Since 1946, the summer season’s kick-off on the glamorous French Riviera has been inextricably linked to the legendary Cannes Film Festival, when the coveted Palme d’Or for cinematic excellence is awarded. Cannes then continues to attract crowds throughout the season for its azure beaches, Mediterranean climate and unmistakeable je ne sais quoi. Ahead of this year’s festival (13-24 May 2025), we reveal how to make the most of your time in Cannes.
15 unmissable things to do in Cannes
Stay at Hotel Belle Plage
Hotel Belle Plage occupies a 1930s building in the heart of Le Suquet, Cannes’ oldest neighbourhood. Revitalised by La Clé Group in 2022, the property boasts a modern and dreamlike design courtesy of French designer Raphael Navot in collaboration with FAAR Architecture Studio. Head to the rooftop where Israeli chef Eyal Shani, founder of Mizon Paris, focuses on regional specialities.
Hotel Belle Plage is located at 2 Rue Brougham, hotelbelleplage.fr
Promenade along La Croisette
No list of things to do in Cannes can be complete without mention of La Croisette, the 3km promenade that stretches from the Palais des Festivals (the locus of the film festival) to Port Canto. Lined with Mediterranean beachfront on one side and a boulevard of restaurants, hotels and designer boutiques on the other, this is the perfect place for strolling, shopping and people-watching. It’s hard to imagine that, before Cannes became a mecca for cinema in the 1950s, this was a simple coastal path, populated by donkeys rather than sports cars.
Visit La Croix des Gardes
A protected natural park of typical Provençal flora, The Croix des Gardes occupies over 80 hectares of woodland and displays over 40 varieties of Mimosa trees. From the highest point, it offers a magnificent view of the bay of Cannes, the Lérins islands and the surrounding mountains, the Estérel Massif and the French Prealps.
Quick stop at Galerie Hurtebize
Galerie Hurtebize has been a specialist in modern art and several movements of French Abstraction, such as Lyrical Abstraction and Op Art, since 1992. Inside, a pared-back approach and neutral tones allow the paintings, drawings and sculptures within to take the spotlight. Bernard Buffet, Serge Poliakoff and Hans Hartung are just a few of the names the gallery supports.
Galerie Hurtebize is located at 17 Bd de la Croisette, galerie-hurtebize.com
Lunch at Table 22 par Noël Mantel
Table 22 par Noël Mantel, on 22 Rue Saint-Antoine, combines fine flavours thanks to the best of local Provençal produce and a love of art. A labour of love from chef Noël Mantel and his team, the menu has something for everyone; ask for the catch of the day served with seasonal vegetables from the nearby Marche Forville.
Table 22 par Noël Mantel is located at 22 Rue Saint-Antoine, restaurantmantel.com
Shop at Forte_Forte
Forte_Forte’s Cannes boutique stands out as much for its free-spirited ready-to-wear collections as for its Robert Vattilana-designed interiors. The space incorporates natural light by geometrising it through the entrance, which creates a distinctive play of reflections. Vattilana cleverly used a deep green hue inspired by the nearby Massif de l’Esterel mountain, donning the space with a jewel-like iridescent quality.
Forte_Forte is located at 27 Rue du Commandant André, forte-forte.com
Marvel at Maison Callaloo
After working in the fashion and interiors industries, Anne Eyssautier, a Cannes native, founded Maison Callaoo. The ceramics shop and studio artfully captures the Mediterranean tones of the city through clay, freeform shapes and a bold palette. Don’t leave the city without one of Eyssautier’s unique bowls, vases or serving platters, in hues from the yellow of the region’s Mimosa trees to the turquoise of the Côte d’Azur.
Maison Callaoo is located at 5 Rue Louis Nouveau, @maisoncallaloo
Soak up culture at La Malmaison
A fusion of history and modernity, La Malmaison was initially an annex of Cannes’ Grand Hôtel, built in 1863. It was enlarged in 1901 and, in 1946, hosted the opening of the first Cannes Film Festival. Acquired by the city’s municipality in 1970, the building is now dedicated to contemporary art, hosting temporary exhibitions on the likes of Picasso, Matisse, Miró, Chagall, César and Masson.
