What to see and do in Cannes | My must-sees, favorites and good addresses

Are you visiting Cannes but don’t really know what to do? Discover my favorites and must-sees for a successful stay.

As a native of Cannes, I had to write an article about the city where I lived for 16 years. Cannes was once a modest fishing village. Today, it’s one of the world’s most sought-after seaside resorts, often seen as a superficial, extravagant city of luxury yachts, jetsetters and stars (which is also true). Nicknamed the city of the rich or the city of the old, Cannes is nonetheless an emblematic city, world-famous for its Cannes Film Festival, held every year in May.

I’m going to tell you what you can do here for the first time, and give you the local must-sees, because Cannes is also full of nice little spots that are bound to be well known and appreciated by the locals. I also invite you to read all our articles on the Côte d’Azur and the PACA region to help you prepare for your trip.

• Cannes, the solar-powered, no-licence boat for discovering the Lérins Islands
• Cannes, a must-try guesthouse in the city center
• Discover Marseille and its calanques by boat
• The new Tohapi mobile homes in the hinterland
• My unforgettable encounter with the Mercantour wolves
• The Monts d’Azur reserve for unusual accommodation and wildlife watching
• Discover the Colorado Provençal, a natural wonder of the PACA region

What to see and do in Cannes: discover my must-sees

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| THE FORVILLE MARKET TO DISCOVER THE SCENTS OF THE SOUTH

Forville market is THE place to be in Cannes and one of my favorite places. Located at the end of rue Meynadier, a stone’s throw from the old port and at the foot of Le Suquet, you’ll love strolling through this area and enjoying the lively atmosphere of Cannes and the local area (with a lilting accent, please)

This Provencal market is entirely covered. It’s a place of encounters and discoveries, where market gardeners, fishermen, florists and cheese makers rub shoulders… Here you can buy fresh local produce and regional specialities such as pistou, tapenades, pissaladière, honey and olives, as well as zucchini flowers and mimosa in winter!

Take advantage of the sunshine to sit on one of the terraces of the bistros surrounding the market and watch life come alive. If you would like to try one of Nice’s specialities, socca, cooked over a wood fire, go to the market at the stall Socca’nnes. This thin wafer made from chickpea flour and sprinkled with coarse pepper reminds me of my childhood! There are also Zucchini flower fritters chez Coco (my favorites) and good bread from the market with Sandrine de at Sandrine Events.

Opening hours

September 15 to June 14
Tuesday to Friday: 7:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday: 7.30 a.m. – 1 p.m.

June 15 to September 14
Monday to Sunday: 7:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. (every Monday is an antiques market)

| MEYNADIER STREET

Rue Meynadier is perhaps the largest pedestrian street in Cannes! It’s just past the Rue d’Antibes, but before the Forville market and the Suquet district (the old town). Today, you’ll find clothing and souvenir stores, as well as grocery stores and other food outlets. If you’re feeling peckish, stop in at Ernest’s delicatessen (53 BIS Rue Meynadier), you’ll find a wide selection of ready-made meals, fresh charcuterie, savoury pastries, salads and hors d’oeuvres, all entirely “home-made”. Every morning, they serve up a mouth-watering hot showcase…

| LE SUQUET: A STROLL THROUGH OLD CANNES

It would be a shame to come to Cannes without discovering Cannes’ oldest district called “le Suquet“. It’s a pretty pedestrian area, criss-crossed by cobbled streets and lined with boutiques, bars and restaurants often serving Provencal dishes.

You can start your stroll in Le Suquet from the old port or the Forville market. I’d even recommend starting with the allées de la liberté, a large square facing the old port and the Pantiero esplanade, where many pétanque players enjoy a game of boules. It’s easy to spot, with its pretty kiosk, but it’s also a place where second-hand goods dealers come to show off their best finds, and where, depending on the time of year, markets like the Christmas market are held.

