The Lérins Islands, a day off Cannes by shuttle or private boat
Two islands, two very different days: the forest, fort and snorkelling coves of Sainte-Marguerite, and the monks’ island of Saint-Honorat. How to get there, where to swim and how to do it from a villa.
The Lérins Islands lie in the bay of Cannes, about 15 minutes by boat from the port. Two of them can be visited: Sainte-Marguerite, the larger, with a pine and eucalyptus forest, the Fort Royal where the Man in the Iron Mask was held, and the clearest swimming water near Cannes; and Saint-Honorat, smaller and quieter, owned by a community of Cistercian monks who still run an abbey and a vineyard there. There are no cars, no hotels in the usual sense and no direct boat between the two islands, so the real question is which island suits your day, and how you plan to get back.
Most visitors take the shared shuttle from the old port, walk a little, swim a little and queue for the last boat home. That works, but it is not the only way. A guest staying in one of our villas on the hills of Cannes can see the islands from the terrace (Villa Elaris in Cannes looks straight across the bay to them), leave by private boat at nine, anchor off the quietest cove and be back for a late lunch by the pool.
This page goes deeper than the overview in our things to do in Cannes guide: it covers the crossing options, the swimming spots island by island, the rules that catch first-time visitors out and a day plan that works with the boat timetable rather than against it.
The islands in verified figures
Checked against official sources, so you can plan with confidence.
Sainte-Marguerite covers 210 hectares, 152 of them a state forest of Aleppo pine and eucalyptus; it is about 3.2 km long and 900 m wide.
Source: Cannes tourist officeThe Batéguier pond, on the west of Sainte-Marguerite, has been a biological reserve since 2002, and the Fort Royal has been a listed historic monument since 1927.
Source: Cannes tourist officeThe underwater ecomuseum off the south shore of Sainte-Marguerite holds six sculpted faces by Jason deCaires Taylor, 84 to 132 m from the shore in 3 to 5 m of water.
Source: Cannes tourist officeSaint-Honorat is about 1,500 m long and 400 m wide, wooded with umbrella and maritime pines.
Source: Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur TourismThe abbey on Saint-Honorat was founded in 410; the fortified monastery on the shore was built in 1073, and the island keeps seven chapels and two cannonball ovens from 1794.
Source: Cannes tourist officeSmoking, drones, fires and barbecues are banned on both islands, and there is no direct shuttle between them: you return to the Cannes pier to change boats.
Source: Cannes tourist officeSainte-Marguerite or Saint-Honorat: which island for which day?
People often say “the Lérins Islands” as if they were one place. In practice you pick one per crossing, because each island has its own boat line from a different quay in Cannes. The table below matches the island to the kind of day you have in mind.
| If you want… | Go to | Why |
|---|---|---|
| A full beach day with children | Sainte-Marguerite | Plenty of shade in the forest, a quiet natural beach five minutes from the landing stage, picnic tables, toilets and drinking fountains |
| Snorkelling with something to find | Sainte-Marguerite, south shore | The six faces of the underwater ecomuseum lie in shallow, clear water within easy swimming distance of the shore |
| History and a museum | Sainte-Marguerite | The Fort Royal, the prisoners’ cells and the Man in the Iron Mask story, plus the museum of the fort |
| Calm, silence and a walk | Saint-Honorat | A small island of vines and pines where a monastic community lives all year, with far fewer visitors |
| Turquoise water close to the landing | Saint-Honorat | A quiet cove between the two islands is about four minutes’ walk from the pier |
| Both islands in one day | Either, with planning | Possible by shuttle with a return to Cannes in between, or simply by private boat, which can drop you on one island and collect you for the other |
Opening days of the fort’s museum and of the island restaurants change with the season. Check the Cannes tourist office before you go.
Cannes to the Lérins Islands: the crossing, step by step
The shuttles are simple once you know there are two piers and two separate services. Here is the order in which to plan it.
- Choose the island first
Boats for Sainte-Marguerite leave from Quai Saint-Pierre in the old port, where two shuttle companies operate. Saint-Honorat is served only by the monks’ own boat service from Quai Laubeuf, a short walk along the harbour. A ticket for one island does not take you to the other.
- Check the timetable and the fare online
Timetables and fares are published on the tourist office website and on the shuttle companies’ own sites, where pre-paying can bring a lower fare. In high summer, buy ahead and aim for an early boat: the morning crossings are calmer and the coves are emptier.
- Allow 15 to 20 minutes on the water
The crossing itself is short. The tourist office says the boats are accessible to people with reduced mobility, which makes the islands one of the easier outings on this coast for older family members.
- Note the last return boat
This is the step people forget. Write down the time of the last boat back before you settle on a beach for the afternoon, and be at the landing stage early: on busy summer evenings the queue can be long.
- Know your fallback
If you do miss the last shuttle, taxi boats run from the old port pontoon between March and the end of October, at a higher cost than the shuttle. Guests of our villas can simply message the concierge, who arranges a boat.
