Every year in May, Cannes plays host to the world famous Cannes Film Festival, drawing celebrities and fans from all over the world. However, there is so much more to this glamorous seaside resort than films. Located in southeastern France on the beautiful French Riviera, Cannes offers sunshine and plenty of exciting things to see and do. To learn more, check out the following travel guide to Cannes.
Historic Old Town
An ideal place to begin sightseeing Cannes is the historic Old Town quarter, known as Le Suquet. Here, you can stroll along narrow, winding cobblestone lanes and see beautiful, old structures like the old clock tower, fortified towers, and churches like the 15th century Notre-Dame d'Esperance. Situated on a hill top, this lovely church features impressive art works as well as stunning views over the city and bay. The Old Town also offers a variety of shops and markets where you can browse around for unique souvenirs. If you need a break, there are plenty of cafes and gourmet restaurants where you can dine and wine while people-watching.
The Promenade de la Croisette
From the Old Town, you can walk down to the Promenade de la Croisette, a picturesque beachfront avenue that is lined on both sides with swaying palm trees, luxury hotels, restaurants and designer shops. Nearby is the city's port, where you can view the yachts of the rich and famous.
Palais des Festivals
If you keep walking along the promenade, you will end up at the Palais des Festivals, the remarkable building complex where thousands of films are screened every year during the Cannes Film Festival. A popular thing for many tourists to do here is to take a photo of yourself standing on the red carpetsteps where so many famous celebrities have been photographed.
Museums
If you want to learn what daily life was like in the surrounding region over the centuries, you can check out the Musée d'Art et d'Histoire de Provence, which features an excellent collection of furniture, tools, paintings, pottery, traditional costumes, and much more. Other museums you may enjoy visiting are the Musée de la Castre, the Maritime Museum, the International Museum of Perfume, and the Museum of Photography.
Shopping
If you love shopping, you will love Cannes. This city is packed with upscale, designer shops like Dior, Gucci and Chanel, just to name a few. Most of these shops are located along the La Croisette promenade and the street, Rue d'Antibes. You will also find a number of delicatessens and chocolatiers in this area, where you can also watch chocolates being made on the premises. If you enjoy market scenes, you don't want to miss out on the Forville Market, a covered market where you can find fresh produce as well as delicious, cooked French and international dishes. The Forville Market is also a great place to enjoy views of the water while you shop and eat.
Beaches
As the city is located on the French Riviera, it has several gorgeous beaches where you can swim and sunbathe by day, and watch firework displays at night. However, many of these beaches are privately owned, and require an entrance fee, which could be up to 35 or 40 US dollars a day and includes sunshades and sunbeds. If you don't mind going a little further out to the west and east of the city, there are some public beaches that are free to hang out.
Lérins Islands
If you have time, you may enjoy taking a short ferry ride out on the bay to visit the Lerins Islands. St. Honorat is the smaller of the islands and features a ruined castle and a monastery where you can watch Cistercian monks producing wines and food that you can buy. The larger of the islands, St. Marguerite, is home to the Museum of the Sea, which is housed in a former prison where the mysterious "Man in the Iron Mask" was confined for 11 years. You can visit his cell while touring the museum, which also displays an array of items discovered from shipwrecks off the islands.
Nightlife
Fine, romantic restaurants, nightclubs and casinos make up a dazzling nightlife scene in Cannes. While many of the venues are expensive, you will also find other bars and clubs to suit a more affordable budget.
Get around
Walking is probably the best way to get around Cannes, and it offer you opportunities to discover hidden sights that you might otherwise miss. However, if you prefer not to walk, the city offers a good, public bus system as well as taxis. While you can also rent a car at several establishments, driving in and around Cannes can be confusing and and frustrating for foreigners as well as costly due to parking fees.
When to visit
If you want to visit Cannes during the International Film Festival in May, you will need to make hotel reservations way in advance as they book up fast. Of course, you can also get a hotel room in near by Nice and take a day trip to Cannes during the festival. Summers in Cannes are a popular time to visit because the climate here is ideal with abundant sunshine and comfortable temperatures.
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