Whether you decide to visit the city of Cannes during its film festival or at another time, you will discover that this charming town has quite a bit to offer.
In July 2023, I had the opportunity to visit the city as a guest of the local tourist office . Under the pleasant guidance of their press relations officer, I had the opportunity to discover some of the most worthwhile places Cannes has to offer the Israeli tourist. I am happy to bring these places to you in this article.
The history of Cannes
Before we start talking about what to do and see in Cannes, let me give you a general but important tip:
Anyone who has ever read my blog knows that my motto is “knowledge = pleasure,” and hence historical knowledge will enhance your enjoyment of your trip, no matter where you travel in France. Therefore, to prepare you for a visit to Cannes, I recommend that you spend a few minutes reading the article The Story of Cannes: Snakes, Saracens, and a Film Festival , which tells you how Cannes transformed from a remote fishing village into the world capital of cinema and chic.
What to do and see in Cannes?
After you've finished reading about the history of Cannes, it's time to get to the city. There are quite a few places to see and things to do in Cannes, whether you're visiting during the famous film festival or "just" on vacation.
Sailing to the Lérins Islands (Îles de Lérins)
Before we start touring the town of Cannes, it's worth saying a few words about the two islands located right off its coast.
One of the things I loved most about living on the island of Guernsey is the fact that not far away there are two other small and magical islands, which can be reached by ferry in a short time – about 20-40 minutes (depending on the distance of the island from Guernsey).
In Cannes, the story is very similar. Not far from there are two magical islands:
- Sainte Marguerite – An island that all Alexandre Dumas fans won't want to miss, because this is where the Man in the Iron Mask was held (for part of the time).
- Saint-Honorat – The seat of monks from the Cistercian monastery (yes, these are the same monks who liberated Caen from Muslim occupation and ruled it until the 16th century.
I got there on a large, luxurious speedboat that allows you to dive near Sainte-Marguerite Island. If you feel like pampering yourself, I highly recommend them. If you would like to take a similar tour to what I took, you are welcome to click on this link.
Please note that both islands can be reached by ferry for 20 euros per person (as of July 2023). They are very easy to navigate, as the paths and attractions are clearly marked and traveler-friendly. Here are some ways to get to these islands quickly and easily:
Cannes Palace of Festivals
True, it is an ugly building (in the 80s it was even called “the bunker”), but it is difficult and not worth ignoring. If you come for the film festival, you can try to stand on the side of the red carpet and see the movie stars. If you come outside the festival period, you can go down on the red carpet, wave to the astonished audience and feel as if for a moment you have become movie stars.
In addition to being home to the festival, the GAP building houses a casino (in case you arrive in Cannes with too much cash pressing into your pockets). If you're less into losing money while drinking a martini, you'll be happy to know that the Cannes Tourism Office is also located there.
A walk along La Croisette
This is a 3 km long promenade that will allow you to enjoy panoramic views of the islands near Cannes and walk along the city's beaches, alongside boulevards of palm trees, luxurious hotels and expensive boutiques.
If you want to feel like you’re in Hollywood, don’t miss Cannes’ “Path of the Stars” (Chemin des Etoiles), where you’ll find handprints of French movie stars. Kids, on the other hand, might not be as excited about the handprints of movie stars, but don’t worry, there’s plenty for them to do here too, thanks to the amusement rides dotted along the promenade.
Later in the article I am going to recommend you some hotels, but no matter where you stay, don't miss a visit to the Majestic Hotel , located at number 10 and considered one of the most luxurious hotels in Cannes. It opened in 1926, and despite being nearly 100 years old, it manages to stay up to date, especially thanks to the parties it organizes, featuring some of the best DJs in the world. Here is a short video about this charming hotel:
At number 47 you will find La Malmaison, which was once the tea house of the Grand Hôtel. Nothing remains of the hotel (an ugly tower was built in its place in the 60s) and tea is no longer served there, but today you can find an art gallery there.
Continue a little further towards number 58 and you will discover one of the iconic hotels of the French Riviera , the Carlton Hotel . The hotel recently reopened, and you can see in the following video what has changed and why it is considered one of the most chic hotels in Cannes in particular and in France in general (unfortunately the film is in French, so those who do not know the language will have to let the sights do the talking).
By the way, notice his pair of towers, don't they remind you of something? So no, you don't have a blue head, and indeed the inspiration for these two towers was a pair of breasts. But not just any breasts – these are the breasts of the famous 19th century courtesan, aka La Belle Otero. This woman deserves an article on my website, which will be written sometime in the future, but until then you are welcome to read a little about her here: The Secrets of the Courtesan Neighborhood.
