Cannes: City of sun, sea and movie glamour

Table of Contents

Cannes, France, is one of the most famous cities on the French Riviera and one of those destinations you should visit at least once in your lifetime…

Known around the world for the Cannes Film Festival, luxury hotels, the famous La Croisette promenade, beautiful beaches, and its glamorous atmosphere, Cannes is much more than a destination for the rich and famous.

Behind the luxury hotels, yachts, and red carpet lies a historic city with the charming old quarter of Le Suquet, traditional markets, restaurants, colorful streets, and beautiful views of the Mediterranean Sea.

If you are planning a trip to Cannes, this guide will help you discover what to see in Cannes, which attractions are worth visiting, where to go, what to do, and how to make the most of your time on the French Riviera.

Cannes can be a very good option for wheelchair users traveling to the French Riviera, especially if the trip is planned in advance. At the same time, not all attractions in Cannes are equally accessible. The historic parts of the city, steep streets, cobblestones, and some natural locations can present challenges for wheelchair users.

Cannes – A City on the French Riviera

Cannes is located in southeastern France, on the Mediterranean coast, in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region. Together with Nice, Antibes, Monaco, and other coastal towns, it forms one of the best-known tourist areas in France – the French Riviera. The city is blessed with a beautiful coastline where the sun shines up to 300 days a year.

Over the years, the city has grown from a small seaside settlement into a world-famous tourist destination. Today, it attracts travelers looking for a combination of sea, culture, gastronomy, shopping, history, and luxury.

That makes Cannes an ideal holiday destination, as well as an excellent base for exploring the entire French Riviera.

What to See in Cannes?

If you are visiting Cannes for the first time, there are several places that should definitely be on your list. The most famous attractions in Cannes include:

In one day, you can visit La Croisette, the Palais des Festivals, the port, the old town, the market, and enjoy a walk along the coast.

La Croisette – The Symbol of Cannes

This famous promenade stretches along the coast and is one of the most recognizable places on the French Riviera. It is about three kilometers long and connects the area around the Palais des Festivals. La Croisette is at the same time a tourist attraction, beach, shopping area, and place to relax.

You can: walk along the sea, enjoy the beach, have a coffee, visit luxury stores,photograph the Cannes panorama, enjoy the sunset.

La Croisette is one of the best locations for wheelchair users.

A walk along La Croisette will take you to the most important building in Cannes, the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès.

This complex is famous as the venue for the Cannes Film Festival. In front of the building are the famous 24 red steps, one of the city’s most important symbols, where countless movie stars have walked over the years.

The main activity for ordinary people who don’t have tickets is to pose next to the red steps. Mission accomplished.

After that, you can walk around the Palais, where you will find around 140 handprints of some of the biggest movie stars, inspired by the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

I found it interesting to watch the employees celebrating with a picture after the festival had finished, right there on the same red carpet.

If I wanted to and could spend my summer holiday in Cannes, I would choose a different time of year, both because of the prices and the crowds. I arrived after the Cannes Film Festival had ended, and the city was still surrounded by barriers. Getting through the city was difficult.

Cannes won’t let you forget where you are. The Palme d’Or is everywhere.

Le Suquet – The Old Town

Le Suquet is the oldest part of the city and is located on a hill above Cannes. It consists of narrow, winding, cobblestone streets that are a real “treat” for my wheelchair.

I crossed this part off my list immediately because I had already had enough of that in Monaco, which I wrote about here.

The skyline of the old town is dominated by the Church of Notre-Dame d’Espérance, from which, I believe, there is a fantastic view of the port and the city.

Vieux Port – The Old Port

The Old Port of Cannes is located right next to the Palais des Festivals and La Croisette.

At the port, you can see: sailboats, fishing boats, luxury yachts, tourist boats, ferries to the Lérins Islands.

This is one of those places that makes you stop and think, because it is here that the contrast between the rich and the poor can be seen most clearly.

The area around the port is interesting for wheelchair users because it allows for a relatively easy walk along the sea.

Across from the port, there is a kind of flea market.

You can find vintage and antique items there, from interesting candle holders to handmade tablecloths, silver objects, paintings, and similar items.

Markets – The Taste of Local Cannes

For a more authentic experience of the city, visit a local market. Markets are an excellent way to discover the local gastronomy.

Under the train station, I stumbled upon an ordinary local market where various items were being sold among the fruit and vegetables. I realized that ordinary people live in Cannes too.

One of the best ways to get to know a country is through its food.

I tried the worst burger in the world.

I think there was everything in that burger: from cartilage and tendons to sinews, with very little meat. It would have been a case of “you get what you pay for” if it hadn’t cost an arm and a leg, because everything in Cannes is expensive.

Pay particular attention to French desserts.

The service in the restaurants is excellent. The waiters are friendly and speak several languages.

Shopping in Cannes

Cannes is known for luxury shopping, especially along La Croisette. Here you will find numerous stores belonging to famous international brands.

The Lérins Islands – The Best Day Trip from Cannes

One of the best ways to enrich your trip to Cannes is with an excursion to the Lérins Islands.

Opposite the coast of Cannes are two main islands – Sainte-Marguerite and Saint-Honorat.

They can be reached by boat from the port in about 15 minutes. This is an excellent choice if you want to escape the city crowds. On the islands, you can see the former prison where the famous “Man in the Iron Mask” was held, a maritime museum, as well as monks who live on the island and produce wine and honey there.

I thought about it and asked around, but because of the unclear information and the limited time I had available, this remained on my list for another time – perhaps if I ever win the lottery jackpot.

Beaches in Cannes

One of the reasons Cannes is a popular summer holiday destination is its beaches.

The beaches are located along the coast, especially around La Croisette, so swimming can easily be combined with sightseeing around the city. Unlike Nice, the beaches in Cannes are sandy.

How Many Days Are Enough for Cannes?

For a basic tour of Cannes, one day is enough.

With two days, you can visit the main attractions and take a trip to the Lérins Islands.

If you have three or more days, you can explore the city at a slower pace and take additional trips along the French Riviera.

Cannes or Nice – Which One to Choose?

My choice is Nice, even if I had a ticket to the Cannes Film Festival. An even better option is to visit both cities.

Where to Stay in Cannes?

The choice of accommodation depends on your budget and priorities. I didn’t win the lottery, so I didn’t stay in Cannes, but if I could choose, I would stay somewhere close to the beach.

Why Visit Cannes?

I asked myself the same question after just a few hours. Then I realized that walking costs nothing, exploring the streets costs nothing, and neither does swimming in the sea. But if you want to eat and sleep, well… what can I say?

Conclusion

Cannes is definitely worth visiting at least once in your lifetime. Cannes is very well connected to all the other cities on the French Riviera, so getting there is relatively easy for wheelchair users as well.