La Malmaison is located at 47 Bd de la Croisette, cannes.com
Marvel at Palais Bulles
Palais Bulles is an architectural curiosity designed by Hungarian architect Antti Lovag, built between 1975 and 1989 for French industrialist Pierre Bernard, and later purchased by fashion designer Pierre Cardin. The building consists of interconnected spheres that resemble a labyrinth of bubbles (Palais Bulle translates to ‘Bubble Palace’). Lovag viewed straight lines in architecture as ‘an aggression against nature’, and designed the house as a ‘form of play’. Both before and since the designer’s death in 2020, Palais Bulles has been used for exclusive events and film sets, but it can also be booked for private tours.
Palais Bulles is located at 33 Bd de l'Esterel, palaisbulles.com
Drink at Le Bar à Vin
Open since 1998, Le Bar à Vin is the oldest wine bar in Cannes. What began as a niche spot for dedicated wine connoisseurs has since evolved into a popular place of discovery for all tastes. Experience the bar’s seasonal pairings and authentic, regional charcuterie and cheese boards, amid its exposed brick and dark orange walls lined with barrels – almost like being in the depths of the wine cellar.
Le Bar à Vin is located at 10 Rue Marceau, @lebaravin_cannes
Dinner at Sens Restaurant
Sens Restaurant stands out in the Cannes culinary scene for its chefs-in-residence programme and selection of organic wines. Its interiors exude an artist’s residence-like energy, and include an open-plan, stainless steel kitchen and bar where seating places you right at the heart of the action. Cool-toned concrete flooring paired with dark chestnut tables and rounded midcentury chairs brings a feeling of new-age Paris to the Côte d'Azur.
Sens Restaurant is located at 9 Rue d'Oran, sens-restaurant.fr
Have a tipple at Hôtel Martinez
One of Cannes’ premier establishments, the 1920s Hôtel Martinez, has recently opened a new speakeasy. Imagined by French designer Remi Tessier, Martinez Bar is a low-lit jewel box featuring Tiffany lamps, damask-draped sofas and a ceiling made of red glass and gold leaf. The sound system is built into columns decorated with moiré fabric, so that the tunes, which are curated by a New York record store, seem to seep out of the plush surrounds. Guests can enjoy caviar dishes and vintage cocktails as they listen, from 6pm to 2am, five days a week.
Hôtel Martinez is located at 73 Bd de la Croisette, hyatt.com
Relax at Spa Le C Club
Inside the emblematic hotel Carlton Cannes, known for hosting some of the world’s leading film stars and situated on La Croisette Boulevard, lies the exclusive Le C Club Spa. The serene wellness centre is home to Barbara Sturm, Dr Burgener, SwissLine, Philip B and Wesak Paris treatments, which take place in a setting wrapped in white-mixed marble and furnished with deep-tan massage chairs. Finish the experience at the edge of the property’s infinity pool.
Spa Le C Club at Carlton Cannes is located at 58 Bd de la Croisette, carltoncannes.com
See a film at Cinéum Cannes
Nestled in the western district of La Bocca, Cinéum Cannes stuns with a sculptural façade that fuses sleek lines and futuristic curves – the brainchild of French architect Rudy Ricciotti and Israeli designer Arik Levy. Cinéum is the first cinema in Europe to feature the state-of-the-art Dolby Atmos sound system. The complex further brings out the city’s love for cinema with an immersive gallery and exhibition space dedicated to showcasing the behind-the-scenes of movies.
Cinéum Cannes is located at 13 Av. Maurice Chevalier, cineum.fr
Buy authentic produce at Forville Market
This traditional indoor market offers everything from fresh fruits and vegetables to cheese and charcuterie, fish, flowers, olives and artisanal products such as olive oils, jams, tapenades, honey and wine. Located near the old town of Le Suquet, Forville is open every morning in the summer and Tuesday-Sunday for the rest of the year, and is the perfect place to pass a low-maintenance afternoon exploring authentic Cannes life, away from the glitz and glamour of La Croisette.
Forville Market is located at 6 Rue du Marché Forville
Also read: The glory years of the Cannes Film Festival are captured in a new photo book
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