Cannes, France: Essential Travel Insights & Local Trends

The main airport near Cannes is Nice Côte d'Azur Airport (NCE), located 28 kilometres from Cannes. Most travelers booking a Cannes flight will land here, as Cannes-Mandelieu Airport mainly serves private aviation. From Nice, you have several transfer options: a private taxi takes around 30 minutes for approximately €95-€120, the express bus 210 that starts at a 22€ price, or the local bus 620 that runs for just around €1.50-€2.50. The train takes around 30-40 minutes and offers a good balance of cost and speed.

Car rental in Cannes is straightforward, with agencies operating both in the city and at Nice Airport. For a luxury car rental in Cannes, providers such as Car4rent, Elite Rent-a-Car, and MC Luxury Rental offer fleets including Ferrari, Lamborghini, Rolls-Royce, and Bentley, with delivery direct to your hotel. Standard agencies like Enterprise and SIXT also have branches in Cannes, covering everything from family cars to premium SUVs. Book beforehand during the Cannes Film Festival in May, when demand spikes sharply.

The best things to do in Cannes go well beyond the Film Festival. You can walk the 3-kilometre La Croisette promenade past the Palais des Festivals and the city's iconic palace hotels. Climb to the medieval hilltop district of Le Suquet for panoramic views and a visit to the Musée de la Castre. You can also take the 15-minute ferry from the old port to the Lérins Islands, where Cistercian monks have tended vineyards on Île Saint-Honorat for over 1,600 years. These Cannes tourist attractions are all compact and easy to reach on foot or by boat.

The best beach clubs in Cannes line Boulevard de la Croisette. Carlton Beach Club, established in 1930 and renovated in 2020, is one of the most prestigious, with a private pontoon and summer fireworks nights. La Plage du Martinez offers Mediterranean cuisine and live shows on weekends. Nammos Cannes opened at the revamped Palm Beach site in May 2024, bringing its globally known luxury brand to the Riviera. For the best beaches in Cannes without a cover charge, the public Plage du Midi and Plage Zamenhof offer free access with full Mediterranean views.

The Cannes food scene has something for most tastes and budgets. La Palme d'Or at Hôtel Martinez is the city's most storied table, holding one Michelin star and hosting the annual Cannes Jury Dinner. A few doors down, Le Fouquet's at Hôtel Barrière Le Majestic does Parisian brasserie well, with a menu put together by Pierre Gagnaire. Prefer something looser? La Môme on Rue Florian is the spot, known for crudo towers and solid pasta. Zuma Cannes at Palm Beach rounds things out with Japanese robata cooking on a terrace facing the water, among the best restaurants in Cannes for a long dinner.

Cannes hotels suit every style, from grand seafront palaces to intimate boutique addresses. The top Cannes 5-star hotels on Boulevard de la Croisette include the Hôtel Martinez - In the Unbound Collection by Hyatt and the Carlton Cannes, with its private beach pier. Hôtel Barrière Le Majestic sits five minutes from the Palais des Festivals. For Cannes beach hotels, the Five Seas Hotel sits 100 metres from the sand with a rooftop pool. Travelers seeking Cannes boutique hotels will find Villa Garbo a strong pick, offering suites with private kitchens just five minutes from the seafront.