72 hours in Cannes: the best places to discover the city differently

Day 1 of the Cannes weekend

10:30 - Pack your bags in a legendary hotel

Facing the Mediterranean and the steps of the Palais des Festivals, Hôtel Barrière Le Majestic has embodied Cannes elegance for nearly a century. Its timeless charm, splendid views and rooms designed as veritable bubbles of serenity make it an address not to be missed. With its private beach, heated outdoor pool, holistic spa and Fouquet's and Ciro's Cannes restaurants, the hotel in Cannes offers a complete experience dedicated to well-being and gastronomy. Built between 1923 and 1926 by Théo Petit, it now belongs to the Côte d'Azur's hotel heritage and continues to evolve through ambitious renovations and iconic suites.

Family atmosphere

From the moment you enter the lobby, the Majestic seduces with its chic effervescence and the precision of a service honed by decades of international events. The common areas, the Clés d'Or concierge service, the beach and the pool create a warm, rhythmic atmosphere. The 349 rooms and suites are elegantly designed in neutral tones, suitable for both leisure and business stays. Some suites stand out, such as the Majestic with its 150 m² terrace overlooking the sea. Recent renovations by Isabelle Stanislas have brought a brighter, more contemporary feel, with lighter materials, softened lines and a revisited Art Deco spirit.

The Barrière art of living

The hotel on the Côte d'Azur cultivates an art of living that is expressed as much in its culinary addresses as in the diversity of its experiences. From the new identity of Ciro's Cannes on the beach to poolside breaks, every moment extends the spirit of the Majestic. Whether savoring a moment of relaxation, trying your hand at water sports or enjoying a family getaway thanks to the Studio By Petit VIP, the hotel offers a mosaic of emotions. Ideally located opposite the Palais des Festivals, it remains a privileged address for travelers and visitors alike to Cannes' major events.

Hôtel Barrière Le Majestic Cannes
Prices from 235 euros per night
10 boulevard de la Croisette, Cannes
For further information, visit

Alternative: sleep at Edgar

After Bordeaux and Lille, Edgar Suites, an upscale urban apartment-hotel concept, has set up shop in Cannes, and not just anywhere: rue d'Antibes, the city's commercial heart. Impossible to miss, with its typical bayadère canvases reminiscent of those at the Carlton. The former Hôtel de France has been remodeled into 10 apartments spread over six floors, entirely self-contained for a 2- or 3-day weekend in Cannes. It's hard to imagine a better location, just a stone's throw from the Croisette. The perfect combo of city energy and nearby beaches.

A modular cocoon

The apartments, ranging in size from 40 to 90 m², can be adapted to any configuration: solo, duo or tribe, with bedrooms equipped with their own private bathroom, dressing room and office area, a living room, dining room and kitchen with state-of-the-art appliances. All, of course, air-conditioned - a crucial detail in sunny Cannes. On the top floor is the centerpiece: a 150 m² duplex penthouse with sauna, Jacuzzi, rooftop and panoramic views.

A sense of service

Imagined by Batiik Studio in collaboration with Maxime Benoit, co-founder of the project, the pop decor focuses on organic pieces: cloud tables, shell sconces, a cheerful color palette and geometric patterns that add depth and whimsy. The result is a playful yet highly functional universe, ideal for accommodating up to ten guests in the largest apartments, without stepping on each other's toes! On arrival, Taittinger champagne and chocolates await you, while an application centralizes all the useful information you need for a worry-free stay, as well as the city's best addresses. A special mention for the code lock system, which makes access to the apartment so much easier. No more lost keys.

Edgar Suites Cannes
Prices from 140 euros per night
85 rue d'Antibes, 06400 Cannes

11:15 - Getting your bearings in town

Just a stone's throw from the Palais des Festivals and right in the center of Cannes, Edgar Suites offers quick access to the city center. Near the hotel on the Côte d'Azur, you'll discover the beautiful Notre-Dame de Bon Voyage church, with its plaque commemorating Napoleon's stopover on his return from Elba in 1815.

A few meters further on, the famous Palais des Festivals, where the world's most famous stair climb takes place every May. It takes a bit of imagination to visualize the red carpet (changed up to 2 times a day for the duration of the festival), the stars getting out of limousines and the excitement of the public in front of this staircase, which isn't all that impressive by the way!

We then head off to admire the hundreds of yachts and boats in the Vieux-Port, at the foot of the Suquet hill, before returning to the center of town via the picturesque Rue Meynadier, where food shops are still flourishing (a cheese-maker even has a maturing cellar in the basement). The walk ends with a stroll along Rue d'Antibes, charming Rue Hoche and the adjacent streets, where the lively heart of Cannes beats.

1pm - Lunch in the sun on La Croisette

After this quick tour, it's off to La Croisette, one of the world's most famous waterfront promenades! This is where you'll find the grand Belle Époque (Carlton) and Art Deco (Martinez, Majestic) hotels that made Cannes one of the Mediterranean's most popular seaside destinations in the early 20th-century. Today, the Croisette is undergoing a major rejuvenation: beautification, sanitation and a titanic 180,000 tons of sand to reshape its beaches. Dismantled and then rebuilt with identical, uniform materials, the beaches are set to reveal their new face this spring.

