What we know about the town, and what is genuinely useful to know before you arrive.
Cannes is a town in the Alpes-Maritimes department, on the French Riviera in south-eastern France. It is known for its bay, the Lerins Islands, the Croisette and its Palais des Festivals et des Congrès, which hosts the Cannes Film Festival as well as many international trade shows.
This guide is a space we build up gradually. We would rather publish a small amount of verified content than a mass of articles copied from elsewhere. You will find here what we can state with certainty.
| Item | Information |
|---|---|
| Region | Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur |
| Department | Alpes-Maritimes (06) |
| Coast | French Riviera, Mediterranean Sea |
| Islands | The Lerins Islands: Sainte-Marguerite and Saint-Honorat |
| Landmark | Palais des Festivals et des Congrès, on the seafront |
| Main seafront avenue | Boulevard de la Croisette |
| Old town | Le Suquet, on the hill above the Vieux Port |
| Nearest airport | Nice Côte d'Azur — 30 to 45 minutes by car from the residence |
| Language | French; English is widely spoken in tourism and at the trade shows |
| Currency | Euro (€) |
| Time zone | Central European Time (CET / CEST) |
Official sources: City of Cannes · Cannes Destination tourist office · Palais des Festivals et des Congrès
Choosing the period changes the experience of a stay entirely. Here is what we can say concretely, tied directly to what is available at the residence.
The residence pool opens in April and sun loungers are free. The grounds are in flower, the light is soft and crowds are moderate. This is also the season of MIPIM (March), the Cannes Film Festival (May) and Cannes Lions (June): depending on your dates, the town can be very busy.
High season. The apartment's air conditioning and the shade of the balcony become precious. At the pool, sun loungers are charged for in those two months only: €4 per half-day. The solarium stays free, with chairs available.
Often the best period. The sea is still warm in September, the pool stays open until November, sun loungers are free again and the town quietens down. This is also the season of the Yachting Festival, TFWA, MIPCOM and MAPIC.
The pool is closed. In exchange, the town is calm, traffic flows and the view from the balcony is often very clear. The apartment has heating. This is the season of ILTM (December), MIDEM and the World AI Cannes Festival (January–February).
Cannes lives at two speeds. There is the seaside town of the summer, and the congress town that operates the rest of the year. The Palais des Festivals et des Congrès hosts more than fifty professional events a year.
That has one practical consequence for any visitor: always check whether a major show falls during your dates. It changes accommodation availability, rates, traffic and the general atmosphere of the town — even if you are coming on holiday.
We keep an up-to-date calendar of the main Cannes business events, with their usual period.
Blue View Cannes is at 33 avenue Amiral Wester Wemyss, 06150 Cannes, in the Villa Francia residence.
The Palais des Festivals et des Congrès is 2.9 km away, about 10 minutes by car from the residence, outside heavy traffic. It is the most useful landmark: it marks the heart of the Cannes seafront, at the western end of the Croisette.
The route follows boulevard Leader, avenue du Docteur Raymond Picaud, then rue Georges Clemenceau and rue Félix Faure before joining promenade de la Pantiero and boulevard de la Croisette.
GPS coordinates of the residence: 43.553600, 6.990450 — open in Google Maps.
The route follows the seafront along avenue du Docteur Raymond Picaud, then the town centre as far as the Croisette. Click the map to open it in Google Maps.
From the Villa Francia residence in Cannes, the beaches are a 7-minute walk, the Palais des Festivals is 2.9 km away (about 10 minutes by car), Cannes railway station is 3.2 to 4 km away (about 10 minutes by car) and Nice Côte d'Azur airport is 30 to 45 minutes by car via the A8 motorway.
| Destination | Distance | Travel time | How to get there |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beaches | — | 7 minutes | On foot |
| Palais des Festivals et des Congrès | 2.9 km | About 10 minutes | By car, outside heavy traffic |
| Cannes railway station (centre) | 3.2 to 4 km | About 10 minutes | By car, or by local bus from the stop near the residence |
| Nice Côte d'Azur airport | — | 30 to 45 minutes | By car via the A8 motorway, Cannes Ouest / Cannes La Bocca exit. Otherwise, regular bus shuttles or a train connection from Cannes station |
The driving times apply outside trade show periods. During the Cannes Film Festival, MIPIM or Cannes Lions, traffic in Cannes slows considerably: allow a comfortable margin. The 7-minute walk to the beaches, however, never changes.
Nice Côte d'Azur is the nearest international airport and the usual arrival point for Cannes: allow 30 to 45 minutes by car via the A8 motorway, taking the Cannes Ouest / Cannes La Bocca exit. Regular bus shuttles also run, and there is a train connection from Cannes railway station, itself 3.2 to 4 km from the residence. An airport transfer can be arranged through our partners, with the supplement paid directly to the provider. Check-in at the apartment is self-service with access codes, so a late flight is not a problem.
Local shops, bus stops, choosing a beach: write to us. We know the area and will answer precisely, according to how you plan to travel. We correspond in English and in French.
This guide will grow over time. The subjects we plan to cover, using only information we can verify:
A question about Cannes or the neighbourhood before you book? Ask us directly — we would rather answer precisely than publish a generality.
Check the calendar for availability and the price on your dates. A question about the town or the area? Write to us.
