10 Best Things to Do
Cannes stretches along a sandy bay, with the grand hotels of the Croisette facing the Mediterranean and the lanes of Le Suquet climbing above the old port. Morning food shopping around Forville gives way to beach lunches and evening restaurants. Boats cross to the Lérins Islands, where forest paths and monastic vineyards feel far removed from the promenade. Nearby Le Cannet adds the Musée Bonnard and some of the area’s most accomplished dining.
La Croisette
Cannes, France
Follow the Croisette between the Palais des Festivals and Port Canto for Cannes’ most recognisable walk. The sea and sandy beaches lie on one side, the grand hotels and boutiques on the other, with blue chairs offering places to stop along the way. Early morning gives the promenade a different rhythm from the evening. Combine a walk with a swim or beach-club lunch, reserving paid loungers separately if you want to stay longer.
A walk along the Riviera waterfront
Le Suquet
Cannes, France
Climb into Le Suquet from rue Meynadier and the market quarter to see the older Cannes above the waterfront. Cobbled lanes and stairways lead towards Notre-Dame d’Espérance and the former castle, with views across the port and bay from the hilltop. Rue Saint-Antoine provides plenty of options for a meal afterwards. Wear comfortable shoes and allow time for the climb, especially if you are visiting in the heat of the day.
Old-town lanes and harbour views
Sainte-Marguerite Island
Cannes, France
Take a boat to Sainte-Marguerite for forest walks, rocky shorelines and the Fort Royal, where the story of the Man in the Iron Mask forms part of the island’s history. Paths lead past pine and eucalyptus trees towards viewpoints and the Batéguier pond’s birdlife. The fort museum adds substance to a day outdoors. Check boat departures and the last return before setting off, and book museum access separately from the crossing.
Forest paths and maritime history
Saint-Honorat Island
Cannes, France
Saint-Honorat feels distinct from the Cannes waterfront, with abbey buildings, vineyards and shoreline paths sharing a small island setting. The Cistercian community’s work includes wine and liqueur production, and the abbey shop offers a way to discover it without disturbing monastic life. Walk around the island, visit the accessible religious sites and leave time simply to sit by the sea. Use the island’s own boat service and check return sailings carefully.
An island shaped by monastic life
Marché Forville
Cannes, France
Forville remains a rewarding place to discover Cannes through its food, with local vegetables, seafood and specialist stalls around the foot of Le Suquet. Renovation means the market currently operates across two nearby sites: the Forville square and a covered market on the Allées de la Liberté. Follow the current signs rather than expecting the entire historic hall to be open. Go in the morning and combine shopping with the surrounding food shops and cafés.
Local produce and food shopping
Musée des Explorations du Monde
Cannes, France
Inside the former castle above Le Suquet, the Musée des Explorations du Monde brings together Mediterranean antiquities, musical instruments, works from different cultures and nineteenth-century landscape painting. The setting adds another layer to the visit, connecting the collections with one of Cannes’ oldest landmarks. It is a worthwhile stop during an old-town walk, particularly when you want more than the hilltop view. Check exhibition changes and holiday closures before planning the visit.
Collections in the old castle
Musée Bonnard
Le Cannet, France
In neighbouring Le Cannet, the Musée Bonnard explores the work of an artist whose paintings were shaped by the town and the light of the south. Its changing displays bring domestic scenes, colour and the surrounding landscape into focus, within a converted Belle Époque building. Make the trip for the art rather than expecting a large encyclopaedic collection. Check the current exhibition and any installation closure before travelling up from Cannes.
Painting and the light of Le Cannet
Villa Domergue
Cannes, France
Jean-Gabriel Domergue designed this Italian-influenced villa above Cannes, while his wife, sculptor Odette Maudrange-Domergue, shaped the terraced gardens with pools and cascades. Together they created a setting that reveals a different side of the city’s artistic life. Visits are limited and guided, so this requires planning rather than an impromptu stop. Reserve a published tour and confirm that it includes the interiors and gardens before arranging the journey to the villa.
An artist’s house and terraced gardens
Croix des Gardes
Cannes, France
The Croix des Gardes offers woodland paths, mimosa and viewpoints above Cannes, with the bay and Lérins Islands appearing between the trees. It is a useful escape when you want fresh air beyond the promenade without making a separate excursion along the coast. Choose a route that suits your energy and leave time at the lookouts. Wear suitable shoes for uneven ground, carry water and check any local access notices before walking.
Woodland walks above the bay
Palais des Festivals
Cannes, France
The Palais des Festivals marks the meeting point of the Croisette and the old port, with its famous steps making an easy stop on a waterfront walk. Look for the handprints nearby, then check the venue’s programme for concerts, theatre and other performances that bring visitors inside beyond the film festival. Access to the steps can be restricted during events. A public visit does not include festival screenings or unrestricted entry to the building.
Cannes’ film setting and live programme