Cannes

Your Cannes travel guide: What you Need to know before you visit

Cannes Estate

Cannes travel guide

Cannes is one of the most iconic cities associated with the French Riviera and the Cote d’Azur. What was once just a calm fishing town has today turned into a cozy city full of life and world-famous events that are arranged throughout the year such as the iconic Cannes film festival.
Cannes is beautifully situated along the French Riviera, with the stunning azure blue Mediterranean by its side, and has large beaches, which attracts plenty of people who want to soak the Mediterranean sun in the pleasant climate during the summer months

Despite the fact that Cannes isn’t a big city, it draws a lot of visitors and tourists every year. It is a city which has a lot to offer for everyone, from relaxing on the beach to going to attending events or going sightseeing to experience everything this city has to offer.

Cannes is a city that has a prestigious and luxurious reputation, with some of the most stunning hotels and buildings along the seafront road, the Boulevard de la Croisette. Every year, it draws lots of celebrities, and many of the rich and famous have Cannes as their summertime hideout spot for experiencing everything Cannes and the French Riviera has to offer.

Cannes has lots to offer, and before you go here, you should know a thing or two about the city, the best things to do here, everything it has to offer, and all the practical information that people aren’t telling you. Here is the ultimate Cannes travel guide to help prepare you for your next visit to Cannes and to make your visit as enjoyable as possible.

In this Cannes travel guide, we’ll share everything you need to know for your next visit.
Dig in!

Cannes travel guide: Where is Cannes?

Cannes is situated on the southeastern coast of France, along the coast that is referred to as the French Riviera or Cote d’Azur. It is the gateway to many different visit-worthy places, and from here, you can access some of the most popular cities on the French Riviera, such as Saint-Tropez, Nice, and Monaco. Because of its location, many people choose Cannes as their base for their French Riviera adventures.

From Cannes, you can also visit Italy and the French Alps with ease.
Where is Cannes, France

Cannes travel guide: Why Go to Cannes?

Cannes attracts millions of visitors each year, so clearly, the people have spoken that Cannes is a place worth visiting. But what makes it so special?
Well, first off, the climate of Cannes is incredibly attractive. It sees about three thousand sun hours a year and has mild winters and warm summers.

It offers activities for everyone, and is full of life, yet, can, despite this, offer a relaxing experience for those that seek a place to relax and enjoy the French Riviera weather.
It truly is a city of luxury and prestige, with stunning buildings and glamorous walk-on the iconic Croisette, where sipping wine in the sun is a culture.

Nightclubs, casinos, or days on the beach, Cannes has it all.
For those looking to enjoy a stay out of the ordinary and of top-class, Cannes won’t give you a hard time to spend your money, with luxurious hotels, restaurants, clubs, and beaches as far as the eye can see. For this reason, Cannes has for a long time been popular among Europe’s elite.

Despite all of this, don’t be afraid of visiting Cannes even when on a limited budget. Cannes offers accommodation for all budgets, such as this stunning apartment available for rent.
Cannes apartment
If you visit Cannes during the off-season, the selection of affordable accommodation is even greater.

How to get to and around Cannes and the French Riviera

Cannes is easily accessible with all means of transportation.
Getting to Cannes by plane
Cannes is blessed with not one but two airports both less than one hour away.
The largest airport Nice Côte d’Azur Airport is located just 27 kilometers from the city center of Cannes and is the second most trafficked airport in France.

From Nice Airport, there are shuttles that depart regularly, getting you to Cannes in around 45 minutes.

The shuttles from the airport run every half hour between 8 am and 8 pm.

For more information about Nice airport, you can visit the official Nice airport website.
The cost of this airport bus shuttle is 17,50 €* and round trip: 28,50 €. The line is 210.
Tel. : + 33 (0) 4 93 39 11 39
Toll free: 0800 06 01 06

Taxis crowd Nice airport like in most airports, so getting a taxi from Nice airport to Cannes won’t be an issue. Taking a taxi from Nice airport will cost everything from €70 to about €110 depending on the season and taxi company.

