Cannes

Visit Cannes, Provence

Cannes is an attractive coastal town and resort situated in the heart of the French Riviera, on the Mediterranean coast.

Since the end of the 19th century, and perhaps even more so than any other Cote d'Azur town, Cannes is associated with the rich and famous. This is in part due to the prestigious annual Cannes Film Festival ensuring that the city name is broadcast to every home in the western world along with a list of glittering celebrities photographed in the sunshine with a palm tree backdrop.

The image is not far wrong - Cannes does attract the jet-set and the rich and famous, and the city reflects it. In reality there is perhaps slightly less to see and do - beach and expensive bars and restaurants aside - in Cannes than in some of the other Riviera resorts, but the chance to walk in the footsteps of your movie heroes helps to compensate...

Explore Cannes

I should first say that despite the bad press given to Cannes in several French guide books we thoroughly enjoyed it and recommend a visit! Start your visit in the main harbour area in the centre of Cannes.

Situated along the sea edge the harbour glitters with the reflections of the sun from the many yachts harboured here. Walk a bit further along this coastal section and you are on the famous Boulevard de la Croisette.

The Palais des Festivals, location of the Cannes Film Festival, is on one edge of the boulevard and you too can have your photo taken on the famous steps of the Palais. Unfortunately they hadn’t rolled out the red carpet for us! On the floor nearby you can see the tiles with the hand prints of famous stars such as Clint Eastwood and Bruce Willis.

Continue down the Boulevard de la Croisette and there is a long sandy beach, though much is taken up by private beaches belonging to the expensive hotels on the other side of the road.

All along the boulevard there are lots of designer shops interspersed amongst the hotels.

Just behind the Croisette Boulevard is the Rue d’Antibes which also has an amazing concentration of designer shops. It is a wide and pleasant street and a lovely place for a bit of window shopping, or real shopping if you are richer than us. There are also a lot more affordable shops here as well.

Back beyond the old port and harbour walk steeply upwards and on to the hill known as Le Suquet. On the summit of the hill are the remains of a priory and the Chapel Saint Ann which is now home to the Musée de la Castre.

The views from here over Cannes, and the harbour and beaches are fantastic.

Behind the rear of the old port the Allées de la Liberté is an attractive open space where the Cannes flower market is held. Keep drifting west from here through the old town to the main market, the Marche Forville, and narrow streets lined with boutiques full of things you probably can't afford.

Attractions nearby

From Cannes you can take a 15 minute ferry ride to the lovely Isles de Lerins. One of these, the Island of Sainte Marguerite, once held a prison where the ‘Man in the Iron Mask’ was locked up.

Note: the 'man in the iron mask' was an unidentified prisoner detained for 30 years at the end of the 17th century. Forced to always wear a mask his true identity was never known, although he was said to be the illegitimate son or brother of King Louis XIV. He was immortalised in the Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas.

Photos of Cannes (click any picture to start the gallery)

Tourist classifications for Cannes: Village in bloom (ville fleurie) 4*;

Suggested places to visit near Cannes, France

Distances shown are direct, driving distances will be greater.

More suggestions: Juan-les-Pins 8km; Antibes 10km; Cap d'Antibes 10km; Valbonne 10km; Biot 11km; Opio 13km; Grasse 14km; Cagnes-sur-Mer 17km; Massif de l'Esterel 17km; Le Bar-sur-Loup 17km; Cap Esterel 18km; Agay 18km; Saint-Paul-de-Vence 18km; Tourrettes-sur-Loup 19km; Gourdon 19km; Saint-Cezaire-sur-Siagne 21km;

See these places and more on a map at places near Cannes

Cannes tourism: sights and attractions nearby

Abbaye de Lerins (Cannes) - religious monument (0km) : Parc du château de la Napoule - remarkable garden (6km) : Jardin botanique de la villa Thuret - remarkable garden (10km) : Jardin de la Villa Fort de France - remarkable garden (15km) : Grottes de Saint-Cezaire - site of natural beauty (20km) : Baou de Saint-Jeannet - site of natural beauty (24km) : Eglise de St Raphaël (Saint-Raphael) - religious monument (24km) : Cathédrale Saint Léonce (Frejus) - religious monument (26km) :

French version: see Cannes (Francais)