Cannes holiday rentals, for the weeks without a red carpet
Three villas on the hillsides of Cannes for families and friends who come for the beaches, the islands and the old town rather than the festivals.
In brief
Speak to Nathalie or AdamMost people first know Cannes through its festivals. Yet for much of the year it is simply a very pleasant town for a holiday by the sea, with sandy beaches along the bay, an old quarter on its hill and islands a short crossing away. Our Cannes holiday rentals are chosen for that side of the town: villas where a family or a group of friends can settle in, swim, eat well and explore at an unhurried pace.
The calendar is worth knowing before you choose. The 80th Cannes Film Festival takes place from 11 to 22 May 2027 at the Palais des Festivals, Cannes Lions follows in June, and the Palais hosts more than 50 professional events each year. Away from those dates, a holiday rental in Cannes feels like a seaside town rather than a conference venue, and that is the stay this page describes.
It is written for parents planning a summer with children, friends sharing a house for a week, and anyone who wants a villa in Cannes as a base for the beach and the coast. We explain how a week tends to unfold from the hills, which of our three Cannes villas suits which kind of party, and how the stay is arranged.
Cannes, the essentials
Checked against official sources, so you can plan with confidence.
Cannes is 27 km from Nice Côte d’Azur airport and can be reached in less than 30 minutes.
Source: en.cannes-france.comCannes-Mandelieu airport is 15 minutes from Cannes city centre and the Palais des Festivals.
Source: en.cannes-france.comThe steps of the Palais des Festivals are covered in red carpet every year in May for the Cannes Film Festival.
Source: en.cannes-france.comThe 80th Cannes Film Festival will take place from 11 to 22 May 2027 at the Palais des Festivals.
Source: en.palaisdesfestivals.comLa Croisette stretches for 3 km, from the Palais des Festivals to Port Canto, lined with grand hotels, luxury boutiques and beaches.
Source: en.cannes-france.comThe Palais des Festivals hosts more than 50 professional events each year, including MIPIM and Cannes Lions.
Source: en.cannes-france.comBeaches, islands and the old town
The Croisette stretches for 3 km, from the Palais des Festivals to Port Canto, with beaches along its length, and it is the natural first walk of any holiday here. Families find their rhythm quickly: a morning on the sand, lunch back at the villa, an afternoon by the pool and a stroll along the seafront once the heat has eased.
The Lérins Islands are the outing everyone remembers. Sainte-Marguerite and Saint-Honorat are only 15 minutes by boat from the port of Cannes, close enough for a spontaneous morning. On Sainte-Marguerite, children are usually captivated by the Fort Royal, where the Man in the Iron Mask was imprisoned for 11 years, while adults are happy to wander and swim. A private boat can be chartered if you would rather keep your own timetable.
Above the old port, Le Suquet is the historic heart of Cannes, its narrow lanes climbing the hill with views back over the bay. It makes a lovely early evening walk before dinner, and our concierge can reserve tables in town for the nights you choose to go out.
Choosing a villa for the holiday
Villa Sorya is the choice for guests who want to walk everywhere. It sits in Basse Californie, one of the most prized residential quarters of Cannes, only a few steps from the Croisette, its beaches and boutiques, and it looks out to sea. The heated pool can be set to the temperature you prefer, and the rooftop terrace is the place for an aperitif as the sun goes down over the bay.
Villa Elaris, higher up in the Californie district, frames the bay through a glass façade with views as far as the Lérins Islands, while the Croisette remains a few minutes’ walk downhill. A heated infinity pool seems to spill into the sea, and a garden-level lounge and an upstairs terrace offer two quite different places to dine outdoors.
Villa Orvella, on the wooded hillside of La Croix des Gardes beside its park, is the most self-contained of the three. Pines and mimosa surround the house, and the heated pool, fed by two waterfalls, includes an aquarium. A panoramic hot tub, a rooftop garden, a pétanque court and a summer kitchen with barbecue, warmed in the evening by two outdoor fireplaces, suit a family who will spend as many days at home as out.
