Cannes in 3 Days: a guidebook for getting the most out of your visit

Cannes is a film lover's dream, but there is much more to Cannes than its film festival. This city is quite picturesque and is one of the most famous on the French Riviera. In this tour you will discover the best things to do in Cannes in just three days, combining the sea, the city and the cinema.

Being in Cannes is a dream come true and, if you are going to spend three days in this beautiful spot on the French Riviera, I recommend that the first day be focused on getting to know the most popular boulevard in Cannes: La Croisette, as well as the coast and the best of the city's cinema. Are you up for it?

From the plane to walking

One of the best things that Cannes has is an airport very close to the city: Cannes-Mandelieu airport, but it is usually used for business trips or private planes. Therefore, the best option is Nice airport, about 20 km from Cannes.

I recommend scheduling your arrival early in the morning or late at night, to rest and start the next day in the best mood. From Nice airport you can take different buses, called navettes, which will drop you off in the center of Cannes.

Starting from the Cap de la Croisette

If you start this tour in the morning, the Cap will be your best starting point. This is the headland of the boulevard de la Croisette, on the edge of the sea and where the most activity is concentrated. Be prepared for the sun, the smell of the salty sea and to be able to walk against the inclement breeze.

Around the Cap there are some beaches, but these usually begin to have activity as the day begins. However, you will be able to have a drink while you walk, because there are many places selling food.

As you make your way up, you can take a break at the Plaza 8 de Mayo de 1945, with a spectacular setting, accompanied by palm trees and the sea.

Stroll along the beaches before lunch

It's getting close to lunchtime and I recommend stopping, depending on your budget, for lunch at fantastic restaurants such as La Palme d'Or, where you can sample the best French signature cuisine in a two Michelin-starred establishment.

But there are options for all tastes. Right in front of the public beach is Le Point Break, which is the typical French seaside stall where you can buy sandwiches, salads, drinks and more, to eat as you walk. Further along is La Mandala, ideal for a couple's meal.

Surely during your walk you have seen several boats and you may have also felt like sailing the seas, in that case you can book a boat trip in Cannes before or after lunch.

Palais des Festivals

Ready for lunch and a view of the beaches? Then we come to the place that made Cannes famous all over the world: the Palais des Festivals or Palais des Festivals, where the Cannes Film Festival is held every year. I recommend you to go inside and take a guided tour that will give you the opportunity to learn about the best of cinema and the history of the festival.

Here you can take the best pictures on the red carpets to make you feel like a movie star. You can also see the silhouettes of the hands of actors, directors and winners of film awards that they have left there marked in a kind of walk of fame.

Spend the afternoon at the Vieux-Port

Late in the afternoon and right next to the Palais des Festivals, is the Vieux-Port or old port. This has been converted into a dock where the best yachts, the rich and famous of the entire Côte d'Azur, dock. You can spend hours admiring the yachts from outside and taking pictures with a dreamlike landscape.

But not only that, in the Vieux-Port are different festivals of maritime character and related to the boats. Also, because of its proximity to the palace of the film festival, different screenings are usually made.

If you have not done it before, it is also a good time to consider booking a boat trip in Cannes, as many of the routes depart from this port.

End the day at Le Suquet

It's been a long day, but the Le Suquet area of Cannes is right next door and it would be a shame to miss it. This is a very old district and one of the most picturesque in all of Cannes.

Don't miss the opportunity to have your picture taken at the Cinéma Cannes advertisement and to go through the different streets like the Mont Chevalier, where you can see its legends and mysteries. Each and every one of these points can also be seen by booking a bike tour of Cannes.

Also in this district is the famous church of Notre Dame de l'Esperance and the Musée de la Castre, focused on ancient Provençal history and music. In the surrounding area, there are several restaurants where you can eat, such as the creperie L'Affogato or the steak restaurant Le Boston Cannes.

The second day of the itinerary in Cannes will allow you to contemplate the beauty of nature and landscapes in the city, then you will spend some time in the city center and do some shopping. Are you up for it?

Start from the top of Croix des Gardes

How about starting with some exercise? It all depends on how much you feel like walking, but whether by bus or on foot, seeing all of Cannes from the top of the Croix des Gardes is something you can't miss.

This is a natural park located on a hill. To get to the top, you must take one of many trails, full of greenery and splendid scenery. From the district of Le Suquet, it is about a 40-minute walk uphill, although the descent is usually shorter.

The bus option is also perfectly valid. Bus route 10 can take you to the Suffren stop and from there it is about 15 minutes uphill to the trailhead, saving you a good part of the way.