If you are looking for a cheaper alternative, you can take the train from Nice airport which is located not very far away. A tram is currently being built which will allow you to travel from the airport to the train station effortlessly in minutes. A one-way trip to Cannes Gare – Cannes train station will cost you about €7.
Nice airport to translation
If you want an even cheaper alternative, the local bus goes regularly during the day, and less regularly during the evenings and weekend. The bus stops at the bus station at the main road, just outside of the airport. This bus will take everything from 1 and a half to two hours depending on the traffic. Taking this bus does, however, only cost €1.5.

There’s another airport that’s situated even closer to Cannes which is Cannes-Mandelieu airport. This is the is the second business airport after Paris-Le Bourget. The airport is located just 15 minutes from the Cannes city center. It does, however, almost only take business flights and private jets.
For more information about Cannes-Mandelieu airport, you can visit their website.

Cannes travel guide: getting to Cannes by boat

Since Cannes is situated right by the Mediterranean, it is possible to travel to Cannes by boat.
Cannes has two harbors: Le Vieux port (the old port), and Port Pierre Canto, which is a more modern harbor.

Cannes welcome plenty of cruise ships every year, and before coming to Cannes, you’ll pass the Lérins Islands that are located just outside of Cannes, and you’ll be welcomed by n absolutely stunning view with the mountains as the backdrop.
There are currently 4 companies share the maritime transport market: Horizon, Riviera Lines, Trans Côte d’Azur and Planaria.

If you need more information about traveling to Cannes by boat, visit www.118000.fr/v_cannes_06/c_transport-maritime
If you wish to travel to the Lérins Islands, doing so will only take 15 minutes or so, and the boats depart regularly from the old harbor. 
For more information about traveling to the Lérins islands, visit:

BY TRAIN
Thanks to its two train stations (Cannes Centre and La Bocca), the city is well serviced by TGV, Corail trains, and the express trains that connect it to all the regions of France and the largest European cities. This mode of transportation lets you admire the fantastic landscapes along the sea and at the foot of the Estérel Mountains.

More information on www.idtgv.com/en or http://uk.voyages-sncf.com/en/.
The TER also lets you familiarize yourself with the whole region of Saint-Raphael in Monaco, passing by Antibes, Cagnes Sur Mer, Biot, Nice, and Villefranche Sur Mer.

More information on www.ter-sncf.com/paca or www.termobile.fr.

This is the French Riviera train line with all of the approximate travel times by train from Nice to…

  • Villefranche-Sur-Mer:  less than 10 minutes
  • Monaco:  25 minutes
  • Ventimiglia, Italy: 1 hour
  • Antibes:  20 minutes
  • Cannes:  40 minutes
  • Grasse:   1 hour 15 minutes
  • Saint Raphael:  1 hour 20 minutes

Here are the stations that the train stops at:

Train stations on the French Riviera
Source: LifeinRiviera.com

As the far majority of the train rail is laid along the coast, taking the train will provide you with some absolutely stunning views. Oh, and the vast majority of trains that operate the linear double-deckers, which means they provide even better views of the Mediterranean.

Cannes has great train connections via TGV, Corail train and express train which link the city to all French regions and the major cities of Europe, making it quite easily accessible by train.

Travel by bus

If you wish to travel around Cannes and to the surrounding cities on the French Riviera, taking the bus is a good alternative. Cannes has a Palm Bus network which services the Cannes, Le Cannet, Mandelieu-La Napoule, Mougins, and Théoule-Sur-Mer.

Taking this bus will allow you to get around the town of Cannes effortlessly, including neighboring cities such as Antibes.

The price for a single trip ticket is 1.50 € and connection is authorized within 59 minutes.
If you wish to purchase a 10-trip card, the price is 10 €.
For more information but the Palm buses, visit the Palm bus website: palmbus.fr

Travel by car

Because of the beautiful roads of the corniche and along the beautiful coastline on the French Riviera, renting a car is a popular activity among tourists. Furthermore, because the demand for cars is high, there are a large number of car rentals in Cannes.

