and hours:
Tuesday-Sunday: 07:30–13:00. Closed on Mondays
Le Suquet
After visiting the Marché Forville, check the map and head to Rue Saint-Antoine, where the old town of Nice begins.
As you read in the historical section of this article, Cannes began on this hill, and it was only when the English arrived here in the 19th century that it started to “spread” toward the coast.
As you climb up the winding streets, you’ll discover ancient houses and, of course, the fortress built by the monks who freed Cannes from the Saracen threat. You’ll also find plenty of restaurants and bars here.
As you climb up Rue Saint-Antoine, you’ll reach Place du Suquet, where you’ll find an ice cream shop with the very original name: La Gelateria.
Don’t let this uninspired name fool you. This is excellent ice cream, and I highly recommend it. If you decide to order one of the fantastic sorbets or ice creams I had (I had mandarin and strawberry sorbet), don’t make the mistake I made and order two scoops if you’re traveling in summer.
I did, and let me spare you the painful sight of me trying to devour melting ice cream as fast as possible, while getting disapproving looks from my French guide, who finished hers slowly and elegantly…
After finishing your ice cream (elegantly), keep climbing up the hill until you reach Notre-Dame d’Espérance Church, a church with a Gothic appearance even though it was built between 1521 and 1627. The facade is quite minimalist, but it’s definitely worth going inside to enjoy the stained glass, paintings, and sculptures.
From the church, continue on to Place de la Castre, where you’ll find the castle built by the monks during the Middle Ages. Today you’ll find an ethnographic museum here, donated by the Dutch Baron Tinco Martinus Lycklama à Nijeholt (1837-1900).
Lycklama was a Dutch-born adventurer who traveled through the Middle East (including the Land of Israel, where he decided to convert from Protestantism to Catholicism). During his travels, he amassed a huge number of interesting items (daggers, hats, special clothing, and more).
Since he fell in love with Cannes (it wasn’t only the English who were missing some sunshine) and since he had no children, he decided to give his collection to the city. This collection, combined with the collection of the French Council of Sciences, forms the basis of what you can see in this museum (for information on the museum and its opening hours, feel free to click this link).
Cannes: A Traveler’s Guide
Want to know more about Cannes, how to get there, where to eat, and more? Feel free to check out the article Cannes: Attractions, Hotels, and Recommendations.
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