With its elegant architecture, film festival glamour and beautiful beaches, Cannes has long been one of the French Riviera's most iconic destinations. I've visited regularly for many years and today, I’m sharing my favourite things to do in Cannes, along with restaurant recommendations and practical tips for planning your visit.
First settled in the 2nd century BC, Cannes remained a small fishing village for centuries, its name likely deriving from the reeds (canas) of the surrounding marshlands. Cannes made it onto the tourist map in the 19th century with the arrival of wealthy Europeans seeking winter sun. The success of the Festival de Cannes, now one of the most prestigious film festivals, sealed Cannes' place on the world stage.
I first visited Cannes as a child on a family holiday in the 1990s. I still remember floating happily in the Med and wandering along the Croisette, melting ice cream cone in hand. My parents loved Cannes so much that they bought an apartment there and I’ve been a frequent visitor for the past 20 years.
In this guide, I’ve brought together the best things to see and do, and my recommended places to eat, drink, shop and sunbathe. I’ve also included suggestions for fun side trips from Cannes, plus a map and lots of practical tips to help you make the most of your stay.
Last updated: March 2026
BEST THINGS TO DO IN CANNES
🌴 Stroll along the Croisette
The Boulevard de la Croisette is Cannes' most prestigious address. It runs along the crescent-shaped Bay of Cannes for just over a mile from the Palais des Festivals in the west to Port Pierre Canto in the east.
🎬 Indulge your inner movie buff
The world-famous Festival de Cannes — Cannes' international film festival — is held every May and celebrates its 80th birthday in 2026. It was originally supposed to make its début in September 1939 as a stand against Fascism, but had to be cancelled as World War II broke out.
Most events during the festival are invitation only but you can soak up the atmosphere, glimpse celebrities arriving at the Palais des Festivals (I spotted Angelina Jolie one year!) or catch a movie at the Cinéma du Plage.
Outside of the festival, the Palais des Festivals is a great place to visit: there's a celebrity photo walk and you can even pose for a photo on the red-carpeted steps outside.
I also highly recommend taking a self-guided walking tour of Cannes' movie-inspired murals. It's a great way to experience the city's film culture.
🏖️ Bliss out on the beach
Unlike the pebbled beaches of most of the Côte d'Azur, Cannes' beaches are gloriously sandy. The soft, golden sand is actually imported from a quarry in the nearby Var region. The waters are clear, warm (in summer, at least!) and usually gentle.
🏰 Explore Le Suquet, Cannes' old town
Le Suquet is Cannes' most historic neighbourhood, dating back to the 10th century. Its winding, cobbled streets and pastel-hued buildings are a world away from the modern glamour of the Croisette and Rue d'Antibes.
🛍️ Shop 'til you drop
If you're in the market for a designer handbag or couture clothing, head to the Boulevard de la Croisette, which is home to a wealth of luxury fashion boutiques (pun intended). The shop at the Palais des Festivals is a great place to shop for classy Cannes souvenirs.
Maison Callaloo (pictured above) is worth the short detour to Rue Louis Nouveau. The tiny shop has the most gorgeous colourful ceramics, which make great gifts (or gifts-to-self). And at Allées de la Liberté, there's a fab weekend flea market (marché brocante).
🚤 Take a boat trip on the Med
A boat trip to the tiny Îles de Lérins, lying just 1km offshore, is a wonderful way to spend a sunny morning or afternoon. Public ferries run regularly to Île Sainte-Marguerite (known for its Man in the Iron Mask history and, more recently, for La Guérite restaurant) and its smaller sister, Île Saint-Honorat (with its liqueur-producing monks).
WHERE TO EAT & DRINK IN CANNES
Cannes is an excellent destination for foodies, from the Martinez Hotel's Michelin-starred Palme d'Or restaurant (I've still never been!) to the wonderful Marché Forville. I've dined at many restaurants in Cannes over the years and these are my favourites.
Rue d'Antibes area
Bobo: One of my very favourite restaurants in Cannes, buzzy Bobo is a fun and relaxed spot for lunch or dinner. They serve the best pizza in Cannes and the pasta, poulet rôti and other dishes are great too.
Le Pastis: Just across the road from Bobo, Le Pastis is another eatery I've returned to many times. They serve modern Mediterranean fare in a characterful bistro filled with vintage décor.
