Explora Journeys in Cannes

Cannes is the French Riviera's polished waterfront town, best known for its film festival and the palm-lined Croisette. The reason it earns a day is contrast: a hill-top medieval old quarter, Le Suquet, sits directly above a glamorous seafront promenade, and a 15-minute ferry reaches a wild fortress island offshore. It is compact enough to cover on foot and well connected by train if you want to range further.

What to do on a day in Cannes

• Le Suquet, the old town on the hill, with cobbled lanes, the Notre-Dame d'Esperance church, and views over the bay
• Musee de la Castre, in a medieval castle at the top of Le Suquet, with a tower climb for the best panorama
• Boulevard de la Croisette, the seafront promenade of palms, beaches, and the Palais des Festivals
• Marche Forville, the covered produce and food market a short walk from the port
• Ile Sainte-Marguerite, the Lerins island 15 minutes by ferry from Quai Laubeuf, home to the Fort Royal where the Man in the Iron Mask was held
• Rue d'Antibes, the main shopping street one block back from the waterfront

Getting ashore

Tenders land at Quai Laubeuf or the Gare Maritime beside the Palais des Festivals, both at the edge of town; note Quai Laubeuf is under redevelopment through 2027, so the drop point can shift. The Marche is 5 to 10 minutes on foot, the Croisette 10 to 15, and Le Suquet a 20 to 30 minute uphill walk or a short shuttle. One day is enough for the town, and leaves room for either the island ferry or a 40-minute train to Nice.

When to book the ship's excursion vs your own →

Weather and when to visit

• May to June. Warm and largely dry, roughly 61 to 82F, long daylight, and the sea warming enough to swim by June. This is the start of the cruise season.
• September to October. Summer warmth without the peak crowds, around 61 to 82F in September easing into the low 70s by October. The sea stays warm enough to swim into early fall, with rain becoming a bit more frequent in October.