Cannes Holidays

Located on the sparkling French Riviera between Nice and Saint-Tropez, Cannes is the Côte d’Azur’s most glamorous resort city, famous for its golden beaches, luxury hotels, designer boutiques and the world-renowned Cannes Film Festival, where Mediterranean sunshine, yacht-lined marinas and Riviera elegance create one of Europe’s most iconic coastal destinations.

Cannes Holiday Highlights 2026

• Golden beaches, luxury Riviera glamour and Mediterranean sunsets, Cannes is southern France at its most stylish 🇫🇷☀️

• La Croisette – Cannes’ legendary palm-lined promenade stretching along the Mediterranean, home to luxury hotels, beach clubs and designer boutiques overlooking the Bay of Cannes

• Cannes Film Festival – every May, the city becomes the centre of the entertainment world as celebrities, filmmakers and media descend on the Riviera

• Sandy beaches – unlike much of the Côte d’Azur, Cannes is known for long sandy beaches with calm water and classic Riviera beach clubs

• Le Suquet (Old Town) – the historic hilltop quarter above the harbour filled with Provençal streets, seafood restaurants and panoramic Riviera views

• Lérins Islands – beautiful pine-covered islands just offshore with crystal-clear swimming coves, monasteries and walking trails

• Luxury Riviera atmosphere – superyachts, rooftop bars, casinos and sunset dining make Cannes one of Europe’s ultimate summer playgrounds

Good to Know - Holidays to Cannes ☀️

• ☀️ Summer temperatures average 27 to 31°C from June to August with warm Mediterranean evenings and sea temperatures ideal for swimming from late spring into October

• 💶 France uses the Euro (€). Cannes is one of the more upscale destinations on the Riviera, though prices vary significantly depending on the season and proximity to La Croisette

• 🚆 Cannes has excellent transport links with direct trains connecting Nice, Monaco, Antibes and Marseille, making it one of the easiest Riviera cities to explore without a car

• 🏖️ Cannes is unusual on the French Riviera for having several large sandy beaches rather than pebbled coastline, making it especially popular with families

• 🎬 The Cannes Film Festival takes place every May and dramatically increases hotel demand and prices throughout the city, often booking out months in advance

🏖️ Cannes Beaches 2026

Plage de la Croisette

The city’s most famous beach stretch running alongside Boulevard de la Croisette with soft sand, calm water and a mix of public and private beach clubs.

Plage du Midi

A wider, more relaxed sandy beach west of the Old Port offering a less exclusive atmosphere and excellent sunset views across the Bay of Cannes.

Bijou Plage

One of Cannes’ quieter beaches near Palm Beach with gentler crowds, shallow water and a more local atmosphere away from central La Croisette.

Palm Beach Area

Known for beach clubs, watersports and beautiful sea views towards the Lérins Islands. Popular for both daytime lounging and evening drinks.

Île Sainte-Marguerite Coves

A short ferry ride from Cannes brings you to crystal-clear swimming coves and peaceful pine-backed beaches on the Lérins Islands, among the Riviera’s most beautiful swimming spots.

📍 Where to Stay in Cannes

La Croisette

The glamorous heart of Cannes with luxury hotels, beach clubs and designer shopping directly along the seafront. Perfect for couples, luxury stays and first-time visitors wanting the classic Cannes experience.

Le Suquet (Old Town)

The most atmospheric part of the city with historic streets, local restaurants and elevated sea views. Ideal for visitors wanting more character and a traditional Riviera atmosphere.

Cannes Centre

Best for convenience, shopping and transport access with easy walking distance to beaches, restaurants and the train station.

Palm Beach

A quieter, more residential area east of central Cannes with beach access, calmer evenings and a more relaxed Riviera pace.

🏨 Hotels To Stay at in Cannes

Hotel Martinez Cannes - One of the Riviera’s most legendary luxury hotels, located directly on La Croisette with its own private beach, Art Deco styling and a reputation closely tied to the Cannes Film Festival itself.

Best Western Plus Cannes Riviera & Spa - A strong mid-range option with a rooftop pool overlooking Cannes, modern facilities and an excellent location close to both the train station and the seafront.

Novotel Suites Cannes Centre - A reliable family-friendly and group-friendly base with spacious rooms, fitness facilities and easy access to both the beaches and central Cannes.

