Planning a Trip in Cannes

Arriving — By train, Cannes is 10 min. from Antibes, 30 min. from Nice, and 45 min. from Monaco. The TGV from Paris reaches Cannes in an incredibly scenic 5 hr. The one-way fare from Paris is 50€ to 150€, although advance purchase bargains can be had for as low as 40€. For rail information and schedules, visit www.sncf-connect.com or call tel. 36-35. Lignes d’Azur (www.lignesdazur.com; tel. 08-10-06-10-06) provides bus service from Cannes’ Gare Routière (pl. Bernard Cornut Gentille) to Antibes every 20 min. during the day (trip time: 25 min.). The one-way fare is 1.70€.

The Nice International Airport (www.nice.aeroport.fr; tel. 08-20-42-33-33) is a 30-min. drive east. Bus no. 210 picks up passengers at the airport every 30 min. during the day (hourly at other times) and drops them at Cannes’ Gare Routière. One-way is 19€.

By car from Marseille, take A51 north to Aix-en-Provence, continuing along A8 east to Cannes. From Nice, follow A8 or the coastal D6007 southwest to Cannes.

Visitor Information — The Office de Tourisme is at 1 bd. de la Croisette (www.cannes-destination.fr; tel. 04-92-99-84-22).

Special Events — Cannes is at its most frenzied in mid-May during the International Film Festival (www.festival-cannes.com) at the Palais des Festivals, on promenade de la Croisette. It attracts not only film stars (you can palm the cement molds of their handprints outside the Palais des Festivals), but also seemingly every photographer in the world. You have a better chance of being named prime minister of France than you do attending one of the major screenings, although if you’re lucky, you may be able to swing tickets to screenings of one of the lesser films. (Hotel rooms and tables at restaurants are equally scarce during the festival.) But the people-watching is absolutely fabulous!

Getting Around

On Foot — Cannes’ small town center is a labyrinth of one-ways and serious traffic—which makes it best explored on foot.

By Bicycle & Motor Scooter — Despite the summertime commotion, the flat landscapes between Cannes and satellite resorts such as La Napoule and Juan-les-Pins are well suited for bikes and motor scooters. For rentals, we recommend Mistral Location, 4 rue Georges Clémenceau (www.mistrallocation06.com; tel. 04-93-39-33-60), which charges 20€ per day for bikes, and also offers scooters and motorcycles from 30€ per day.

By Car — The Cannes Tourist Office website offers a downloadable document (under “Cannes Practical,” then “Useful Information”) listing all of the town’s public parking lots and their hourly fees. That said a car is more of a hassle than a help in Cannes; public transportation is quite good here.

By Taxi — Allô Taxi Cannes (www.allo-taxis-cannes.com; tel. 04-93-99-27-27). Ride sharing services Bolt and Uber might drive you to your destination more quickly and more cheaply.

By Public Transport — Palm Bus (www.palmbus.fr; tel. 08-25-82-55-99) operates all public transport in and around Cannes. There’s little need for public transport in the city center—although the open-top no. 8, which runs along the seafront from the port in the west to the Pointe Croisette peninsula in the east, makes for a fun and scenic ride. A day pass cost 4.30€ and can be purchased directly aboard any bus.

Fast Facts

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.