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Cannes, France – A High French Riviera Vacation spot
Cannes is a splashy resort metropolis on the French Riviera, and when most of us consider it we predict Hollywood celebrities and movie pageant glam.
However. Whereas the Cannes Movie Competition is a 12-day star-studded extravaganza in Could, there are a great deal of enjoyable issues to do in Cannes 12 months spherical.
Each time I go to Cannes I discover extra to discover. And, because the South of France is one among my foremost beats as a journey author, I’m right here rather a lot, staying in all the pieces from a convent (in the course of the Movie Competition no much less) to glam 5-star inns.
I’ve additionally taken loads of day journeys from Good to Cannes, and sure, you’ll be able to see Cannes in a day. As this walkable metropolis is true on the practice line, it’s additionally a superb base for exploring different French Riviera locations like Eze, Monaco and Antibes.
That stated, let’s take a look on the high Cannes vacationer points of interest that can assist you plan your keep.
Overview of What to Do in Cannes
Cannes has sandy seashores that knock most (pebbly) French Riviera seashores out of the park.
It’s obtained a large waterfront promenade, designer retailers, over-the-top luxurious inns and streets lined with charming patios and eating places. Did I point out the yachts?
Locations to go to in Cannes embrace the outdated quarter of Le Suquet, which affords a pleasant change of tempo from the glitz and glam, whereas the peaceable Lérins Islands off the coast gradual that tempo down altogether.
Above all, Cannes is enjoyable, as if the exuberant movie pageant ambiance lingers 12 months spherical and seeps into the boulevards and cafes. And don’t fear – you’ll be able to pose on the purple carpet any time of 12 months.
Greatest Issues to Do in Cannes, France
1. Window Store Your Manner Up Boulevard de la Croisette
It’s simple to check the Boulevard de la Croisette to the waterfront Promenade des Anglais in Good.
Each seaside walks curve alongside the Mediterranean with breezy sea views and it’s a straightforward comparability to make. However ooh la la, there are variations between these two well-known avenues.
Le Croisette is extra luxe. On par with the luxury retailers of Monte Carlo in Monaco, La Croisette has the very best focus of designer boutiques on the French Riviera.
(I ought to know. I used to be obsessive about discovering stylish white sneakers and beelined into each swank store on the Côte d’Azur.)
Together with haute boutiques like Chanel and Dior, you’ll discover vibrant sculptures, grand inns and a parade of pricy sports activities automobiles. There’s no two methods about it: Boulevard de la Croisette oozes wealth and elegance.
2. Discover the Different Aspect of the Croisette
There are two sides to the Boulevard de la Croisette, nevertheless. Actually.
Cross the road to the Mediterranean facet and the boulevard is reworked right into a vigorous beachside promenade.
Stroll previous palm timber, seashores, meals stands, playgrounds and vibrant blue chairs. If you happen to discover a free one pull it up, sit again and watch the scene.
You’ll even discover the cheery sight of a carousel, so it’s an ideal place to hang around in Cannes with household.
3. Pose on the Purple Carpet
Oh, go forward. Everybody does it. It’s foolish however iconic, and having your second on the purple carpet is likely one of the most original issues to do in Cannes.
The place is the purple carpet? You’ll discover it on the steps of the movie pageant constructing, the Cannes Palais des Festivals et des Congrès on the west finish of La Croisette.
The blocky Modernist-style constructing appears awfully utilitarian for internet hosting such a glittery occasion, but it surely’s movie star central anyway.
What’s contained in the Cannes Palais des Festivals et des Congrès? Lots of locations to observe movies. The constructing has 15 auditoriums.
Sightseeing Tip: The Tourism Workplace is positioned on the base of the constructing. It’s helpful for choosing up a map or getting data on Cannes factors of curiosity you’ll be able to’t discover on-line. (Though they did inform me the incorrect bus instances as soon as.)
4. Discover the Stroll of the Stars
When you’re nosing across the entrance of the Palais des Festivals constructing, maintain your head down and seek for the bronze handprints.
They’re the mark of many A-list celebrities on the Stroll of the Stars, L’Allée des Stars. (Hey, Meg Ryan!).
5. Go to the Vieux Port
Simply previous the Palais des Festivals constructing to the west is the outdated port, the Vieux Port.
Right here you will get so near the sleek-looking yachts it appears solely becoming the worldwide elite invite you onboard. (They might disagree.)
