Cannes on Foot: Four Self-Guided Routes
Cannes rewards walkers. These four routes need no guide and cost nothing beyond the ferry. Prices are in euros.
Route 1: Le Suquet (about 90 minutes, steep)
Begin at the Hôtel de Ville and take Rue Saint-Antoine uphill. The street is stepped and cobbled, so wear shoes with a grip. At the top you reach the Église Notre-Dame d’Espérance and the Musée des Explorations du Monde, in the old castle on Place de la Castre. The museum is about €6.50, closed Mondays from October to June, and listed on the city museum page . Walk back down Rue du Suquet.
Route 2: the Croisette (about 3 km, flat)
Walk from the Palais des Festivals to Pointe Croisette. Pass the Chemin des Étoiles with its star handprints, then the Majestic, Martinez and Carlton hotels, and the public beach called Plage Brigitte Bardot, formerly Plage Macé. At number 47 the Centre d’art La Malmaison has a free terrace. The promenade is open all day; the best light is late afternoon.
Route 3: Île Sainte-Marguerite (about 2 hours)
The ferry takes about 15 minutes. Guides measure the coastal loop at anywhere between 4.5 and 9 km depending on the route. Expect pine and eucalyptus shade, the saltwater Étang du Batéguier and Fort Royal. Bikes and scooters are banned. Bring water. Smoking and open flames are not allowed.
Route 4: Île Saint-Honorat (about 90 minutes)
Planaria serves the island, with a return fare of €19.50 for adults online. The coastal path circles the abbey. The monastery is free to enter. Keep your voice down, dress modestly and note the time of the last boat before you start.
Rue Meynadier
This pedestrian street links the town centre to Le Suquet and has long-established food shops, such as the cheese shop Ceneri. Plan to go in the morning, as shops may close for part of the afternoon.
Memorials on the way
Cannes has civic war memorials on the Allées de la Liberté and at the Square de la Résistance. They deserve a quiet moment, not a selfie.
Pointe Croisette
The end of the Croisette walk reaches the Cannes Jeunesse nautical base at Port Pointe Croisette. It rents kayaks, with a three-hour trip towards Sainte-Marguerite listed at €35 for a single kayak. The base is open daily in July and August and on fewer days in the shoulder months, and it suits a rest stop at the end of the promenade.
Wear and carry
Good shoes matter more than anything else. In summer the heat is strong at midday, so start early and carry water.
If you would like a guide, Cannes walking tours on Viator lists options. Read more: outdoor activities in Cannes and Cannes solo activities .