During a weekend in Cannes, you can take a stroll under the palm trees or hop aboard the double-decker buses decorated by Robert Combas, which criss-cross the seafront free of charge. And while the Croisette attracts visitors from all over the world, it remains the ideal spot for lunch in the sun, facing the azure horizon. In fact, this is one of Cannes' major assets: unlike other southern seaside resorts that hibernate out of season, its beaches remain open all year round. All you need is a ray of sunshine (and it often comes) to enjoy lunch with your feet in the sand.

Recommended addresses for lunch on the beach: the Plage du Festival redeveloped by architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte, Mademoiselle Gray, the Plage du Majestic Barrière, with its Mediterranean and festive menu, or the Hyde Beach at the Mondrian Cannes hotel, which focuses on Italian cuisine.

2:30 pm - Visit La Malmaison, the renovated contemporary art center

After a major renovation orchestrated by Wilmotte & Associés and two years of closure, the beautiful 19th-century Palladian villa on the Croisette, formerly an annex of the Grand Hôtel, has been restored to its former glory. The exhibition space now extends over three levels, tripling its original surface area to 600 m². More than 150 works by some of the greatest artists to have graced the Côte d'Azur find a home here, at the rate of three exhibitions a year. The 200 m² rooftop is home to an elegant tea room, offering a contemplative view of the bay.

7pm - Enjoy the sunset on one of Cannes' rooftops

During a weekend in Cannes, as in Paris, Barcelona, New York or Rome, you can't miss a rooftop. Popular with tourists and locals alike, they offer the best views of the splendid bay at aperitif time.

Recommended address for sipping a cocktail with a view: Marea, the panoramic rooftop of the Canopy by Hilton. A 360° view over the bay, from Suquet to Pointe Croisette, an ultra-sophisticated decor and a resolutely Riviera ambience. À la carte: seafood, fish and exquisite cocktails. Arguably the best view in Cannes.

8:30 pm - Taste Bruno Oger's wonderful cuisine in his Provencal bastide

While Cannes may not be a gastronomic destination in the strict sense of the word (there are very few fine restaurants compared to the potential of such a city), it does boast a number of fine addresses, which we have tested for you.

Our favorite Cannes restaurant is undoubtedly Bruno Oger's La Villa Archange (2 Michelin stars), not in Cannes but in Le Cannet, less than four kilometers from the city center. In an 18th-century bastide house, he delivers a highly accomplished cuisine bursting with emotion. His recipe? Magnificent products, a genuine sense of purity and breathtakingly precise execution. For an unforgettable dinner, opt for the table d'hôtes in the kitchen. We're still shivering.

Other recommended addresses: Zuma, the new Nipponese food label on Pointe Croisette, and Fred L'Écailler, the king of seafood on Place de l'Etang.

10pm - Treat yourself to a delicious cocktail at the Bar du Fouquet's Cannes

A must-see address on the Croisette, the Bar du Fouquet's Cannes seduces with its hushed ambience and contemporary decor. Sit back and enjoy a moment of suspended animation, savor cocktails crafted like real creations and let yourself be carried away by the chic atmosphere of the Majestic.

At the helm of the bar, master mixologist Emanuele Balestra brings a unique signature nourished by travel and experience. After leaving Italy at the age of 19, he trained in France and Belgium, where he discovered oenology, before immersing himself in the world of whisky in Scotland. Chicago then offered him the chance to manage the Trump Tower bar, before Marrakech and Mauritius further enriched his vision, between lush vegetable gardens and wine discoveries. In Cannes, he explores botany, drawing inspiration from plants and herbs harvested from the hotel's rooftop, giving his cocktails a profoundly natural dimension.

This quest for botanicals is reflected in three cocktails that appealed to us. La Grande Dame blends Gin 44 Bigarade, champagne and garden verbena for a fresh, aromatic elegance. Parf Paloma reinvents the iconic cocktail with Don Julio Blanco tequila and a perpetual homemade mimosa-basil aroma. Finally, Safran Mule features a vodka infused with Taliouine saffron and patchouli, spiced up with lime and ginger beer.

Hôtel Barrière Le Majestic Cannes - Fouquet's Bar
10 boulevard de la Croisette, Cannes
Further information on

What to do in Cannes - day 2

10:30 am - Shopping with the locals

Head for the Forville market, where the popular and historic heart of Cannes beats. Stroll among the stalls, chat with the many small-scale local producers, and indulge in a slice of socca to whet your appetite! This chickpea-based specialty from Nice has spread all along the coast, from La Spezia on the Italian Riviera to Toulon, via Ventimiglia, Menton and Monaco. You can enjoy it fresh from the oven, still piping hot, at the aptly named Socca'nnes stand, a must at the market to buy a slice. The tourist office also offers free walks with Greeters, local people who love their town, providing an authentic immersion experience with anecdotes and good addresses.

