Family activities in Cannes

With some stunning beaches along the coastline you will not be at a loss for places to go and things do by the shore in Cannes. From beach clubs to watersports, sailing and boat trips, to just sunbathing and enjoying the scenery there is something for everyone.

Explore the beautiful coastline around Cannes on a boat. Many of these trips include stops for swimming in the crystal clear Mediterranean waters, as well as snorkelling and perhaps a day trip to a nearby island. The islands of Sainte-Marguerite and Saint-Honorat are off the southern tip of the Cap de la Croisette and these two islands offer a range of environments to explore, whether sailing round them or visiting them. A trip along the coast to the glamorous towns of Saint Tropez or Monaco are also a popular option, where you can enjoy anchoring just out of port or setting foot on land to explore a little deeper.

Kayaking is a fun watersport that can be enjoyed as a family. Unlike canoeing, paddlers face forward and have a double bladed paddle. It is a versatile sport that you can enjoy in the sea and especially in the calm waters of the Mediterranean. You can take your inflatable or plastic kayak and make your way around the coastline to explore hidden coves and hard to reach beaches. There are some watersports centres and adventure companies who can take you out for your kayaking experience.

A not-so-gentle but extremely refreshing summer activity is one way to describe canyoning! Plunge yourself into the mountain streams via a series of abseil descents, jumps and natural water slides – just make sure you choose a warm day!

You will make your way along rivers and rapids, using the river bed as a natural obstacle course. Not suitable for very young children, but anyone over the age of about 8 can take the (very cold) plunge and try canyoning. With the safety of a guide everyone can abseil down cascades, splash into pools and ride the river rapids. You can choose from short beginners’ routes or longer ones for the more adventurous.

The best area for this activity is the Verdon Gorge near Castellane. A basic level of swimming ability is required for safety reasons.

Cannes is the capital of French cinema and hosts one of the most famous film festivals in the world, so you might get inspired by its Hollywood glamour and decide to catch the latest films and releases on your holiday. Look out for VOST for English speaking films.

Many towns and villages across France have their version of the 'Petit Train' and the Cannes region is no different. Giving you a guided tour of the area and entertaining children, these trains are a great excuse to sit down for half and hour and take in the sights. Segway tours are another great way to have some fun whilst seeing the local sights.

Enjoy a number of cycling trails and routes in Cannes and what better way to explore Cannes than on a bike when you can enjoy the beautiful scenery. Have a look at our cycling guide for more information and explore the cycling routes that are in the area. If you are in Cannes without your biking gear there are a number of cycle hire shops in who rent and sell bikes, gear and more.

Dive into the beautiful waters of Cannes and discover the world below. Anyone can go snorkelling and it is a great way to begin your underwater adventures without travelling too far away from the comfort of the waters’ surface. Many of the tourist shops sell snorkelling gear.

Scuba diving is a fantastic way to explore what lies below. If you are new to scuba diving, the diving schools in Cannes that can teach you the ropes and get you started. For those more experienced there are plenty of excursions in Cannes where you can dive into the beautiful blue waters and explore the depths below.

There’s some good deep sea fishing off the coast, with tuna, marlin, swordfish and sea bream, and there are some good tour expeditions running out from major ports along the coast.

To enjoy a day out on a family fishing trip then we recommend speaking to some of the specialist companies who offer guided trips and excursions or yacht charters for coastal or deep sea fishing. You have a few options for fishing charters with a range of budgets, from 50 euro per person for a casual affair to 2800 for 10 people for the day for the charter of a luxury sports fisher with professional fishermen. Most of the fishing excursions along this stretch of coast operate out of Golfe Juan or Mandelieu-la-Napoule, or in the other direction, out of Beaulieu-sur-Mer, a port between Nice and Monaco. There are also small local operators along the coast who don’t have websites- you’ll see their signs saying ‘Peche au Gros’ in the port.

Treat the family to a helicopter tour of the coastline and islands with one of the local helicopter tour operators. This is an exclusive experience which enables you to see aerial views of Cannes, the Lerins Islands and maybe venture further inland to see the spectacular turquoise waters of the Gorges du Verdon.

