Cannes Sightseeing: Croisette to Le Suquet
Most Cannes sights are within walking distance of the Palais des Festivals. Prices are in euros, and museum hours change by season.
The Croisette
Boulevard de la Croisette runs along the bay with palm trees on one side and hotels on the other. Three palace hotels stand out. The Carlton Cannes, a Regent Hotel, at 58 Boulevard de la Croisette, reopened in 2023 after a long renovation. The Hôtel Martinez, at number 73, is an Art Deco landmark whose restaurant La Palme d’Or is described as a two-star kitchen. The Hôtel Barrière Le Majestic faces the Palais des Festivals. Look from the street, because these are working hotels.
Palais des Festivals and the star handprints
The Palais at 1 Boulevard de la Croisette hosts the Festival de Cannes, which runs from 11 to 22 May 2027. The red-carpet steps and forecourt are visible outside congress and festival dates. In front of the building, the Chemin des Étoiles holds star handprints in stainless steel, free and always open. The count of casts varies by source, so just enjoy finding the names. Guided tours of the interior run on a few days in July and August at €6 and must be booked through the tourist office.
Le Suquet
The old town rises behind the port. Climb Rue Saint-Antoine to the Musée des Explorations du Monde, on Place de la Castre, which was the Musée de la Castre. The museum fills the medieval castle of the Lérins monks with world ethnography, Mediterranean antiquities and Provençal art. Entry is about €6.50 and €3.50 reduced, with free entry under 18. From October to March it closes on Mondays and opens 10:00 to 13:00 and 14:00 to 17:00; July and August are daily. The city’s museum page has the calendar. The Église Notre-Dame d’Espérance stands beside it.
Vieux Port
Fishing boats and superyachts share the harbour, and the ferries to the Lérins Islands leave from the old port quays. The view from Le Suquet back over the port and the bay is the best free one in town.
Art on the Croisette
The Centre d’art La Malmaison, at 47 Boulevard de la Croisette, is a 19th-century pavilion holding contemporary exhibitions. Its terrace is free in opening hours.
War memorials
Cannes has civic war memorials, including the Monument aux Morts on the Allées de la Liberté and the Square de la Résistance with its Monument des Déportés. Visit them quietly, as places of remembrance and not as photo stops.
Before you go
A guide can add context to the rest of the town: search Cannes sightseeing tours on Viator . Read more: walking tours in Cannes and activities in Cannes .