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Despite spanning just a few kilometers from end to end, Cannes is packed with cafes, culture, and a vibrance not to be missed.
Whether you’re coming for just a few days, the length of the festival, or you’re squeezing a vacation out of the trip, here are the top 5 ways to spend whatever free time you have during the Marché du Film.
Outside of the festival, la Croisette is Cannes’ most iconic destination. Your trip would be incomplete without a stroll down the Promenade to soak in the stunning views of the mediterranean sea, or window shop designer labels like Balenciaga, Valentino, or Giorgio Armani. La Croisette is also home to a handful of luxurious hotels like Hôtel Barrière Le Majestic, the Carlton or le Grand hotel, each with private beaches and endless amenities. Known as the posh heart of Cannes, la Croisette absolutely cannot be missed.
There are two stretches of beach within walking distance of Cannes. The most easily accessible of the two is, of course, the beach stretching along la Croisette! Each major hotel will have their own private beach with amenities like towels, umbrellas, and loungers. If you’re looking for luxury, but aren’t a guest of any of these posh hotels, many offer access to their beach for a fee.
Otherwise, you can visit any of the several public beaches, starting with the Plage Macé located near the Palais and the Hôtel Barrière Le Majestic. If you’re willing to walk a little further, head west through le Suquet to Plage du Midi for a long stretch of beach, with a more relaxed atmosphere than those along la Croisette.
If you find yourself with a free evening on your hands, you may want to head to the Plage Macé. During the festival, this beach is transformed into an open-air theater with free film screenings each night of the festival. All are welcome at the Cinéma de Plage, so show up early or grab tickets from the Cannes tourist office day-of and enjoy! The lineup for 2022 includes classics like The Truman Show, The Godfather, and Un Singe en Hiver. Find the full schedule here.
West of the Palais you’ll find Le Suquet. In this historic neighborhood, expect to traverse narrow, winding cobblestone streets and steep stairways to discover excellent views of the entire city of Cannes. Le Suquet is also the historic quarter of the city and offers a selection of cafes and restaurants to choose from. This is an area you shouldn’t leave without exploring. We suggest visiting twice, once during the day and once at night, so you can experience this panoramic view in full.
Chances are, if you’re attending the Festival or Marché, you will have the opportunity to attend at least a couple of the festival’s premieres. These are not to be missed. Taking place in one of the Palais’ three magnificent theaters, premieres are glamorous events, not to mention strictly black tie (including paparazzi). World class filmmakers and movie stars will walk the red carpet and gather to celebrate the year’s most anticipated films.
While premieres like this year’s anticipated sequel, Top Gun: Maverick, are certainly a highlight of the 11 day event, new heights of exclusivity can be found outside of the official proceedings. When filmmakers and stars aren’t attending elegant receptions in the city’s finest hotels, or walking the red carpet, you’ll likely find them embracing the lavish party scene that will be unfolding across yachts and villas city-wide. If you aren’t invited, there’s not much we can suggest except to network like your yacht party invitation depends on it!
Cannes has a lot to offer, but if you’ve taken Linda’s advice from our previous article on making the most of your time at Marché du Film and given yourself extra time in France, there are a number of neighboring cities worth at least a day trip.
Just 10 kilometers up the road from Cannes, Antibes is by far the easiest excursion. The train ride between the two cities takes just around 10 minutes, making it an accessible option for any festival or marche du film attendees looking to avoid Cannes’ steep hotel prices. In Antibes you can enjoy stunning beaches, visit Musée Picasso, or walk along the winding coastal paths.
Between the beaches, monastery, panoramic views, local cuisine, and Musée Marc Chagall, it’s hard to know what to do first in Nice. With a train running hourly between Nice and Cannes, this is another destination that may be too convenient to pass up.
If you find yourself with time to spare following Cannes and you’re ready for another world class event, you may want to hop on a train to Monaco to catch the Monaco Grand Prix which will be taking place between the 26th and 29th of May. If Formula 1 racing doesn’t interest you, Monaco has a plethora of attractions like the Monte Carlo Casino, the palace, or the Monaco Cathedral.
You may be in town for business, but in a city as glamorous as Cannes, it would be a crime not to dedicate at least some of your time here to leisure. Marché du Film and Festival du Cannes are world-class events that happen just once per year. We encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity and make the most out of your limited time in Cannes.
If you’re concerned about the mountain of work surrounding markets like the Marche du Film, you’re not alone. Many organizations at the Marche this year will rely on their streamlined operations on the MOLTEN Cloud to save time before, during, and after the market. Meet our team and learn more about how we can make your next market feel a little more like vacation!
