City Breaks in Cannes
Cannes city breaks
It’s hard to imagine Cannes was once a sleepy fishing port visited only by monks and pilgrims. Today, it is a cosmopolitan resort most famous for the May International film festival, when people book city breaks here by the thousand, for a chance of a glimpse of the stars.
However with long, sandy beaches, cosmopolitan shopping arcades, trendy clubs and chic restaurants, Cannes is busy all year round. Off-season, the town is crowded with business delegates who have booked city breaks to attend the numerous international conferences hosted here. In summer, the golden beaches are invaded by hordes of tourists, and the promenade, nightclubs and restaurants are awash with “beautiful people” showing off their latest designer wear.
Where to take a city break in Cannes
Cannes today caters increasingly for the tourist trade, and a large number of holiday developments have sprung up along the coast. This means that those taking city breaks no longer have to crowd into the over-booked town centre. However, the resort is still very busy and it’s best to book early.
The most exclusive hotels in Cannes are in La Croisette, 7.5 miles of sandy beaches studded with palatial hotels – most with private beaches. During the Film Festival, this area is home to numerous celebrities, who preen and pose for the cameras in the designer shops and exclusive restaurants before heading for the glamour of the Palais des Festivals.
For the hoi polloi, there are plenty of more modest hotels and apartments to book a city break, especially in the Plages du Midi region, where the beaches are open to all.
Things to do on a Cannes city break
Naturally, you will want to stroll along the promenade at La Croisette – there are always a few celebs in residence. The famous Allées des Stars, at the Palais des Festivals, has an endless display of handprints and signatures from stars both past and present.
Further along, Vieux Port is a charming melee of fishing boats and luxury yachts, with a picturesque flower market. Nearby are open, sandy beaches which are popular with the locals.
Above La Croisette is Le Suquet, the highest point of the Old Town. Here, ancient streets wind up to the12th century Chapel of St Anne and the Castre Museum, which is housed in the former chateau of the monks of the Lérins Isles. There are boat excursions to the nearby island monastery of St Honorat.
City breaks to Cannes with Future Travel
Cannes has far more to offer than just the International Film Festival. We at Future Travel specialise in low cost holidays, and thoroughly recommend a city break in Cannes at any time of year.