Wanderyn
Cannes
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
city · FR

Cannes

Recommended stay: 1 day
Getting around: The city center, La Croisette promenade, and the old town (Le Suquet) are all walkable. Cannes has a train station with frequent connections along the coast to Nice (40 minutes) and Antibes, making it easy to visit without a car; a car is useful mainly for reaching the Lérins Islands ferry departure point (it's near the old port, also walkable) or exploring inland.
Hours: During the Cannes Film Festival in May, the town is essentially locked down around La Croisette with security and inflated prices — either plan around it deliberately for the atmosphere or avoid those two weeks; the rest of the year Cannes is a fairly normal, relaxed resort town.

Cannes is best known for the film festival that takes over the town for two weeks every May, but outside that window it's a fairly low-key Riviera resort town built around La Croisette, a long palm-lined beachfront promenade with grand hotels (the Carlton, the Martinez) facing private beach clubs. The old town, Le Suquet, sits on a hill above the modern city and is worth the climb for the view and a more authentic, less manicured feel than the seafront. The Lérins Islands — Sainte-Marguerite and Saint-Honorat — are a short ferry ride from the old port and make a good half-day escape, with pine forests, a fort associated with the Man in the Iron Mask legend, and a working monastery with vineyards on Saint-Honorat. Outside festival season, Cannes works well as a quieter, more relaxed coastal stop than Nice, with good beaches and a slower pace, though it's still expensive.

Cannes FAQs

Is Cannes worth visiting if I'm not going during the film festival?

Yes — outside the festival it's a relaxed, attractive resort town with good beaches and a much lower-key atmosphere than during the two festival weeks in May.

Can you visit the festival venues outside of May?

The Palais des Festivals is visible from outside year-round and there's a walk of fame with handprints, but there's no festival activity itself outside the actual event dates.

Are the Lérins Islands worth a visit?

Yes, especially Saint-Honorat with its working monastery and vineyards, or Sainte-Marguerite for pine forest walks and the fort; the ferry ride from the old port is short and frequent.

Is Cannes expensive?

Yes, particularly for beach club access and dining right on La Croisette, though the old town and side streets have more reasonably priced options.

How far is Cannes from Nice?

About 40 minutes by train along the coastal line, making it an easy day trip in either direction or a base for exploring the Riviera.

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