Cannes

Cannes is a Riviera resort city in the Alpes-Maritimes, about 32 km southwest of Nice, internationally known for its film festival and the seafront Boulevard de la Croisette. The TER Zou train from Nice-Ville takes about 30-35 minutes with several departures per hour, and fares can be checked on ter.sncf.com or the SNCF Connect app. Buses take over an hour, and driving takes about 35-45 minutes via the A8 with paid underground parking near the Palais des Festivals. From Cannes station, the Palais des Festivals and the Croisette are about 10 minutes on foot. A good itinerary begins in the morning at the Marché Forville, a covered food market near the old port, then climbs the cobbled streets of Le Suquet, the old quarter. At the top, the Musée des Explorations du Monde occupies the medieval castle, and the tower and church square offer views over the bay and the Lérins Islands. In the late morning visitors can walk down to the Palais des Festivals, climb the red-carpeted steps for photos and look for the hand prints in the Allée des Étoiles. Lunch options include the old port restaurants on Quai Saint-Pierre and cafés along the pedestrian Rue Meynadier. The afternoon suits a stroll along the Croisette, which is lined with grand hotels, designer shops and public and private beaches, where sun loungers can be rented. For a longer day, ferries cross to the Île Sainte-Marguerite, where the Fort Royal holds the cell associated with the Man in the Iron Mask, and to the quieter Île Saint-Honorat, which has a working monastery and vineyards. Late spring and early autumn avoid the peak crowds; May brings the film festival with high prices and restricted access in the centre. A full day gives time for market, old town, the seafront and either beach time or an island visit before the train back to Nice.