For more information about which car rentals you have to choose from and where you’ll find them, read our complete list of car rentals in Cannes.

Cannes and the French Riviera is known to have great roads, especially the motorways. Cannes is connected to the larger European cities by the highway A8
Do note that on the highways, there are tolls, so have cash or card ready.

Toll charges on the Cote d’Azur

  • If you take the A7 from Montpellier to Aix-en-Provence, the tool will cost €9.40.
  • Taking the A54 from Aix-en-Provence to Toulon costs €7.60.

The total cost of this will, therefore, be €17.

  • If you take the A7 from Lyon to Aix-en-Provence, it will cost you €23.50.
  • Taking the A8 Toulon route to the Italian border costs €11.30.

These roads are for the people who need a Cannes travel guide because they plan on getting to Cannes with a road trip. Most foreign visitors, however, do not travel to Cannes by car as it can take a long time, but instead, they fly to Nice and then they rent a car.

This is why it can be good to know the road tolls around the French Riviera as well:

  • Nice to Menton means taking the A8 and paying those toll charges. The cost is €2.20
  • Nice to Cannes using the A8: €2.90
  • Nice to Aix-en-Provence using the A8:  €16.70
  • Nice to Frejus using the A8: €5.80
  • Nice to Marseille using the eA8 and A7: €19.60

If you have rented a car for multiple days,  you need parking, and you’ll be happy to hear that there are plenty of parking lots in Cannes, but most of them are paid parking. Since listing all the parking in this Cannes travel guide would leave us here all day, I recommend you to take a look at our Cannes parking guide where we list all the parking spots in Cannes.

9,200 parking spaces are available, including 7,000 in underground car parks. 2,320 places are for two-wheelers. In the 5 car parks located in the city center, the first hour of parking is free.

Download the list of Cannes car parks here.

Distances to major cities by car from Cannes:

  • Paris 950 km
  • Milan 320 km
  • Geneva 630 km
  • Barcelona 670 km
  • Rome 710 km
  • Munich 810 km
  • Brussels 1220 km
  • Amsterdam 1400 km

Taxi

TaxI is not only available from Nice airport but throughout the whole of Cannes.
If you use Uber, it is also available and the supply of cars is quite big, especially during the summer months. Uber is a popular option and often much more seamless than walking to the bus station and waiting for the bus or calling for a taxi.

Furthermore, you don’t need to carry around cash.
Be prepared, however, that the cost of the taxi can quickly rise, especially during the summer season, when there’s a lot of traffic in particular.

There are, like in most cities, many different taxi companies operating in Cannes, but Taxi Cannes is one of the most popular.
For regular taxis, the taximeter starts at € 2.35 and then it costs approximately € 3.00 per half-mile.
Often times, traveling by car can often take a long time – much longer than traveling by train during the summer months when there’s a lot of traffic. This is why the train is often a good idea if your destination demands going through lots of traffic by car (or even by bus).

By helicopter

At the old port of Cannes, in the part known as Suquet, between 2 lighthouses, you’ll find a public helipad.

You can take a helicopter from Cannes to a number of different destinations, with Nice airport and Monaco being the most common ones. Furthermore, you can also go on a sightseeing helicopter tour.

Tel. : + 33 (0)4 93 39 25 56
info@helipartner.com

By Foot

Getting around by foot in Cannes is both simple, and allows you to see much more of the stunning scenery and buildings Cannes has to offer, compared to when taking the bus or car around town. By foot, you can really experience the French Riviera atmosphere. There are plenty of delightful pedestrianized streets, with the Croisette in particular.

Cannes travel guide: weather in Cannes

Cannes, as well as the rest of the French Riviera, is notoriously known for amazing weather. The climate in Cannes is a typical Mediterranean weather and climate, which means the following:
Average temperature in Cannes
Sunshine hours in Cannes
Average rainfall in Cannes, France
In other words, it means that Cannes has the absolute best weather from May to September, when Cannes see between 8 and 12 hours of sunshine a day, with average daily temperatures of about 18 to 22 degrees, but on some days, it can stretch up much further than that.

