Cannes
Cannes
Glamorous Cannes, France, on the Côte d'Azur is exhilarating in summer and restorative in winter. Spot stars during May's International Film Festival, play golf at Cannes Mandelieu course or top up your tan on sandy beaches backed by palatial hotels along La Croisette. Soak up the foody atmosphere at the daily Marché Forville, stroll the old hilltop town of Le Suquet and spend balmy nights enjoying Provençal cuisine.
Cannes - Travel Eurostar
For the smoothest, most stress-free route to Cannes, hop on the Eurostar from London's spectacular St Pancras International. It's easy to reach Cannes with Eurostar, simply change at Paris and travel on to Cannes with our partner, TGV.
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Hello to 186mph
From St Pancras International, our home in the heart of London, the high-speed Eurostar will whisk you to Paris Gare du Nord in a mere 2h 15.
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Change at Paris Gare du Nord
From Paris Gare du Nord, take the RER high-speed commuter train line D (or a taxi) to Paris Gare de Lyon for frequent connecting trains. The typical journey time of 8h 25 from London allows time for you to change in Paris, but this is intended as guidance only. We'll give you more precise times when you book your ticket. Alternatively you can travel via Lille, subject to availability, which typically takes 9h 15.
Before you go, find out more about reaching our London station and what to expect when you get there.
Alternatively you might like to check out our other UK stations:
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Ebbsfleet International
Located just a few minutes from Junction 2 of the M25 and the Bluewater shopping centre, this stunning new station in Kent is easily accessible for people all over the South East.
Journey times from Ebbsfleet International are approximately 10 minutes shorter than those from St Pancras International.
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Ashford International, Kent
We're also still running services to and from our other trusty Kent station, Ashford International. For full details check our timetables.
Journey times from Ashford International are approximately 30 minutes shorter than those from St Pancras International.
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Paris Gare du Nord
Eurostar's clean and modern end destination in the heart of Paris is one of Europe's busiest stations.
Cannes SNCF Station
Cannes SNCF Station is in the town centre – just a five-minute walk from the Palais des Festivals and La Croisette. It's also on the bus network and there's a taxi rank outside the station.
Tread Lightly
Read about our environmental initiative here, and in the meantime here's a way for you to Tread Lightly yourself when you arrive in Cannes.
Reduce your carbon footprint by hiring a bicycle from Mistral Location (+33 (0)4 93 39 33 60; www.mistral-location.com).
Connecting trains to the Continent from across the UK
We've joined forces with 9 train companies across the UK to bring High Speed Europe to people all over the country. Travel from your regional station all the way to your continental destination on just one fare. Click here to find out more.
Eurostar Tips
These are our absolute favourites. If you'd like to share your Cannes tips with us, just click on "Submit top tip".
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Conquer La Croisette
Boulevard de la Croisette wraps itself around the Baie de Cannes and is lined with immaculate sandy beaches. Many are owned by Cannes' ritzy hotels (the Carlton, Majestic and Martinez rule the roost) and are groomed daily before pampered guests emerge from their extravagant suites to dine and sunbathe there. Most beaches charge a small fee (sun loungers and umbrellas extra!) but there is a strip of public sand tucked behind the Palais des Festivals, halfway down La Croisette. When you are done with the sun, relax in one of the little cafés overlooking the Mediterranean, then hit the shops or take a boat across to Cannes' offshore islands.
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Old-time Cannes
Light years away from the glitter of contemporary Cannes, the old town of Le Suquet sprawls up a hill behind the port. As twilight falls, meander the tiny cobbled streets past shuttered stone houses with flowers tumbling from window boxes. Pass the floodlit cathedral of Notre-Dame d'Espérance and linger in your favourite watering-hole for a glass of vin blanc. From the ramparts of Château de la Castre, perched atop the hill, see the sweeping Baie de Cannes twinkling below.
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Shopaholic Cannes
Bring a big fat wallet to empty along La Croisette, Cannes' designer quarter and home to Gucci, Dior, Chanel, Gaultier et al. Cruise rue d'Antibes for swimwear and (slightly) more sensibly priced fashion. Pick up the perfect picnic lunch of fresh baguettes, olives, cheese and pâté in Marché Forville, the rowdy morning market on Tuesday to Sunday (Monday it's a flea market). Best buys to take home include olive oil, herbes de province and cheery ceramics, found along blissfully traffic-free rue Meynadier.
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One man's dream: Château de la Napoule
In 1918 eccentric American dandy Henry Clews bought a 14th-century seafront ruin and, by a labour of love, turned it into his personal Xanadu. Today the castle rears up from the sea in mock-Gothic splendour west of Cannes. Wander the romantic gardens, dotted with topiary, statuary, fountains, gargoyles and follies, and tour the extraordinary interior of the château, filled with whimsical sculptures. Later reflect on Clews' achievement over a cool bière in the terraced café (Apr-Sep).
Where: Château de la Napoule, Mandelieu-la-Napoule, +33 (0) 4 93 49 95 05
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Get out of town
Take a 20-minute boat trip from quai Laubeauf to Île St-Honorat, where Cistercian monks inhabit the wisteria-clad Abbaye de Lérins, surrounded by carefully tended vineyards and the romantic remains of a fortified 11th-century monastery. Wander among the lavender and olives, swim in quiet coves and buy a bottle of the monks' best red from the abbey shop. Alternatively, pack a picnic and head to Île Ste-Marguerite (a 15-minute boat ride), where forest paths lead you past exciting flora and fauna to the Musée de la Mer marine museum and the Man in the Iron Mask's prison cell.
Where: Île St-Honorat, Iles de Lérins, Cannes, +33 (0) 4 92 99 54 00
Where: Ste-Marguerite island, Lerins Island, Cannes, Sea Museum, +33 (0)4 93 38 55 26
Your Tips
These are your insider tips. If you'd like to share your Cannes tips with us, just click on "Submit top tip".
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Winter Wonderland
Cannes is actually a great place to go out of season, so if you travel here regularly, bare in mind that the tourist office has just launched 'Le Club' – a special card that isn't cheap, but can be worthwhile depending on how often you visit as it gives you money off all sorts of activities in and around Cannes – golf, spas, wine-tasting, diving etc…plus special offers in top-end hotels. William B, Leeds, West Yorkshire
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Take the train
Our children loved pootling up the hill to Le Suquet (the old town of Cannes) on the little train. All the passers-by waved and smiled and the kids loved the attention. Pick the train up on La Croisette opposite the Majestic Hotel. Carole & Norman Fry, Cheltenham
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Too much sun and food?
If you've spent too much time on the beach and need some exercise, try Canyon Forest's adventure courses. Activities cater for kids, scaredy cats (me!) and experienced sporty types. You can climb rock faces, swing on ropes, and go white-water rafting. You need to phone ahead to make sure the park has space. Jemma Hardy, Blackheath, London
Where: Canyon Forest, 26 rte de Grasse, Villeneuve-Loubet, +33 (0) 04 92 02 88 88
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Celeb-spot
Hob nob with the stars in L'Amiral Bar at the Martinez Hotel on the promenade – there's jazz and cocktails every night and it's all very cool. Anna Mattock, Bradford
Where: L'Amiral Bar, Hôtel Martinez, 73 La Croisette, Cannes, +33 (0) 4 92 98 73 00
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