Synonymous with its international film festival, Cannes is an affluent resort town on the French Riviera. Its city centre radiates from a 1950s-built port and the golden sands of Croisette Beach. Centuries-old churches, a star-studded Walk of Fame and a museum dedicated to world treasures are among its attractions.
Things to do in Cannes City Centre
Dominating the waterfront is the Palace of Festivals and Congresses of Cannes, which hosts the prestigious Cannes Film Festival. Outside the building is the Cannes Walk of Fame, where more than 300 handprints from famous actors and directors are embedded along the promenade. Adjacent is the picturesque Vieux Port de Cannes where luxury yachts can be seen coming and going.
Extending east of the port is Croisette Beach, a long strip of sand that’s backed by a breezy boardwalk where you can watch the world go by. For elevated city views, climb to the hilltop Eglise Notre-Dame d'Esperance, which was constructed in the 16th century. Admire its Renaissance-style porch and Romanesque bell tower before seeing its chapels assigned to brotherhood trades. At Christmas time, the church famously hosts a musical nativity scene.
Housed within a medieval tower is the Musee des Explorations du Monde, which boasts a diverse collection of global artefacts bequeathed to the city by Baron Lycklama in 1877. In addition to Himalayan masks, Peruvian terracotta figurines and hunting artefacts from Greenland, there are Polynesian weapons and Mediterranean antiquities on display.
Getting around Cannes City Centre
Cannes City Centre is around 35 minutes’ drive from Nice and 25 minutes from Nice Côte d'Azur Airport, which has flights to destinations across Europe and North Africa. Regular trains connect to the Cannes railway station and buses travel throughout the city centre, although most of the area’s attractions can be accessed on foot.