Da Laura: One block back from Rue d'Antibes, Da Laura is a good spot for a laid-back Italian lunch. The pasta is great.
Astoux et Brun: A Cannes institution that has been serving fresh seafood for over 70 years. Whether you go for the oysters, lobster or catch of the day, you won't be disappointed.
Aux Bons Enfants: Tucked away on Rue Meynadier, this intimate Michelin-recommended restaurant has been around since 1935! Serving Provençal cuisine, they have an excellent value three-course tasting menu for €41.
On the Croisette
Le Voilier: My family has been dining here for over 20 years. It's a lively spot ideal for either an apéritif and a nibble or an indulgent supper. Try to get one of the outdoor tables on the Croisette.
Miramar Plage: Whether you're in the mood for seafood or steak-frites, this is a beautiful spot for a special meal on the beach, especially at sunset.
Le Vesuvio: Head here for pizza, pasta and people-watching in a fantastic location at the heart of the Croisette.
Bar 58: The best cocktails in Cannes, served by welcoming staff in a beautiful bar. I almost always order an Old Fashioned but their more creative drinks are excellent too.
Martinez Bar: Another option for a top-notch cocktail (or two). I haven't been since their recent refurbishment and I'm looking forward to test-driving it!
72 Croisette: Location, location, location are the keywords here. Located just across from the Martinez, 72 is great for people-watching and those 'overheard in Cannes' moments.
Port Pierre Canto
Bijou Plage: A long-term family favourite, Bijou Plage has evolved a lot over the years. Its current incarnation is relaxed but with elevated cuisine, from surf-turf dishes to pizza, and excellent cocktails.
L'Ecrin: Near Bijou Plage, L'Ecrin is another splurgey, but lovely, beach restaurant. Dine on delicious seafood accompanied by a fine glass of wine or a well-mixed cocktail, and then decamp to the loungers on the beach.
Palm Beach: A relatively new complex of restaurants and bars on the site of an art deco site once home to Europe's first summer casino.
Check out my previous guides for more suggestions: best beach restaurants in Cannes, one day in Cannes on a €50 budget, long weekend in Cannes and best specialty coffee shops in Cannes.
BEST DAY TRIPS FROM CANNES
⛱️ Other Riviera destinations
Many people visit Cannes as an extended stay on the French Riviera. But Cannes' central location on the Côte d'Azur makes it a great base from which you can take day trips to other towns and villages. Most are easily reached by train, but it's best to take the boat to St Tropez.
These are some of my favourites, listed in geographical order from west to east:
- St Tropez: old town charm meets celebrity glam.
- Antibes: art and ramparts.
- Nice: the region's bustling capital.
- Èze: a beautiful village perché.
- Monaco: luxury lifestyle (but don't miss the cliffside Oceanographic Museum).
- Menton: when life gives you lemons.
🌹 Grasse: create your own custom scent or learn about the history of perfume in the fragrance capital of the world.
🥂 Biot: discover the art of glass-blowing.
⛰️ Sainte-Agnès: take in the views from Europe's highest coastal village.
💚 Gorges du Verdon: you really need 2+ days to get the most out of 'the Grand Canyon of Europe' and its insanely turquoise river but it's just about doable as a day trip from Cannes by car.
🪻 Aix-en-Provence: Aix is 2.5 hours by TGV from Cannes and 2 hours by road. If you want a taste of Provence and only have a day, this historic Roman city is your best bet.
🇮🇹 Dolceacqua: a picturesque Medieval village across the border in Liguria, Italy.
WHEN TO VISIT CANNES
The French Riviera is now incredibly popular in the summer, but the region first became a major draw during winter for wealthy travellers in the 19th century. English Lord Chancellor Henry Brougham is credited with starting the trend: he got stuck in Cannes and loved it so much he built a villa there.
Cannes' mild, sunny and dry Mediterranean climate make it a great year-round destination and over the past 30 years, I've visited during every month of the year.
Cannes summers are lovely but July and August can be stiflingly hot, with the mercury often topping 30C (86F). Hotels and restaurants fill up and it's a nightmare finding space to spread out your towel on the beach! If travelling during this time, book accommodation well in advance and plan to spend a lot of time cooling off in the sea.
