Cannes Hotels

Prime location on the Côte d'Azur will do that. Opulence and up-market luxury have become distinctive traits of the Riviera jewel, one of the choice destinations of the jet set since the Belle époque. It may take a lot of Euros to live well in Cannes but for the most part, a few days here is adequate to see it all.

Attractions

If you like the beach, Cannes is a good place to be. The busy summer season marks the arrival of tourists en masse. While some beachfront property is under the domain of luxury hotels, there is enough sand to go around. For a prime spot however, you may need to take a long walk in order to escape the oppressive crowds.

La Croisette is the main drag in Cannes. With beach and Mediterranean scenery galore, the thoroughfare is full of cafés, restaurants, hotels and shops.

The old quarter of La Suquet provides Cannes with some authenticity and charm. The Musée de la Castre has some of the best artifacts from the Mediterranean world while the 12th century Chapel of Ste-Anne has a wonderful collection of musical instruments.

The Lérins Islands, just off the Riviera coast near Cannes, have some superb attractions in a monastery that dates back to the year 410 and the fortress where the mythical Man in the Iron Mask was held in 1687.

Quartier des Anglais, or the English Quarter, has some of the best architecture in the Côte d'Azur. Grand estates from the 19th century line the streets and echo the immense wealth of Cannes.

Events

The Cannes Film Festival has been the most important film festival in the world since 1939. The highlight of the city calendar takes place in May. Despite a recent commercial aspiration and explicit Hollywood vibe, the festival is as influential as ever.

The Palais des Festivals in Cannes plays host to a wide variety of events throughout the year. Every January the venue comes alive with the Cannes Shopping Festival, a fashion-themed event that combines runway shows, workshops by top designers and awards.

Printemps des Musées is a cultural festival that offers free entry to museums in and around Cannes.

A spectacular Fireworks Festival in July draws as many as 200,000 spectators.

Climate

With a Mediterranean climate, Cannes enjoys prototypical beach resort weather.

• Winter (December to February) 4-13°C

• Spring (March to May) 7-20°C

• Summer (June to September) 13-27°C

• Fall (October to November) 8-20°C