Bonjour! Welcome to Cannes, the world capital of cinema where glitz and glam reign. It’s a picturesque town on the French Riviera that perfectly blends old-world charm, luxury, and natural beauty. Iconic film festival, colorful historic old town, magnificent sandy beaches with turquoise waters, striking views, fancy shopping, posh parties… All of that makes Cannes a popular destination that attracts thousands of people each year. Will it allure you too? Let’s find out! Keep reading and prepare all the things to do in one day in Cannes, France.
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Cannes, France FAQ
Cannes is located in the Provence-Alpes-Cote d’Azur region in the Alpes-Maritimes department in southeastern France. It’s just a short drive from other popular places nearby like Antibes, Nice, Saint-Raphael, or Grasse.
Cannes is best known for hosting the annual prestigious film festival that attracts countless celebrities keen to walk the most popular red carpet in the world. The city is also known for its charming old town, holiday-perfect sandy beaches, and many places offering luxurious experiences.
One day in Cannes is enough to see all the main landmarks and get a good feel of what this city is all about. But it’s definitely not enough to see all that the city offers. So if you want to experience the glamor of Cannes more, we recommend staying at least 3 days.
Thanks to a pleasant Mediterranean climate, Cannes is great to visit any time of year. If you prefer smaller crowds and lower temperatures (15-20°C), choose any month in the lower season. If high temperatures (around 30°C) don’t bother you and you want to spend time on the beach – visit during the high season, from June to September. Also, we’d recommend against visiting in May during the Cannes Festival – it’s the most expensive time to visit.
It’s pronounced [kan]. Still don’t know how to read it? Here’s a YouTube video where you can listen to correct pronunciation.
Things to do during one day in Cannes, France
Le Suquet District
Le Suquet district is the oldest part of Cannes, where the town began its existence as a Roman camp. It’s located on a small hill offering breathtaking views over the town, bay, old port, and the Lerins Islands. The area is also filled with cobbled streets full of pastel-painted houses often decorated with colorful flowers. Just let yourself be carried away by the beauty of the streets and soon you’ll discover every corner. Wherever you turn, you’ll find something interesting in Le Suquet district.
In Le Suquet you’ll find points of interest like:
- Medieval castle of the monks of Lerins, currently housing the Museum of World Explorations (fr. Musée des Explorations du Monde). There you’ll find interesting collections from all over the world like Mediterranean and Oriental antiquities, early art from the Himalayas or Tibet, and various musical instruments. There is also a square tower offering magnificent views over Cannes. Entrance is paid – for current prices and opening hours visit cannesticket.com website.
- Notre-Dame de l’Espérance church is located at the top of Le Suquet. It’s a Gothic-style stone church, the oldest in Cannes, completed in the 17th century. It features a plain facade and a richly decorated interior.
- Cannes sign – perfect for Instagram-worthy photos.
Strolling in Le Suquet district and admiring amazing views from its highest point is definitely something that you don’t want to miss during your one day in Cannes. For us, this area quickly became one of our favorites in town!
Discover: Accommodation options in Cannes
Forville Market
Forville Market (fr. Marché Forville) is located at the foot of the old town, Le Suquet. It’s Cannes’ main indoor market and a real heaven for foodies! Fruits, vegetables, fish, meat, cheeses, seafood, olives, flowers, and fresh dishes and snacks, including freshly cooked socca in a traditional oven!
Forville’s food market is open every morning from Tuesday to Sunday. On Mondays, from 7AM to 5.30PM, it transforms into a flea market full of antiques.
Cannes Old Port
Old Port (fr. Vieux Port) is a great place for a walk peppered with amazing views, not only for yachting enthusiasts. Luxurious yachts, boats, and views over both the Le Suquet district and the new center await you there.
Every September, the Old Port hosts the Cannes Yachting Festival, the world’s number-one trade show for large sailing boats. We can imagine it’s one of the best things to do in Cannes for boat enthusiasts!
Book now: Private Customized French Riviera 8H Tour from Port of Cannes
Palace of Festivals
The Palace of Festivals and Congresses (fr. Palais des Festivals et des Congrès) is definitely a place that cannot be missed on your one day in Cannes. It’s a modern convention center hosting many professional events, including one of the most important film festivals in the world – the Cannes Film Festival.