I prefer the shoulder months of June and September, where the city is a little quieter but you'll usually be treated to warm (and swimmable) weather and glorious sunshine. May and October are also good times to visit, but the weather is less predictable.
I've visited Cannes many times during the winter, especially around Christmas and New Year, when it feels very festive. The weather is cooler in winter, but there are often bright, sunny days and it's much less busy, with cheaper hotel rates.
Finally, unless you are attending the Festival de Cannes or are a die-hard film fan, I would avoid visiting Cannes in late May. Hotel rooms become incredibly expensive and the whole town is super-busy. This also applies to the Cannes Lions Festival held every June, as well as various other festivals and events.
HOW LONG TO SPEND IN CANNES
Cannes is relatively small and you can see the highlights on a day trip. If you're visiting the city as part of a longer stay on the French Riviera, that might be enough.
But for the full Cannes experience, I would recommend spending at least two or three days there. That allows plenty of time for indulging in Cannes' best pleasures: relaxing on the beach, strolling along the Croisette, people-watching on the Rue d'Antibes or savouring a fresh fish supper.
Cannes' central location on the Côte d'Azur also means it's a great base for taking day trips to other destinations, like St Tropez and Nice, if you prefer not to keep moving between hotels. I've listed some of my favourite side trips from Cannes later in this guide.
WHERE TO STAY IN CANNES
Central Cannes has a wide range of accommodation, from luxury five-star hotels to more affordable options. Prices vary wildly depending on the season, soaring during the Film Festival in May and in summer months.
HOW TO GET TO CANNES
Cannes is located about 15 miles southwest of Nice Côte d'Azur Airport. The journey usually takes about 30 minutes by car. Official taxis have a flat fare of €88 between the airport and Cannes. You can also book a ride using Bolt (the price varies: I've seen fares of €50 but it can be a lot more when demand is high).
Travelling by public bus is a lot cheaper. I usually take the Zou express bus 81, which costs €20.90 one way (group fares and carnets are available). You can buy a ticket with cash or credit card from the driver. It usually takes about 45 minutes to get to Cannes city centre and buses run every 30 minutes or so.
If you're on even more of a budget, you can take bus 620, which runs from the Aéroport / Promenade stop on the Promenade des Anglais. The bus runs up to every 15 minutes, takes just over an hour to get to Cannes and costs €2.10. As it's a local bus, note that there's not much space for luggage.
Take the train to get to Cannes from other Riviera destinations like Nice, Antibes and Monaco. There are frequent departures and great views from the modern, comfortable trains. Fares are very reasonable (to this Brit, at least!): it's about €10 one way between Cannes and Nice, for example.
Cannes' bus station (gare routiére) and main train station are both very central. There's another station to the west at La Bocca.
GETTING AROUND
One of the biggest joys of a trip to Cannes is walking along the Boulevard de la Croisette and exploring the Rue d'Antibes and Le Suquet on foot. The city centre is compact so you may not need to use any transport while you're there.
There are various public buses, though, including what must be one of the world's most glamorous public bus route: the Palm Imperial. This double-decker, open-top bus runs from Palm Beach, along the Croisette to Quai Laubeuf on the west side of the city centre.
If you prefer a little narrative and history with your ride, the 'petit train' is an alternative option to taking a bus or walking tour.
NEED TO KNOW
For packing tips for Cannes, check out my recommendations of tried-and-tested products for travel or my guide to packing for four days in Cannes in an under-seat, personal-item-sized bag.
Electricity
As with many European countries, France uses round, two-pronged ‘type F’ plugs.Language
- Bonjour (bon-ZHOOR) — hello/good day
- Bonsoir (bon-SWAHR) — good evening
- Salut (sah-LOO) — hi
- S'il vous plaît (sih voo PLAY) — please
- Merci (mehr-SEE) — thank you
- Oui (WEE) — yes
- Non (NON) — no
Money
France's currency is the Euro. At the time of writing, 1 Euro is worth £0.87 (GBP) or $1.15 (USD). Most restaurants, bars and shops accept credit card payments but it's worth keeping some cash on hand just in case. ATMs are widely available.Time zone
France is on Central European Time, one hour ahead of the UK and six hours ahead of US Eastern Time. France observes daylight savings times: clocks spring forwards one hour in March and fall back one hour in October.
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