What to do in Cannes

Activities, attractions and tours
Cannes Harbour showing a marina

Cannes Attractions

Cannes is one of the few places in the world where you can hobnob with celebrities. As the site of the annual Cannes Film Festival, it sees travelers arrive every year for the event. Not only can you watch some of the top films not yet released to the general public, but you can also see celebrities wandering around the city. If you plan your trip before or after the festival, you can still find attractions in Cannes making your trip more memorable.

Things to do in Cannes include La Croisette, which is a road running along the beach. While many travelers love dipping their toes in the water and wandering through the sand, many others enjoy walking along the street and taking in the local sites. Once you finish exploring the restaurants and shops in the area, you can take a boat tour of one of the surrounding areas. These islands are just a short ride away from the beach, and you can spend an entire day on one of these islands without seeing everything.

The best Cannes activities include a number of walking tours of historic districts. Le Suquet and Rue d'Antibes are just two of the most historic neighborhoods in the city. If you love checking out historic architecture and seeing friendly faces, you'll love these areas. Rue d'Antibes is even home to some of the hottest tourist spots in the city.

With so many different must-see beaches in Cannes, you might wonder which of those beaches you should see. The Plage du Gray d'Albion is a favorite among those looking for something a little more upscale. This is the same beach where celebrities head to relax and unwind, and the beach boasts a large piece of carpet running from the beach to the water, keeping your feet clean and dry. You can book Cannes excursions to the beach, or you can grab a map and look at other places near the beach. After a day at the beach, you'll look forward to taking Cannes tours. Find tours and attractions in the city where you can visit and experience during your trip at Expedia.


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Top places to visit

1. Promenade de la Croisette

La Croisette is a gorgeous seaside boulevard lined with palm trees, luxurious hotels and the most fashionable restaurants and bars in the city. This 1.2-mile (2-kilometer) boardwalk is where the big names of the movie industry come to be seen during the Cannes Film Festival.
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La Croisette which includes a hotel

2. Cannes Harbour

Cannes Harbour, or Old Port, sits in the heart of the glamorous city, below the historic old town. Filling its berths are a mixture of sailboats, yachts and super yachts, creating one of the most iconic sights of this part of the French Riviera.
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Cannes Harbour showing a marina

3. Palace of Festivals and Conferences

The Palace of Festivals and Congress Hall is the home of the Cannes Film Festival. This is where many movies are screened and prizes are awarded during the annual spectacular. For the rest of the year, the landmark building hosts a variety of exhibitions and events, including boat shows, ballet performances, concerts and conferences.
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Palace of Festivals and Congress Hall which includes modern architecture

4. Castre Museum

Within the ancient walls of a hilltop medieval castle is the Castre Museum, a fascinating repository of antiquities, primitive art and musical instruments. See masks and votive statues from the Himalayas, 19th-century paintings and Egyptian sarcophagi.
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Castre Museum

5. Cannes Hospital

The Cannes Hospital, or Centre Hospitalier de Cannes, has a sleek and clean aesthetic and is backed by the mountains framing the outskirts of the city. The current hospital building was opened in 2011 and is today an important research and development center for the region. Admire the innovative façade made up of white undulating shutter-like features.
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With an impressive art installation outside, an open and airy feel within and a weighty World War II history, this is the preeminent hospital in Cannes.

Popular places to visit

Explore areas of Cannes

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Cannes City Centre

4.5/5(147 area reviews)

The stunning beaches and popular shops are just a few highlights of Cannes City Centre. Make a stop by Mace Beach or Le Croisette Casino Barriere de Cannes while you're exploring the area.

Cannes City Centre
Cannes Old Town which includes heritage architecture

Palais des Festivals - Old Port

Palais des Festivals - Old Port is popular for its beaches, and if you're looking for more to see and do, you might think about a trip to Cannes Harbour or Mace Beach.

Palais des Festivals - Old Port
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Pointe Croisette

Follow the famous La Croisette boulevard from the center of Cannes to this neighborhood where you can join a scuba dive tour, dine near the water and lounge on a beach.

Pointe Croisette
Cannes Old Town showing a coastal town

Cannes Old Town

4.5/5(31 area reviews)

Sightsee the old quarter of Cannes, where narrow streets are filled with historic buildings and the views of the city and sea are mesmerizing.

Cannes Old Town
Midi Beach featuring dining out

La Croix des Gardes

If you're spending some time in La Croix des Gardes, Midi Beach and Plage Waikiki are top sights worth seeing.

La Croix des Gardes
Midi Beach featuring dining out

La Bocca

3.5/5(2 area reviews)

La Bocca is noteworthy for its beaches, and you can make a stop at top attractions like Bocca Beach and Midi Beach.

La Bocca

Day trip destinations from Cannes