The winters in Cannes are mild, and rainfall is relatively low. The most humid season in Cannes is, as you can see, between October and November.

Because of the wonderful weather during the summer months, this is also a time when the beaches of Cannes are packed and plenty of tourists have found their way here. Cannes especially see a lot of people crowding Cannes in August and the beginning of September, as this is the time when the Frenchmen get their vacations.

Cannes travel guide: Things To Do In Cannes

If you’re going to Cannes, you’re probably wondering about things you can do there and the things that are worth visiting.
The good news is that Cannes has, as mentioned earlier, something for everyone, which makes it a city that everyone, no matter age. interests, or budget.

Stroll the Croisette

There are some things in Cannes that are so closely associated with the city that everyone who visits needs to do them. Walking on and experiencing the Croisette is certainly one of them. The beach walk along the beach in Cannes is the most iconic beach walk on the whole French Riviera after the Promenade des Anglais in Nice.

Complete Cannes travel guideIt offers beautiful views, and along the walk, you’ll find plenty of blue chairs where you can sit and relax and just enjoy the sea breeze from the beautiful Mediterranean and watch the people passing by.

Enjoy the Cannes beaches

Cannes is known to have some amazing beaches, and it is also considered to be the city that has the best, or at some of the best beaches on the whole French Riviera.

In this Cannes travel guide, including the beaches is a given, because many people come here for that exact reason. At least in the summer. If you visit Cannes during the summer months, you’ll notice that Cannes is a popular beach place, because the beaches will be absolutely packed by people who are enjoying the Mediterranean sun.

Beach in Cannes, FranceThere are plenty of beaches on the French Riviera, both private and public, and the same goes for the whole Riviera. Most beaches in Cannes are private, which means you have to pay to rent a subbed (with umbrella and sometimes towel included). This costs about €30 for a whole day.
There are, however, two public beaches on the main Boulevard de la Croisette and then a few other public beaches farther from the city center.

Cannes beach is blessed to have beautiful soft sand, which is cleaned and has new sand added every year. This is one of the most appealing factors to the beaches of Cannes, compared to the beaches of Nice.

Visit the Port

If you enjoy large yachts, this is the place to go when in Cannes.
Cannes welcomes many celebrities and wealthy people with their yachts every year, and they stop and the port of Cannes, maybe for the day or for a longer period of time.

Cannes yachtsThe yachts here are truly out of the ordinary, and so watching them should definitely be part of your list of things to do for your Cannes travel guide.

Festival De Cannes

This is undoubtedly the most iconic thing about Cannes.
At the Place de festival, the iconic film festival is held every year, and this makes this place a popular tourist attraction of the people who come to Cannes.

In this Cannes travel guide, the place where the film festival takes place every year is a must-visit.
Why not snap a photo when standing on the red carpet which all of the celebrities walk on?

Visit the old town

Cannes may be known for glitz and glamour, but that is not all there is to it.
In fact, Cannes has an old part by the name of Le Suquet, and this is the part of Cannes which gave birth to the Cannes you know today when Cannes was just a modest fishing village.

Cannes old townHere, you’ll get a magnificent view over Cannes, all the way to the Lérins islands, enjoy the beautiful old houses and the narrow streets. You can also enjoy great traditional French Cuisine on one of the several restaurants located here.

The old town can be found above the old port of Cannes and above the place de la festival.
There’s also a museum here by the name of place the Castle.
For a complete Cannes travel guide on things to do here, take a look at the complete list of things to do in Cannes.

Iles De Lerins

If you want to explore the surrounding areas, visiting the Iles De Learns should definitely be a part of your Cannes plans.
The Iles de Lérins is a group of four islands located a mere 15 minutes by boat from the Cannes Croisette, with ferries departing from the old port of Cannes regularly, several times per hour. Cannes is a city that has a high pace, but since none of the Lérins islands are inhabited, except for Saint Honorat which is inhabited by monks who live in the monastery there.
The islands offer amazing nature and give you peace and calmness from the otherwise crowded and hectic Cannes.

