Things to do in Cannes, from the Croisette to the islands
The town beyond the red carpet: the old quarter, the islands, market mornings and the 2027 calendar, each checked against official sources.
The essential things to do in Cannes fit into a long weekend: walk the Croisette from the Palais des Festivals to Port Canto, climb Le Suquet for the view over the bay, spend a morning at the Forville market and take the 15-minute boat to the Lérins Islands. Add an event if your dates allow: the 80th Festival de Cannes runs from 11 to 22 May 2027. Outside the big weeks, Cannes is a compact seaside town that is easy to enjoy on foot.
Cannes, France, lies on the French Riviera in the Alpes-Maritimes, on the coast between the Estérel hills and Antibes. Most people arrive knowing only the festival image. The town itself is more varied: a hill where the fishing village began, a covered market dating from 1884, a working old port, and two forested islands a short crossing from the quays. It rewards curiosity more than it rewards a checklist.
This guide is organised by place, then by time: what to do in each part of town, how to choose between the islands, which markets open on which days, and what the calendar holds from November to September. If you are here to choose a house rather than plan the days, start with our luxury villas in Cannes; for a summer week with children or friends, see Cannes holiday rentals for families and friends.
Cannes in figures
Checked against official sources, so you can plan with confidence.
The Croisette runs for about 3 km, from the Palais des Festivals to Port Canto.
Source: Cannes tourist officeThe Lérins Islands, Sainte-Marguerite and Saint-Honorat, are about 15 minutes by boat from the port of Cannes.
Source: Cannes tourist officeSainte-Marguerite covers 210 hectares, 152 of them state forest of pine and eucalyptus; the Man in the Iron Mask was held in its Fort Royal for eleven years.
Source: Cannes tourist officeThe abbey on Saint-Honorat was founded in 410; about twenty monks live on the island all year and tend 8 hectares of vines.
Source: Cannes tourist officeThe Forville market dates from 1884 and opens Tuesday to Sunday, 7:00 to 13:00; on Mondays a flea market takes its place.
Source: Cannes tourist officeNice Côte d’Azur airport is about 27 km from Cannes, and the TGV from Paris takes about 5 hours 15 minutes.
Source: Cannes tourist officeThe Croisette and the Palais: what is worth your time
Begin at the Palais des Festivals, which also houses the tourist office. Outside event days its 24 steps are open: you can climb them free of charge and take the photograph everyone wants. During the Festival you can see the steps but not climb them, and access is sometimes closed during other congresses. Around the building, the Chemin des Étoiles keeps the handprints of actors and directors who came to the Festival, and hunting for a favourite name is a good way to spend a quarter of an hour.
From the Palais the Croisette runs east for about 3 km to Port Canto. On the sea side, public stretches of sand alternate with beach concessions under white cabins; on the town side stand the grand hotels and the boutiques. The blue chairs set out along the promenade are free, and they make the best seat in town for watching the bay. Square Reynaldo Hahn, with its flower beds and its wooden carousel, is the stop children remember.
An honest note on timing: the Croisette is at its best early in the morning and at dusk. At midday in July and August it is hot, crowded and short on shade. In spring and early summer, when congresses take over the Palais, the stretch around the building can be fenced off for days at a time, so check the calendar below before you plan your photograph on the steps.
Le Suquet, where Cannes began
Le Suquet is the hill at the western end of the bay where Cannes started life as a fishing village. The natural way up is along Rue Meynadier, which leads from the centre to the foot of the hill and the Forville market. From there, Rue Saint-Antoine climbs between old houses to Rue du Suquet and its small fountain at the crossroads. On the way, the Suquet des Art(iste)s, a former morgue turned into studios, shows the work of contemporary Cannes artists.
At the summit, known as La Castre, the square tower of the medieval château built by the Lérins monks now houses the Musée des Explorations du Monde. Its collections run from Inuit carvings in walrus ivory to Oceanian objects and Mediterranean antiquities. The church of Notre-Dame-d’Espérance stands beside it, and the terrace in front gives the classic view over the old port, the Croisette and the islands. If the climb does not appeal, an electric bus runs up to the Suquet.
Plan it by the clock: go up in the morning and combine the visit with Forville, which closes at 13:00, or go up in the late afternoon for the light on the bay and walk down to dinner in town.
The Lérins Islands: Sainte-Marguerite or Saint-Honorat?
The two Lérins Islands make the best half day out of Cannes, and they are very different places. Boats for Sainte-Marguerite leave from Quai Saint-Pierre in the old port; Saint-Honorat is served by the monks’ own boat from Quai Laubeuf. The crossing takes about 15 minutes. Fares and timetables are on the tourist office website and at the quays: note the last return boat before you settle on a beach for the afternoon.
