Cannes Travel Forum

On Oct 14, 2007, we (2 couples in their early 60's) will have about 10 hrs. shore time from a cruise ship. Any input as to how warm it is likely to be?
Secondly, what are some of the interesting day time things to do in Cannes - including a beer/wine stop somewhere to enjoy some local flavour? We'll have seen lots of "history" and "antiquity" by the time we get to this stop, so would probably lean toward something beachy or casual. There seems little point going to Nice or Monte Carlo (as some of the ship tours offer), when we are in CANNES!
Input appreciated.

Not sure about the weather ...
In Cannes there's a nice hill with a church / clock tower in it that if a pretty easy climb (we're both "older") and offers a wonderful view - can't miss it. Just walk in the direction of the hill with the church on top (shameless plug - see my Cannes page and you'll see the hill I'm referring to). There's also many shops (depending on the day and time) - some cater to the film festival crowd. My ATM did not really work anywhere around there - and it works elsewhere ... just an FYI.

We found the Monaco tour interesting as well - it took us "thru" Nice (did not stop there) - but went to Eze, then Monaco - it was enjoyable and interesting, also great views from Eze (really liked Eze). We booked our tour from Hotel Martinez in Cannes - don't recall the tour company.

So depends on what mood you are. If you're ready to do a little moving around then the walk up to the clock tower is very pleasant. If you don't mind getting back in a van and doing the tour thing, then the Monaco-Eze is nice as well. Perhaps you could book thru a hotel and get a better price - I don't recall what we paid for our Monaco/Eze four-five hour tour but I don't think it was over 45 E.

If you're really ambitious you could even try both! By the way, one of the restaurants on the strip near the Hilton offered the nicest salads - sorry, don't recall the name and no longer have the receipts, but it was nice and refreshing after we walked around (I was there for work, but we stayed a couple of extra days).

Don't waste your time on the little train ride!

Hope this helps.

Nomad

What to do in Cannes, when you are all "monumented-out"? Well as mentioned le Suquet - the old bit - is still worth the effort for a fine view.

Are you also shopped out? Cannes is good for people-watching and window-shopping - stroll the length of rue d'Antibes and do both, or the Croisette one way and back down the rue d'Antibes.Then the colourful rue Meynardier

Real Antibes is only a couple of stops on the train - and there is the pleasure of eyeing up the monsterous superyachts in the International Yatch Club - including billionnaire Roman Abramovich's private navy.The chaps will like this at least.

For people-watching and eating Le Voilier on the Croisette is hard to beat, though your wallet won't thank you.

If by any chance the weather is lousy, don't dismiss Nice - there's more to see and do there than Cannes, which is basically a very upmarket seaside resort
(howls of outrage from Cannes fans expected!)

Ordering decent wine in a Cannes restaurant is tantamount to financial suicide - just order wine by the pichet - rose, of course.

Happy Birthday, Alice. As mentioned Cannes is a great place to just chill out after hectic days of on and off the ship. Le Souquet is a great viewing area above Cannes, but if hill walking is hard, you may want to skip it. Stay closer to La Croisette with restaurants and shopping on two streets, rue d'Antibes and rue Meynadier, only a block from the waterfront and about 3-4 blocks from where the tenders from cruise ships dock, is the Astoux et Brun, on rue Felix Faure. Can't miss it, as they are shucking oysters in an open stand next to the table setups. Seafood is very prominent in Cannes and the seafood platter could feed all four of you with a good carafe of wine, of course. I have a restaurant tip for them on my Cannes travel pages and a pic of the seafood platter. The marina and the location for the Cannes Film Festival are nice walks to see the many luxury small craft and some large ones, too. Lucky you. Have a great cruise and smooth sailing.

Thanks for the birthday wishes; you are obviously observant as well as knowledgeable about Cannes! Your suggestion sounds ideal!
And thanks to the other ideas that were proferred.
Alice

I spent three months in Cannes and I wouldn't suggest venturing to other towns if you have only ten hours. You'll waste half your time on train or bus. Relax and hang close to the city. Weather can be rainy but I hope I'm wrong. Day temperatures near 20 C (68 F)so carry a sweater and nights not much cooler but you may need a jacket. If you dock near the new port, walk the Croisette around the bay to the old port. There's a park just north of the port by about 50 meters for people watching. Old men play boules (similar to lawn bowling but on bare ground) after lunch. Just west of the old port and up the hill is the old church, Notre-Dame-de-l'Espérence. After that, you should stroll through the old town which is all around the church. My favorite hide-away street for drinks and dining is Rue St. Antoine. It is a rat maze to try to go directly to it from the church so I suggest walk down the switchbacks of R. Mont Chevalier to R. Georges Clemenceau. Then go to the left and R. St. Antoine is the next street. See the map at http://bases.cannes.fr/fr/plan
It's an excellent map but very weird working the zoom and such.

There is an excellent restaurant about ten minutes north by taxi called "Le Coq D'Or" that is not so pricey and the food is top drawer but that was years ago so maybe the old woman owner has died.

10 hours in cannes is about 9 1/2 hours too many. seriously, outside of the film festival, cannes has less to offer than any other town on the cote d'zure.
However, you can take the train to antibes which is much more interesting and is home to Picasso"s Villa/museum and while there visit Biot, a simply charming French village and is quite close by. All this can be done very comfortably in your available time...

Thanks everyone. The clock is counting down quickly now to the beginning of the cruise - so am just updating all the port info - and have to say it's been MOST helpful!