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. It's a picturesque town and one of the most famous on the French Côte d'Azur. On this tour you can 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 is 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 Cannes has to offer is an airport very close to the city: Cannes-Mandelieu airport, but it is usually used for business trips or private planes. The best option is Nice airport, about 20 km from Cannes.

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

Starting from the Cap de la Croisette

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

There are a few beaches around the Cap, but they tend to get busier as the day begins. However, you can have a drink while you walk, as there are plenty of places selling food.

As you make your way up, you can take a break at the Plaza 8 de Mayo de 1945, which has a spectacular backdrop of 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 a typical French seaside stall where you can buy sandwiches, salads, drinks and more, to munch on as you walk along. Further along is La Mandala, ideal for a meal with your partner.

You've probably seen several boats on your walk and may have felt like sailing the seas too, in which 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 go inside and take a guided tour to learn about the best of cinema and the history of the festival.

Here you can take the best photos 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 film award winners who have left their mark on a sort of walk of fame.

Spend the afternoon at the Vieux-Port

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

But not only that, in the Vieux-Port different maritime and boat-related festivals take place. Also, due to its proximity to the film festival palace, different screenings are often held.

If you haven't done so before, it's 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. It is a very old district and one of the most picturesque in the whole of Cannes.

Don't miss the opportunity to have your picture taken at the Cinéma Cannes advertisement and to walk 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 when you book 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, which focuses 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 steakhouse Le Boston Cannes.

The second day of the itinerary in Cannes will allow you to take in the beauty of nature and scenery in the city, then spend some time exploring the city centre and doing 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 the whole 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 the many paths, full of greenery and splendid scenery. From the district of Le Suquet, it is approximately 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's about a 15 minute walk uphill to the start of the footpaths, saving you a good part of the walk.

Hop off and have lunch in the centre of Cannes

Once you have finished your walk along the Croix des Gardes and are back in the lower part of Cannes, it's time for lunch. I suggest walking down a couple of blocks from Rue Suffren and you'll have a choice of pizza at Bella Pizza, sushi at Yunik or sandwiches at Paul.

Another option is to cross over to Rue Meynadier, where you'll find Thai restaurants like Bangkok Café or Le Caveau 30, a little corner of the best French cuisine on a tighter budget.

Whatever you decide to eat, this is the perfect place to recharge your batteries and spend the afternoon shopping. You can also book a food tour of Cannes to savour the best the city has to offer.

Spend the afternoon shopping

In the centre of Cannes there are two picturesque streets lined with restaurants and shops: Rue d'Antibes and Rue Meynadier. If you start in the middle of the afternoon you can stroll along them until late in the evening because the shops are usually open late for tourists.

In these streets you can find the best jewellers in the area, but you can also take the time to browse in fantastic second-hand shops like 2e edition.

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

Did you think you'd leave the Côte d'Azur without taking a dip at the beach? 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 the island of Sainte-Marguerite or Saint Margaret. To get there, you'll need to join one of the boat trips from Cannes, specifically booking a ferry to the island of Sainte-Marguerite.

When you're on the island, the main attraction is a very leisurely walking tour that can take up to three hours and skirts the entire island. The idea is that you go swimming at the different beaches. I'm sure you'll find these beaches fascinating, especially for their clear blue colour.

You can also enter the Royal Fort, a beautiful fortification that you'll love for its visual appeal. Here you can visit the Museum of the Sea, where you can learn about the connection between the sea and the locals. Here you'll find restaurants where you can have lunch before heading back to the mainland.

Alternative plan: Saint-Honorat Island

There are two islands in Lérines, and although Sainte-Marguerite takes centre stage, there is also Saint-Honorat, which is much smaller and has less to offer, but is perfect if you're looking for a much more secluded time away from the hustle and bustle of Cannes.

On this island there is a beautiful 5th century abbey which is still active and which I recommend you photograph and visit. As for 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 going 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 the two islands of Lérines. That's why you have to go back to the mainland to get between the two islands. It is possible to visit both islands in one day, but you have to bear in mind that it would be two round trips.

End the day on the Croisette Beach

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

The best 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 Croisette beach, 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're feeling peckish, there are some great restaurants in the area such as C Beach or Palais Stéphanie Beach, where your feet won't leave the sand.

Cannes is all about sun, cinema and sea. But wait a minute, so you only have to bring beachwear? It all depends on the season. If you're going in a warm month , a swimming costume, hat and plenty of sunscreen are absolutely essential, while if you're going in a cold month, swimming at the beach will be a bit tricky.

But that's not all you should bring. Cannes is a very elegant city, and if you're going to a formal film-related dinner, don't forget to dress for the occasion.

It is also essential that you wear comfortable shoes, as you will be doing a lot of walking. Also bear in mind that, if you're going in a cold month, at least a jumper or something to keep out the strong breeze will be necessary, as the temperature can drop as low as 4°C.

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

Buses are also the official means of transport 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 bundles more journeys. Also, being so close to the coast, you should know that water transport is important for different purposes, such as going to the Lérine islands or booking a boat trip around Cannes to explore the coastline.