Nonetheless, the marina is likely one of the prettiest locations to go to in Cannes – stuffed with gleaming sailboats, fishing boats and floating palaces that add to the unique French Riviera mystique.
6. Discover Le Suquet – The Outdated City
From the Vieux Port you’ll spot the the Outdated City rising up a hill in a peak of purple tiled roofs, weathered stone and partitions of light ochre and pink.
Historical past of Le Suquet
This outdated quarter of Cannes has been round quite a bit longer than the movie pageant or the flashy retailers on La Croisette. In actual fact, the Romans had been right here for 5 centuries, and the Ligurians earlier than that.
Within the twelfth century, the land turned the property of Cistercian monks who constructed a fort fortress on the high of the hill, the Château de la Castre.
Oh, how issues change. Rue Saint-Antoine, as soon as the area of fishermen, is now a pedestrianized road lined with bistros and memento retailers, with eating places like Desk 22 upping the culinary sport from touristy to gourmand.
7. Climb the 109 Steps to the Fort
The fort fortress is now a museum known as the Musée de la Castre, and homes a combined bag of artifacts starting from nineteenth century landscapes to Tibetan masks.
The museum isn’t going to take up a lot of your time, but it surely’s the journey that counts.
Probably the most standard issues to do in Cannes Outdated Quarter is to stroll the 109 steps as much as the fort for the beautiful views over the Bay of Cannes.
On the high, take a break on the shady terrace and go to the Eglise Notre Dame d’Esperance, a notable Cannes landmark that took greater than 100 years to finish.
8. Feast on French Flavours at Forville Market
In terms of Forville Market, it’s not a lot about what to see in Cannes as what to style.
Positioned on the foot of Le Suquet, the Marché Forville is the place to go if a picnic is in your plans or contemporary native produce is looking your title. (What’s it about cantaloups from Provence that makes them so juicy and flavourful? Delish!)
The Marché Forville is a morning market, so get there between 7 a.m. and 1 p.m. However take observe: On Mondays it’s a flea market.
9. Store on Rue d’Antibes
Whereas most vacationers window store on La Croisette … they purchase on Rue d’Antibes.
This busy procuring road that runs behind La Croisette is chock stuffed with shoe shops, perfumeries and clothes boutiques. Manufacturers vary from worldwide chains like Zara and Mango to French style chains like comparable to Morgan and Maison 123.
10. Take an Apero Break on Rue Hoche
On the finish of the day, you might hear Rue Hoche calling your title. This amiable pedestrian road close to Rue d’Antibes is lined with cafes and eating places.
It’s the proper place for an apero, the pre-dinner drink and ‘small bites’ break embraced by so many locals.
11. Go to the Lérins Islands
The Lérins Islands are a balm to an over sightsee-d soul (which is me, all the time), and while you want an escape the French Riviera crowds, it’s probably the greatest locations to go to close to Cannes.
What are the Lérins Islands? The Lérins Islands are an archipelago on the Bay of Cannes.
The biggest, Île Sainte-Marguerite (Saint Margaret Island), might be reached in as little as quarter-hour by ferry, and Île Saint-Honorat in 20. Ferries go away from the far west fringe of the port.
Like Cannes Outdated City, the Lérins Islands had been occupied by the Romans, then owned by Cistercian monks who established a monastery on sleepy Saint-Honorat, which remains to be going robust right this moment.
Sainte-Marguerite Island
The bigger of the 2, Sainte-Marguerite Island is essentially the most visited, and it has an enchanting previous. It was the positioning of the jail purpose-built for the Man within the Iron Masks, a political prisoner whose title – and face – was by no means revealed.
Visiting his cell at Fort Royal, a former fortress now house to the Museum of the Sea, was the historic spotlight of my day journey to Sainte-Marguerite.
Different issues to do right here embrace seeing Batéguier Pond, which attracts many migratory birds, and exploring shady trails, rocky coves and small seashores – convey your swimsuit in case you’re so inclined.
Skip the road and e-book your ferry ticket to Sainte Marguerite Island upfront right here.
Saint-Honorat Island
A peaceable ambiance reigns on the island of Saint-Honorat, the place the monks of Lérins have resided for the reason that fifth century.
Go to the abbey church, store for wine, honey, olive oil and different tempting items produced by the monks, and benefit from the shoreline trails.
