Cannes is more than a film festival. The city sits on the French Riviera, 26 kilometres southwest of Nice. It has been a resort destination since the 1830s. The British aristocracy discovered it first. They built villas along the coast. The famous Boulevard de la Croisette was constructed in 1863. The city hosts over 300 events each year. The film festival started in 1946. Today it draws 40,000 industry professionals. But Cannes offers much more than celebrity spotting. The old town, Le Suquet, dates from the 11th century. The Lerins Islands lie just offshore. The beaches are free. The markets are fresh. This guide covers the essential experiences in Cannes beyond the red carpet.

Le Suquet: An 11th-Century Hilltop Village with 230 Steps

Le Suquet is the oldest neighbourhood in Cannes. The hill was first settled in the 11th century. The original castle was built in 1070. The Tour du Mont Chevalier was built in 1385. It rises 22 metres. The climb from the port has 230 steps. The Church of Our Lady of Hope was built between 1640 and 1680 in Provençal Gothic style. The bell tower dates from 1750. The neighbourhood has 10 narrow streets. The Rue du Suquet runs 200 metres to the top. The view from the top covers the entire bay from the Lerins Islands to the Esterel massif. The Musée de la Castre occupies the 11th-century castle. It holds 18,000 objects from around the world. Entry costs 6.50 euros (as of 2026). The museum has a 5-collection display that includes Mediterranean antiquities and musical instruments from 120 countries.

Boulevard de la Croisette: A 3.5-Kilometre Waterfront Promenade

The Boulevard de la Croisette was built in 1863. It runs 3.5 kilometres from the Palais des Festivals to the Pointe Croisette. The boulevard is lined with palm trees. There are 25 luxury hotels along the stretch. The Carlton Cannes was built in 1911. It has 353 rooms. The Martinez was built in 1929. It has 412 rooms. The Majestic Barrière was built in 1926. The boulevard has 10 private beaches. A sunbed at a private beach costs 30 to 50 euros per day (as of 2026). The public beaches are free. The best free beach is Plage du Midi at the western end. The boulevard is 8 metres wide. It is lit by 150 lamp posts installed in 1920. The flowers along the promenade are replanted 5 times per year.

Palais des Festivals: 45,000 Square Metres of Event Space

The Palais des Festivals opened in 1982. It replaced the original 1949 building. The building covers 45,000 square metres. It has 25 meeting rooms and 3 auditoriums. The Grand Auditorium seats 2,300 people. It has a 20-metre-wide screen. The stairway has 24 steps, known as the Red Carpet. The wall of fame outside has 300 handprints of film stars. The first handprint was made by Sophia Loren in 1987. The film festival runs for 12 days each May. The city spends 1 million euros on security during the festival. A Cannes Film Festival badge costs 350 euros for professionals. The public can attend the Marché du Film, the largest film market in the world. It attracts 12,000 participants.

Lerins Islands: 2 Islands 20 Minutes from Cannes

The Lerins Islands are 20 minutes from Cannes by ferry. Île Sainte-Marguerite is the larger island at 2.1 kilometres long. The Royal Fort was built in 1635. The Man in the Iron Mask was imprisoned here from 1687 to 1698. The cell measures 4 by 5 metres. The island has a 25-cell prison that operated until 1952. The Musée de la Mer displays 8th-century BC artefacts. Entry to the fort costs 5 euros (as of 2026). The island has 6 public beaches. The best is Plage de la Batéguier. The ferry costs 17 euros return. Île Saint-Honorat is smaller at 600 metres long. It has been home to Cistercian monks since 410 AD. The monastery was founded in 410. The current monastery was built in 1860. The monks produce wine on 20 hectares of vineyards. A bottle costs 12 to 30 euros.

Would you walk the red carpet at the Palais or escape to the Lerins Islands? 🎬

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