- Coming from elsewhere on the coast
The regional tourist board notes excursions to the islands from Mandelieu-la-Napoule, and a crossing of about one hour from Nice. From the Cap d’Antibes, a private boat is usually the simplest option.
Shuttle, taxi boat or private boat: what changes
The shuttle is perfectly good. A private boat changes the shape of the day: you leave when you are ready, you see the islands from the water side where the forest comes down to the rocks, and you can swim from the boat in the channel between Sainte-Marguerite and Saint-Honorat, known locally as the Plateau du Milieu.
Two honest caveats. First, that channel is one of the busiest anchorages on the Riviera in July and August, with yachts packed close together by midday, so we suggest arriving in the morning or late afternoon. Second, the seabed around the islands is covered with protected Posidonia seagrass, and the maritime authorities restrict anchoring on it, especially for larger boats. A good skipper knows where to drop anchor or pick up a mooring; it is one more reason not to improvise.
| Shared shuttle | Taxi boat | Private boat with skipper | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Departure | Fixed timetable from Quai Saint-Pierre or Quai Laubeuf | On demand from the old port, March to October | When you choose, from a port near your villa |
| Both islands in one day | Return to Cannes and change boats | Possible, two separate rides | Yes, drop-off on one island and pick-up for the other |
| Swimming | From the island beaches | From the island beaches | From the boat as well, in the channel or off the south shores |
| Return | Last scheduled boat | On request, higher cost than the shuttle | When you decide |
| Best for | A simple half day, budget conscious groups | A late return after dinner on the island | Families, couples and groups staying in a villa |
Prices on request: the concierge confirms boat options and availability with your dates.
Where to swim on the Lérins Islands, cove by cove
The water around the islands is the clearest near Cannes, but the shore is mostly rock and pine needles rather than long sand. Bring water shoes, a mask and snorkel, and shade if you plan to stay on one beach. The spots below follow the tourist office’s own list, with our notes on who each one suits.
| Spot | Island and side | Who it suits | Our note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sainte-Anne beach | Sainte-Marguerite, about 5 minutes from the landing stage | Families with young children | The quietest of the easy spots; a youth association runs water activities there |
| The Dragon coves | Sainte-Marguerite, west, via the allée du Dragon | Swimmers who like a natural setting | Shaded areas nearby and a picnic spot just east, looking towards Saint-Honorat |
| Ecomuseum beach | Sainte-Marguerite, south shore, below the forest house path | Snorkellers of all ages | Swim out with mask and snorkel and look for the six faces in 3 to 5 m of water |
| The western shore | Sainte-Marguerite, behind the Batéguier pond | Those who want the wildest view | Faces the Esterel massif; a good late-afternoon spot |
| Les Pierres Hautes | Sainte-Marguerite, south-east | Sunbathers and confident teenagers | Rocks used by beginners for small jumps: check the depth first |
| Cove near the landing | Saint-Honorat, about 4 minutes from the pier | A quick swim with little walking | Turquoise water facing the channel between the islands |
| Western cove | Saint-Honorat, west | Families and first-time snorkellers | Calm water and shoals of fish between the two islands |
| Shaded cove | Saint-Honorat, about 10 minutes east of the pier | A hot afternoon | Shaded by pines, with views over the shallow lagoons |
None of these spots is described as supervised by lifeguards. Swim within your limits and watch out for boat traffic in the channel.
A walk round Sainte-Marguerite, in the right order
A path runs right round the island along the shore, and shaded alleys cross the forest. Our preferred order for a first visit keeps the fort for the cooler morning and the swimming for later.
- Fort Royal first. Turn towards the fort from the landing stage and visit the Museum of the Iron Mask and the Fort Royal: the former cells, a seventeenth-century chapel, the ramparts and a space on the island’s land and sea wildlife.
- Then the eucalyptus avenue. Leave the shore path for the nineteenth-century allée des Eucalyptus, which smells of pine and eucalyptus and leads down to the sea and a picnic spot facing Saint-Honorat.
- Swim at the ecomuseum. The sculptures are off the south shore: the fun for children is finding all six.
- Finish at the Batéguier pond. The central alley leads to the bird reserve and its view of the Esterel. Binoculars help: terns, herons and stilts are among the species the tourist office lists.
- Leave nothing behind. Bikes are not allowed on Sainte-Marguerite, dogs must be on a lead, and all rubbish goes back to the mainland.
Saint-Honorat: visiting the monks’ island
Saint-Honorat belongs to the Cistercian community of Lérins Abbey, which has lived here since the fifth century. About twenty monks are on the island all year, tending 8 hectares of vines and making wine and liqueurs that visitors can buy at the monastery shop. The island and the abbey church are open to visitors, but this is a place of prayer first, so dress decently and keep voices low near the abbey.