12. Hit the Seashore
What to do in Cannes while you’re prepared for solar? Head for the sand. There isn’t any scarcity of Cannes seashores to select from.
You may go deluxe and pay for a lounge mattress and wait service at a personal seaside membership like Mademoiselle Grey Plage Barrière, or seize your favorite seaside necessities and plunk your towel down totally free in 5-star territory on the public Palais Festivals Seashore.
13. Get Out on the Water
It’s possible you’ll not have a yacht to cruise round on, but it surely doesn’t imply it’s good to be landlocked.
Boating is a favorite pastime on the Riviera, and there are just a few other ways to take pleasure in it. If you happen to’re on the lookout for issues to do in Cannes with household, try these excursions:
Guided Boat Tour From Cannes: The Calanques of the Esterel
The Calanques of the Esterel Tour is a guided boat tour of the Esterel pure park. Skim over turquoise water, take a swim break and discover hidden coves, caves, and Calanques. The boat tour is 2.5 hours.
Examine costs and availability for a Calanques Cannes Boat Tour right here.
Cannes: Half-Day Catamaran Cruise with Lunch
Another choice for boating in Cannes is a half day catamaran journey with lunch.
Swim, snorkel and soak within the superb coastal views on the Bay of Cannes. Arise paddleboards and kayaks availabile, too.
Examine costs and availability for a Cannes Catamaran cruise right here.
14. Have a Drink at One of many Large 3 Luxurious Motels
Contemplating all the celebrities that hit up Cannes for the pageant, you’d count on nothing lower than extravagant 5-star inns, and this vigorous French Riviera metropolis delivers.
If you happen to’re on the lookout for Cannes issues to do ‘jet-set fashion’, dip your toes into the opulent environment of a luxurious resort on the Boulevard de la Croisette.
Listed below are the highest three:
InterContinental Carlton Cannes Resort
The famed InterContinental Carlton Cannes Resort is simply reopening after an enormous facelift (like so many different movie star glam-pusses), so now’s the the time to e-book your summer season keep.
On the very least take a glimpse of its iconic domes from the road or go to their seaside membership for some (costly) seaside refreshment.
Oh, my gosh, I had a hilarious night out on the Carlton Resort in the course of the movie pageant as soon as.
Hôtel Barrière Le Majestic
Possibly a champagne cocktail on the Hôtel Barrière Le Majestic? The plush Fouquet’s Gallery Bar Cannes is difficult to beat. Sit on the bar in case you’re within the temper to talk … it labored for me.
Hôtel Martinez
Opened in 1929, the Artwork Deco Hôtel Martinez rounds off this trio of high Cannes inns.
Now a part of the Hyatt model, it’s obtained a 2-star Michelin restaurant, La Palme d’Or, which is likely one of the greatest eating places in Cannes.
15. Cannes Issues to Do Off the Crushed Observe: Go to Le Cannet
If you happen to’re spending simply at some point in Cannes, you in all probability received’t have the ability to match this in, however in case you’re on the lookout for issues to do close to Cannes the common vacationer received’t see, take into account a visit to Le Cannet.
This artsy city is principally a suburb of Cannes. It was house to the famend artist Pierre Bonnard, who was a number one mild when artwork was transferring from Impressionism to Modernism.
Issues to see in Le Cannet embrace the Bonnard Museum on the Boulevard Carnot.
As nicely, there are a selection Bonnard-inspired walks you are able to do within the lush panorama behind. Seize a brochure detailing the assorted walks on the Cannes Tourism Workplace and head for the hills.
Find out how to get to Le Cannet: It’s a 30-minute stroll (at a quick clip) from Boulevard de la Croisette straight up the Boulevard Carnot or take Bus Number one.
Greatest Day Journeys from Cannes
With its prime place on the French Riviera, Cannes is a superb leaping off spot for day journeys. For an in-depth look of some terrific Cote d’Azur locations, try my day journeys from Good article.
All the locations I speak about might be simply completed as day journeys from Cannes, too.
Right here’s a fast have a look at a few of the greatest locations to go to close to Cannes.
1. St Tropez from Cannes by Boat
St Tropez, the sultry vixen of the French Riviera, has a village meets extremely stylish vibe unmatched by wherever else on the Cote d’Azur.
Pattern a candy Tarte Tropezienne, lounge with the jet set at a personal seaside membership on the Plage de Pampelonne (Pampelonne Seashore), and make your means as much as the Citadel for views over the Gulf of St Tropez.
