Things to Do in Cannes

Cannes is best known for eleven days in May, when the world's film industry descends on the Palais des Festivals and the red carpet lines La Croisette. But the city's glamour runs year-round — this is where superyachts moor beside Belle Époque hotels, and where a morning market in Le Suquet's old town gives way to an afternoon of boutique-lined boulevards.

Outside festival season, Cannes still delivers a steady calendar of exhibitions, concerts and gourmet events, plus easy boat trips to the pine-covered Îles de Lérins just offshore. It's a compact, walkable city — and one of the best-connected bases for day trips along the coast.

What's on in Cannes

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Theatre

Secret(s) Médical - A Comedy with Michel Cymes - Tour

14 Nov

Théâtre Debussy - Palais des Festivals, cannes

from €51.20

Concert

Cycle Beethoven - Dialogue - Triple Concerto

15 Nov

Théâtre Debussy - Palais des Festivals, cannes

from €45.20

Festival

Festival Cinema for Space

19 Nov · +3 more dates

Palais des Festivals, cannes

from €20

Festival

Festival de Danse Cannes

21 Nov · +10 more dates

GRAND AUDITORIUM - P. DES FESTIVALS, cannes

from €25.20

Concert

P. Liscia + L.Strauss + T.Ould - Philia Trio Violin Cello Accordion Concert

28 Nov

THEATRE ALEXANDRE III, cannes

from €34.60

Concert

La Soirée du Gospel - Tour

11 Dec

Eglise de Notre-Dame de Bon Voyage, cannes

from €32

Concert

Frédéric Audibert, Cello Recital - From Bach to Today

12 Dec

THEATRE ALEXANDRE III, cannes

from €40

Theatre

Michèle Laroque & Kad Merad - L'Âge Bête - Tour

12 Dec

GRAND AUDITORIUM - P. DES FESTIVALS, cannes

from €40.20

Family

Compagnie Hors Surface - Face aux Murs

13 Dec

Théâtre Debussy - Palais des Festivals, cannes

from €34.20

Theatre

Laurent Gerra - "Se Met à Table !" - Tour

17 Dec

GRAND AUDITORIUM - P. DES FESTIVALS, cannes

from €40

Theatre

The Nutcracker - Imperial Heritage Ballet - Tour

18 Dec

THEATRE CROISETTE, cannes

from €52

Cinema

Ciné-Concert - Le Cirque

20 Dec

Théâtre Debussy - Palais des Festivals, cannes

from €42.20

Theatre

Murmuration Level 2 - Choreographed by Sadeck Berrabah - Tour

31 Dec · +1 more date

GRAND AUDITORIUM - P. DES FESTIVALS, cannes

Théâtre Debussy - Palais des Festivals, cannes

GRAND AUDITORIUM - P. DES FESTIVALS, cannes

from €29.20

Theatre

Comment Draguer Après 50 Ans - Tour

9 Jan

Espace Miramar, cannes

Théâtre Debussy - Palais des Festivals, cannes

GRAND AUDITORIUM - P. DES FESTIVALS, cannes

from €29.20

Theatre

Mahé S'installe - Tour

17 Jan

ESPACE MIRAMAR, cannes

from €25

Theatre

Stand Up Comedy Club Cannes

17 Jan

ESPACE MIRAMAR, cannes

from €29.16

Theatre

Demain, je me Marie !

22 Jan

Espace Miramar, cannes

Holy Trinity Church Cannes, cannes

from €20

Theatre

Carmen - Ballet Julien Lestel

23 Jan

Théâtre Debussy - Palais des Festivals, cannes

from €36.20

Concert

Cycle Beethoven - Jeunesse - Piano Concerto #1 and #2

24 Jan

Théâtre Debussy - Palais des Festivals, cannes

from €42.20

More upcoming events in Cannes

Concerts, exhibitions, theatre and festivals — with dates and tickets.

