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Cannes Travel Guide |
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Cannes HistoryOnce upon a time, Cannes was bordered by reeds which provided the rationale for its original name, Canna. The modest sea settlement was backed by a high hill, Le Suquet, upon which early Romans built a fort that served as a defensive post for many centuries. What was it defending? Mostly the offshore Lerins islands which were the target of frequent raids by the Saracens, French and Spanish. Cannes nevertheless remained on the sidelines of history until 1834. That was the year that a certain Lord Brougham was prevented from reaching his hideway in Nice by a cholera epidemic. He was forced to stay in Cannes and, pleasantly surprised, decided to build a villa and return every year with his aristocratic British friends. Cannes became fashionable and stayed fashionable. Its new foreign friends built lavish villas that attracted everyone from Maupassant to the Rothschilds to the Russian aristocracy. What to See & Do in CannesIf you arrive by train, get away from that bleak neighbourhood as soon as possible. Ah, that's better. Now head to the seaside promenade La Croisette for a nice stroll, admiring the curve of the bay. Head west to the Old Port, noticing Les Allées de la Liberté, a park shaded with plane trees, between the Port and the town. Now, take the picturesque rue Saint-Antoine as it winds its way up the hill to the tiny Suquet neighbourhood, the last remnant of Vieux Cannes. If you have more time in Cannes, I highly recommend a boat trip to the Ile des Lérins. Frequent boats leave all summer to the verdant Ile Sainte-Marguerite (15 minutes) and Ile Saint Honorat (30 minutes) Both are car-free and lined with mostly rocky beaches. The Ile Sainte-Marguerite where The Man in the Iron Mask was once imprisoned. You can also visit the Royal Fort, built by Richelieu and reinforced by Vauban in 1712. It's now the site of a Maritime Museum. Accommodation in CannesThere is every variety of accommodation in Cannes from internationally famous luxury hotels to budget options. Check out Cannes hotels with online booking. Getting to CannesFlights to Cannes usually land at the Nice International Airport although there is a small airport at Cannes. From Nice Airport to Cannes. The cheapest way to get from the airport to Cannes is to take Bus #200 which leaves every 30 to 40 minutes (less frequently on Sunday) and costs 1EUR. It's quicker to take the express bus #210 which costs EUR14.20 and goes directly to Cannes. See the bus timetable and buy your ticket online. A taxi costs anywhere from EUR65 to 82, with the higher rate applicable weekends and evenings. Trains to Cannes all stop at the main train station, the Gare. Check the timetables of trains to Cannes. Buses to Cannes are handled by Eurolines and board at the Gare Routiere.
Getting Around CannesBy bus. Cannes's bus network is run by Bus Azur. Tickets are 1EUR which you can buy from the driver. Tourist Information in CannesThe Cannes tourist office is located in the Festival Palace. The official Cannes municipal website, has tourist information in English. Related Pages
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