The landmark is the fortified monastery on the shore, built in 1073, with vaulted rooms and terraces over the sea. Walking the path round the island takes you past the remains of the seven chapels and the two cannonball ovens built under General Bonaparte. If you would like to attend a service, mass times are listed by the tourist office; they differ on weekdays and Sundays. For lunch there is one restaurant and a snack bar near the landing, open at lunchtime only and closed from January to mid-February.
One island day from a villa in Cannes
This is the plan we suggest to guests staying on the hills of Cannes, such as Villa Sorya or Villa Orvella, both in Cannes and both offering boat hire through the concierge. Nathalie Nguyen or Adam Haddad can book every element before you arrive. If you are still choosing a base, our page on luxury villa rental in Cannes shows the residences, and the Cap d’Antibes guide covers the peninsula across the bay.
- 8:30am: breakfast on the terrace, then a driver down to the port, or straight onto the boat.
- 9:15am: drop-off on Sainte-Marguerite and the Fort Royal before the day crowds land.
- 11am: snorkel at the ecomuseum, then back on board for a swim in the channel.
- 1pm: lunch: a picnic prepared by the villa’s chef, eaten on deck or under the pines (remember that fires and barbecues are banned on the islands).
- 3pm: a short hop to Saint-Honorat for the fortified monastery and the abbey church.
- 5:30pm: back at the villa while the shuttle queues form at the landing stages, with the islands turning gold from the terrace.
Our villas facing the Lérins Islands
Villas in Cannes and one on the Cap d’Antibes, each visited by our team, each with boat hire available through the concierge.
The villas side by side
Capacity, space and highlights at a glance, before you ask us about your dates.
| Residence | Guests | Bedrooms | Bathrooms | Living area | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Villa ElarisCannes | 10 | 5 | 5 | 500 m² | Heated Pool, Sea View, Wine Cellar, Hammam, Massage Room |
| Villa SoryaCannes | 12 | 6 | 6 | 550 m² | Heated Pool, Gym |
| Villa OrvellaCannes | 20 | 12 | 12 | 1,100 m² | Heated Pool, Cinema Room, Wine Cellar, Hammam, Sauna |
| Villa ZelianeCap d'Antibes | 10 | 7 | 6 | 340 m² | Heated Pool, Tennis Court, Hammam, Sauna, Gym |
Rates are on request and depend on dates and services. Your advisor confirms availability and the final details of every residence.
Lérins Islands questions
Anything else? Our team in Paris answers personally, usually within the day.
Ask our teamHow do you get to the Lérins Islands from Cannes?
By boat from the port of Cannes, with a crossing of 15 to 20 minutes. Shuttles to Sainte-Marguerite leave from Quai Saint-Pierre in the old port; the boat to Saint-Honorat, run by the monks, leaves from Quai Laubeuf. Timetables and fares are on the tourist office and shuttle websites. You can also take a taxi boat between March and October, or arrange a private boat with a skipper.
Can you visit both Lérins Islands in one day?
Yes, but there is no direct shuttle between them. You return to the Cannes pier and take the other company’s boat, which costs time in summer. A realistic plan is Sainte-Marguerite in the morning and Saint-Honorat in the afternoon. With a private boat it is much easier: you are dropped on one island and collected for the other when you are ready.
Can you swim on the Lérins Islands?
Yes, and the water is some of the clearest near Cannes. Sainte-Marguerite has a quiet beach five minutes from the landing stage, shaded coves on its west side and the underwater ecomuseum off its south shore. Saint-Honorat has calm coves a few minutes from its pier. The shore is mostly rocky, so bring water shoes, and note that the spots are not described as supervised.
Are there restaurants on the Lérins Islands?
A few. Sainte-Marguerite has two restaurants near the Fort Royal, open from April to October, plus kiosks. Saint-Honorat has a restaurant and a snack bar near the landing, open at lunchtime only and closed from January to mid-February. There is no shop on Sainte-Marguerite, so many visitors bring a picnic. The villa’s private chef, available on request, can prepare one.
Can you stay overnight on the Lérins Islands?
Only in limited ways. Camping is strictly prohibited on Sainte-Marguerite because its forest is a biological reserve, and the only accommodation there is a youth and group centre inside the Fort Royal. Saint-Honorat welcomes people on spiritual retreat at the monastery. For most travellers the better plan is a villa in Cannes with the islands in view, and a boat whenever you want one.
Is there snorkelling at the Lérins Islands?
Yes. The best-known spot is the underwater ecomuseum off the south shore of Sainte-Marguerite: six sculpted faces by Jason deCaires Taylor lie 84 to 132 m from the shore in 3 to 5 m of water, reached by swimming with a mask and snorkel. The western side of Saint-Honorat is also good for seeing shoals of fish between the two islands.
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The islands from your terrace, the boat at your pier
Tell Nathalie Nguyen or Adam Haddad your dates and your party: they will suggest the right villa in Cannes or on the Cap d’Antibes, including residences not published online, and have the boat, the skipper and the picnic ready for your Lérins day. WhatsApp +33 7 80 98 05 43 or contact@lutetia-group.com, with a reply usually within the day.