Then head up rue Saint Antoine (not very lively during the day, but especially lively in the evening) and lose yourself in the side streets to discover some less-frequented corners. It’s like strolling through a pretty Provencal village, with its brightly-colored, often flower-filled village houses, fountains and steep, picturesque streets.

Passage obligé sur la place Saint-Dizier where you’ll find the boulodrome, a few popular cafés, artists’ studios, a fountain and pretty murals reminding you that you’re in the City of Cinema. If you wish to visit this open-air museum and photograph many painted walls, the town of Cannes has set up an itinerary. The recommended tour begins place Cornut-Gentille quai Saint-Pierre with prestigious credits from a hundred years of cinema. It continues through the alleys of Le Suquet, heading east to Boulevard d’Alsace, with Marilyn offered up like a goddess, and further up Boulevard de la République. Download the plan here

Finally, climb the Suquet hill towards Place de la Castre, to catch a glimpse of the ideal panoramic viewpoint, admire the bay and the Croisette that runs alongside it. The view is breathtaking, both day and night! Here you’ll find the Notre Dame d’Espérance church and the Musée de la Castre, formerly the château of the Lérins monks.

Below Le Suquet, the Vieux Port, whose oldest part, the “Quai St Pierre“, dating from 1838, is home to old riggers and yachts.

The old town of Cannes is difficult, if not impossible, to get to by car, so I advise you to find a place to park your car or leave it at the Forville market parking lot, the entrance to which is at the foot of Le Suquet. Finally, in July, Le Suquet turns its attention to classical music, celebrating the musical nights. It’s an opportunity to attend open-air concerts.

| PHOTOGRAPHING THE PALAIS DES FESTIVALS

Cannes inevitably rhymes with Cannes Film Festival, the world’s largest film festival. For 60 years, the Cannes Film Festival has been the Festival du 7ème Art and is world-renowned for the many stars and directors who have stayed here. The world’s most talked-about cultural event takes place every year for 10 days in May at the Palais des Festivals.

| FROM CROISETTE TO PALM BEACH

Cannes also rhymes with the Croisette, the 3-kilometre-long promenade that is an inseparable part of the city’s identity. from the Palais des Festivals to the Palm Beach. Nicknamed “Little Miami”, the stroll along the Croisette is really pleasant, as it is lined all along with palm and pine trees. I love the contrast of this boulevard, between the sumptuous palaces, casinos and luxury boutiques on one side, and the bay of Cannes on the other, with its beach, the offshore Lérins islands and restaurants with their feet in the sand.

Walking from the Croisette to Palm Beach can take a while, so remember to rent a classic bike or else an electric bike to tour the city. The first time I took Antoine to Cannes, we rented a scooter for a week. It was great because it had a sort of Dolce Vita feel to it, and it was very convenient to park anywhere. We also avoided the traffic jams at the beach exits! I saw that you can now take a vespa tour of Cannes, which must be great fun to do.

| RUE D’ANTIBES AND THE GAMBETTA MARKET

Rue d’Antibes is a street that runs parallel to the Croisette, and is the jewel in Cannes’ shopping crown. You’ll find perfumeries, jewellers, florists, ready-to-wear boutiques with well-known names such as Zara, Mango, Trabaud… but also confectioneries, beauty salons, decoration stores…It can be done over a day if you don’t stop at every store!

The Gambetta market is a small market open every morning except Monday, from 7am to 1pm. A wide variety of fruit and vegetables are available. All around, you’ll find stores and restaurants, notably in Rue Hoche.

| THE LÉRINS ISLANDS

Facing the bay of Cannes and the Estérel massif, there are two beautiful islands called the Lérins Islands Sainte Marguerite and Saint Honorat.

A different way to discover the Lérins Islands

There are several ways to discover the Iles de Lérins: by renting a kayak, and boat without licence for the day or climb aboard a Catamaran.

• KAYAK

By kayak, you’ll set off on a relaxing day of discovery, all within easy reach of Cannes and the starting point.

