Cannes

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Thanks to its international film festival Cannes is known throughout the world. Indeed to many people it is the festival that makes Cannes synonymous with glitz and glamour. However, in addition to the film festival Cannes is host of a numerous shows, tradefairs and exhibitions throughout the year.

	cannes Travel Guide : 1 Understand 2 Get in 2.1 Access from A8 2.2 Parking in Cannes 3 See 4 Buy 5 Eat 6 Lodging 7 Leisure

Understand

Get in

As with Antibes, Monaco and other towns on the French Riviera, access by road at popular times can be extremely slow and frustrating. The coast roads are generally packed and there are very few ways to descend from inland. Locals do have some tricks, such as the one described below, but they are mostly complex and do not always work out.

Since Cannes is on the main railway line using the train to get in is probably better. In 2004 the branch line to Grasse will reopen and you will be able to park in Mougins or Mouans Sartoux and take the train to Cannes.

Access from A8

The obvious way down to Cannes from the A8 Cannes/Grasse exit is often extremely slow as you end up descending the Boulevard Carnot which has an endless stream of traffic lights. The simplest way to avoid this congestion is to bear right immediately after you have left the A8 at the very first traffic light. Then, once you are off the main road get into the right hand lane and stay there as the road turns into a normal two-way road. After a sharp bend there is a traffic light. Continue straight on at this light. At the next major intersection (about 1km further) turn left following signs to Cannes. You are on the N85 and you should stay on it and not follow misleading signs to other bits of Cannes until you are right down at the bottom (a T junction with a France Telecom building on your left). Probably the easiest thing to do at this point is to turn left at this T junction and almost immediately left again. Then go into the first parking garage you can (Parking Fontville).

Another way down to the coast (this works for both Cannes and Juan les Pins/Antibes) is to go to Vallauris and descend to the coast on the D135 and then turn right (for Cannes) or left (for Antibes) when you get to the N7

Parking in Cannes

Although you will have to pay, it is strongly recommended that you use one of the off street parking garages as this is far better than searching fruitlessly for a parking lot on the street. Moreover Cannes has a truly horrible one-way system and it is much easier to walk. The Fontville parking gives good access to the port and old town. If you are more interested in the Croisette and/or dislike walking then there are a number of other parking garages that are available such as the one by the station - probably the best ones are the one underneath the Palais des Festivales and the one under the Grey d'Albion hotel in Rue des Serbes.

See

• Old town. The usual narrow winding streets filled with restaurants and souvenir shops. The view from the castle ruins at the top is excellent.
• Covered Market.
• Palais des Festivales. Ugly building. But the hub of the film festival.
• Port. Admire the yachts of the rich and possibly famous.
• Croisette.
• Beaches. The beaches are mostly private and cost upto 30 euros for a day's use (including sunbed and shade). The public beaches get exceptionally crouded and are found at the far east and west of town. If you want a quieter beach, a better optino is to go to the Îles de Lérins, see below. At night the beaches can be quite tranquil, watch out for occasional spectacular fireworks displays (see posters/ask at tourist info) in the bay, get to the beach early to get a good spot!
• Îles de Lérins. Two islands in the bay. Well worth visiting. Smaller is Ste Honorat which has a monastery and striking ruined castle. The monks sell a number of monastery made food/drink products such as wine which make for unique souvenirs. Larger is Ste Marguerite which also has a castle as well as shops, bars and restaurants. You should be able to find yourself a quiet cove with some shade from palm trees, consider buying a cheap snorkle before you go and swim around the rocky coves. A return ticket to either island is 5 euros with ferries departing every 30 minutes from 7 in the moring until about 6 at night - ask for a timetable.

Buy

A souvenir from the monastery on Ste Honorat is a good way to distinguish yourself from hoi polloi.

The Croisette and the Rue d'Antibes (which runs roughly parallel to it a block or two inland) have all the luxury boutiques you could possibly desire as well as other shops selling products in a more affordable price range. The old town has any number of shops selling souvenirs as well.

If you are getting desperate to read something in English then the Cannes English Bookshop (11 rue Bivouac Napoléon, just by the Palais des Festivals tel 04.93.99.40.08) can help.

The Sun Factory (http://www.sunfactory.fr) is a fun shop in the heart of Cannes (Place du Commandant Lamy, just by Parking Lamy, 04.92.99.21.54) run by an american lady.

Eat

There are restaurants all along the seafront, but these provide the worst value. While the food is OK in most expect to pay over the odds. A street or two behind and you get a mroe reasonable deal. There are a few nice places in the backstreets behind Rue de Antibes, although most of the restaurants are on the west side, near the old town. There is a lovely street of expensive restaurants in the old town that is worth walking through at night, just for the atmosphere, even if you cant afford the 40-70 euro prices. Vegetarians have a bit of a rough time, in that most menus classify things as fish, meat and nothing else. Consider eating in some of the more Itallian places.

• Restaurant Fuji, (17 Rue Notre Dame) Tel 04 93 39 00 31. Sushi. €50+.

Lodging

• Hotels : http://www.cannes-tourhotel.com

• Serviced Apartments: http://rentals.azur-online.com

Leisure

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