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<\/a><\/p>\n<\/span><\/p>\n <\/a>After a recent long weekend in Cannes \u2014 and many other trips over the years \u2014 I set myself the challenge of creating a one-day itinerary with a \u20ac50 budget. Thanks to my parents \u2014 who have spent even more time there than me \u2014 for their research assistance for this post. Scroll to the end for a map and downloadable one-page cheat sheet! And for more Cannes inspiration, with a less restricted budget, check out my long weekend guide<\/a>.<\/p>\n You’re never too far from a boulangerie <\/i>or patisserie <\/i>in Cannes, so pick out a perfectly buttery croissant or two at a spot like C\u00e9sarine<\/a> or indulge in an eclair. But if you’re craving coffee, head to Copenhagen Coffee Lab<\/a> (I’ve also visited their Danish HQ<\/a> and Lisbon outpost<\/a>) near March\u00e9 Forville and order an espresso (\u20ac1.80), using the remaining \u20ac1.20 to buy a freshly baked baguette.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n After breakfast, stroll along Boulevard de la Croisette, passing elegant hotels and designer boutiques as you take in the views of the impossibly blue sea and distant mountains. If you’re in Cannes in the summer, try to plan any strenuous activities for the morning or early evening to avoid the worst of the heat.<\/p>\n When you reach the Palais des Festivals<\/a>, home to the Cannes Film Festival (among many other events), pause to take a selfie on the red-carpeted steps (you might have to wait a while) or track down your favourite celebrity’s handprint. Even if you are only window shopping, it’s worth a jaunt down Rue d’Antibes, Cannes’ main shopping street, where you can find unique boutiques amid international chains.<\/p>\n Pass the gourmet food shops of the historic Rue Meynadier (into Le Suquet, Cannes’ historic old town, located at the western end of the Croisette. Climb the steps up to Place de la Castre and you will be rewarded with beautiful views of Cannes, the harbour and the Mediterranean. <\/p>\n Splurge option: Pick up a selection of salads, deli items and sweet treats from Ernest Traiteur<\/a>, a prepared lobster at Astoux et Brun<\/a> or a rotisserie chicken from R\u00f4tisserie Christophe<\/a> or Boucherie Pierre<\/a> (pre-ordering is recommended).<\/p>\n <\/i><\/p>\n<\/p>\n The diminutive \u00celes de L\u00e9rins \u2014 \u00cele Sainte-Marguerite and its even smaller sister, \u00cele Saint-Honorat \u2014 are located around 1 km from the mainland. Boats run to the islands regularly<\/a> throughout the day. The journey (\u20ac17.50 return) takes 15 minutes and offers spectacular views of the Bay of Cannes. On \u00cele Sainte-Marguerite you can stroll under the shade of the eucalyptus trees and find your perfect spot for picnicking, sunbathing and rock jumping. Bring water shoes if you have them for the rocky beaches.<\/p>\n \u00cele Sainte-Marguerite’s most (in)famous historical inhabitant was the prisoner known as the Man in the Iron Mask<\/a>. You can take a look at Fort Royal, where he was imprisoned, but it’s \u20ac6.50 to visit the museum.<\/p>\n Take the boat back to Cannes and now it’s time for total relaxation. Unlike most of the C\u00f4te d’Azur, Cannes has soft, sandy beaches and although there are dozens of private beach clubs, the public beaches are great. Plage Zamenhof<\/a>, nestled at the southeastern end of the Croisette, is my favourite. It has clean, clear blue waters, gentle waves (for the most part) and beautiful views of the Croisette and the Est\u00e9rel mountains. If you didn’t go to \u00cele Sainte-Marguerite, you could spend the boat fare by renting a sun lounger (\u20ac9) and parasol (\u20ac8) at the western end of the beach. For a more relaxed vibe, try Bijou Plage<\/a>, five minutes’ walk towards Port Canto.<\/p>\n Splurge option: Rent a sun lounger at one of the beach clubs and relax in total comfort. You are likely to pay at least \u20ac60 per day for a non-front-row spot.<\/p>\n <\/i><\/p>\n<\/p>\n Located on buzzy Rue du Commandant Andr\u00e9, one block back from the Croisette, Bobo<\/a> is a fun and relaxed spot for lunch or dinner. You can just about dine there for \u20ac20 \u2014 try a delicious Neapolitan pizza (\u20ac15) or one of the appetizers (like the burrata and heritage tomatoes or the octopus salad) \u2014 some are big enough to have as a main course. On my recent trip, I had the poulet r\u00f4ti <\/i>with mashed potato (\u20ac22) \u2014 out of the budget for this itinerary but #noregrets.<\/p>\n Splurge option: Sip a preprandial cocktail at the elegant Bar 58 at the Carlton Hotel<\/a> (I highly recommend the Old Fashioned), followed by dinner on the beach at Miramar Plage<\/a> where there’s a great menu, from homemade guacamole and ceviche to steak-frites, impeccable service and a fab atmosphere.<\/i><\/p>\n<\/p>\n If you are in Cannes in July or August, check out the schedule for the Festival d’Art Pyrotechnique<\/a> \u2014 AKA the firework festival. The impressive displays, set to music, usually begin at 10 pm and Plage Zamenhof is the best spot to watch them. And if you’re in town during the Film Festival<\/a> in May, they screen free films every night at Plage Mac\u00e9 at 9:30 pm as part of the Cin\u00e9ma du Plage. Otherwise, stroll along the Croisette, soak up the ambiance and enjoy the people-watching opportunities!<\/p>\n <\/b> Planning a French vacation on a budget? Cannes probably isn’t the first destination that springs to mind. The Euro cents soon add up in the glamorous French Riviera city known for its Film Festival premieres and parties, designer shops and … Continue reading 9:00 \u2014 Eat cake for breakfast (\u20ac3)<\/b><\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n9:30 \u2014 Red carpet queues and aerial views (free)<\/b><\/h3>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n11:30 Stock up at March\u00e9 Forville (\u20ac10)<\/b><\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
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Once you’ve climbed back down, head to March\u00e9 Forville<\/a>, a covered market in Le Suquet with a huge selection of fresh and colourful local produce. It’s a great place to stock up on supplies for a picnic lunch \u2014 but it’s certainly easy to spend a lot more than \u20ac10! Casino<\/a> and Monorprix<\/a> are also good places to pick up any essentials. <\/a><\/p>\n12:00 Boat out to \u00cele Sainte-Marguerite \u2014 iron mask not required! (\u20ac17.50)<\/b><\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
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Splurge option: Enjoy a gourmet seafood lunch on a private beach at La Gu\u00e9rite<\/a>, with a private speedboat transfer from Cannes. A very splurgey splurge, but one I very much enjoyed<\/a>.<\/i>
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<\/b>17:00 Life’s a beach (free)<\/b><\/h3>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n20:00 Dinner at Bobo (\u20ac20)<\/b><\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
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21:30 Film or fireworks on the beach (free)<\/b><\/h3>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\nMore resources<\/p>\n
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<\/b>Have more time and\/or a bigger budget for your Cannes trip? Check out my guide to a <\/b>perfect long weekend in Cannes<\/a> or <\/b>browse my other Cannes articles<\/a>.
<\/i>If you found this post useful, please consider supporting my blog by buying me a coffee<\/a>.<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"