In the Palace of Festivals be sure to pose like a movie star on the famous red carpet – it’s probably one of the most satisfying things to do in Cannes! And don’t forget to see the Walk of Fame (fr. Chemin des Étoiles) where actors and directors left their handprints.
The Cannes Tourist Office is located on the ground floor of the Palace of Festivals, right next to the Walk Of Fame. And if you’re up for trying your luck, Casino Barriere Le Croisette is also located next door.
Book now: Private Cannes Ferrari Tour
Boulevard de la Croisette
Boulevard de la Croisette is an iconic 3-kilometer-long seaside promenade in Cannes that stretches from the Palace of Festivals to Palm Beach. It’s lined with palm trees, 5-star hotels, chic restaurants, and luxurious shops. It’s the perfect place for lazy strolls, running, or cycling – all with amazing views all around. Boulevard de la Croisette is a gateway to amazing beaches like Mace Beach or Croisette Beach. During your one day in Cannes, be sure to walk at least part of it – it’s really worth it!
Iconic shopping streets
While in Cannes you also don’t want to miss a stroll among its iconic shopping streets filled with luxurious brands, both international and local. Be sure to visit Rue d’Antibes – the busy epicenter of Cannes shopping with more than 800 shops, and the Croisette – a street with the most emblematic luxury brands facing the beaches.
Other streets you don’t want to miss are Rue Commandant André – linking Croisette and Rue d’Antibes, Rue Meynadier – a historical street of Cannes’ commerce, and Rue Hoche with some contemporary boutiques. Even if you don’t plan to buy anything, those are chic, must-see places in Cannes.
Also, while strolling among Cannes streets keep your eyes open for some murals connected to the cinema. Charlie Chaplin, Marylin Monroe, Pulp Fiction… Our favorite, named ‘The Cinema of Cannes’, is located right next to Old Port and Cannes Town Hall.
Discover: Accommodation options in Cannes
Beaches in Cannes
Cote d’Azur is a real beach paradise and we don’t think anyone needs to be convinced of that. Along the 8 km-long coastline in Cannes, you’ll find 13 magnificent public beaches and some private ones too. All are perfect for soaking up the sun and taking a refreshing dip in clear azure waters. What distinguishes the beaches in Cannes from their neighbors is the fact that most of them feature fine, golden sand instead of pebbles.
The most popular beaches in Cannes include La Croisette Beach & Plage Macé – a long stretch of sand running alongside the Boulevard de la Croisette promenade, and Plage du Midi – the largest public beach located to the west of the Palace of Festivals. You can easily visit these two during your one day in Cannes, even for a short break.
Other nice beaches include Plage Palm Beach, Plage de la Bocca, Plage des Rochers de la Bocca, and secluded beaches of the Lérins islands.
One thing is sure – in Cannes you’ll be spoiled with beach choices! No matter if you’re looking for a lively beach with many amenities around, or a more quiet and secluded spot – you’ll find it in Cannes.
Book now: 6-Hour Private French Riviera Shore Excursion
Lerins Island
If you have more time on your hands during your one day in Cannes we have one more suggestion for you. You can take a 15-minute-long boat ride to one of Lerins Island – a natural treasure of the city where you’ll be able to recharge your batteries in peace. You can choose between Sainte-Marguerite Island and Saint-Honorat Island.
Sainte-Marguerite is the bigger island and is the ideal place to enjoy peaceful walks along coastal paths or spend relaxing time on pristine beaches. There you can also visit Fort Royal, a 17th-century fortress with prison cells (including a cell of (in)famous Man in the Iron Mask) and some Roman relics as well as a unique Underwater Ecomuseum featuring 6 underwater sculptures created by artist Jason deCaires Taylor.
Saint-Honorat Island is a smaller island that has been home to monks since the 5th century. There you can visit the 11th century Lérins Monastery and Saint Honnorat fortress which provide amazing views. Both places are free to enter.
Book now: Round-Trip Ferry to Ste. Marguerite Island
How to get to Cannes, France?
Cannes is located about 35km from Nice, 55km from Monaco, 65km from Menton, and 95km from Saint Tropez. The most convenient way to get to the town is by car, train or bus.
Where to park in Cannes?