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Tours & experiences in Cannes

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Experience

Complete Monaco Antibes Cap Antibes Eze Nice -Licensed tour guide

Private Boat Tour Cannes Lerins Islands

Private sailing excursion & Provencal picnic

Classic Yacht Sailing in Cannes

Cannes Ooh La La Croissant Tasting Tour

Private escape to discover Cannes & Lerins Islands from the sea

Cannes Relaxation evening in the Lerins Islands Private boat

Cannes Day charter to the Islands

Cannes: Private Sea Ray Boat Trip to Lérins Islands Swim & Snorkel

Cannes private shore excursion: tour the French Riviera & Monaco

Cannes Private Sailing Boat Tour to Lérins Islands – All Inclusive

Best of Riviera Shore excursion From (Villefranche, Nice, Cannes)

Ultimate Côte de Provence Wine Tasting Tour : Best Crus & Castles

French Riviera: Private Tour Cannes, Antibes & St Paul de Vence!

Full-Day Private Cannes Shore Excursion: Eze & Monaco

Tour Cannes Nice Eze Monaco Mont Carlo

Private catamaran cruise, Lérins Islands, Antibes , Cannes

Monaco - Monte Carlo - Eze - From Cannes Cruise Port

Private Shore Excursion Villefranche/Cannes: Nice, Eze, Monaco

Sailboat tour to the island of Cannes

Countryside and Wine Tasting Full-day tour from Cannes

Cannes, Wine tasting, Provencal market & Countryside Private Tour

Exclusive Saint-Honorat Monk's Wine Experience from Cannes

Taste of Cannes: Provençal Food, Wine & Cheese Tour

Handpicked experiences, tours and day trips — booked on Viator.

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Yacht & boat rentals in Cannes

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Cannes rents from two main points — the Vieux Port beneath the Palais des Festivals, and nearby Mandelieu-la-Napoule — putting the pine-covered Lérins Islands within a short crossing. Motor yachts and motorboats dominate the fleet here, reflecting the city's glamorous reputation, alongside plenty of family-friendly RIBs. May and June are busiest with festival season, while July and August offer the most reliably calm Mediterranean conditions for a full day afloat.

Boat rental

RIB rental in Cannes: Capelli Tempest 700 semi from Cannes

Motorboat rental in Cannes: Cranchi Zaffiro 34

Motorboat rental in Cannes: New Prestige 520

Boat without licence rental in Cannes – MARIUS from Mandelieu

Boat without a licence · Cannes

RIB rental in Cannes: Plan B YOYO

Motor yacht rental in Cannes: Marquis Yachts 500 Sport

Sailboat rental in Cannes: Sun Odyssey 439

Motor yacht rental in Cannes: Uniesse 72 Flybridge

Motorboat rental in Cannes: Cap Ferret 752 cruiser 2023

Motor yacht rental in Cannes: Discover the French from Mandelieu

Motor yacht rental in Cannes: Prestige 520

Motorboat rental in Cannes: 14m Sessa Luxury Yacht

Motor yacht rental in Cannes: Guy Couach 2200 Fly

Motorboat rental in Cannes: Quicksilver Activ 605 from Mandelieu · built 2023

Motorboat rental in Cannes: Princess V48 - Stabilizer

RIB rental in Cannes: Bombard Sunrider 700 from Mandelieu La Napoule

Catamaran rental in Cannes: Lagoon 51 with crew

Motor yacht rental in Cannes – MANGUSTA 108

RIB rental in Cannes: Bsc BSC 70 RS SPORT from Mandelieu

Motorboat rental in Cannes: Pacific craft open 545 from Mandelieu

Motor yacht rental in Cannes: Prestige 500 Fly

Motorboat rental in Cannes: Welcome to our yacht

Motorboat rental in Cannes: Boat and skipper

Motorboat rental in Cannes: Leader 805 from Vieux-Port

Motorboats, sailboats and yachts — book directly with Click&Boat.

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Where to stay in Cannes

Hotels, apartments and guesthouses in Cannes, with prices for your dates across the main booking sites.

