Cannes: the must-sees
Cannes, the city of the Festival… but not only
Cannes is world-renowned for its Film Festival, its Croisette and its luxury hotels.
But reducing Cannes to the steps of the Palais des Festivals would be a shame.
Behind the prestigious facades of the Croisette lies a charming old town, a Provençal market, painted walls dedicated to cinema, natural spaces and above all a magnificent bay opening onto the Lérins Islands.
From Jasmins Studio, Cannes is therefore a very easy day trip to consider, whether you want to explore the city, enjoy the beach or take a boat trip.
The Croisette: the mythical image of Cannes
It's impossible to discover Cannes without exploring the Croisette.
This long seaside promenade is lined with palm trees, pine trees, luxury boutiques and legendary hotels. It is one of the most famous promenades on the French Riviera.
You can simply stroll around, watch the boats in the bay, stop for a drink or enjoy the beach.
Water sports enthusiasts will also find many opportunities: wakeboarding, wake surfing, flyboarding or even jet skiing.
My advice:
Don't just drive along the Croisette.
Park your car and take the time to explore it on foot.
The Palais des Festivals and its famous steps
THE Festival Palace is obviously essential.
This is where the Cannes Film Festival takes place every year in May, and where the biggest international stars climb the famous steps.
Even outside of the Festival, the place is worth a stop.
Take the opportunity to photograph the steps and discover the Path of Stars, where many film personalities have left their mark.
The Tourist Office is also located in the Palais des Festivals: it's a good opportunity to pick up a map of Cannes if you wish to continue exploring the city.
The legendary palaces
As you continue your stroll along the Croisette, take the time to look at the facades of the grand hotels that have made Cannes internationally renowned.
Among the most iconic:
- Majestic Barrière
- Martinez
- Carlton
The Carlton, built in 1909, is notably one of the great historic hotels of Cannes.
You don't need to stay there to appreciate their architecture: a stroll along the Croisette is enough.
Le Suquet: Old Cannes
After the glitz of the Croisette, I recommend you go up to the Suquet, the oldest district of Cannes.
Here, the atmosphere changes completely.
The alleyways are narrow and steep, the houses are old, and the atmosphere is much more authentic.
Le Suquet is also perched on a hill which offers beautiful views of the bay and the Croisette.
Things to see in Le Suquet:
- THE Castre Museum, installed in the old castle;
- the square tower and its panorama;
- the church of Our Lady of Hope;
- Saint-Antoine Street and its restaurants.
If you want to save your legs, I also recommend exploring Cannes by electric bike.
The Forville Market
At the foot of Le Suquet, near the Old Port, lies the Forville market.
This is one of my favorite places to find a more Provençal atmosphere.
From Tuesday to Sunday, the stalls offer fruits and vegetables, cheeses, fish and other local products.
And why not take the opportunity to try a socca, this thin pancake made from chickpea flour, an emblematic specialty of Nice and the region?
My advice:
Combine the Forville market with a visit to Le Suquet.
The two are located right next to each other.
Painted walls: Cannes is turning its cinematic spirit into a city-wide spectacle.
Cannes doesn't only talk about cinema in front of the Palais des Festivals.
The city has a circuit of 16 painted walls dedicated to the seventh art.
The murals are spread across different neighborhoods and pay homage to the history of cinema.
You will be able to discover, among other things:
- The Beach Hotel,
- Charlie Chaplin,
- Cannes Cinema
- Full Sun – Alain Delon
- Marilyn Monroe.
It's an original way to discover Cannes outside of the classic routes.
The Old Port
Then go down towards the Old Port and Saint-Pierre Quay.
You will discover the yachts moored in the bay, but also the fish and seafood restaurants.
The port also hosts major nautical events, notably the Royal Regattas.
And to end the day, treat yourself to a cocktail on one of the rooftops offering a view of the Old Port, the Lérins Islands and the Croisette.