Boscolo Nice Hotel & Spa - A luxury Riviera option blending Belle Époque architecture with modern spa facilities, rooftop pools and refined Mediterranean styling.

Anantara Plaza Nice Hotel - One of the Riviera’s standout luxury stays offering rooftop dining, elegant contemporary interiors and exceptional Côte d’Azur views.

Nice Riviera - A well-located Riviera hotel known for its indoor heated pool, spa treatments and easy access to both beaches and city attractions.

Mercure Nice Centre Grimaldi - A stylish Art Deco-inspired property with strong Riviera character, a rooftop solarium and a central position ideal for exploring the Côte d’Azur.

ibis Nice Centre Gare - A practical and affordable Riviera base with outdoor pool facilities and excellent rail access for visitors combining Cannes with wider Côte d’Azur travel.

🗣️ Local Lingo

• Bonjour (bon-ZHOOR) – Hello

• Merci (mehr-SEE) – Thank you

• S’il vous plaît (seel voo PLEH) – Please

• Oui / Non (wee / non) – Yes / No

• Combien ça coûte ? (kom-BYEN sa KOOT) – How much does it cost?

• Santé ! (san-TAY) – Cheers!

• Au revoir (oh ruh-VWAHR) – Goodbye

• Croisette (krwah-ZET) – Cannes’ famous seafront boulevard

• Apéro (ah-pay-ROH) – Pre-dinner drinks and snacks, a Riviera ritual

🗺️ Cannes Holidays 2026 – Travel Guide

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Families

🏖️ Cannes’ sandy beaches are among the best on the Riviera for families thanks to shallow water, soft sand and excellent facilities close to the city centre.

🚤 Ferry trips to the Lérins Islands are one of the easiest and most enjoyable family day trips on the Côte d’Azur with walking trails, snorkelling and quiet swimming coves.

🍦 Evening walks along La Croisette are ideal for families with ice cream stands, street performers and lively summer atmosphere continuing well after sunset.

🎠 Public playgrounds and family-friendly beach zones around Palm Beach make Cannes more relaxed for children than many people expect.

💑 Couples

🌅 Sunset drinks along La Croisette are one of the classic Riviera experiences with golden evening light reflecting across the bay and luxury yachts filling the harbour.

🍷 Dinner in Le Suquet combines panoramic sea views, Provençal restaurants and narrow historic streets that feel far removed from the glamour below.

⛵ Boat trips along the Côte d’Azur towards Antibes or the Lérins Islands offer some of the Riviera’s most romantic scenery.

🌴 Luxury beach clubs provide the quintessential Cannes experience, long lunches, rosé wine and Mediterranean afternoons stretching into sunset.

🎉 Groups

🍸 Beach clubs along La Croisette become increasingly lively into the evening with DJs, cocktails and sunset parties throughout summer.

🎶 Cannes nightlife centres around rooftop bars, casino lounges and waterfront venues particularly busy during festival and yacht season.

🎧 The Cannes Film Festival period transforms the city into one of Europe’s biggest celebrity and nightlife hotspots with exclusive events across the Riviera.

🛥️ Yacht charters and day cruises are hugely popular for groups wanting to experience the Côte d’Azur from the water.

🌍 Other Destinations

🌍 More French Riviera

🇫🇷 Nice – colourful Old Town streets, beach promenades and Riviera city energy along the Bay of Angels

⚓ Antibes – a beautiful fortified Riviera town between Nice and Cannes, known for its superyacht marina, Picasso history, sandy beaches and charming Old Town streets overlooking the Mediterranean

🇲🇨 Monaco – luxury casinos, Formula 1 glamour and cliffside Mediterranean scenery packed into the world’s second-smallest country

🌅 Saint-Tropez – legendary beach clubs, pastel harbour streets and Riviera glamour at its most iconic

🌍 More Mediterranean Escapes

🇮🇹 Amalfi Coast – dramatic cliffside villages and spectacular Italian coastal scenery overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea

🇪🇸 Barcelona – Mediterranean beaches, rooftop nightlife and world-famous architecture in Spain’s most vibrant coastal city

🇭🇷 Dubrovnik – medieval Adriatic walls, island day trips and some of Europe’s most photogenic coastline

🇬🇷 Mykonos – whitewashed Greek island beauty mixed with beach clubs and world-famous summer nightlife