11:30 am - Visit Le Suquet des artistes

Set course for a place as atypical as it is inspiring: Le Suquet des Artistes. A former mortuary, this spot dedicated to young artists has been hosting 650 m² of contemporary art exhibitions since 2018, showcasing emerging visual artists, painters, photographers and cartoonists. After this artistic interlude, stroll through the picturesque streets of Le Suquet, the historic birthplace of Cannes. History buffs - or film buffs - won't want to miss the house where the Man in the Iron Mask is said to have taken refuge after his escape from the island of Sainte-Marguerite (more legend than truth, but the mystery remains). As for those wishing to dine, rue Saint-Antoine abounds in charming restaurants (Table 22 by Noël Mantel is the best on the street).

1pm - Feast on homemade pasta at Da Laura

Ask any Cannois for a good address for lunch in town. Chances are, the name Da Laura will come up frequently in conversation. Even the Parisian-centric Fooding recommends the address to its readers. For over twenty years, this neighborhood trattoria has been delighting foodies from all over Cannes with its mouth-watering homemade pastas and authentic, no-frills Italian dishes. A tiramisu, an espresso and the bill!

2:30 pm - Sunbathing on the sandy beaches of Cannes

It's impossible to skip sunbathing on a local beach during a weekend in Cannes. From La Bocca in the west to the Golfe de Juan in the east, the Bay of Cannes and the surrounding area boasts nearly eight kilometers of beaches - sandy, please, as the pebbles of Nice can go to hell! - where you'll find more than thirty private beaches and fifteen public ones. Depending on your appetite for seaside chic, you have two options: play the luxury card and treat yourself to a day bed in one of La Croisette's hottest beach clubs, or keep a low profile and set up your sarong on one of the stretches of seafront frequented by local Cannois. At the very end of La Croisette on the Palm Beach side, the Bijou Plage Experimental is one of the recommended spots, as is the sandy strip along the coastline on the La Bocca side.

5:30 pm - Running on the hill of La-Croix-des-Gardes

No more idleness! Gather your strength and set off to conquer the verdant hill of La-Croix-des-Gardes, towering over 200 meters above Cannes. Less than two kilometers from La Croisette, it is overlooked by the monumental cross that gives it its name.

Beautifully landscaped with numerous paths and health trails, this protected area offers an unspoilt natural environment - admire the mimosas - and some lovely views of the surrounding area, from the snow-capped peaks of the Southern Alps to the Îles de Lérins overlooking the bay. If you're not a sporty person, the walk is well worth taking without running! You'll be able to take advantage of the slower pace to take more photos.

11pm - Party all night long

Lovers of underground clubbing, move on! Cannes may be a renowned summer nightlife destination, but it's more famous for its glitzy addresses and magnums of champagne than for the quality of its artistic program. As long as you subscribe to this principle, you can head to the far end of the Croisette to warm up your card - preferably Platinum - at Bâoli, one of Cannes' emblematic clubs (closed in winter). Frequented by VIPs and night owls alike, it's the French Riviera's leading party spot. Other party spots to keep in mind include Bisous Bisous, nestled above the Casino Barrière.

Day 3 of the Cannes weekend

11:30 - Cut yourself off from the world on Île Saint-Honorat

What can you do in Cannes if you want to breathe in the sea spray? A radical change of atmosphere. Say bye-bye to La Croisette and its excesses, and set sail for Île Saint-Honorat, one of two inhabited islands belonging to the tiny Lérins archipelago, just a few kilometers off the Cannes coast.

Why Île Saint-Honorat? Because, unlike its big sister Sainte-Marguerite, the larger of the two Lérins islands is privately owned, and entirely under the control of some 30 Cistercian monks who live here in total tranquillity (the island is completely quiet, and bathing suits are forbidden). The municipality is in the running for Unesco World Heritage status. A visit to this pocket-sized island includes some 40 hectares of pines, cacti, palms and... vines (the monks produce over 40,000 bottles of wine a year), a spectacular 11th-century fortified monastery (climb up to admire the view) and the very plain Abbey of Lérins, still inhabited by the monks and superbly surrounded by flowers and vegetation. Beneath the surface, the island holds another surprise. On its southern shore, an underwater eco-museum houses six monumental sculptures by artist Jason de Caires Taylor. Immersed in the depths, these works depict the faces of Cannois, offering divers a striking encounter with art and the environment.

Lunch break: La Tonnelle restaurant offers a marvellous setting for Mediterranean cuisine prepared with fresh produce (pan-fried bass fillet, ratatouille and sauce vierge, basil risotto, burrata and grilled zucchini). Please reserve in advance (closed in winter).

And of course, it's always possible to extend the cruise to Île Sainte-Marguerite, home to the Iron Mask Museum, housed in the Royal Fort. Here, in a cell that has survived the centuries, the mysterious prisoner made famous by Voltaire and Alexandre Dumas is said to have been locked up for eleven years in the 17th century. A place that continues to fuel the legends and mystery surrounding this enigmatic figure.

15:30 - Back to real life

It takes just twenty minutes by boat to leave the silent bubble of Ile Saint-Honorat and return to the Vieux-Port and the hustle and bustle of La Croisette. We take advantage of the few remaining moments before heading to the train station or airport to breathe in the so chic air of Cannes. We'll be back, we promise.