Tired of seeing huge luxury hotels? You'll have to endure a little longer, because if you go to number 73 you'll find the Hotel Martinez . Unlike the previous hotel, which was built in the Belle Époque style, this hotel, which opened in 1929, is built in the Art Deco style and has 476 (!) rooms, making it the largest hotel in France at the time (and also an unlucky hotel because it opened right during the Great Depression). The hotel survived the crisis and is now considered one of the most luxurious hotels in Cannes (and one of the most expensive).
You are invited to take a look at the following video and discover the magic of this hotel.
Shopping on Rue d'Antibes and the place where Napoleon parked
I assume that while you were strolling along the promenade you came across luxury stores of Louis Vuitton and other brands. These are, for the most part, not stores for ordinary mortals, and the products sold there are like Hanukkah candles: just to be seen. So what do Cannes residents do who want to do quality shopping at (relatively) reasonable prices? They go to the Rue d'Antibes.
This street was created as a road connecting the city of Toulon with the town of Antibes. However, it quickly became the city's main shopping street, where you will find fashion chain stores alongside unique designer boutiques.
I'm not a big fan of shopping, but that doesn't mean I'll deprive you of the pleasure of spending your money on clothes, jewelry, and more :-). Since I had very little time to visit there, I don't have good photos from the street, so let me recommend you watch this one-minute video, which will show you exactly what stores you can find there:
From Rue des Antibes, turn left onto Rue des Belges and then Rue de Bivouac Napoleon. This is where Napoleon stopped for a short rest after escaping from the island of Elba (if you are interested in the subject, you are welcome to read this article ). Napoleon is no longer around, but there are lovely cafes here where you can sit with a glass of pastis and wait for him to return.
At the end of Bivouac Napoleon Street you will find Place de General de Gaulle and from there go to Allée de la liberté. On the northern part of the street you will find Rue Felix Faure, named after the French president, during whose time the Dreyfus Affair took place (if you want to read about his mysterious death you can do so in the article The President's Fatal Mistress ). On this street you will find the statue of Lord Henry Boreham, the man responsible for turning Cannes from a forgotten fishing village into what it is today.
Visit to the Forville Provençal Market (Marché provençal Forville)
If you define yourself as a foodie (like me), you must go to this market.
This is the large market in Cannes and you will find an abundance of fish, meat, vegetables and fruit. Alongside all this you will also find prepared food stalls, cafes and restaurants where you can eat some of the most famous dishes of Provence , including Socca, a pastry made from chickpea flour that is a bit like pizza (but without the cheese and tomato sauce).
Opening days and hours:
Tuesday-Sunday: 07:30-13:0. Closed on Monday
Le Suquet
After visiting the Forville Market, take a look at the map and head to Saint Antoine Street, where the Old Town of Nice begins.
As you read in the historical part of the article, Cannes began its journey on this hill, and only when the English arrived there in the 19th century did it begin to “glide” toward the coast.
As you climb the winding streets, you will discover ancient houses and of course the fortress built by the monks who liberated Caen from the Saracens. You will also find quite a few restaurants and bars here.
As you climb Saint Antoine Street, you will reach Place du Suquet, where you will find an ice cream shop with the very original name – La Gelateria.
Don't let the uninspired name fool you. This is excellent ice cream and I highly recommend it. If you decide to order one of the wonderful sorbets or ice creams I ordered (I had a mandarin and strawberry sorbet), don't make the mistake I did and order two scoops, if you're traveling in the summer.
I did it and will spare you the difficult scenes, where I try to devour dripping ice cream as quickly as possible, while receiving reproachful looks from my French guide, who finished her ice cream slowly and elegantly...
After you've finished eating ice cream (elegantly), continue climbing up the hill until you reach the Notre-Dame d'Espérance Church, a church with a Gothic appearance despite being built between 1521 and 1627. The facade is very minimalist, but it's definitely worth going inside to enjoy the stained glass windows, paintings, and sculptures inside.
From the church, continue to Place de Castre, where you will find the castle built by the monks during the Middle Ages. Today, you will find an ethnographic museum here, the result of a donation by the Dutch Baron Lycklama (Tinco Martinus Lycklama à Nijeholt 1837-1900).
Likelema was an adventurer of Dutch origin who traveled through the Middle East (including Israel, where he decided to convert from Protestantism to Catholicism). During his travels, he accumulated a very large number of interesting items (daggers, hats, special clothing, etc.).
Since he fell in love with the city of Cannes (not only the English were missing the sun) and because he had no children, he decided to donate his collection to the city. This collection, combined with the collection of the French Council of Sciences, forms the basis of the collection that you can see in this museum (for information about the museum and its opening hours, please visit this link ).
Cannes – Tourist Information
Want to know more about Cannes, how to get there, where to eat, etc.? You are welcome to visit the article Cannes: Attractions, Hotels and Recommendations.
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