Lifestyle · French Riviera
In Cannes, unwinding begins at the far end of the Old Port: you cast off, cut the engine with the Estérel range in view, and the city fades away in your wake. From the Bay of Cannes to the Lérins Islands, from the Port of La Napoule to the harbor of Villefranche, here are our top picks for taking it easy during a stay on the French Riviera.
The Cannes Fireworks, as seen from the sea
Every summer, the Bay of Cannes hosts the Fireworks Festival: entire evenings when the sky lights up above the Croisette. Mandelieu-la-Napoule, the Cap d’Antibes, and, further away, Nice and Monaco also light up the coastline. The best vantage point isn’t on the crowded Croisette or the quays of the Vieux-Port, but out at sea, at anchor, with the engine off and a drink in hand.
We'll take you to see them from the water, in Fireworks on a catamaran for a get-together with friends, or during a Fireworks and sunset cruise aboard a private boat for a more intimate experience. Depart from the Old Port of Cannes or the Port of La Napoule in the late afternoon, head for an anchorage overlooking the bay, and watch the view reflect on the water, far from the crowds.
No need to mark your calendars: we’ll schedule the trip around the summer fireworks calendar—all you have to do is hop on board.
Dinner at the Port of La Napoule on the way back from the beach
Nothing whets the appetite like a day at sea. As we pull into the port of Mandelieu-la-Napoule, Gem It’s just a few steps from the pier, across from the Château de la Napoule. With a waterfront terrace, Mediterranean cuisine, and a view of the masts in the harbor, it’s the perfect spot to extend the evening without disrupting the flow of your stay.
It’s also the perfect place to stay before or after a boat trip from La Napoule, just two minutes from the docks.
Doing Pilates in Cannes, or skateboarding on the Boulevard du Midi
A great vacation also means listening to your body. The day after a day out at sea, there’s nothing like do Pilates in Cannes To get your back and breathing back on track: core training, posture, and strength training, right in the heart of the city before heading back out to sea.
Looking for an adrenaline rush instead of something laid-back? Head out for some snow sports with AirXKite, on Boulevard du Midi in Cannes: kitesurfing and wing foiling overlooking the bay, with instruction from local instructors. Two ways to enjoy the sea, both on land and on the water.
A trip to Nice, all the way to the Rock of Monaco
You can't leave the region without seeing it from the water. A trip to Nice along the Baie des Anges, the Promenade des Anglais, the Château hill, and Mont Boron—panoramic views that you’ll never see from the road. We then head toward the harbor of Villefranche-sur-Mer, one of the deepest in the Mediterranean, where yachts anchor at the foot of the villas.
Right after that, we head to the Rock of Monaco and Port Hercule during a Boat Tour from Nice to Monaco : The best way to explore the principality is by sea, with Monte Carlo and the Prince's Palace in plain sight.
End the evening on the electro beaches of Cannes and Juan-les-Pins
As the sun goes down, the Cannes coastline shifts into party mode. The electro tracks, these beach clubs on the Croisette and in Golfe-Juan—where a DJ plays as the sun sets with your feet in the sand—have become a summer evening ritual between Cannes and Juan-les-Pins.
The best part is getting there by boat: you drop anchor off the beach, enjoy the waves from the deck, and avoid the hassle of finding a parking spot on the Croisette. We’re actually planning a special trip to meet them by boat: stay tuned—it’s coming up very soon.
Unwinding on the French Riviera means setting your own pace: a sunset off the Croisette, dinner at the Port of La Napoule, a Pilates class in downtown Cannes, a trip to Nice and Monaco, and the electronic music beaches to round out the night. From Le Suquet to the Lérins Islands, it’s up to you to chart your course.
