All our hotels in Cannes

Wrapped around the turquoise Bay of Cannes in Provence's Alpes-Maritimes region, glamorous Cannes is famous for its high-end designer stores and sandy beaches – they both fill up in summer with A-list celebrities straight off lavish super-yachts moored in the Old Port and Port Pierre Canto marinas. Beyond the glitz and the gloss, however, this is also a charming and historic town. Winding inland from the sea, the medieval district of Le Suquet is home to candy-coloured cottages in steep cobbled alleys, and epicurean food stalls at the fragrant daily market. Whether you are in Cannes for a romantic weekend in a hotel with beach views and a pool, or looking for a family hotel near lots of Cannes attractions, our French Riviera hotels will have the perfect fit for you.

The best place to start exploring the delights of Cannes is definitely at the beach – and the palm-lined waterfront Boulevard de la Croisette has plenty of sandy spots to cater for everybody. Some Cannes beaches are privately owned and accessible for a fee, and you can snooze on luxurious sun loungers and enjoy waiter service for an endless supply of cocktails and lavish seafood lunches. But there are also several public choices. Close to all the daily action in the centre of Cannes, there is a namesake strip of public sand in front of the Palais des Festivals which is often host to outdoor film screenings and sand-sculpture competitions. Close by is Plage du Midi, backed by al fresco restaurants and ice-cream parlours with gaily striped awnings. At the western end of La Croisette, Plage de la Bocca is a clever choice of Cannes beach, with soft sand and nets for family games of volleyball – pick up the perfect picnic lunch of fresh baguette, spicy olives, cheese and charcuterie in Marché Forville morning market to enjoy on the beach along with views of the Alpes-Maritimes foothills.

Life may drift around the beaches, but away from the seafront, Cannes is full of things to do. Hunt down Provençal souvenirs like lavender-scented candles and vibrant Le Biot glassware on Rue d'Antibes and Rue Meynadier, or go window shopping at Boulevard de la Croisette's cluster of exclusive boutiques boasting the world's most famous names in fashion. Close by is another Cannes landmark in the shape of the Casino Barrière Cannes Le Croisette, a neon-covered enclave of slot machines, roulette tables and late-night poker games. Keen to explore the Côte d'Azur hinterland? Take a Cannes boat trip to the tranquil Îles de Lérin, an archipelago sitting in the Bay of Cannes , and just a 15-minute ferry hop from the Old Port. Visit the serene, wisteria-clad Abbaye de Lérins – and its vineyard – on Île St-Honorat and be sure to buy a bottle of the Cistercian monks' best red wine from the abbey shop. Wander among peaceful lavender fields, scented pine forest and olives groves, or have a swim in quiet coves with pristine waters. Neighbouring Île Ste-Marguerite is famous for the 17th-century, clifftop Fort Royal, where you can see the cell in which the mysterious "Man in the Iron Mask" – immortalised in the novel by Alexandre Dumas – was imprisoned, and learn more about him in the Museum of the Sea. A recent addition to the attractions here is the wondrous Underwater Museum of Cannes, a series of ethereal sculptures by British artist Jason deCaires Taylor, just a few metres offshore. Back on dry land in Cannes, meander the tangle of tiny cobbled streets in atmospheric Le Suquet as twilight falls, leading past shuttered stone houses with bright bursts of flowers growing in window boxes. Admire the Gothic architecture of floodlit Église Notre-Dame d'Espérance and climb up to the ramparts of Château de la Castre, perched atop the hill, to see the sweeping Bay of Cannes twinkling below – and take a selfie by the landmark, hilltop "Cannes" sign.

Whether you're craving Michelin-starred international cuisine, Mediterranean views from the best rooftop restaurants in Cannes, or delicious Provençal bouillabaisse fish stew and a glass of local rosé wine in an informal Le Suquet brasserie, this sophisticated town has got you covered. Our recommendation for the best Cannes brunch is to pop into a crêperie for wafer-thin pancakes, while you can pick up Cannes street food such as anchovy-topped slices of pissaladière flatbread or candied, fruity-flavoured calisson biscuits from Marché Forville and most neighbourhood bakeries. With a viticulture tradition that stretches right back over 2 millennia, you're sure to find the perfect accompaniment to your food. Thanks to the long hours of summer sunshine and well-drained volcanic soils, the light, rounded rosés so typical of Provence lend themselves to al fresco summer lunchtimes, but the area also produces some excellent red wines – look out for Côtes de Provence, Bandol and Cassis labels to enjoy with gourmet dinners. If you're going out in Cannes at night, you'll find some of the best cocktail bars in Cannes in Le Suquet, serving up generous shots of the apéritif pastis along with an equally generous helping of jazz tunes.

You'll find some of the best hotels with swimming pools in Cannes on the seafront Boulevard de la Croisette, where we have a flagship 5-star hotel with verdant palm-shaded gardens and a choice of luxurious suites or rooms plus Mediterranean views from the panoramic restaurant terrace. Our other luxury Cannes hotels offer spas alongside stylish boutique accommodation and private beach clubs, and we have well-priced family hotels near Cannes beaches or up in the hills near Mougins, as well as a choice of studios for anyone looking for a longer stay. Likewise, if you're on a fleeting business visit and are looking for a hotel near Cannes train station, we have choices for you there as well.

Welcoming tourists all year around, Cannes has mild winters – albeit with a few days when the dry Mistral winds blow – and long, hot summers perfect for its idyllic outdoor lifestyle. There are Cannes events all year around: serious shoppers can book Cannes accommodation and get busy giving their wardrobes a going-over at the Cannes Shopping Festival (March or April), and even pick up some bargains in January's Sales and the City jamboree. However, to see Cannes at its glittering best and awash with famous faces, visit in May for the world-renowned Cannes Film Festival, which takes place at the modernist, beachfront Palais des Festivals.

Cannes is well served by two airports – international flights arrive at Nice Côte d'Azur Airport (half an hour by car), while Aéroport de Cannes-Mandelieu (15 minutes) is the province of carriers from across Europe as well as private planes owned by jet-setting celebs. If you're arriving late or leaving early, book into one of our Cannes airport hotels for a relaxing night's sleep before your flight. Regular taxi and helicopter services run from Nice Côte d'Azur into the centre of Cannes, while the ZOU! bus service no. 200 runs between Parc Phoenix Station in Nice and the Old Port in Cannes. Once you arrive in Cannes, getting around is a breeze as local rail services cover much of the Côte d'Azur on a scenic line that hugs the coastline from Cannes-Voyageurs train station. Buses operate throughout the town, although its main attractions are easily explored on foot.