- Bring: water, a hat and shoes you can walk in. There are public toilets and drinking fountains on the islands, but plan to carry what you need for the day.
- Order of the day: on Sainte-Marguerite, visit the fort first while it is cool, then swim at the ecomuseum and picnic in the forest.
- Avoid the shared crossing: boat hire can be arranged through our concierge, so the island day starts when you choose.
| Sainte-Marguerite | Saint-Honorat | |
|---|---|---|
| Character | The larger island: 210 hectares, mostly pine and eucalyptus forest | The smaller island, home to a working Cistercian abbey |
| What to see | Fort Royal, the former prisoners’ cells and the Musée du Masque de Fer et du Fort Royal | The abbey founded in 410, the fortified monastery of 1073 and seven chapels from different periods |
| Nature | The Batéguier pond, a biological reserve since 2002, a botanical trail and a 19th-century eucalyptus avenue | Vineyards of 8 hectares, worked by about twenty monks |
| Something different | The underwater ecomuseum: six sculpted faces by Jason deCaires Taylor, reached by swimming out with a mask and snorkel | Wine and liqueurs made by the monks on the island |
| Best for | Families, swimmers and history lovers | A quieter, more contemplative half day |
| Good to know | No bicycles; dogs on a lead; take your rubbish back to the mainland | Take your rubbish back to the mainland; keep in mind it is a monastery |
Sources: Cannes tourist office pages on Sainte-Marguerite and Saint-Honorat.
Cannes markets, day by day
Markets are the easiest way into everyday Cannes, and the hours matter: most close at lunchtime, and Monday is the day to avoid if you want produce.
- Forville: go early for the fish counters and try socca, the chickpea pancake of the coast.
- Weekend browsing: the Allées de la Liberté antiques and crafts stalls pair well with a late lunch by the old port.
- With a chef: if a private chef cooks at your villa, the morning market run is worth sharing; we can arrange it.
| Market | Where | When |
|---|---|---|
| Forville: fruit, vegetables, fish, flowers | Foot of Le Suquet, a short walk from the old port | Tuesday to Sunday, 7:00 to 13:00 |
| Forville flea market | Same hall | Monday, 7:00 to 17:30 |
| Gambetta: food and flowers | Place Gambetta | Every morning except Monday |
| La Bocca: food and flowers, clothing on Wednesdays and Saturdays | La Bocca, west of the centre | Every morning except Monday |
| Antiques, arts and crafts | Allées de la Liberté, facing the port | Saturday and Sunday, 8:00 to 18:00 |
| Summer evening markets | Esplanade Pantiero (Tuesday), La Bocca market square (Wednesday), Promenade Jean Hibert (Thursday) | July and August, 19:00 to midnight |
Source: Cannes tourist office. Arrangements can change on public holidays and during works, so check before you go.
What’s on in Cannes, from November 2026 to September 2027
Cannes lives by its calendar. Some events are made for visitors; others are trade fairs that fill the town and the hotels without offering much to a holidaymaker. The dates below are those published by each organiser in October 2026.
- Coming for the Festival or Cannes Lions: these are the hardest weeks of the year for accommodation. Our guides to a villa for the Cannes Film Festival and a villa for Cannes Lions explain how to plan them.
- Wanting a quieter Cannes: aim for the weeks between the big events, such as early June or late September after the boat show.
- Combining with Monaco: our Riviera season guide to Cannes and Monaco shows how the two calendars fit together.
| Dates | Event | What it means for a visit | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21 November to 6 December 2026 | Festival de Danse Cannes Côte d’Azur | Dance programme listed in the Palais des Festivals agenda | palaisdesfestivals.com |
| 12 to 17 February 2027 | Canneseries, the international series festival (season 10) | A week of series screenings on the Croisette | canneseries.com |
| 26 to 28 February 2027 | Festival International des Jeux | Open to the public with day tickets | festivaldesjeux-cannes.com |
| 16 to 19 March 2027 | MIPIM, the international property fair | A busy professional week at the Palais | mipim.com |
| 11 to 22 May 2027 | 80th Festival de Cannes | Free beach screenings on Plage Macé, subject to seats; watch the red carpet from around the Palais | festival-cannes.com |
| 21 to 25 June 2027 | Cannes Lions, the festival of creativity | The Croisette is busy with delegates all week | canneslions.com |
| July and August | Festival d’Art Pyrotechnique, six firework nights over the bay | Visible from the Croisette; in 2026 the shows ran from 4 July to 24 August, mostly from 22:00 | festival-pyrotechnique-cannes.com |
| 7 to 12 September 2027 | Cannes Yachting Festival | Boat show across the Vieux Port and Port Canto | cannesyachtingfestival.com |
Dates as published by each organiser in October 2026. The 2027 firework nights had not yet been announced.