Get off and have lunch in the center of Cannes

When you have finished your tour of the Croix des Gardes and you are back in the lower part of Cannes, it's time for lunch. I suggest going down a couple of blocks from Suffren street and you will have options of all kinds, like pizza at Bella Pizza, sushi at Yunik or sandwiches at Paul.

Another option is to cross towards rue Meynadier, where you will have Thai restaurants like Bangkok Café or Le Caveau 30, a small corner of the best French gastronomy for a tighter budget.

Whatever you decide to eat, this is the perfect place to replenish your energy and spend the whole afternoon shopping. But you can also hire a gastronomic tour of Cannes to taste the best of the city.

Spend the afternoon shopping

In the center of Cannes there are two picturesque streets that are full of restaurants and stores: Rue d'Antibes and Rue Meynadier. If you start in the middle of the afternoon you can stroll along them until late at night because the stores are usually open very late for tourists.

In these streets you can find the best jewelry stores in the area, but you can also take the time to look in fantastic second hand stores like 2e edition.

And if you only have two days to tour Cannes, then I suggest you have a light dinner in a fast food restaurant in these streets and get ready to leave. But if you still have a third day left, get ready to meet the sea.

Did you think you were going to leave the Côte d'Azur without a dip in the sea? This plan for the third day is based mainly on a tour of the islands of Lérins, one of the best tours from Cannes, where you can disconnect and dedicate yourself entirely to the beach, sun and relaxation.

Sainte-Marguerite Island Tour

The islands of Lérines are really fantastic for their attractiveness, their proximity and their isolation. The largest is Sainte-Marguerite Island or Saint Margaret Island. To get there, you will have to join one of the boat trips from Cannes, specifically book a ferry to the island of Sainte-Marguerite.

When you are on the island, the main attraction is a very leisurely walking tour that can take up to three hours and goes around the entire island. The idea is that you go swimming in the different beaches. I am sure you will find these beaches fascinating, especially for their clear blue color.

You can also enter the Royal Fort, a beautiful fortification that you will love for its visual appeal. Here you can visit the Museum of the Sea, where you will learn about the connection between the sea and the locals. In this area there are restaurants where you can have lunch before returning to the mainland.

Alternative plan: Saint-Honorat Island

There are two islands in Lérines and, although Sainte-Marguerite takes the limelight, there is also Saint-Honorat, much smaller and with a smaller offer, but perfect if you are looking for a much more secluded time away from the hustle and bustle of Cannes.

On this island there is a beautiful abbey from the 5th century that is still active and that I recommend you to photograph and visit. About the walking tour, in this case, it is much shorter. It can be an hour and a half, taking into consideration that you will probably swim in at least two or three of its beautiful beaches.

I recommend you to go to this island if you are looking for the best things to do in Cannes in June or any summer month.

Traveller Tip

Unfortunately there are no sea routes connecting both islands of Lérines. That's why you have to go back to the mainland to go between the two islands. It is possible that you can visit both in one day, but you must keep in mind that it would be two round trips.

Close the day at the Croisette Beach

Back to Cannes! Did you think your day at the beach was over? Well no, because the public beaches of Cannes have too much to offer and you can't miss them.

The best ones are between the Cap de la Croisette and the central part of the boulevard, but I suggest that, once the boat leaves you, you stay on the beach of the Croisette, which adjoins the Palais des Festivals.

This is one of the best public beaches in Cannes and, although it is very crowded, at the end of the afternoon everything changes. You can just lie on the sand and relax. If you get a little hungry, there are great restaurants in the area such as C Beach or Palais Stéphanie Beach, where your feet won't leave the sand.

Cannes is sun, cinema and sea. But wait a minute, so you only have to bring beachwear? It all depends on the season. If you go in a warm month, a swimsuit, hat and lots of sunscreen will be absolutely essential; while, if you go in a cold month, bathing on the beach will be a bit complicated.

But this is not the only thing you should bring. Cannes is a very elegant city and, if you are going to a formal dinner related to the world of cinema, don't forget to dress for the occasion.

It is also essential that you wear comfortable shoes, as you will have to walk a lot. Also keep in mind that, if you go in a cold month, at least a sweater or something to contain the strong breeze will be necessary, because the temperature can drop down to 4 °C

Cannes, its center and its urban dynamics are quite compact, so most of the things you will do on foot. Whether it's strolling along the boulevard de la Croisette, shopping in the main streets of the center or walking up a hill, everything is usually done on foot.

Also, buses are the official means of transportation in the city and can help you shorten many journeys. The bus company is Palm Bus, which also takes you to nearby towns.

You can buy a single ticket for around 1,50 € or a card that groups more trips. Also, being so close to the coast, you should know that the means of maritime transport is important for different purposes such as, for example, going to the islands of Lérine or booking a boat trip in Cannes to know its coast.