Now it’s time to talk about one of my all-time favorites—Cannes, France. I’ve found myself coming back here time and time again. It is really my happy place—beach clubs, sun, swim, eating, shopping, and the opportunity to do a little exploring. I find that when I am here, I feel like I’m on a true vacation.
Okay, let’s get into it…
Getting There
The closest airport is Nice Côte d’Azur Airport (NCE). From the airport, you can take a 25-minute taxi or Uber (yes, they have Ubers—yay!) or you can take the train. For the train, you get on at the Nice Saint-Augustin train station, which is just a few minutes’ walk from Terminal 1. In just around 30 minutes, you will arrive at the Cannes station! The train ride offers some beautiful views, but I do not recommend it if you have a lot of large luggage with you.
Where to Stay?
Hotels – Cannes is known for having some iconic beachfront hotels – but at a very high price tag! I’ll list a range of recommendations based on price ($-$$$$)
***TIP: Although most of Cannes hotels have dedicated beach clubs, the price of chairs is not included in your nightly price. The only advantage is that they try to ensure that hotel guests have priority access to the chairs.
- The Carlton ($$$$) Located on the beautiful Boulevard de la Croisette, this iconic hotel opened in 1911 and has hosted some of the world’s biggest celebrities during the annual Cannes Film Festival. SO expensive—my friend and I attempted to walk inside to take a look, and they immediately turned us away – embarassing!
2. Hotel Martinez ($$) At a more affordable price, Hotel Martinez is also located on the Boulevard de la Croisette and is a Hyatt Hotel for those looking to use points!
3. Hotel Barriere Le Majestic Cannes ($$$) Another great option! Same location.
Airbnb – you can get some amazing Airbnbs here for a great price!
***TIP: make sure to check if the Airbnb has air conditioning (if that is important to you) – especially in the summer.
Where I stayed: The cutest studio! I really felt like a local staying here. Literally a 2-minute walk to the Cannes train station or less than 10 minutes to the beach. A million cafe’s nearby.
Checkout my Cannes Airbnb favs here
Where to Eat & Drink
La Guérite ($$$$) A must-visit. It’s basically a restaurant on an island that turns into a beach club around 4:00–4:30 p.m. Everyone gets up on their chairs and dances—great music (not the place to bring the kids). Very hard to get a reservation—it books months in advance. If you can’t get one, email them, and sometimes they can help you out. You meet at Port Pierre Canto 15–20 minutes before your reservation, and they take you on a small boat to Île Sainte-Marguerite island (probably a 15-minute ride). This is 25 euros per person, added to your bill. VERY expensive food—both times I’ve been, I ate beforehand so I wasn’t too hungry.***TIP #1: get the 3:00pm reservation if you want to stay and dance.
Le Caveau 30 ($$) Good traditional French food and a great outside atmosphere!
Cheer Mamma ($$) No website but their Instagram is @cheer_mamma_cannes. Amazing family-owned Italian restaurant! I always get the spaghetti carbonara and it never disappoints. Outdoor seats overlook the marina.
Marea ($$$) Rooftop Mediterranean restaurant and cocktail bar at the top of the Canopy Hotel. Incredible views!
La Petite Maison ($$$$) Beautiful outdoor seating with waterfront views! Very expensive so maybe a good spot for a cocktail & app.
La Môme ($$$$) Upscale Meditteranean. Gets super fun and lively as the night goes on.
Beach Clubs
They are all very similar so you can’t go wrong! Just check prices and availability. (Most expensive & busy during the summer)
***TIP: food can be really expensive at the beach restaurants so if you bring in food/snacks make sure they are hidden in your bag because they will take them away (learned the hard way). And eat them discreetly!
Mademoiselle Gray Plage Barrière: so relaxing! Average price for being located on the Boulevard de la Croisette.
***TIP: these next two beach clubs are about a 10-15 min walk from the main Boulevard de la Croisette and you can get beach chairs for about half the price!
Day Trips
Antibes (10 min train): A must-see!! The old-town is so charming and fun to walk around. Saw the most amazing views on the Sentier du littoral hike – full Antibes guide coming soon.
Grasse (25 min train) Often referred to as the “Perfume Capital of the World” – Grasse is a charming town located in the hills of Provence, France. (Full guide coming soon).
Nice (30 min train) – check-out my full guide to Nice, France here
St Tropez – you cannot get here directly through taking the train so here are your options:
- By Car: Approximately 1.5–2 hours, depending on traffic.
- By Ferry (my preferred option): Ferries from the Port of Cannes to Saint-Tropez operate seasonally, typically from spring to early fall, and take around 1 hour and 15 minutes. The journey offers stunning views of the French Riviera coastline, with round-trip tickets costing approximately €60–€70, depending on the operator.
- By Train & Bus (budget-friendly): Traveling from Cannes to Saint-Tropez by train and bus takes approximately 2.5–3 hours and costs around €20–€30. Start with a 1-hour train ride to Saint-Raphaël, then transfer to the Varlib Line 7601 bus for a 1.5-hour journey to Saint-Tropez.
Curated by Clara 
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