Cannes France Riviera

France

The tender weaves between the yachts like an extra crossing a film set: welcome to Cannes, where even the arrival feels like a premiere. Ships anchor in the bay and land their passengers at the Vieux-Port, right at the foot of the Palais des Festivals. No shuttle to plan, no transfer needed: the Croisette begins fifty metres from the dock, and the whole day unfolds on foot.

The Red Steps and the Walk of Fame

The first, almost obligatory move: a photo on the famous steps of the Palais des Festivals, kept red year-round. Around the building, the Allée des Étoiles du Cinéma preserves the handprints of hundreds of stars set in concrete, from Sophie Marceau to Meryl Streep. In mid-May, during the Festival, the district turns into a hive of limousines and photographers; the rest of the year, anyone can play the star without the crowds.

The Croisette, Two Kilometres of Legend

The curving boulevard hugging the bay lines up century-old palm trees, private beaches, and Belle Époque grand hotels: the Carlton with its white façade, the Martinez with its ocean-liner style. Facing the sea, wooden jetties reach out over clear water; facing the city, the windows of top jewellers compete for attention. The walk ends at the rose garden of Port Canto, from where the view loops back to the old town and the reddish peaks of the Estérel. The public beaches, including the Plage du Midi past the Vieux-Port, welcome swimmers free of charge.

Le Suquet, the Hill Where It All Began

Before the festivals, Cannes was a fishing village huddled beneath its castle. Le Suquet has kept that soul: cobbled lanes climbing between ochre façades, shaded little squares, and family-run restaurants where bouillabaisse has been simmering for three generations. At the top, the former priory of the monks of Lérins houses the Museum of the Explorations of the World and its 12th-century square tower; the climb up the steps is rewarded with a sweeping panorama over the bay, the rooftops, and the islands. Heading back down, the Forville Market overflows with Provençal produce: cracked olives, mesclun greens, zucchini flowers, and fish from the morning's catch.

The Lérins Islands, an Escape 15 Minutes Away

From the dock next to the tender landing, boats reach Île Sainte-Marguerite in a quarter of an hour: trails beneath eucalyptus trees, clear coves, and Fort Royal, where the mysterious Man in the Iron Mask was imprisoned, his cell open to visitors. Its neighbour, Saint-Honorat, has belonged for sixteen centuries to Cistercian monks, who tend eight hectares of vineyards between the fortified monastery and its chapels; their white wine can be bought at the abbey shop. These two islands offer the perfect counterpoint to the bustle of the Croisette — silence, pine forest, and the lapping of waves.

Tips for This Stop

• The whole centre can be explored on foot; allow 20 minutes from the Vieux-Port to the far end of the Croisette.
• Rue d'Antibes, running parallel to the sea, offers shopping more affordable than on the boulevard itself.
• Forville Market: open every morning except Monday outside peak season.
• Crossings to Sainte-Marguerite run frequently year-round; check the last return boat against the ship's schedule.

Cannes cultivates a delightful paradox: world-famous, yet still a human-scale town where the market smells of basil and fishermen still sell their sea bream at dawn. Passengers head back aboard with salt on their skin, perhaps a bottle from the nearby perfumeries of Grasse in their bag, and the sense of having walked through a film set that turns out to be real.