Things to do in Cannes

Cannes runs along three landmarks: La Croisette, the old Suquet hill, and the Forville market. Most of the Croisette's beach is private, with sunbed sets typically running €25-40 a day, unlike the public pebble beaches back in Nice.

From the port, boats to the Lérins Islands take about 15-20 minutes, splitting between pine-covered Sainte-Marguerite, with its Fort Royal and the cell said to have held the Man in the Iron Mask, and Saint-Honorat, a working abbey island where monks still make wine.

The Cannes Film Festival takes over in May, pushing hotel prices up and closing streets around the Palais des Festivals for days at a time.