The two largest islands of the four are Sainte-Marguerite and Saint Honorat. The islands have a few restaurants, and also offers great picnic and swimming spots if you want to enjoy the beaches here. This makes these islands ataractic for if you want to enjoy a day on the beach, but do so in calmness rather than crowding with all of the people in Cannes

To learn more about the Lérins islands, you can read our complete article about the islands.

Cannes travel guide: shopping

If you plan on going shopping when visiting Cannes, you’ve come to the right place.
Cannes is notoriously known for being a luxury resort and a hideout for the rich and famous, and this is the reason why, along the Boulevard de la Croisette, you’ll find the finest shops of them all – luxury brands as far as the eye can see. Gucci, Prada, Hérmes, Dior, Rolex, just to name few.
But don’t be frightened if you have a limited budget.

Cannes luxury storesA few streets from the Boulevard de La Croisette, you’ll find Rue d’Antibes. This is the main shopping street of Cannes with endless of stores of all types, but generally, speaking, the less expensive stores can be found here.

Here, you’ll find all of the world-famous brands that you can find all over the world, such as Zara, Mango, Pull & Bear, and much more. Apart from the world-famous brands, the shopping street is also known for having lots of French shops, cafes, and restaurants.
For shopping, Cannes really has everything.

If you’d like to go shopping traditional French style, you have to go to Forville market. This is where the locals go shopping locally produced products, with the main focus on traditional French products and locally grown commodities such as olive oil, vegetables, spices, and fruit.
You’ll find the Forville market by following Rue Meynadier walking towards the old town, on your way to Rue Louis Blanc.

The market takes place every week, from Tuesday to Sunday.
Lastly, on Rue Meynadier which is a parallel street to Rue d’Antibes, you’ll find a place where lots of local products are sold. This includes everything from local souvenirs such as bags, food, clothes, and much more.

Cannes travel guide: nightlife

If you’re in Cannes and want to experience the nightlife, you’re in the right place.
In Cannes, the parties are known for continuing late at night, and this also includes beach clubs during the summer.
Cannes has quite a wide selection of beach clubs, bars, and everything in between. There are exclusive and expensive bars, but also more laid-back and chill bars as well.

Baoli

Baoli is one of the most trendy and exclusive clubs in Cannes, which attracts plenty of celebrities each year.
It is a lounge bar and club which is open late until the early morning, and Baoli also offers great food as well.
Baoli gives you the opportunity to either sit in the middle of the party or, sit in the more relaxing garden area among the palm trees.
Address: Port Canto, Boulevard de la Croisette, Cannes, France.

Gotha Club

Gotha Club is situated on the point of Cannes, in Palm Beach. The club is only open during summer and the film festival, however, when it is open, it draws a lot of people.
Gotha is notoriously known for having some of the world’s largest artists, such as Tyga, A$ap Rocky, Justin Bieber, and Lil Wayne.

If you’re lucky, you’ll see celebrities here, and that you will is not very unlikely.
The club is immensely popular and is open every day from 9th of July to the 30th of August.
Address: Place Franklin Roosevelt, Cannes.

Palais Club

Palais Club is turning into one of the trendiest nightclubs in Cannes. It is only open in July and August, however, which are the two busiest months in Cannes. World famous DJs and artists have performed here, such as David Guetta, Snoop Dog, and Chris Brown.
The club is open until early in the morning and has a 1,500 square meter rooftop terrace which offers a stunning view.

Address: Palais des Festivals, La Croisette, Cannes.

Cannes travel guide: Eating and drinking in Cannes

The French Riviera is notoriously known for its rosé wine, and wine is nothing that you’ll run short of when in Cannes. Furthermore, the Riviera is also known for its exquisite Mediterranean cuisine.
Eating out in Cannes can be quite expensive though. This is especially if you eat on restaurants that are situated along the Boulevard de la Croisette. Generally speaking, the farther inland you get from the Croisette, the cheaper the restaurants get. That does not, however, have to mean that the food is any worse.

