Exploring the city of Cannes in 24 hours is undoubtedly a very entertaining thing to do, and with our quick one-day Cannes itinerary, you can easily plan an unforgettable trip. This lovely city in France is well known for its picturesque sandy beaches, luxurious hotels, and upmarket boutiques, all of which attract millions of tourists every year. Then there’s also the world-famous Cannes International Film Festival where the biggest movie stars always appear. So, a day in this wonderful city is always going to be fantastic. Here’s how best to experience this magical part of France.
Plan your trip to Cannes
1. What’s the Best Time to Visit Cannes?
2. A Few Facts about Cannes
3. One Day in Cannes Itinerary
3.1. Walk the Boulevard De La Croisette
3.2. Visit the Palais Des Festivals et Des Congrès
3.3. Explore the Old Town of Le Suquet
3.4. Purchase Some Local Fruit and Flowers From Marche Forville
3.5. Climb to Eglise Notre-Dame de l’Espérance
3.6. Witness the Beauty of Lerins Islands
3.7. Spend your Night at Casino De La Pointe Croisette
4. Where to Stay in Cannes?
5. Day Trips from Cannes
6. How to Reach Cannes?
7. Extra Tips for Visiting Cannes
What’s the Best Time to Visit Cannes?
During the summer months, Cannes entertains plenty of visitors with its mild temperature which hovers between 18 and 24 degrees Celsius. The mild temperature of Cannes makes the city accessible throughout the year, but March to May is the best time to visit Cannes because it is the time when Cannes has a lot of hustle and bustle going on. During summer vacations, Cannes becomes the most popular city in France due to its long sandy beaches, classic restaurants, luxurious resorts/villas, and so on.
The International Cannes Film Festival, Pyrotechnic Art Festival, and Grape Festival in Frejus are the most popular festivals that take place in Cannes in the summer. Obviously, you will find plenty of other interesting events here, so you can be absolutely certain you will never be bored while visiting.
A Few Facts about Cannes
Cannes is famous worldwide for its international film festival, beaches, and great hospitality, and the fact that it’s situated on the French Riviera only adds to its allure. Before visiting Cannes, however, you might want to check out some interesting facts about this French city.
- Cannes is globally known for the International Cannes Film Festival.
- On 3rd November 2011, Cannes hosted the G20 Summit 2011.
- In the 10th century, Cannes was known as Canua.
- Cannes was converted into a medical base during WWI.
- Famous princess and actress Grace Kelly got married in Cannes.
- In the 20th century, the city turned completely to tourism, and new ultra-luxurious hotels like Majestic, Martinexm Carlton, and JW Marriott Cannes were built.
- Cannes has a subtropical Mediterranean climate.
- Summers are long and warm in Cannes.
- The temperature remains high from June to September.
- Cannes is home to the football club AS Cannes.
One Day in Cannes Itinerary
If you want to spend one day in Cannes, there are plenty of fun options for you. In this short Cannes itinerary, we are going to show you some of the best places that you can cover in a single day. We understand, exploring this place in such a short timeframe may be a little bit challenging, but there is no need to worry – we’ve got your back. Just follow this ultimate guide to Cannes, and you will make the most of your one day in this beautiful city.
Walk the Boulevard De La Croisette
Boulevard De La Croisette is also known as the Promenade de la Croisette. When you’re in Cannes during your one-day trip, you can’t afford to miss walking this wonderful road. It stretches along the shore of the Mediterranean Sea and is about two kilometers long. It has many famous shops and restaurants that are quite popular among tourists. A great place to really pick up the vibe of this city.
Address: Bd de la Croisette, 06400 Cannes, France
Cost: Free entry
Opening and Closing Hours: Open day or night
Visit the Palais Des Festivals et Des Congrès
Palais Des Festivals et Des Congres is one of the iconic landmarks of this city that you really should visit at least once. The reason is simple – this fabulous auditorium is the place where the annual Cannes film festival takes place. You can also book a guided tour that tells you about the significance and historical background of this place.
Address: Palais des Festivals et des Congrès, 1 Bd de la Croisette, 06400 Cannes, France
Cost: $4.40 per person
Opening and Closing Hours: Open 24 hours
Explore the Old Town of Le Suquet
Le Suquet is known to be one of the most picturesque and oldest neighborhoods in Cannes. It dates back to Roman times. Le Suquet has a rich history that is depicted through its old beautiful church and castle. If you are planning to explore some old-touch places in Cannes then you must add old town Le Suquet to your bucket list.
Purchase Some Local Fruit and Flowers From Marche Forville
Without exploring the local markets and spots of Cannes, thisone-day itinerary would certainly be incomplete. When you’re in Cannes you must visit Marche Forville, an absolutely lovely market with loads of beautiful flowers and fruit.
During morning hours, Marche Forville is full of vendors, visitors, and even street photographers.
Address: 6 Rue du Marché Forville, 06400 Cannes, France
Cost: Free
Opening and Closing Hours: 07:30 am to 01 pm (Monday Closed)
Climb to Eglise Notre-Dame de l’Espérance
Cannes has plenty of Gothic-style churches, but Eglise Notre-Dame de l’Espérance is one of the noted churches in the world. This 15th-century church is situated on the top of the old town of Le Suquet. Among travelers, Eglise Notre-Dame de l’Espérance is quite popular as it offers breathtaking views of the old town of Le Suquet.
Witness the Beauty of Lerins Islands
Do not miss out on a trip to Lerins Islands when you’re here! These four Mediterranean islands off the French Riviera, very close to Cannes, two of which are inhabited, are an absolutely stunning destination.
