Cannes and the French Riviera: A Fusion of Glamour and Local Colour

While most of us associate Cannes with flashbulbs and fame, there is a quieter kind of magic to this Riviera gem, one that reveals itself best outside the whirlwind of the film festival. Yes, La Croisette shimmers year-round with French Riviera glamour, but step back from the spotlight and you'll discover a different Cannes: one of Provençal markets, hidden squares and sun-drenched alleyways where everyday life still unfolds. Base yourself at a hotel in the heart of the French Riviera, and get ready to explore Cannes' iconic landmarks and little-known gems.

Perhaps no other European destination is so intimately tied to a single annual event. The seeds of the Cannes Film Festival were sown during World War II, when a group of filmmakers proposed an alternative to the Venice Film Festival, then in question because of the Axis alliance.

Today, the event, which is held each May, marks the zenith of the international film calendar. Directors, producers and global stars ascend the 24 red-carpeted steps of the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès, its modern, spaceship-like silhouette set between the iconic La Croisette and the Old Port. Snap a selfie on the famed staircase or follow the Chemin des Étoiles, Cannes’ answer to Hollywood’s Walk of Fame, where handprints of cinema legends are cast in bronze.

If the Palais is Cannes' stage, La Croisette is its playground. Stretching for more than 2 kilometres beside the Mediterranean, this palm-fringed promenade is lined with haute couture boutiques, Art Deco façades and Belle Époque hotels. Sip champagne at a seafront terrace as superyachts glide into the marina, or simply admire the colour and vibrancy of Cannes harbour.

Come nightfall, the boulevard sheds its glossy veneer for something more languid. Join the locals as they take their evening promenade beneath strings of fairy lights, or sit barefoot on the sand, gazing at the dark silhouettes of the Îles de Lérins just offshore.

Just 15 minutes by ferry from Cannes’ port lie two islands that feel a world away: Île Sainte-Marguerite and Île Saint-Honorat. Part of the Îles de Lérins archipelago, these unspoilt outposts offer pine-scented trails, hidden coves and a palpable sense of history.

Sainte-Marguerite is best known for the Fort Royal, where the mysterious "Man in the Iron Mask" was imprisoned for over a decade. Today, the fort also houses a maritime museum. Below the waterline, the island is home to an underwater sculpture trail by British artist Jason deCaires Taylor, his haunting stone visages, submerged just off the coast, inviting snorkellers to experience art and nature in perfect harmony.

To find Cannes’ authentic heart, follow the cobbled paths uphill to Le Suquet, the city’s original settlement. Overlooking the bay, this medieval quarter offers a charming tangle of lanes filled with indie boutiques, bistros and wine bars tucked beneath pastel shutters and terracotta rooftops.

On Rue Meynadier, the aromas of cheese, charcuterie and freshly baked bread lead to Marché Forville (open daily except Mondays, 7am–1pm), a food market that's a riot of colour and fragrance. Try a piping hot socca, the humble chickpea pancake beloved across the Côte d’Azur. For a heartier affair, settle at one of the market’s surrounding eateries for Provençal classics: slow-cooked daube, herb-crusted lamb, or delicately fried courgette flowers.

Though synonymous with cinema, Cannes has deep artistic roots. The Côte d’Azur famously inspired the likes of Picasso, Matisse and Bonnard, and this legacy lives on in the city’s galleries.

At 47 La Croisette, La Malmaison, a former grand hotel turned cultural centre, hosts contemporary exhibitions across photography, sculpture and decorative arts. Just a few doors down at number 17, Galerie Hurtebize offers a chance to view (and perhaps acquire) works by post-impressionist masters.

For a more offbeat experience, head back to Le Suquet, where Le Suquet des Artistes (7 Rue Saint-Dizier, open daily except Mondays, 10am–1pm & 2–6pm) transforms the city’s old morgue into a series of working artists’ studios and street art showcases.

Cannes’ city centre is where the glamour of the Riviera meets the pulse of everyday French life. During the day, it’s a shopper’s paradise. After dark, its terraces hum with the clink of wine glasses and the sounds of animated conversation.

For luxury fashion houses, once again head to La Croisette; for heritage luxury, Rue d’Antibes is a treasure trove. Stop in at Louis Julian (71 Rue d’Antibes), a century-old watchmaker beloved by connoisseurs. Meanwhile, Rue du Commandant André is a hotspot for up-and-coming French labels and chic accessories.

As day slips into evening, there is no better place to end than the Vieux Port. This storied harbour, where fishing boats and gleaming yachts bob side by side, is framed by ochre-hued buildings and the shimmering façades of historic hotels.

Though it comes alive with paparazzi and parties during the festival, the Old Port never loses its essential spirit: a timeless blend of Riviera indulgence and Mediterranean ease. For both locals and visitors, Cannes begins, and, in many ways, ends, right here.

So remember, whether you come for the cinema, the coastline or the culture, Cannes – and indeed, the French Riviera – proves there’s far more to discover than just its red carpet reputation.