Cannes, a location on the French Riviera, is very famous for the Cannes Film Festival. It has a long history and rich cultural heritage dating back to thousands of years. It is positioned between the Estérel hills and the Mediterranean Sea. Warm and sunny climate, Mediterranean beaches, romantic tourist spots and tons of entertainment options make Cannes a popular romantic getaway.
Cannes is a favourite tourist spot for the affluent and upscale elite from all over the world, also one of the top gay destinations. The ideal time to visit Cannes is after the International Film Festival, which is over in May. Until November weather is quite pleasant, winter is also a good time to visit Cannes, if you are on budget.
This glamorous and luxurious resort town is well suited for relaxing in style. A couple can take a leisurely walk on La Croisette promenade, lay out on beaches, enjoy wine on the patios of open air café or indulge in shopping in the side streets. You can hit the casinos and bars at night or check in some gorgeous boutique hotel with sophisticated country house charm. Le Romanesque is a budget boutique hotel only a few steps away from Croisette and the beaches. Le Cavendish Boutique Hotel is a luxury hotel with 19th century elegance and contemporary décor. Carlton Intercontinental, located on the best beachfront position in town, is the iconic hotel with all the style and pomp rich that famous are looking for. It hosts many film-festival banquets in its gilt-and-marble Grand Salon.
La Croisette is the famous mile long beach waterfront promenade. The west end of the pathway is just right for a stroll among the palm trees and flowers. The East end consists of the private beaches, glamorous shops and luxurious hotels. Le Suquet is a neighbourhood market with gothic stone work and narrow passageways where you can shop for Provencal goods or have coffee in atmospheric cafes. Malmaison is a 19th-century mansion converted into cultural gallery. Rue d’Antibes is a high end shopping street packed with trendy boutiques and fine food shops. Musée de la Castre is another interesting place to visit. The 11th-century château houses a whimsical collection of ceramics, artefacts and a mismatched collection of weaponry, collection amassed by some aristocrat in the 19th century. You will find relatively cheap clothing, wine and cheese on Rue Meynadier, a road with 18th century houses on both the sides converted into shops and boutiques.
Cannes offer fabulous nightlife for a couple. Le Baoli is the biggest dance club in Cannes, packed till dawn. The Palais de Festival organizes musical concerts and performing art festivals, you can enjoy opera, ballets and other cultural festivals. Morrison’s Irish Pub also offers live music three days a week. Casino Barrière draws huge crowds and DaDaDa club is hybrid of a disco, cabaret and theatre, for the ‘anti-establishment, wild creative individuals’.
The Cannes Film Festival is organized every year in the month of May, it is not open to all, the event is for actors only. During the festival, Cannes is visited by more than 30,000 actors, directors and producers, what makes 3,500 journalists and 200,000 tourists also go to Cannes during the festival.
Another attraction is yacht marina, tourists can take a stroll by the marina and enjoy the view of yachts and sail boats. Many wealthy Europeans maintain yachts in Cannes. Iles de Lerins are four islands near Cannes, they can be reached by a 15 minutes ferry ride from Cannes. Among these four islands, Île Ste-Marguerite and Île St-Honorat are the most popular, they have beautiful beaches, bays and you can find some quiet place to spend some time with your partner. The Abbaye de St-Honorat is a working monastery located at Île St-Honorat and Fort de l’Ile is a museum that holds artefacts from the sea.
If you are and adventure sport lover, Massif de l’Estérelis a must visit place for camping and hiking, it is a range of mountains formed from red rock volcanoes. These mountains are twenty minutes ride from Cannes, the highest point is 2,000 feet high. Serious hikers can climb all the way and casual hikers can take a path along the coast. The view of Alps from the summit is breathtaking.
Glamorous Cannes is ideal for enjoying life at leisurely pace or doing some activity. You can visit museums, café, architecture, shops, beaches, islands and nearby mountains.
