Thinking of visiting Cannes in winter? Good idea: the atmosphere of the Promenade de la Croisette and the Palais des Festivals in Cannes is very different in summer. Enjoy an enchanting and elegant seaside getaway outside the high season. Escape the hordes of tourists and enjoy the splendid Mediterranean scenery of this emblematic Côte d’Azur town.
Here are our tips for discovering the city in winter: activities, weather, temperatures…
Plus information on how to spend Christmas and New Year’s Eve on site.
This review is completely independent, based on our experiences. We visited the area anonymously, making our own choices, and paying all our bills in full.
Visiting Cannes in winter: is it worth it? Our review
Our review
In our opinion, visiting Cannes in winter is well worth it, especially if you don’t like crowds! You’ll even be able to enjoy more of the monuments and museums, which remain open during the winter period. Although the colors of the landscape are less vibrant than in summer sunshine, the hues are still vivid. Provençal facades bring cheerfulness even in the depths of winter. What’s more, you can take advantage of the must-do activities in Cannes despite the colder weather: a stroll along the Promenade de la Croisette, a visit to the Palais des Festival and its famous red carpet, a trip to the Forville market or a trip to the casino!
If you love glamour and luxury, we highly recommend staying in one of the city’s prestigious hotels. During the winter season, rates are lower. You’ll benefit from lower prices. To complete your stay, we also recommend you try a Michelin-starred restaurant. Cannes boasts some very fine restaurants, each more refined than the last. French gastronomy, Provençal produce and Cannes’ savoir-faire were the stars of the show. Each dish was a new journey, a new culinary discovery, combined with the warm welcome of the restaurateurs in their establishments.
See availability of luxury hotels in Cannes.
Benefits
- the beaches are deserted,
- the sun shines and the sky is blue, even in winter,
- walks are more pleasant,
- it’s easier to park and get around the city,
- the crowds are smaller,
- temperatures are more bearable than in summer,
- almost everything remains open,
- hotels are less expensive (except during the Cannes Film Festival).
Disadvantages
- it’s colder,
- less greenery and plants (especially on the Lérins Islands),
- the risk of rain is low, but still higher than in summer,
- some activities are unavailable or not recommended,
- sea water is colder,
- swimming is reserved for the more adventurous.
WHERE TO STAY IN Cannes
Option 1: Downtown
Enjoy the charm of the old town and all its restaurants.
We recommend..:
- Five Seas Hotel – prices, pictures and availability
- Hotel BW Le Mondial – prices, pictures and availability
Option 2: on the Croisette
Along the seafront promenade and beaches.
We recommend..:
- Hotel Le Carlton – prices, pictures and availability
- Hotel Martinez – prices, pictures and availability
Option 3: The Suquet and surrounding area
On the heights of the old town, with lots of charm.
- Hotel le Suquet – prices, pictures and availability
- Hotel Canopy by Hilton – see prices, pictures and availability
Weather, temperatures and conditions
Cannes enjoys a mild Mediterranean climate. Winters are pleasant, with minimum temperatures of 4°, but averaging 14°.
The water temperature never falls below 13°. Even if sunbathing is no longer in season, it’s still possible to swim in a wetsuit (the bravest just put on a swimsuit).
As the days are shorter in winter, you’ll be able to admire superb sunsets even before dinner.
It can snow (very rarely), but as Cannes is by the sea, the snow never lasts long.
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Things to do in Cannes in winter
The activities available in Cannes in winter are pretty much the same as in summer, apart from swimming, sunbathing and water sports. Throughout the year, the daily lives of Cannois are punctuated by film-related events. There is also an association dedicated to the 7th art, which organizes events throughout the town.
In particular, you can:
- along the Promenade de la Croisette,
- visit Cannes’ many museums, including the Musée des Explorations du Monde and the Musée Bonnard,
- explore the Lérins Islands,
- discover the town’s heritage (Château de la Castre, cathedrals and churches),
- stroll through the old town and discover its craftsmen and shopkeepers,
- go to the old port and take a ferry,
- shop for fresh seasonal produce at the Provencal market,
- stroll along deserted beaches,
- go to the movies.
To find out more, read our article on must-do activities in Cannes.
Near Cannes, you can:
- visit Nice and enjoy its many museums,
- explore Antibes and its seaside resort of Juan-les-Pins,
- let Monaco surprise you,
- the charms of the Provencal hinterland,
- visit the French Riviera on an excursion.
What you can’t do in Cannes in winter:
- sunbathe for several hours on the beach,
- water sports activities,
- night markets (July and August only),
- swim in the sea if you’re sensitive to the cold.
How to get to Cannes
To get to Cannes, you can opt for the train. The town is directly linked by TGV to several major French cities, including Paris (5h15), Lyon (4h) and Marseille (2h).
See the available schedules and book your train tickets now.
If you’re traveling by car from elsewhere in France, you can reach Cannes via the A8 motorway or the Autoroute du Soleil. For a more economical route, you can also take the national and departmental roads, such as the D6285.
Finally, if you’re traveling by car from other European countries, we recommend using European freeways, such as the A8 or the Italian A10 (or Autoroute des Fleurs).
Please note that traffic can be heavy, especially during peak and vacation periods. We recommend that you check traffic conditions and plan your itinerary in advance. In addition, make sure you have a motorway sticker in the countries concerned if necessary, and that you respect the Highway Code of the countries you will be crossing.
OUR TPS FOR RENTING YOUR CAR IN Provence
- Compare prices on our preferred platform: DiscoverCars – one of the best rated sites.
- Choose a car that is powerful enough (the roads are steep) but compact (some passages are narrow).
- Think of thecomplete insurance (some roads are tortuous and narrow).
- There is a lot of demand, book it early.
You can also choose to fly. The nearest airport is Nice, serving French and European cities such as Lisbon, Brussels and Dublin. Once there, the easiest option is to rent a car and drive to Cannes in 45 minutes.
Christmas in Cannes
In the South of France, festivities are the order of the day, and the festive season is no exception! Are you planning to spend Christmas in Cannes? What a great idea! Every year, the town offers a wide-ranging program of events, including fairy-tale parades, musical evenings, concerts and a Christmas market.
Towards the end of November, the city is decked out in luminous decorations and takes on a festive air. We advise you to discover them during your evening strolls. A Christmas village with numerous chalets is set up on Allées de la Liberté, along with an ice rink. Your kids can even meet Santa Claus! As the holidays approach, check out the city’s official website here for more information.
New Year’s Eve in Cannes
To celebrate New Year’s Eve, Cannes town council is organizing a huge fireworks display on December 31. You’ll love it!
If you want to make like the locals, try the New Year’s bath! This free swim usually takes place on December 31st or January 1st. There are many throughout Provence!
Apart from these highlights, you can take part in events organized by the city’s luxury establishments and restaurateurs. The Barrière hotel organizes a New Year’s lunch on January 1.
See the availability of the Hôtel Barrière in Cannes.
