Best attractions in Cannes: Top 20
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Don’t know what to see in Cannes but have already decided to take a fascinating trip to the city? Then read our review: we will tell you the most popular sights of Cannes, which every tourist should see.
What’s the first thing to see in Cannes?
Whatever time of year your trip is organized, the following sites and excursions in Cannes should not be left without your attention:
1. Cannes Film Festival
The legendary Cannes Film Festival is held every year at the Palais des Festivals in Cannes. Experienced guides in Cannes recommend that vacationers be sure to see the 24 red-carpeted steps and the famous Palais building in person (there’s a huge casino and the city’s tourist office inside). You’ll be able to take great photos on the carpet itself.
Official website: https://www.festival-cannes.
2. The Croisette
Deciding to walk along this landmark in Cannes will eventually take you to the western part of the city. The promenade connecting the new and old ports is about 3 km long. Along the way, you will see plastic blue chairs placed under sprawling pine trees-they are set up for travelers to rest. Your walk will be set against the backdrop of the beautiful sandy beach of the Côte d’Azur.
Official website: http://www.cannes-destination.com
3. Alley of Stars
When listing the main attractions in Cannes in a nutshell, you can’t help but think of this pathway, set up surrounded by palm trees. You can find it close to the Palais des Festivals. The alley is a walkway with the handprints of famous people made in metal. Unpretentious tiles with palm prints are made in Vallauris. The walkway, though small, is truly “stellar.” Stainless steel reliefs contain the handprints of Sophia Loren, Quentin Tarantino, Catherine Deneuve, Sharon Stone, Charlie Chaplin and other celebrities from the world of cinema. Since 1985, more than 400 celebrities left their “footprints” here: directors, actresses and actors, producers, screenwriters, etc.
Official site: http://www.cannes.com/
4. Le Suquet Quarter
Another example of a must-see in Cannes. The old quarter on a rocky spur overlooking the sea is decorated with narrow streets and three or four-story houses with tracery balconies - a striking example of true Provence. You can reach it by climbing the picturesque hill Syuke (for the convenience of tourists working by steam train). The sights of the quarter itself: a square tower and an ancient castle.
5. Old port
The date of construction of the marina is 1838. Billionaire luxury yachts sit beside the small fishing boats that still take the townspeople out to sea for fishing. Each year in the fall, the Royal Regatta, the city’s most famous yachting event, takes place here. At this time of year it is almost impossible to find a hotel in Cannes, as guests from all over the world book it. From the local jetty you can take an exciting boat trip to the Lérins Islands. The local pier is also of tourist interest.
Official website: https://www.yachtsinvest.com
Check out the wonderful views of Cannes in this fascinating video!
6. Rue d’Antibes
Not sure what to see in Cannes in 1 day? Then head to the city’s main entertainment and shopping street: the number of cozy coffee shops, patisseries, luxury restaurants and cafes here is as great as the number of brand-name boutiques and stores. You can buy jewelry, shoes and clothes. There are high-end brands as well as mass-market brands. When visiting such interesting places in Cannes, keep in mind the possibility of tax-free shopping. Note that it is simply impossible to miss Antibes: the street crosses the city as a whole, stretching parallel to the Croisette and the coastline.
Official website: http://www.cannes-destination
7. Forville Marketplace
The world-famous bazaar can confidently be included in the “Best Sights in France“ ranking. Among its regular visitors are both “ordinary” citizens and tourists, as well as chefs of the world’s chain restaurants. Here you can buy any high quality and consistently fresh products: herbs, cheeses, meat of any kind, fish, fruits and vegetables. The counters with all kinds of colorful food are designed like on the glossy photos in magazines. Even if you do not speak French (most of the traders speak only French), do not forget to haggle. Bazaar is located in the Old Town and works since morning, 7 days a week (on Monday at its territory open no less interesting “flea market”). After shopping, you can relax at the nearby outdoor cafes.