The food standard is quite high in Cannes, but there are always some restaurants that charge more than the quality their food holds.
Despite the fact that the seafront restaurants in Cannes are expensive, they tend to draw a lot of people, because of the great view, and many people find that the view and the location compensate for the more expensive food.

There are lots of top-class restaurants in Cannes, and if you want top class, you need to be prepared so you don’t drop your jaw when seeing the prices.
Here are just some of the many top-rated restaurants in Cannes:

There’s a great pride in the French cuisine from the Frenchmen, and this means that many restaurants are strange to welcoming new, non-french dishes into their menus. That is not to say that no restaurant is serving international dishes, though.

Moules Frites is a traditional French, Mediterranean dish that is highly popular in Cannes, and you’ll see plenty of people eating it. Crepes, which is a sort of pancake is also eaten a lot here.

Cannes travel guide: where should you stay?

Despite Cannes being notoriously known for being expensive, luxurious, and exclusive, you can still find places to stay at, whether it be on a hotel or renting an apartment, in all price ranges and for all budgets. This lovely studio apartment, for example.

The selection of luxurious five-star hotels in Cannes is large, and as you’d expect, many of the most iconic five-star hotels can be found along the Croisette, right at the waterfront.
This includes hotels like Martinez, Carlton, and JW Mariott.
As you can imagine, though, these hotels are expensive.

The range of apartments to rent is quite large, however, don’t take for granted that there’s always apartments available, because during summer, finding an apartment is very hard. At the same time, renting apartments in last minute normally means you’ll have to pay more than when booking in advance.
If you want to have an experience out of the ordinary and experience a top-class luxury hotel, some of the top five-star hotels in Cannes are:

  • Grand Hyatt Cannes Hotel Martinez

Hotel Martinez is situated right at the Croisette, facing the Mediterranean sea. Martinez has 409 luxury rooms, and in 2017, an extensive renovation of the hotel begun, including a remaking of the entrance and outside the area.

Hotel Martinez Cannes

  • Carlton Intercontinental

Carlton it the most iconic hotel in Cannes. It has been featured in many films and is often the go-to hotel for many celebrities when staying in Cannes.

Cannes beach clubs

  • JW Mariott

JW Mariott is situated on the Boulevard de La Croisette and attracts plenty of celebrities every year.

 

  • Le Grand Hotel

A five-star hotel loved on the seafront of Cannes.

Le Grand Hotel Cannes, France

  • Hôtel Barrière Le Majestic Cannes

Since this hotel is right across the street from the iconic Palais du festival, it is the natural choice for many celebrities during the Cannes film festival.
This is a top-class hotel in Cannes that offers an amazing experience and stunning views.
For a complete list of five-star hotels in Cannes, read this article.

Cheaper alternatives for accommodation in Cannes

Most people who come to Cannes don’t want to break their bank by living in a luxurious five-star hotel. Therefore, they might aim for choosing a cheaper alternative
Cheap hostels can be found in Cannes that offer simple rooms and a place to stay for the night. Hostels are much cheaper than the regular hotels in Cannes, but of course, the standard is lower.
Another highly popular alternative for finding accommodation in Cannes is Airbnb. This has become more and more common for people to use when looking for accommodation in Cannes and the selection of all types of housing is quite wide.

Cannes travel guide: Good To Know About Cannes

Before going to any place, you want to know about the practical things that can be good to know. In fact, that might be the reason you’re here at this Cannes travel guide in the first place.

Driving a car

If you’re driving on motorways in the Alpes Maritimes, have in mind that the maximum speed is 110kph, not 130 which the sign on the airport says, and thus makes some people believe.

According to the law, you need to have a yellow jacked inside of your car as well as a warning triangle. If you rent a car, it is especially important that you have these with you.
Furthermore, when renting a car, make sure that there is a Crit’Air sticker in the window.