Top things to do in Cannes

Walk La Croisette, the palm-lined seafront of grand hotels and private beaches, to the Palais des Festivals, where anyone can pose on the famous red-carpet steps. Then climb into Le Suquet, the old quarter on the hill, for its cobbled lanes, the Notre-Dame d'Espérance church and the castle museum at the top, with one of the best views over the bay.

The best escape from the bustle is offshore. Boats from the Vieux Port reach the Lérins Islands in minutes: Sainte-Marguerite has pine forests, clear coves and the Fort Royal, where the Man in the Iron Mask was held; Saint-Honorat is home to a working monastery whose monks make their own wine. Back in town, the covered Marché Forville is the place to shop like a local.

Events and the best time to visit Cannes

Cannes is an events city. The Film Festival takes over in May — most screenings are for accredited guests, but the red-carpet arrivals and the free open-air Cinéma de la Plage are open to everyone. Summer brings the fireworks festival over the bay, and September the Cannes Yachting Festival, one of Europe's largest in-water boat shows. Year-round, the Palais hosts concerts, shows and trade fairs.

For beaches and a calm Croisette, aim for June or September. Prices and crowds peak during the Film Festival and in July and August, so book well ahead if your dates overlap.

Getting to Cannes and getting around

The nearest major airport is Nice Côte d'Azur, around 30 km away, with direct buses to Cannes. Cannes station is right in the centre, on the coastal line between Marseille and Nice, with TGVs from Paris and frequent regional trains — Nice is about 30–40 minutes away.

The centre, La Croisette and Le Suquet are all walkable. Local buses serve the outer neighbourhoods, and ferries to the Lérins Islands leave from the Vieux Port throughout the day.

Weather in Cannes by month

Month	Day °C	Night °C	Sea °C	Rainy days
January	14	4	13	6
February	14	4	13	5
March	16	6	13	6
April	18	9	15	6
May	22	13	18	5
June	26	16	22	4
July	28	19	23	2
August	29	19	24	3
September	25	15	22	5
October	21	12	20	8
November	17	8	17	9
December	14	5	15	6

Best for swimming and boat trips: June to September, when the sea is 20 °C or warmer. Spring and autumn are milder and quieter — a good time for walking, day trips and wine tours.

Average daytime and night-time air temperatures and days with at least 1 mm of rain: Météo-France climate normals 1991–2020, Cannes station. Sea: approximate monthly average along the coast.

Frequently asked questions

Can the public attend the Cannes Film Festival?

Official screenings are mostly reserved for accredited professionals and invited guests, but anyone can watch the red-carpet arrivals outside the Palais des Festivals and attend the free Cinéma de la Plage screenings on the beach during the festival.

How do I get to the Lérins Islands from Cannes?

Ferries leave from the Vieux Port, next to the Palais des Festivals. The crossing to Île Sainte-Marguerite takes about 15 minutes; Île Saint-Honorat is served by the monastery's own boats. Take water and a picnic — facilities on the islands are limited.

How far is Cannes from Nice?

About 30 km. Regional trains take around 30–40 minutes between the two city centres, and there are direct buses from Nice airport.

When is the best time to visit Cannes?

June and September combine warm weather and a swimmable sea with fewer crowds. Visit in May for the Film Festival atmosphere, or in September for the Cannes Yachting Festival — but expect higher hotel prices on those dates.

What is the weather like in Cannes by month?

Winters are mild and summers hot and dry. Average daytime highs range from 14 °C in January to 29 °C in August, and nights from 4 °C to 19 °C. Rain is most frequent in November (about 9 rainy days) and rarest in July.

What is the weather like in Cannes in May?

In May, daytime highs average 22 °C and nights 13 °C, with the sea at about 18 °C. Expect around 5 rainy days in the month.

What is the weather like in Cannes in October?

In October, daytime highs average 21 °C and nights 12 °C, with the sea at about 20 °C. Expect around 8 rainy days in the month.

When can you swim in the sea in Cannes?

From June to September the sea is 20 °C or warmer, peaking at about 24 °C in August, and in October it is still around 20 °C. In winter it cools to about 13 °C — fine for a quick dip, but cold for most swimmers.