Cannes walking tour & city guide
Red carpets, the Croisette and Riviera glamour.
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Cannes is world famous for its film festival, when movie stars climb the red-carpeted steps every May. The rest of the year, this elegant Riviera town offers palm-lined promenades, sandy beaches, luxury boutiques and a charming old quarter on the hill.
The Croisette
La Croisette is Cannes' legendary seafront boulevard, stretching for about two kilometers along the bay. On one side are grand Belle Époque hotels and designer boutiques, on the other, sandy beaches, many with private clubs. Walking it at sunset, as locals do, is the essential Cannes experience.
At the western end stands the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès, where the Cannes Film Festival takes place. Visitors can pose on the famous steps, and the nearby Allée des Stars has handprints of film celebrities set in the pavement.
Le Suquet and the old port
Above the Old Port, Le Suquet is the original fishing village of Cannes. Its steep cobbled lanes climb to the remains of a medieval castle, now the Musée des Explorations du Monde, and a church with a terrace offering beautiful views over the bay and the yachts below.
Rue Meynadier, a lively shopping street, and the Marché Forville, the city's covered market, are just below.
Islands and day trips
A short boat ride takes you to the Lérins Islands. Sainte-Marguerite has a fort where the mysterious Man in the Iron Mask was imprisoned, and Saint-Honorat is home to a monastery whose monks produce wine. Nice, Antibes and the perfume town of Grasse are close by. Hotels are booked up and expensive during the festival in May.
Top sights in Cannes
- 1
La Croisette
The glamorous seafront promenade.
- 2
Palais des Festivals
Home of the film festival and its famous red steps.
- 3
Le Suquet
The old hilltop quarter with views over the bay.
- 4
Lérins Islands
Peaceful islands with a fort and a monastery.
- 5
Old Port
A harbor of fishing boats and superyachts.
- 6
Allée des Stars
Handprints of film stars in the pavement.
Food markets & where to eat in Cannes
Marché Forville
The covered market for Provençal produce and snacks.
Le Suquet restaurants
Terraces on the steep lanes of the old town.
Croisette beach clubs
Lunch with your feet almost in the sand.
Rue Meynadier
A shopping street with delis and bakeries.
Food to try in Cannes
Socca
A crispy chickpea pancake from the Riviera.
Bouillabaisse
Provençal fish stew.
Pan bagnat
A sandwich filled with niçoise salad.
Rosé wine
Chilled rosé from Provence.
Opening hours and prices change often. Please check with each place before you visit.
Plan your trip to Cannes
Enjoyed the walk? Here is everything you need to see it for real.
- Hotels in CannesCompare places to stay and prices.
- Tours & ticketsWalking tours, museums and day trips in Cannes.
- eSIM for FranceStay online from the moment you land.
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