In Cannes you can leave your car in one of many paid parking lots. We can recommend leaving a car in the Parking Suquet Forville located just a few steps from Rue d’Antibes and beaches or Parking Vallombrosa located just a few steps from Le Suquet District (free on Sundays, limited spots).
For great car rental deals visit Rentalcars website.
Airports near Cannes
The closest airport to Cannes is located in Nice, only 25km away. From the airport you can get to the city by bus, tram+taxi, taxi or rented car. You can check them on rome2rio.com website.
To Cannes by train
You can easily get to Cannes by train from many nearby places like Nice, Antibes, Menton, Cagnes-sur-Mer, Grasse, or Villefranche-sur-Mer. To learn more about train connections that interest you visit sncf.com or rome2rio.com website.
For great train ticket deals visit Trainline website.
To Cannes by bus
You can also quite easily reach Cannes by bus. For example, a trip from Nice will take about 40min (€5-8), 20min from Antibes (€2-10) and 1h45min from Menton (€6-10). To learn more about bus connections that might interest you visit rome2rio.com website.
Camping Cannes
If you’re traveling by camper, places like Les Bungalows du Golfe, Camping Parc Bellevue, Camping Les Embruns, or Camping Eden Biot might interest you. They are located near Cannes.
To Cannes with an organized tour
If you don’t want to put too much effort into planning, you can always take advantage of the guided tours and let someone else take care of all the details. For a wide selection and well-reviewed tour options be sure to visit GetYourGuide or Viator.
Explore local attractions
Things to do during one day in Cannes, France – Summing up
Now you’re ready to explore, shop, relax, and eat like the stars! Cannes is a wonderful place on the Cote d’Azur, isn’t it? We hope you like our ideas of things to do in one day in Cannes that will allow you to spend a fabulous day in the city. Number of attractions and places to discover there is quite long so we’re sure that every traveler will find something perfect for himself. No matter if you’re looking for cultural events, luxurious experiences, chic parties, sandy beaches, a charming old town, or natural beauty… Cannes has it all. Enjoy your time in the capital of the cinema!
Our video from Cannes
Our opinion about Cannes
We lived in Cannes (in the La Bocca neighborhood) for a few weeks during our second and third seasons of digital nomad life. But to be honest, we visited the center only a few times! And no matter the season, low or high, the city was always busy. Maybe a little bit less during wintertime (except in December because there was a Christmas market).
Overall we liked Cannes and found it a pleasant city but… it didn’t steal our hearts. What we liked most about was definitely the old town, Le Suquet District. Gazing at fancy buildings, window shopping, posing on the red carpet, and spending time on the beaches was also fun. We even found 20 euros on the street there so… nothing to complain about!
Biggest disadvantage? Huge crowds, but mostly in the newer part of Cannes, near the Palace of Festivals. Le Suquet District was more peaceful.
We also think that Cannes is a good starting point for discovering Cote d’Azur.
Book now: Discover the Lerins Islands and the Bay of Cannes by Private Boat
Restaurants, accommodations, and map
Check out various recommended places below.
Where to eat in Cannes?
Here are your best, high-rated options in Cannes:
Where to sleep in Cannes?
Barrière Le Gray d’Albion
Hotel Barrière Le Gray d'Albion offers luxurious accommodations just steps from the famed Croisette and the sparkling Mediterranean Sea. The hotel features elegantly appointed rooms and suites, fine dining options, and a private beach for a truly indulgent experience. Ideal for both leisure and business travelers, it provides easy access to Cannes' vibrant nightlife, upscale shopping, and major event venues like the Palais des Festivals.
Modern Apartment Near Beaches
It's a modern apartment located just 300 meters from the beach in Cannes. It features air conditioning, a fully equipped kitchen, and offers entertainment options including Netflix. Ideal for couples or small families, the apartment provides a comfortable and convenient stay with easy access to Cannes’ main attractions and the beautiful French Riviera coastline.
Mondrian
Mondrian is a luxurious hotel located on the prestigious Boulevard de la Croisette, offering guests unparalleled views of the Mediterranean Sea. The hotel features elegantly designed rooms and suites with contemporary decor, state-of-the-art amenities, and private balconies. Guests can enjoy exquisite dining experiences at the on-site restaurants, relax in the beautiful gardens, or take a short stroll to the nearby beaches and city center.
Accommodations photos source: booking.com