- Beach and town on foot: Villa Sorya
- Sea views to the islands with a walk down to the Croisette: Villa Elaris
- Woodland calm and a pool fed by waterfalls: Villa Orvella
Settling in for the week
Holiday accommodation in Cannes can mean a hotel room; a villa means a house with its own routines. Breakfast is served every day, as in all our stays, and a private concierge is included to arrange whatever the week requires. Cleaning is provided throughout the stay at all three villas, and at Villa Orvella a housekeeper is included as well.
On request, we add a private chef for long lunches on the terrace, a chauffeur for days along the coast, childcare so that parents can enjoy an evening alone, and spa treatments at the villa. Arrival is simple: Cannes is 27 km from Nice Côte d’Azur airport and can be reached in less than 30 minutes, while Cannes-Mandelieu airport, for those flying privately, is 15 minutes from the town centre.
The residences side by side
Capacity, rooms and the highlights of each residence in this selection, from our own records.
| Residence | Guests | Bedrooms | Bathrooms | Living area | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Villa SoryaCannes | 12 | 6 | 6 | 550 m² | Heated Pool, Gym |
| Villa ElarisCannes | 10 | 5 | 5 | 500 m² | Heated Pool, Sea View, Wine Cellar, Hammam, Massage Room |
| Villa OrvellaCannes | 20 | 12 | 12 | 1,100 m² | Heated Pool, Cinema Room, Wine Cellar, Hammam, Sauna |
Rates are on request and depend on dates and services. Your advisor confirms availability and the final details of every residence.
Our villas to rent in Cannes, France
Three villas to rent in Cannes, France, that we suggest for leisure holidays, each visited by our team. Sleeping arrangements and space for each are set out in the table below.
What makes the difference
Every residence is visited by our team, every stay is followed by one dedicated contact, and breakfast and a private concierge are always included.
Leisure stays, planned with care
Cannes is often discussed only in terms of its festivals and congresses. We plan holidays here with the same attention, thinking about beach mornings, outings with children and quiet evenings at home.
Villas seen first hand
Every residence is visited by our team before it joins the collection. We can tell you how the pool relates to the living rooms and how steep the walk is down to the seafront.
Outings arranged for you
A yacht charter to the Lérins Islands, a table in Le Suquet or a chauffeur for a day along the coast is a single message away. Your concierge handles the bookings so the holiday stays unhurried.
Since 1989, from Paris
We have arranged stays from Paris since 1989, today from our agency at 30 Rue Volta, and hold a 5.0 rating from 107 reviews on Google. One dedicated contact follows your stay from the first call until departure.
Good to know
Anything else? Our team in Paris answers personally, usually within the day.
Ask our teamWhen can we holiday in Cannes away from the festivals?
The Cannes Film Festival runs from 11 to 22 May 2027 and Cannes Lions follows in June, so families looking for a relaxed seaside stay usually plan around those weeks. Tell us how lively or quiet you would like the town to be, and we will suggest dates to match. Your proposal confirms availability for each villa.
Which Cannes villa is closest to the beach?
Villa Sorya, in Basse Californie, is only a few steps from the Croisette and its beaches. Villa Elaris, in Californie, is a few minutes’ walk downhill. Villa Orvella, on La Croix des Gardes, is better suited to a chauffeur for beach days, which we arrange on request.
Can you arrange a boat to the Lérins Islands?
Yes. The islands are 15 minutes by boat from the port of Cannes, and a yacht charter can be arranged on request for a morning, a full day or a swim stop along the coast. Your concierge times it around meals at the villa and the children’s routines.
Is a Cannes villa practical with young children or grandparents?
It can be, and we discuss each family’s needs before suggesting a house. Villa Orvella has a lift serving every floor, gardens and a rooftop garden, and childcare can be arranged on request at any of our villas. Tell us the ages of the children and we will explain how each pool sits in relation to the terraces.
What is included in a Cannes villa holiday?
Every stay includes daily breakfast, a private concierge and cleaning during the stay; services such as a private chef or chauffeur are added on request. Prices are on request and set out in a tailored proposal, followed by a rental agreement before anything is confirmed.
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Plan your summer in Cannes
Tell us your dates, who is coming and how you like to spend a seaside week, and we will suggest the Cannes villa that fits. Write on WhatsApp at +33 7 80 98 05 43 or to contact@lutetia-group.com; the team usually replies within the day.