Cannes, famous for the International Film Festival is one of the many towns on the French Riviera. San Tropez, Cannes, Nice and Monaco are all around a 100 km stretch! The French Riviera is a favorite holiday place in Europe during the winters because of its relatively sunny and warmer climate.
I was fortunate to go to Cannes in January, when it was freezing in Paris and in the most of France. Infact, all throughout the flight from Paris to Nice, you will see nothing but snow, and its just a few kilometers off the coast that you do not find the snow.
Nice, the main city near Cannes is where you will find the closest airport. The Nice airport is right on the edge of the land?almost looks like reclaimed land. Didn?t get to see much of Nice so I can?t tell you much. The drive from Nice to Cannes takes you about half hour on a freeway.
Once you reach the outskirts of Cannes, you notice a long stretch of expensive car showrooms on your right. Groovy! Most of the cars in Cannes are Audis, Mercs, Renaults and quite a few Porsches and concept cars. R1’s, Fazers and Harleys also dot the streets in large numbers. And of course, the odd Ferrari parked somewhere!
Boulevard de la Croissette is the main thoroughfare in Cannes. A picture-perfect stretch with the Mediterranean sea on one side, and lined on the other side with impressive Victorian/French buildings. The entire stretch is peppered with boutiques like Cartier, Armani etc, impressive hotels like the Intercontinental Carlton and the Majestic Barriere.
I stayed at the Noga Hilton Casino & Hotel which was next to the Carlton. The Noga is a modern glass and steel hotel which accommodated stars like Pierce Brosnan and Van Damme-a feat I’m sure, most hotels in this area have accomplished.
A five minute walk on the Croissette from the Noga will get you to the Palais de Festivals-the venue of the Film festival’s not much to look at from the outside though. Next to the Palais is Jimmyz?a popular FTV party venue. Walk further down the road, and you reach the pier. Here you will find hundreds of boats and yachts majestically docked symbolizing the affluence of the French Riviera. From the Pier you can see the Notre Dame de l’Esperance, (I think!) a 12-16th century church on a hill.
Parallel to the Croissette is Rue d’Antibes, where you might actually be able to do some shopping. This entire long but narrow stretch is filled with shops and showrooms. Cost of living here is expensive, as most of the shops are boutiques. Try buying stuff from Tabac shops-they have mementos, maps, post cards, cigarettes etc, or grocery stores where you have large varieties of vines (sparkling and still), beers, liquors, liqueurs and packed foods. ’’Fnac’’ is a book/CD/digital showroom on Rue d’Antibes. ’’Monoprix’’ is a big department store near the SNCF railway station where you get almost everything from clothes, perfumes, cosmetics, food etc. You will also find an outdoor flea market between the Croissette and Rue d’Antibes selling curios, clothes, cheeses etc.
Eating in the roadside cafes could be expensive. Food is a little different here. No concept of vegetarian fare, so vegetarians be wary! Breakfast usually features continental fare with the usual suspects-egg/bacon/ham, the salamis, countless varieties of cheese, cereals, diced exotic fruits, and the breads. For lunch or dinner, be sure to request for an extra-well done steak, as most of the time, the steaks are extremely rare. Foie Gras (goose liver) is a delicacy, but like all delicacies, is a bit weird for the inexperienced! Wines, champagne, sparkling water and evian are about as standard as the cutlery on the table, that is if you decide to eat out. Fortunately for me, it was a business trip, and everything was borne by the company.
For the budget traveler, you can always get the canned stuff from the grocery store. It’s actually pretty cheap. Packed stuff will set you back by 2-6 euros. A six pack of Heineken would cost you under 3 euros, and the bottles of wine start from 2 euros! And of course, there?s always McDonalds, which is near the pier. Prices start from around 3 euros.
Traveling within Cannes isn’t much of a problem as it is a small place, and can be covered by foot. Buses and taxis are available. Taxis are quite expensive, though.
The weather is said to be pleasant throughout the year. You should be able to manage with a jacket even during the winter as the temperature is around 10-18 C. It?s sunny most of the day, but will still be cool.
All in all, it?s a great place to see. Expensive, but worth it. If you are in the Cote d?Azur area, make sure it’s a part of your itinerary, it wouldn’t take too much of your time.