Thank you for visiting my blog. I’m RiRi, a Japanese blogger who runs a blog centered around travel and lifestyle, capturing photos and videos along the way.
I share my experiences, impressions, and recommendations to help those who are traveling to France for the first time.
You can find information about transportation options from Paris to Cannes in this article.
This time, after a roughly five-hour train ride, I arrived in Cannes in the South of France. I will share my impressions of the city and its atmosphere. Enjoy reading as if you were strolling through the streets.
・Cannes Cote d’Azur
Cannes is a beautiful city located in the southeastern part of France on the French Riviera. It can be reached from Paris in about five hours by TGV. If you prefer flying, it takes about 50 minutes by train from Nice Côte d’Azur Airport. The city is famous for the annual Cannes Film Festival, which attracts international celebrities.
With its mild Mediterranean climate, Cannes is pleasant to visit year-round. The city itself is compact, making it easy to enjoy a day trip.
When I arrived in mid-April, the weather was warmer than in Paris, at 16°C. The skies were clear, and it was very comfortable during the day. As expected of the mild Côte d’Azur.
・Speaking of Cannes, it’s the Cannes Film Festival.
The Cannes Film Festival, one of the three major film festivals in the world, is held every May. Each year, the festival is widely reported on and attracts a dazzling array of attendees, including many film directors, actors, and producers. Numerous awards are presented, including the prestigious Palme d’Or. The red carpet scenes during the festival are broadcasted worldwide through the media, so many people are familiar with it, even if they aren’t avid film enthusiasts.
The event is held at the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès. During this time, film industry professionals stay at nearby luxury hotels, which might pique your interest as well.
Visiting Cannes during the festival increases your chances of encountering famous actors and other celebrities.
The Cannes Walk of Fame features the handprints of stars embedded in the ground. Can you identify whose handprints are in this photo?
・Luxury hotels line La Croisette in Cannes.
The city of Cannes is compact yet exudes a sense of luxury, with stylish and sophisticated people walking around and elegant cars on the streets. The warm weather allows for light and breezy clothing, adding to the city’s charm.
Along the sea-facing Boulevard de la Croisette, high-end hotels and brand shops line the street. Just walking through it feels refreshing, and the sense of luxury is palpable, almost intimidating. It’s truly a city for celebrities.
I always wanted to stay at Hôtel Barrière Le Majestic Cannes or other luxurious five-star hotels.
These hotels have their own private beaches, where you can enjoy meals in an open and liberating atmosphere.
A row of luxury hotels lines the street, with the exterior of the Carlton Hotel being especially stunning. Even just looking at this street on Google Maps, you can tell how amazing it is lol. The palm trees along the beach add to the charm—what a beautiful avenue!
InterContinental Carlton Cannes 58 Bd de la Croisette Cs 40052, 06400 Cannes, France
In Japan, you rarely see such slightly luxurious scenes along the beach. Now I understand why my French friend recommended Cannes on the Côte d’Azur.
The beach is sandy, with a beautiful stretch of sand. However, the water clarity might be better in Okinawa, Japan.
There are also public beaches, bustling with people playing beach volleyball and relaxing by the sea. Despite the water still being quite cold, there were even some people swimming.
Of course, there were also casual snack stands and ice cream shops, attracting many tourists.
The private beaches can be accessed by anyone for a fee, even if you’re not staying at the hotels. Of course, you probably need to use the restaurant services as well.Visiting during the summer season to relax on the beach sounds like a great idea.
・Walking around Cannes
Next, let’s take a walk around Cannes. The compact city is packed with charm, making it easy to explore.
The area around the station has a more downtown feel and is great for shopping. One of its appealing features is that it’s only about a five-minute walk from the station to the sea.
Around Hôtel Splendid Cannes, there are fountains and the Statue of Lord Brougham, who was a 19th-century British politician. There are many places with chairs where you can sit and rest, which is a nice touch.
In Cannes, there’s also a merry-go-round, commonly seen across France. It brings back fond childhood memories of visiting amusement parks with family. Its placement outside the typical amusement park setting makes the whole city feel like a themed park itself. It’s charming and delightful, isn’t it?
Even on Cannes’ red carpet, whether it’s this merry-go-round or elsewhere, I wanted to dress up and take photos lol.
・Le Suquet and the Old Town of Cannes
As expected of a city of cinema. The Cannes sign was visible from afar, much like the Hollywood sign in LA, so I decided to take a stroll up there. Climbing a small hill, I entered the old town.
Exploring Le Suquet (the Suquet Hill), the historic district located in the old town of Cannes.
Narrow cobblestone streets and medieval buildings add to its charm, allowing you to soak in the local atmosphere.
Upon reaching the top of the hill, I arrived at a square with Musée de la Castre (Castre Museum) and a church with a clock tower. The view from this area is stunning, offering a panoramic overlook of Cannes, including the yacht harbor.
I learned that Musée de la Castre was originally a monastery built as a castle.
The medieval charm that seems straight out of a movie—it really evokes the history and culture of Cannes.
In the old town of Cannes, streets like Rue du Suquet are lined with charming restaurants and narrow alleyways that exude atmosphere.
Contrasting with the bustling Boulevard de la Croisette along the coast, these streets are serene and offer a tranquil setting, which adds an interesting dimension to the city.
By the way, it’s about an hour by train from Cannes to Monaco, where the Formula 1 Grand Prix is held.
This event also takes place annually in May, so visiting during this season to coincide with these events would be a great idea.
Next time in the solo travel series in Southern France, I’d like to focus on restaurants in Cannes.