Official website: http://www.marcheforville.com/
8. Church of Our Lady of Hope
Where to go in Cannes for fans of architecture? The church dedicated to the patroness of fishermen. Inside the church, you’ll see majestic 19th-century frescoes and rich gilded wood carvings. The church is considered the oldest and most beautiful in the city. Its building was built in the Gothic Provençal style back in the 17th century. Recall that at that time Cannes was a simple village of fishermen.
Cannes sights: what else can you do in Cannes?
We have told you about the best sights in Cannes. However, our recommendations do not come to an end here. Reviews of experienced tourists say that to continue the list should be such objects:
9. Church of Archangel and Michael the Archangel
The Orthodox church is located on Boulevard Alexander the Third, and is known for its unique architectural design. The building is decorated with exquisite carvings on light stone, sky-blue baptisms and a “lacy” bell tower with 7 bells on the belfry. Inside are the relics of Seraphim of Sarov, Simeon of Verkhoturye and John of Kronstadt. In addition, the church is famous for its large crypt and memorial vaults.
Official website: http://stmichaelcannes.com/
10. Shrine of Notre Dame de Bon Voyage
A Catholic church created in memory of Our Lady of the Good Way. The building with sacred relics and austere interior decoration rises on the Place du Castre on Mount Suquet. Another gem of the Middle Ages, Castr Castle, neighbors the ancient parish town church.
11. Lerin Abbey
An old Christian temple erected on the island. If you want to enjoy the excellent liqueurs and wines made from the grapes of the local vineyards by the monks, come here by all means. The annual “festival of silence” brings together tourists and townspeople who are tired of the noise and bustle (the allowed number of participants is not more than a couple of dozen). Talking during the unusual festival is allowed only if absolutely necessary. To get to the island, you must buy a ticket for the ferry (runs every few hours). On the territory of the abbey you can buy not only local alcoholic drinks made of grapes, mandarins and oranges, but also national souvenirs.
12. Grand Jas Cemetery
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It is considered one of the most famous and beautiful cemeteries in France. The vast area contains the remains of both famous Frenchmen and people of any other nationalities. The tomb is arranged on a mountain near the street De Grasse. Among the resting people here are: pilot N. Popov, jeweler P. K. Faberge, writer P. Mérimée. Lord Broom, the founder of modern Cannes, was one of the first tomb sites, recognizable by the giant stone cross.
13. Musee de la Castre
On the way to the museum complex, located in a medieval palace, you will see a beautiful park with Mediterranean greenery. The palace is semi-destroyed, but the city authorities are in no hurry to restore it, preserving the fortress in its historic form. The inner courtyard is decorated with a square tower with an observation deck. There are 109 stairs to get to the top. If you climb them you can see the scenery of Lerin Island and the old port. The museum itself houses artifacts from Mesopotamia, ancient Rome, Greece and Egypt. As well as collections of Provencal paintings and early art from the Americas, Africa and Oceania. In the temple of St. Anne, near de la Castra, are kept all kinds of musical instruments.
14. Bellini Chapel
Cannes is not only the world capital of film culture, but also a city of ancient architecture, parks, churches, and castles. Strolling through the historic center, you can see the fortress in Cannes, or Cannes Castle - medieval fortress on a green hill, founded in the 11th century and for many centuries served as protection against attacks of enemy armies. Tours in Cannes are popular among the faithful, who strive to visit the Orthodox Church of St. Michael the Archangel, located on Boulevard Alexander III. And in the Fiorentina Park you can find another religious building - the Bellini Chapel, decorated in the Italian Baroque style. The chapel, built in the late 19th century on the grounds of a picturesque villa, originally belonged to a Serbian princess, and later came into the possession of the local artist Emmanuel Bellini, who in his own way transformed the interior decoration of the chapel - some of his paintings are displayed here, as well as works by his daughter Lucetta.
15. Museum of the Sea
To choose where to go to make a walk informative, the Museum of the Sea, located on St. Margaret’s Island, in the historic building of the former prison, can be included in the tour itinerary. The exposition of the museum consists of two parts, the first of which is located on the site of the ancient cisterns. Here you can see a collection of artifacts found on the seabed - wreckage from shipwrecks, which are hundreds of years old, and a model, which can visualize the work of the hydraulic system. The second part of the museum has been preserved as it was in the 17th century. Here you can see the cells where prisoners served their time, and one of them was the legendary “man in the iron mask” - a character from a movie based on real historical events, perhaps familiar to many people. To this day scholars and historians puzzle over the origin of this mysterious person.
