How To Spend An Afternoon On La Croisette Cannes

The Boulevard de la Croisette, which sits in Cannes on France’s famous Riviera, was first suggested as an idea in 1853 and was finally approved in 1857. One of the most beloved boulevards in France, it is 2km long and home to many of Cannes’ greatest landmarks. It has protected status in France and is a must-see for every visitor. Here are our suggestions for how to spend an afternoon there.

Visit the Marché Forville for pre-lunch nibbles

At the eastern end of the Croisette is the Marché Forville, Cannes’ best loved market. It closes at lunchtime, so this is the place to have your pre-lunch nibbles. Head to see one of the vendors, like Julien Rostan, who is a specialist in organic vegetables. Buy some fresh olives or succulent tomatoes from him to munch as you walk, smell the fresh flowers and taste some local wine. Delicious.

Opening hours: Tues-Sun, 7am to 1pm. Closed Mondays.

5-11 rue marché Forville, Cannes

Eat at the Carlton Beach Club

An afternoon wouldn’t be Cannes without a trip to one of the most famous hotels on the strip. The hotel was made famous in the 50s by Alfred Hitchcock (it’s here that he filmed part of To Catch a Thief with Grace Kelly) and it plays host to celebrities every year during the Cannes Film Festival. After a walk around the hotel itself, arrive at your (pre-reserved) table for drinks. It’s the perfect place to dine, under the parasols, on tables on the beach, facing the sea. The service is excellent (it’s what you pay for) and the food is great. It’s heavy on the budget so if you can’t afford it, eat at one of the other beach clubs and have a drink here instead.

58 La Croisette, Cannes, +33 (0)4 93 06 40 06

Carlton Intercontinental Hotel, Cannes, France

Walk around the Old Port and Le Suquet

After lunch, you’ll need to take a little walk to work off the food. Head to the port and up the cobbled streets to Le Suquet, the oldest part of Cannes. It’s not very big but perfect for a light walk. It overlooks La Croisette so take a few photos as souvenirs and then head back to the boulevard for late afternoon.

Le Suquet, Cannes

Buy dessert on La Croisette and watch the boules

Boules is the national past-time, still, for many French men and increasingly, women. Buy an ice cream from one of the kiosks and watch them play. It’s a serious business (it’s called pétanque in French) and perfect to watch for half an hour while you eat dessert.

Head back to the beach for some swimming and the sunset

You might not want to be at the beach all day, so it’s a good idea to head there for sunset. Stroll along La Croisette, watching all of Cannes’ life and pick a sun lounger on a private Cannes beach for that all-important apéro, or lay out your towel on one of the many public beaches with some of the things you bought earlier at the market. Either way, it’s a perfect way to see the sun go down before you head back to your hotel for dinner.

Carlton Intercontinental Hotel Beach, Cannes, France

In Cannes for the weekend? Make sure you read our guide on our pick of the 20 unmissable things to do during your visit.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.