Where to stay in Cannes

The heart of the action
The most famous part of Cannes to stay in is overlooking La Croisette, the beautiful promenade that stretches along the sea front from the Palais des Festivals in the west to Pointe Croisette in the east. This is where you will find the big name hotels such as Hotel Martinez, the Intercontinental Carlton Hotel, and the Hotel Majestic Barriere. As well as luxury facilities, they also offer front line views of the beach and the famous beach clubs, the bay and the harbour. You are also right in the heart of the designer shopping area and the glitzy restaurant & people watching scene that Cannes does so well.

Cobbled streets and designer boutiques
The old town of Cannes is called Le Suquet and is situated to the west of the Palais des Festivals, above the old port. There aren't so many hotels or B&B's here but it's got a great selection of bars and restaurants in the winding cobbled alleys.

In the shopping district behind La Croisette you will find a host of excellent hotels with a greater selection of styles for a range of budgets. Beyond the train station and the ring road is less touristy and more residential, after which you reach the suburb of Le Cannet where you can find some budget accommodation.

Family accommodation on the water
To the west of Cannes and the old port lies the large Bay of Napoule (Golfe de la Napoule). This area is called Cannes La Bocca and there is a long stretch of narrow sandy beach here with a couple of smaller beach clubs. Beyond here is Mandelieu La Napoule where there is a small airport, (Cannes-Mandelieu). More affordable accommodation can be found here, along with holiday villages ideally set up for families. Further west, but still within driving distance is the pretty holiday resort of Theole sur Mer and the Esterel Natural Park - a mass of red rock hills with trails for hikers and bikers.

Quiet villages, luxury hotels & the flower fields of Chanel
If you prefer to stay out of the bustle of Cannes, there are some wonderful hilltop villages to the north. Mougins is one of the most famous, renowned for its art galleries and pretty lanes. There are several high-end hotel options here, and it is only four miles from Cannes. Further north is the elegant town of Grasse, the perfume capital of the area, and many more small villages with excellent hotels and great views down to the sea.

Further afield and less expensive
To the east of Cannes is the built up area of Vallauris and Golfe-Juan. You are more likely to find villa and apartment rentals here than hotels, although there are several lovely guest houses. Carry on along the coastal road and you will end up in Juan les Pins and Antibes with their own special selection of accommodation.