The Lérins Islands: my recommendation for a different kind of day out
If you have a whole day available, I highly recommend taking the boat to the Lérins Islands.
They are accessible from Cannes in approximately 15 to 20 minutes by boat and allow you to move very quickly from the hustle and bustle of the city to a peaceful, natural environment.
Saint Margaret
It is the larger of the two islands.
A trail of approximately 8 kilometers allows you to walk around it, under the pine forest and along the seafront.
You can swim in different places and plan a picnic.
THE Fort Royal, The former prison where the mysterious Man in the Iron Mask was held also houses the Maritime Museum.
Saint-Honorat
Smaller in size, Saint-Honorat is known for its abbey and monastic community.
The monks cultivate, among other things, an ancient vineyard there.
Walking around the island can take about an hour.
A practical clarification
Both islands are served from Cannes, but it is not possible to go directly from one to the other: you have to return to Cannes before taking the boat to the second one.
PFor a first visit, I would recommend Sainte-Marguerite., in particular for the walk around the island, swimming and Fort Royal.
See also my page " Golfe-Juan: beaches, ports and the Lérins Islands " : you can also consider this excursion from Golfe-Juan, which is much closer to Jasmins Studio.
A cruise departing from Cannes
Cannes also allows you to discover the French Riviera from the sea.
Depending on your preferences, the choices include:
- a narrated cruise along the Corniche d'Or and the Estérel;
- a cruise combining Sainte-Marguerite and the Golden Corniche ;
- a round-trip excursion to Monaco ;
- a maritime shuttle to Saint-Tropez ;
- a catamaran trip around the Lérins Islands.
This allows us to discover the coastline in a different way than we know it from the land.
Go shopping
Cannes is also a must-see destination for shopping.
Depending on your budget and preferences:
- The Croisette and the Rue des États-Unis for major luxury brands.
- Antibes Street for more affordable brands.
- The Golden Square for jewelry stores and elegant boutiques.
- Meynadier Street for a more popular atmosphere and souvenir shops.
Gaining altitude at Croix-des-Gardes
If you want to escape the hustle and bustle of Cannes for a while, get a bird's-eye view.
THE Croix-des-Gardes Natural Park, of approximately 80 hectares, offers walks and several viewpoints.
The viewpoints allow you to take in Cannes, the Lérins Islands and the Estérel massif.
It's a good idea for a quieter stroll, especially when the heat makes the Croisette less pleasant.
And why not Cannes from the sky?
While not essential, consider the exceptional experience to fly over Cannes by plane or helicopter, with different options over the Croisette, the Estérel, Monaco or Saint-Tropez.
A perfect day in Cannes
If you only have one day, here's what I recommend.
The morning
Start with the Forville market, then go up to Suquet.
Take the time to wander through the narrow streets and enjoy the view.
Late morning
Go down towards the Old Port, then head to the Croisette.
Lunch
You can have lunch near the port, in Le Suquet or on the Croisette depending on the atmosphere you are looking for.
Afternoon
Take a walk on the Croisette, Discover the Palais des Festivals and the famous steps.
If you enjoy walking and want to get away from the hustle and bustle, choose the Croix-des-Gardes.
Variant
And if you prefer the sea to the city, replace the afternoon visit with an excursion to the Lérins Islands.
Cannes since Jasmins Studio
Cannes is close enough to Jasmins Studio to be considered very easily as day trip, but also for just half a day.
And its proximity makes it especially possible to combine it with other discoveries in our region.
For example, you could imagine: Jasmins Studio → Cannes → Lérins Islands
Or : Jasmins Studio → Cannes → Estérel / Corniche d’Or
or: Jasmins Studio → Cannes → Monaco
Also worth discovering:
→ Cap d'Antibes, Old Antibes
→ Golfe-Juan: beaches, ports and the Lérins Islands
→ Picasso In Vallauris: the painter and the ceramics
→ The Grasse region: flowers, perfumes and gardens
→ The Napoleon Route from Golfe-Juan