In summer season season, you are able to do a Cannes St Tropez day journey by boat. Examine costs and availability for spherical journey transfers right here.
2. Day Journey to Antibes
Pretty Antibes is likely one of the greatest locations to go to close to Cannes. A fast experience on the TER, the regional practice line, from Cannes, it has a laidback really feel that units it other than most French Riviera cities.
Go to the morning market, the Marche Provencal; discover the Vieille Ville (the Outdated City) and don’t miss the Picasso Museum in Grimaldi Fort overlooking the ocean.
3. Cannes to Good
There are such a lot of issues to do in Good, you’d be exhausting pressed to see all of it in a day. As the most important metropolis on the French Riviera, it’s a cultural hub for the area with stellar museums just like the fabulous Mark Chagall Museum.
Stroll the Promenade des Anglais, climb Fort Hill and go to the Outdated City for ice cream at Fenuccio’s. If you happen to’re taking the practice from Cannes to Good, you’ll be able to store on Avenue Jean Médecin all the way in which again to the station.
4. Cannes to Monaco
If you happen to assume Cannes is subtle, wait till you see the retailers and luxurious inns in Monte Carlo. An hour and quarter experience on the TER practice line, Monaco is likely one of the high day journeys from Cannes.
Head to the Place du On line casino for a direct shot within the arm of glamour, wander alongside the port and stroll up the Rampe Majeure to the Outdated City, the place you’ll be able to watch the altering of the guard on the palace daily at 11:55 a.m.
Try my at some point in Monaco journey information right here.
5. Day Journey to Grasse
Jasmine, roses and close by lavender fields have helped put Grasse on the map because the Fragrance Capital of the World. Go to the historic Parfumerie Fragonard Manufacturing unit, discover the Outdated City and cease into the spectacular Notre Dame de Puy.
To get to Grasse from Cannes you’ll be able to take the practice, then it’s best to take a bus into city from the station.
What to Do in Cannes From a Cruise Ship
Half Day Tour From Cannes Port
When you have solely at some point in Cannes you may wish to save time with a tour. This non-public tour for teams of as much as 4 individuals introduces you to the highlights of Cannes and Antibes in a half-day tour.
It’s geared in the direction of cruise passengers who need a style of the French Riviera however are quick on time.
Examine costs and availability for a Cannes Shore Tour: Cannes and Antibes Non-public Tour right here.
Full Day Non-public Tour From Cannes Port
This non-public 8-hour tour in an air-conditioned van reveals you the most effective locations to go to close to Cannes.
Stops embrace must-see cities like Good and Monaco in addition to smaller spots such because the medieval city of Eze and the coastal resort city of Villefranche-sur-Mer.
Examine costs and availability for this French Riviera Sightseeing Cannes Non-public Tour right here.
What to Do in Cannes If You’re Solely Right here For One Day
From seashores to boat journeys, we’ve checked out the most effective issues to do in Cannes total, however what are absolutely the must-do actions in case you’re solely doing a day journey to Cannes?
Right here is an itinerary in a nutshell:
First, wander up and down the Boulevard de la Croisette (simple to do as you’ll be able to hardly keep away from it), and pause for a purple carpet second at movie pageant central, the Palais des Festivals.
From there, stroll alongside the harbour – the Vieux Port – and make your means into the Outdated City for lunch and a stroll as much as the highest of Suquet Hill.
For a day tour take the ferry to Sainte-Marguerite Island, although if procuring is extra your factor, go for Rue d’Antibes. When you have a full day in Cannes, you’ll be able to simply slot in each.
Lastly, finish your day with some genuine French delicacies at a standard restaurant like La Brouette de Grand Mère, or up the ante with a hip-with-a-view chunk at Le Roof within the 5 Seas Resort. Cannes is a metropolis of eating places and also you’ll discover one thing for each palate.
Is Cannes Price It?
For my part, sure! It won’t have have the museums of Paris, the gardens of Giverny or Monaco’s Grand Prix, however does it want them?
It’s enjoyable, it’s festive and it’s the closest factor to Hollywood on the European facet of the pond.
Whether or not you’re staying for just a few days, visiting on a day journey from Good, or stopping off for a fast cruise shore tour, these distinctive issues to do in Cannes ought to offer you a style of this sensational South of France vacation spot.