A three-day plan for a first visit
- Day one: the old town and the Croisette
Forville at nine, then Rue Meynadier and the climb to Le Suquet, the museum and the terrace before the midday heat. Beach or villa pool in the afternoon. At sunset, walk the Croisette back to the Palais and climb the steps if no event is on.
- Day two: the islands
An early boat to Sainte-Marguerite: Fort Royal first, then the swim to the ecomuseum and a picnic under the pines. Prefer silence? Choose Saint-Honorat, walk round the abbey and buy a bottle of the monks’ wine before the return crossing.
- Day three: beyond the bay
Head east along the coast to Antibes and its cape, or inland to Grasse, the perfume town in the hills. Back in Cannes, match the evening to the season: a summer night market, a firework night over the bay, or dinner in the old town.
Where to stay in Cannes: town, hill or cape
Where you stay shapes what you do. In the centre, everything on this page is on foot, but space and privacy are scarce in high season. On the residential hills above town, a downhill walk or a short drive buys you gardens, a private pool and a view across the bay. The Cap d’Antibes, further east, is quieter again and suits guests who treat Cannes as an evening out rather than a base.
Our residences reflect those choices. Villa Elaris, Cannes, looks across the bay to the Lérins Islands, with the Croisette a short walk downhill. Villa Sorya, Cannes, is a short way from the Croisette, and its rooftop terrace is made for evening drinks. Villa Orvella, Cannes, stands among pines beside a wooded park and sleeps twenty, with a private cinema and two kitchens. Villa Zeliane, Cap d’Antibes, lies within a secure private estate, a few minutes’ walk from a beach. Our team has visited every one, and for the wider coast, our guide to villas in the south of France compares Cannes with Saint-Tropez and Antibes.
Our villas in and near Cannes
Villas on the hills of Cannes and one on the Cap d’Antibes, each visited by our team.
The villas side by side
Capacity, space and highlights at a glance, before you ask us about 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.
Cannes, arranged around your days
What we take care of so the days above happen the way you picture them.
Event weeks, planned backwards
For the Festival, Cannes Lions or the boat show, we start from the calendar and work back, so the villa, transfers and drivers are settled before the town fills.
The islands on your schedule
Boat hire can be added to your stay, so a morning on Sainte-Marguerite starts when you are ready rather than when the queue allows.
From the market to the table
A private chef can be arranged on request, turning the Forville morning into lunch on your terrace.
Houses we know
Every residence has been visited by our team in Paris, and some are available without being published online.
Visiting Cannes: your questions
Anything else? Our team in Paris answers personally, usually within the day.
Ask our teamIs Cannes worth visiting?
Yes, especially if you go beyond the Croisette. In a few days you can climb Le Suquet, shop at the Forville market, swim off Sainte-Marguerite and visit a working abbey on Saint-Honorat. The trade-off is the calendar: during the Festival and Cannes Lions the town is crowded and booked up, so a first visit is often more relaxed in June between events or in September.
Where is Cannes in France?
Cannes is on the French Riviera, in the Alpes-Maritimes department of south-eastern France, on the Mediterranean between the Estérel hills and Antibes. Nice Côte d’Azur airport is about 27 km away, the TGV from Paris takes about 5 hours 15 minutes, and the A8 motorway serves the town from exits 41 and 42.
What’s on in Cannes this week?
The Cannes tourist office publishes a full agenda of concerts, exhibitions and sporting events, and the Palais des Festivals lists its shows and congresses on its own website. For the larger events of the coming year, use the calendar on this page, which gives the dates published by each organiser, and check again close to your stay.
Can anyone go to the Cannes Film Festival?
The official screenings are for festival guests, but visitors still have ways in. The tourist office points to the free Cinéma de la Plage on Plage Macé, open subject to available seats, and to the crowd around the red carpet before each evening screening. Outside the Festival, the 24 steps of the Palais are open to visitors free of charge when no event is on.
How expensive is Cannes?
It depends almost entirely on the week. Accommodation is at its most sought after during the Festival, Cannes Lions and the height of summer, and much easier outside them. Many of the best things to do cost little: the Croisette, the view from Le Suquet, the markets and the island trails. For villa stays, our rates are on request and depend on dates and services.
Is Cannes near St Tropez?
They are on the same coast but not next door: Saint-Tropez lies to the west of Cannes, beyond the Estérel, and most visitors make it a full day trip. The two towns also feel very different, one a lively city with a congress calendar, the other a village built around beaches. Our Saint-Tropez or Cannes comparison helps you choose where to base yourself.
You may also like
Plan your Cannes days with us
Tell Nathalie Nguyen or Adam Haddad your dates and what you would like to do, from a quiet island morning to a festival week. We usually reply within the day, on WhatsApp at +33 7 80 98 05 43 or at contact@lutetia-group.com.