Passport & Visa

France is situated in Europe and is one of the countries within the Schengen agreement. This means that you can spend 90 days without a visa in France with a valid ID-card or passport. Visitors that come from the US, Australia, Canada and New Zealand can also enter France for 90 days without a visa, but they must carry a valid passport during the whole trip.

All other tourists and visitors to Cannes that do not fall under any of these categories need to get a tourist visa. These can be obtained from the French embassy in your home country.

Cannes travel guide: Electricity

In Cannes, they use 220 volts.
Whole France uses the so-called European plug with has two plugs.
There are travel adapters available so that you can easily get electricity when needed.

Water

Despite what many tourists believe, the tap water in Cannes is actually drinkable. In fact, the tap water actually holds a high standard and quality, and regularly it wins prizes in France.
Even though the water is high-quality, it does have a touch of chlorine taste, and the Frenchmen tend to prefer mineral water.

The mineral water is immensely taxed in France, at the source. In fact, it costs 0.54 euro per hectolitre with an additional tax of 0.58 euro per hectolitre which then goes to the local authority where the water is produced. This helps raise 20 million euros for them.

Cannes travel guide: Currency and debit cards

The currency in Franc is Euro. Throughout Cannes, you’ll find plenty of ATMs for when in need of cash, however, the vast majority of restaurants accept credit card. Having some euros with you is a good idea, though, because you never know when you’re at a place which doesn’t accept credit card.

If you want to avoid costs and exchange fees, you can get a credit card that is suited for travel and being used internationally.

Internet and mobile in Cannes

Wifi can be found at most restaurants, bars, cafés, and hotels throughout Cannes, just ask for the wifi password. If you don’t need internet that much, you’ll manage just fine using the wifis that are available in the different places you stop at.

When in Cannes, you can buy a special SIM-card on various local phone stores and then load it with calls and internet data that you can use during your stay.

Animals to be cautious of

There are a few animals that you want to be a little careful with when in Cannes. Fortunately, there aren’t really deadly animals here or common that poisonous snakes attack (because there aren’t a lot).

Jellyfish

There can be jellyfishes in the waters, but generally, the jellyfishes aren’t that many. If you get stung by a jellyfish, rub the affected parts with sand gently. Then, if you can, apply vinegar. These are available from various kiosks an restaurants.

If you wash with fresh water, you’ll activate the stings, so make sure you only wash with seawater.
Afterward, make sure you keep the affected area out of the sun, and if needed, see a doctor.

Seagulls

In French, mouettes, these aren’t dangerous, but especially on the Croisette and the closest water you get, they might fly above you and take a dump.
Have in mind that it is actually illegal to feed them.

Mosquito bites

In French, moustiques. To protect yourself from mosquito bites, you can rub your skin with insect repellent, geranium leaves, mint or garlic. If you get bitten, you can apply vinegar or Dettol, as the latter takes away the itch.

Sharks

In French requins, these are, fortunately not that common around Cannes and on the French Riviera.  A shark attack is extremely rare on the French Riviera, however, there have been sharks that have been allegedly spotted, for example in 2010 when lifeguards instated a swim ban after seeing what they thought was a shark.

There are 47 shark species in the Mediterranean sea. In the highly unlikely event that you’d encounter a shark, the risk of it attacking is even smaller. Therefore, be calm and don’t panic. Get away from the shark and get out of the water, not touching it.

Heatwave

If you aren’t hydrated during a heatwave and spend lots of time outside, it might get dangerous. During a Heatwave, or Vague de chaleur, make sure you drink a generous amount of water every 15 minutes even if you aren’t thirsty. You can also drink other hydrating drinks as well.
Eating fresh fruit and vegetables is also a good idea to help replace mineral salts that you lose when sweating.

To protect yourself from the gazing sun, make sure you use sunscreen, sunglasses, and wear a hat.
You should be especially careful with children, and really, during the middle of the day, they should avoid the beach completely.
A heatwave is defined, on the French Riviera, as when the temperature is a minimum of 24 degrees at night and at least 31 degrees census during the day over a period of three days.

