Cannes, the absolute star of the French Riviera, is a busy tourist destination attracting those who love prestigious hotels, fine sandy beaches, millionaire yachts, flashy cars and classy shopping for haute-couture, jewellery or art. Expensive seafood, a 'did-you-see-me'-attitude and glitzy nightlife are a must here and the city lives well up to its reputation.
Famous for hosting the annual Cannes Film Festival each May, Cannes is a dazzling destination and it would be a shame to explore the south of France without visiting this extravagant city with its exotic crowds.
Cannes hotels are as good and varied as anywhere in France. Visitors will find anything from quaint traditional, family run establishments, through boutique and apartment hotels, to high-end five-star complexes with private beaches.
Top Things about Cannes
Cannes is famous as the home of the mid-May International Film Festival when the town fills with the world's filmmakers and film stars. As a leading resort, attracting the fashion conscious from all over to its boutiques, eating out is easy, but you may have to look further than the seafront to find top quality and good value for money.
The Croisette is one of the most famous promenades in the world; three kilometres following the curve of the bay along flowering gardens, lawns planted with palm trees and umbrella pines all the way to Port Canto, Palm Beach and a sea water health spa. Sitting at a street-side table watching the beautiful people strolling along la Croisette or beside the packed marina is a favourite pastime for many visitors here.
The city is centred around the old port. The flea market is held here every Saturday and you can see local fisherman repairing their nets on their colourful boats, while on the pier Saint Albert, you can marvel at the most beautiful yachts in the world.
Visits to the Iles de Lerins, two islands in the bay, are recommended. Their beaches are free, unlike those along the main bay. Cannes is a base for day trips along the Riviera to Monte Carlo, St Tropez, and Nice. The coast roads are spectacular, but crowded and prone to delay. Historic Aix-en-Provence also deserves a visit, although it is 150 km/93 miles away.
Cannes Hotels
Cannes accommodation is mostly clustered in the streets around the bay and marina. Hotels along la Croisette are among the most expensive, but moving further from the seafront reduces price. Cheap hotels in Cannes have not been banished to the suburbs, but can be found within a short walk of the beach. Their architecture is a visual history of the town and their names reflect the people who made Cannes such a popular resort.