Destination Guide

Now one of the most famous destinations on the French Riviera, and host to a wide range of visitors and celebrities, Cannes has developed over the past 150 years from its more humble origins as a small fishing village. The reasons are easy to understand; its mild climate, luxurious hotels and villas, beaches, shopping, restaurants and port are a powerful draw for anyone wanting to enjoy the good life, combined with proximity to the sea.  Cannes has also become very well known for the many significant events it hosts during the year, including the annual Cannes Film Festival, Cannes Lions and the mipim conference, to name but a few. 

The principal boulevard, La Croisette is a wonderful promenade, which runs the full length of the city, with designer shops and hotels on one side, and access to the sandy beaches (some public and some private) on the other. The commercial district, with streets such as Rue d'Antibes, runs parallel to La Croisette, and offers great shopping too, with a sprinkling of more practical shops, including boulangeries, fruit and vegetable shops, supermarkets and cinemas. 

The old port and adjacent Suquet district are oldest parts of town, fascinating to explore,  with their narrow streets, squares, antique shops and historic buildings, such as the Musée de la Castre, a 12th century castle, and the 17th century Notre Dame d’Esperance church.    

Just a short drive inland will bring you to picturesque hill villages and places of cultural interest, including  Vallauris, where Picasso, Cocteau and Jean Marais all lived, and the old town of Mougins, with its many art galleries and wonderful views. Grasse, the perfume capital of the world is a little further, as is Biot, renowned for its glass.  A visit to Saint Paul de Vence, with its narrow medieval streets and ramparts,  is a must.  Back on the coast, Antibes, 10 kms away, has first class museum of Picasso's works and a maritime park.