Cannes hospital

The Cannes hospital is located on avenue des Brousailles.
Cannes hospital
If you want to get here by bus, you take bus number 2 in the direction of Blanchisserie.
The hospital has GP service evenings and weekends for problems that aren’t urgent.  This is open weekdays 8 pm till midnight, Saturdays 2 pm till midnight and Sundays 10 am till midnight. If you need consultation out of hours, it costs 58 euros.

If you come to Cannes, make sure you bring your European health card. The charges will be drawn, but you can then claim the money back, normally by your insurance company.
If you try to claim it through the French health service, it is a lengthy task.

Cannes travel guide: Police in Cannes

In Cannes, there are two police organizations. The police Municipal and police National.
If you want to report any stolen property, pay parking fines etc, you go to the national police station. This is situated at the corner of ave de Grasse and the Voie Rapide.

If you need to go to the main police municipal police station, you’ll find it at the side of the bus station.  Furthermore, there are also small police offices throughout Cannes in residential areas. Cannes is quite heavily protected and guarded by police to make the tourists feel safe, so when walking in the city, you’ll see police officers quite often.

Cannes travel guide: general information

  • Population in Cannes: 72607 inhabitants
  • Population Density in Cannes: 3701 per km2
  • Name of Inhabitants: Cannois or Cannoises
  • Région: Provence-Alpes-Côte-d’Azur
  • Postal Code in Cannes: 06400

Useful Emergency Numbers

  • Tourist office +33 (0) 4 92 99 84 22
  • Fire: dial 18
  • Ambulance: dial 15
  • Police: dial 17
  • Single European emergency call  112
  • Medical – Samu 15
  • Homeless Hotline 115
  • Drugs & Alcohol Hotline 113                                                                                           
  • Riviera Medical Services – English speaking service: 0493 26 12 70
  • Sea or Lake Rescue 1616
  • Child Abuse Hotline 119

Transportation information in Cannes

For more information about transportation in Cannes, visit the following websites:

Cannes travel guide: Surrounding places

Cannes travel guide: Tourist offices in Cannes

L’Office de Tourisme de Cannes (Main Office)

Open hours:

  • Monday 9AM–7PM
  • Tuesday 9AM–7PM
  • Wednesday 9AM–7PM
  • Thursday 9AM–7PM
  • Friday 9AM–7PM
  • Saturday 9AM–7PM
  • Sunday 9AM–7PM
  • Office de tourisme de Cannes
  • Address: 8 bis, place de la Gare
  • 06400 Cannes
  • Tél. : + 33 (0)4 92 99 84 22
  • Fax : + 33 (0)4 92 99 84 23
  • tourisme@palaisdesfestivals.com

Open hours:

  • Monday 9AM–1PM, 2–6PM
  • Tuesday 9AM–1PM, 2–6PM
  • Wednesday 9AM–1PM, 2–6PM
  • Thursday 9AM–1PM, 2–6PM
  • Friday 9AM–1PM, 2–6PM
  • Saturday 9AM–1PM, 2–6PM
  • Sunday Closed (including public holidays)

Office du Tourisme – Cannes la Bocca

  • Adress: Place du Marché
  • 1, rue Pierre Sémard
  • 06150 Cannes La Bocca
  • Tel. : + 33 (0) 4 92 99 84 22
  • Fax: + 33 (0) 4 93 90 99 85
  • tourisme@palaisdesfestivals.com

Open hours:

  • Tuesday 9AM–12:30PM, 1:30–5PM
  • Wednesday 9AM–12:30PM, 1:30–5PM
  • Thursday 9AM–12:30PM, 1:30–5PM
  • Friday 9AM–12:30PM, 1:30–5PM
  • Saturday 9AM–12:30PM, 1:30–5PM
  • Sunday Closed
  • Monday Closed
  • ( From 9 am to 12.30pm and from 1.30pm to 5 pm from November to March)
  • (From 9am to 12.30pm and from 2:30pm to 6pm from April to October)

Leave a Reply

Related