You will enjoy breathtaking views of the Mediterranean along with exotic beaches, long shores, and turquoise water. You can also enjoy many fun water activities like scuba diving, cliff jumping, snorkeling, jet-skiing, and much more.
Address: Lérins Islands, Cannes, France
Cost: Free entry
Opening and Closing Hours: Open 24 hours
Spend your Night at Casino De La Pointe Croisette
Among many things to do in Cannes in one day, playing Casino in Casino De La Pointe Croisette is one of the best ways to enjoy a fabulous evening, especially if you’re here with your friends. It is one of the most popular casinos around, and visitors from all over the world come here whenever they get a chance to visit Cannes.
Address: 5 Rue François Einesy, 06400 Cannes, France
Cost: Free entry
Opening and Closing Hours: 10 am to 03 am (Saturday 10 am to 04 am)
Where to Stay in Cannes?
Being a world-famous tourist destination, Cannes offers the best accommodation facilities to all its guests. You will find luxurious stays to budget-friendly options, from villas to hostels, you choose easily whatever fits your budget. Here are some of the best places to stay in Cannes.
Five Seas Hotel
1 rue Notre Dame, Cannes City-Centre, 06400 Cannes
If you’re looking for a luxury stay in Cannes, you won’t find a better place than the Five Seas Hotel. Not only is its location fantastic, just a few steps from the beaches and very close to Palais des Festivals, but you will also be able to enjoy its rooftop bar and pool, as well as incredibly luxurious rooms. An amazing view, spa, and other five-star amenities are also included, of course.
Nemea Apart’Hotel
6 Rue André Chaude, Carnot, 06400 Cannes
Nemea Apart’Hotel is just 10 minutes away from the beach on foot and offers plenty of great amenities that are bound to make your stay very pleasant. These include a sauna, an indoor pool, and a lovely garden, plus some of the units in this place have a kitchenette. You will be staying in some really comfortable rooms, and the prices you get are more than fair for a hotel of this category.
Hotel Abrial
24 Boulevard De Lorraine, Cannes City-Centre, 06400 Cannes
Hotel Abrial was renovated in 2018, so what you will be getting here is a very pleasant place to stay that is also very close to Cannes Train Station. The hotel has a lovely terrace, and you can enjoy a lovely view of Cannes rooftops from your (very comfortable) rooms. It’s worth mentioning that Boulevard de la Croisette is very close by, and the breakfast is very tasty indeed. A great choice!
Esperanto
26 avenue de Lattre de Tassigny, 06400 Cannes
A budget stays in Cannes doesn’t have to be uncomfortable. Esperanto is great proof of that! It’s located in a nice and quiet place, but you can easily reach all the most important sights and beaches from here. Furthermore, the rooms are well equipped and very comfortable, and most of them also come with their own balconies. The breakfast is excellent, and the staff at your service, no matter what you need.
Day Trips from Cannes
The area around Cannes city boasts lovely seaside villages, stunning resort towns, astonishing scenery, and quaint hilltop towns. After exploring the major tourist attractions of Cannes, if you have extra time, you can explore some nearby spots that are equally charming. Setting up day trips like that will be well worth it.
Monaco
Monaco is globally known for its picturesque shorelines, beaches, French restaurants, lush vegetation, and sublime Mediterranean climate. You can reach it very easily from Cannes, and an opportunity like this to visit Monte Carlo should not be missed. Spend one day in Monaco and see why the world’s elites can’t get enough of it.
Saint-Tropez
In recent years, Saint-Tropez has become an incredibly popular beach resort area among both national and international visitors. It has plenty of designer boutiques, fancy restaurants, and private beach clubs where you can just chill and enjoy. Musee de I’Annonciade is one of the iconic museums in Saint-Tropez, well known for its rich collection of modern art, but even aside from it, you will have plenty of places to visit.
Esterel Mountains
Esterel Mountains are well known for their dramatic landscapes. This magical place rises immediately behind the Cote d’Azur coastline between Cannes and Saint-Raphael, bordered by two valleys. If you love spending time in nature and want to see something astonishing, this mesmerizing place is for you. Set up a day trip from Cannes as soon as you can.
Biot, Alpes-Maritimes
Biot is one of the villages in France near Antibes and lies between Nice and Cannes. It is well-known for its forted walls, historical landmarks, cozy French restaurants, and elevated forts. This spectacular village which is now popular for its glassblowing and ceramics dates back to the prehistoric era. Definitely a lovely day out.
How to Reach Cannes?
Being a noted travel destination in the world, Cannes is easily accessible through flights. Flights to Cannes are frequently run through different parts of the world. Nice Airport is the nearest airport to Cannes, just 25 km away. You can book a cab or taxi from the airport and later explore the city with the help of a hired car or by using public transportation. But for a one-day trip, you should get a taxi. This way, you can cover plenty of sights in a single day easily and comfortably.
And if you want to get out of the city a bit, trains are your best option.
Extra Tips for Visiting Cannes
If you are on your one-day trip to Cannes, you should reach Cannes early in the morning so that you get to explore as many sights as possible. The public transport around here is pretty good and can save you a nice amount if you opt for it. You should also try the local dishes in Cannes’ restaurants, you won’t be disappointed. So, if you want to explore Cannes in a single day, book cheap flight tickets now, pack your bags, and head to this amazing city – the French Riviera awaits!
I just came from Cannes and used the information here as my guide. Thank you for sharing.