There are over 2.5 million people doing geocaching around the world and some of them (perhaps surprisingly) are right here in Cannes! It’s a relatively new craze that started taking the world by storm in May 2000 after a computer geek decided that GPS could be “really exciting”. He hid some treasure at his home in Portland, America, for people to find, broadcast the GPS coordinates and said, “Come and get it”. His only rule: “Take some stuff, leave some stuff”. And that’s exactly what Geocaching is…you go in search of treasure by using the GPS system on your mobile device – once you’ve found it, you write your name in a logbook and replace the treasure you decide to take. It’s pretty simple really and means, as a family, you can be adventurers together. You won’t usually find anything quite as precious as gold, silver and diamonds but nevertheless it’s quite exciting!

Horse ride along the beaches and through the rugged landscapes and hilltops behind the coast of the French Riviera. Cannes and the surrounding area is an attractive destination for horse riding, trekking & lessons.

There is a bowling alley in Cannes-la-Bocca, not far from the centre of Cannes. It is a good place to keep the kids entertained on bad weather days, or if you're looking for something to do with a group.

Karting is a popular activity for people of all ages. At the karting circuit in Bar-sur-Loup, to the north of Cannes, you can enjoy lessons, grand prix and more. Feel the adrenaline rush and race to beat the rest of the family!

The port town of Cannes has a rich maritime heritage which can be discovered at the museum of the sea (Musee de la Mer) on the island of Sainte-Marguerite. The old fortress, now the Castre Museum, was originally an essential part of the town's defences and is fun to explore, offering stunning views across the bay. Another popular museum to visit is the Chateau de la Napoule, just along the coast in Mandelieu la Napoule. They also host special workshops and activities for children.

Heading to a nature reserve you can explore all the beautiful wildlife and soak up all the beautiful scenery. There are a number of wonderful nature reserves in Cannes that you can explore, including the Gorges du Loup to the north of Cannes, with its spectacular waterfalls and natural gorges.

Stand up paddle boarding (SUP) is a popular global sport these days, often described as a cross between surfing and kayaking. It is also a fun way to explore the immediate coastline. Whether going solo or with the whole family, you will find paddle boards to hire on various beaches around the coast, usually rented out by the hour. No previous experience is needed, just hop on the board and start paddling.

Soaring high above the stunning coastline of Cannes offers a rather different view of this infamous stretch of water. Most companies will offer two or three seater parasails meaning that the whole family can experience flying 60m in the air whilst getting a real birds-eye view of what’s going on below.

With plenty of coastline to explore you would be silly not to hire a boat, charter a yacht or join one of the many boat trips up and down the French Riviera to some of France's best beauty spots.

If you'd like to take a dip outdoors or indoors, you'll be able to find somewhere to go for a swim in Cannes. Most hotels have their own swimming facilities, however there are also municipal swimming baths that you can visit. In summer and winter, you should be able to find somewhere to take a dip, so don't forget your towel and your swimming costume or shorts.

With its warm climate and dry months, tennis is very popular across the region. Significant investment in the sport means that there many tennis clubs and courts available for the enthusiast or the amateur. The courts are generally clay or hard courts, and you can book courts as a non-member at most of the clubs.

Try an adventure playground or a theme park for a day of family fun. Nearby, you will find that the Antibes Land Theme Park offers plenty of evening entertainment and fairground rides as well fun games for both adults and children. For indoor theme parks - perfect for a rainy day - you might want to try the Curious World - Live Escape Game or Laser Quest.

Swing through the trees high above the forest floor on a circuit of zip lines, monkey bridges, ladders and ropes. You can travel through the forest without touching the floor, safely strapped into a harness and attached to a secure safety line. These eco-friendly adventure parks are created around the trees without damaging them in any way and can be dismantled if necessary, leaving the forest as though untouched.

Tree-top adventures can be fun for both adults and kids and with most courses having a few options of varying difficulty anyone can participate in the tree swinging fun.

The coastal trails around the Lerins Islands are very accessible and mostly very easy, more like strolls than hikes, but still worth doing for the unbeatable views of the coastline and access to fabulous beaches along the way. Inland, the trails take a little more effort to get to, but many can be reached by bus. They are a great way to explore the promontories and the villages that are dotted around the countryside.

Waterparks are always a winning activity for both adults and children. You can spend hours of fun splashing around together with the exciting slides, rapids and wave pools at the waterparks the island has to offer. The area's most popular waterparks are in Antibes, just next to Cannes and in Frejus, located to the south of Cannes.

Cannes is perfect for water sports with its warm summers, gentle breezes and interesting coastline. There are plenty of watersports centres where you can learn to sail or enjoy thrilling rides in speedboats, and everything in between.