Beaches — Going to the beach in Cannes has more to do with exhibitionism than actual swimming. Plage de la Croisette extends between the Vieux Port and the Port Canto. The beaches along this billion-dollar stretch of sand are payante, meaning entrance costs between 20€ to 40€. Why should you pay an entry fee at all? Well, the fee includes a full day’s use of a mattress, a chaise lounge (the seafront is more pebbly than sandy), and a parasol, as well as easy access to freshwater showers. There are also outdoor restaurants and bars (some with organic menus, others with gourmet burgers and sushi) where no one minds if you dine in your swimsuit. Every beach allows topless bathing.
Cannes has heaps of buzzing beach clubs, including sassy Plage du Festival (www.plagedufestival.com; tel. 04-93-39-37-37), the town’s original bathing resort, which has its own brand-new organic ice cream bar. Another favourite is freshly renovation Plage Rado Helen (www.radobeachhelen.com; tel. 04-93-94-20-68), which has its own silky-soft sand and friendly, unpretentious service.
Looking for a free public beach without chaises or parasols? Head for Plage du Midi, just west of the Vieux Port, or Plage Gazagnaire, just east of the Port Canto. Here you’ll find families with children and lots of RV-type vehicles parked nearby.
Boating — Several companies around Cannes’s Vieux Port rent boats of any size, with or without a crew, for a day, a week, or even longer. A new outfit with solar-powered boats is Solar Boat, Port Pointe Croisette (www.bateausanspermis.fr; tel. 06-51-05-28-02). They can be rented, without a permit or pilot, for up to seven people, for 250€ per day. The marketplace site GetMyBoat.com is another good resource, as it includes less pricey peer-to-peer listings among its offerings.
Golf — Ten golf courses ring Cannes and almost all are within a 20-min. drive of the city. The Old Course, 265 route de Golf, Mandelieu (www.golfoldcourse.com; tel. 04-92-97-32-00), is a leafy gem dating from 1891. Greens fees start at 130€, with big reductions for lunch deals and afternoon tee-offs. The prestigious Royal Mougins Golf Club, 424 av. du Roi, Mougins (www.royalmougins.fr; tel. 04-92-92-49-69), also boasts a gourmet restaurant and spa. Greens fees start at 220€, including cart hire; it’s half-price for 9 holes. Discounts are available from mid-November through mid-April.
Paddleboarding — Like the rest of the world, Cannes has fallen in love with stand-up paddleboarding (SUP). Rent your own from Cannes Standup Paddle Location, Plage du Mouré Rouge, bd. Gazagnaire, Palm Beach (www.cannesstanduppaddle.fr; tel. 06-82-17-08-77). Fees start at 15€ per hr.
Tennis — Some resorts have their own courts. The city of Cannes also maintains 16 synthetic courts and six clay-topped courts at the Garden Tennis Club, 99 av. Maurice Chevalier (tel. 04-93-47-29-33). You’ll pay from 21.50€ per hr.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