➡️ Check availability and book kayaks in advance

• LICENCE-FREE SOLAR BOAT

The solar boat allows you to spend a wonderful day in the Lérins Islands. It has an electric motor and solar panels to power the batteries. There’s no need to pay for fuel or go into debt – it’s all eco-friendly and easy to use. We explain it all in this article

• THE CATAMARAN

You will set sail on a modern, fully equipped catamaran for a cruise around Cannes Bay, stopping off to swim or explore the seabed. Allow a good half day for this trip, with lunch served on board.

➡️ Check availability and book the catamaran in advance.

• DISCOVER THE STATUES OF THE LÉRINS ISLANDS

If you love snorkeling, discover this unique underwater exhibition by world-renowned artist Jason Decaire Taylor. This amazing new eco-museum can be explored underwater with your mask and snorkel at a depth of between 3 and 5 meters. A unique experience that will make you feel like you’re somewhere else entirely!

➡️ Check availability and book snorkeling in advance

| LA CROIX DES GARDES (THE CROSS OF THE GUARDS)

Everyone in Cannes knows the Croix des Gardes, the green lung of Cannes. To get there, simply head uphill to this neighborhood located west of Cannes. It is the second highest point in Cannes, just after the California neighborhood, where the most beautiful villas on the coast are located.

In this natural area, you will find the Croix des Gardes Forest Nature Park, a preserved area that is unique for its flora and fauna. In fact, it is here that you will find one of the most beautiful mimosa forests on the coast. You can also walk along the trail with its five viewpoints (Le Maquis, Roquebillière, La Croix, Le Cèdre, and Brougham), which offer the most magnificent views of the Bay of Cannes, the Lérins Islands, and the Estérel Massif. A guaranteed moment of relaxation!

| WHERE TO STAY IN CANNES

There is an incredible variety of accommodation in Cannes, and I will try to give you as much information as possible. For your first time in Cannes, I would recommend staying somewhere fairly central so that you can do everything on foot during the day and enjoy the restaurants and nightlife. Choose either Le Suquet, La Croisette, or Rue d’Antibes and its surroundings.

The city isn’t that big, so this will save you from having to take your car to get around and, more importantly, from having to park (it always takes a long time to find a parking spot in Cannes!).

• At the Hôtel

This option depends on your budget, as the city is flooded with visitors every year in May for the Cannes Film Festival, as well as from July 15 to August 15. Visitors book a year in advance, even as far away as Italy, to attend the Cannes Film Festival. I have a beautiful guesthouse to offer you, just a 10-minute walk from the Palais des Festivals, in a peaceful and rather charming location.by clicking here on this platform

➡️  Otherwise, we invite you to check out the best deals and book on booking.

• The Appart Hôtel

Le Cannes, bd d’Alsace and Villa Garbo are among the apartment hotels available. They are well located and well appointed, offering a compromise between Airbnb and a hotel. Some even have views of the sea and La Croisette! Discover a wide selection of apartment hotels in Cannes here.

| HOW TO GET TO CANNES

• The TGV is a good option for traveling to Cannes from Paris, with very attractive prices. The train journey from Paris takes 5 hours and don’t forget to check out Ouigo trains because you can find really low prices!

• To get to Cannes by plane, you have to fly to Nice, the nearest airport. If you book in advance, expect to pay around €100 for a return ticket from Paris. Find your flight with Skyscanner flight comparison tool

• Once there, you can either rent a scooter or a car, or use local transportation (such as buses and taxis) to get around Cannes and the surrounding area. Find your car rental at the best price with Skyscanner here.

I hope this article has inspired you to discover Cannes in a different way. Don’t forget to read our other articles on the French Riviera and the PACA region to help you plan your trip.

• Cannes, the solar-powered, no-licence boat for discovering the Lérins Islands
• Cannes, a must-try guesthouse in the city center
• Discover Marseille and its calanques by boat
• The new Tohapi mobile homes in the hinterland
• My unforgettable encounter with the Mercantour wolves
• The Monts d’Azur reserve for unusual accommodation and wildlife watching
• Discover the Colorado Provençal, a natural wonder of the PACA region

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