16. The House with the Murals
The original option for what to see around Cannes is a landmark near the famous Croisette. In order to see it, you will need to walk along the promenade towards the mountain, and just before the start of the ascent there will be a small square on which the amazing house with murals is located. Cannes in general is famous for its bright facades, decorated with large-scale paintings or huge graffiti. The facade of this residential building is decorated with mural paintings depicting a variety of movie characters and cartoon characters, as well as famous personalities, one way or another, related to the film industry. The theme was not chosen by chance as for many people the Cannes Film Festival is inextricably linked with the famous film festival. Inside the extraordinary house are the police station, the Diocese of Nice and the bus station.
17. Miramar Cultural Center at the Miramar Palace Hotel
There are non-obvious sights in Cannes that are not so easy to find. One of them lies behind the facade of a historic building, the former Miramar Palace Hotel. The construction of this establishment once marked the era of the 1920s, associated with the country’s unprecedented economic prosperity after World War I. In the ‘40s, however, the once luxurious hotel was renovated as a condominium, but with the original Art Deco façade and magnificent lobby interior preserved. However, the most interesting object inside these walls today is a cultural center with a 400-seat cinema and a trendy exhibition space. Most of the expositions here are photo exhibitions, because the capital of world cinema considers photography as an art form related to cinema. Moreover, the Miramar center regularly holds concerts, theatrical performances and other cultural events.
18. Marineland Marine Park
The question of what to see in Nice often arises when choosing between the two popular cities on the Côte d’Azur, Nice and Cannes. Whereas the more dynamic holidaymakers choose Nice, the more sedate and relaxed ones prefer Cannes. One of the best places for beach holidays is located 11 km from Cannes, in the town of Antibes. The streets of Antibes offer different places of interest for every tourist - some are attracted by the architecture of old apartment buildings, others take a walk in the garden of a thousand plants, others go to the Pablo Picasso museum to study the work of the famous artist. But the most unforgettable will be a trip to the Marine Park Marineland - a huge entertainment complex, consisting of several thematic objects. The main one is the giant aquarium with Mediterranean inhabitants. In the local water park you can visit the most unimaginable slides and pools, and outdoors you can visit an exotic tropical park.
Official website: https://www.marineland
19. Pyrotechnics festival
When you arrive in Cannes, the guide will point out one of the most beautiful and popular tourist spots is the magnificent Croisette, a symbol of bohemian luxury and success. The blossoming parkland is dotted with palm trees, luxury hotels and boutiques, and the lagoon is lined with yachts. Here every year the brightest city event unfolds - the festival of fireworks, which takes place since 1967. For more than half a century the best pyrotechnicians compete here, launching the most incredible fireworks, while the jury evaluates the participants by such criteria as originality of performance, overall pace, synchronism of volleys and music - such a system ensures the highest level of show. The show starts at 10 p.m. and the Croisette area is filled with people settling on benches, on the beach or in nearby restaurants with a panoramic view of the promenade.
20. Cannes Yachting Festival
A number of varied thematic festivals offer visitors to Cannes. Apart from the famous film festival, the plus sign in reviews also refers to another major event: the Cannes Boat Show. Since 1977, every September is marked by a spectacular event for which all lovers of yachting have been preparing. The most important boat show on the French Riviera takes place in a stunning location on the banks of the bay, attracting not only owners but also people interested in the latest developments in the world of yachting. In addition to the demonstration of unique boats, the exhibition presents various attributes for sailing, accessories for yacht maintenance and much more. Here you can not only look at novelties, but also buy any of the exhibits. The highlight of the festival is the Concours d’Elegance, where small boats of up to 12 meters in length compete, with at least one woman on board.
Official website: https://www.cannes
We hope that our attractions in Cannes, photos with names and descriptions of which you have now seen, were of interest to you and you will decide to visit them personally. Read also about sights of Nice and get inspired for your further trip to France.
