By Molly Mazza, SVP Commercial Operations & Client Success
Cannes is a whirlwind of creativity, innovation, and nonstop networking. Whether you’re attending for the first time or returning for another round, explore our Cannes Travel Guide, curated by Molly Mazza, who’s navigated the festival firsthand. Her tips and tricks are designed to help you make the most of your time—whether you’re closing deals over croissants or powering through back-to-back meetings in the Riviera heat. Pack smart, plan your schedule strategically, and get ready for an unforgettable week.
openAI’s interpretation of me in the South of France
Pre-Travel Prep: Riviera Rituals
If you love to travel, take a few moments to nerd out on Cannes before you go. Learning about its history, landmarks, and local culture will make your trip that much richer.
Geography & Cuisine Cannes sits right on the Italian border, so expect plenty of Italian influence—think fresh pasta, gelato, and maybe a little practiced Italiano at the café counter.
Economics & Staffing It’s a small town built on tourism, so nearly every restaurant and café runs short-staffed. Be patient and leave extra time for lunch and dinner.
Artists & Writers In the 1920s, Cannes and nearby Antibes drew creatives like Picasso, Hemingway, Fitzgerald, Monet, and Signac. It’s fun to imagine what inspired their work as you explore.
Book Recommendation Living Well Is the Best Revenge dives into the real-life couple behind Fitzgerald’s Tender Is the Night. It’s about American ex-pats living in France who vacationed in the South of France. This couple is the reason that anyone today (even Europeans) vacations in the South of France!
Best thing about summer is a late sunset!
Packing Guide
International Phone Plan & WhatsApp Enable data roaming or grab an international plan—wifi can be spotty outside. Install WhatsApp, too, since drivers (I love Blacklane 🚗) and local hosts often prefer it.
Passport & MobilePassport Control Check your passport expiration (six-month minimum). Leverage yourGlobal Entry Card or download Mobile Passport Control (MPC) before you travel to breeze through U.S. customs on the way home.
External Charger & Adapters Outlets are rare once you leave your hotel—pack a fully charged power bank. Grab a multi-plug adapter kit (with USB-C/USB-A “cubes”) so you can switch adapter heads on the fly.
Clothing
Light, loose, and breathable fabrics—Cannes in June can be roasting hot so avoid dark colors.
Closed-toe, comfy flats, espadrille wedges if you want a heel.
**Almost all the yachts last year had protective liners and didn’t require shoe removal, but there’s still a chance you might have to go barefoot. A good excuse to get a pedicure before you go!
Extras
Sunglasses & hat & sunscreen —you’ll thank yourself. Isdin is my favorite sunscreen brand right now.
Cash (€100–€200). Most places accept cards, but cash is good for coffee or quick tips.
Nail clippers or tiny scissors to free yourself from endless wristbands (there are two types of people – those who love to show off their wrist bands and those that know it’s tacky).
A clear plastic bag for airport liquids on the way out (Nice Airport is strict).
Fight jetlag with an evening stroll around the marinas!
Travel Tips
Getting from Nice to Cannes
Train: There are lots of trains between Nice and Cannes, but since it’s France, always double-check for strikes on your arrival day—just in case!
Taxi: Pricier than the train (usually around $70-80 USD), but can be worth it if you’d rather not deal with schedules or luggage hassles.
Blacklane: My favorite option internationally. Reliable drivers, clean cars, and you never have to worry about cancellations. Typically about $90 USD from Nice to Cannes.
If your Airbnb is uphill (and it probably is!), I recommend a taxi or car service so you’re not dragging your suitcases all the way up.
Airbnb Essentials
Location: Most Airbnbs are up the hill, so plan at least 30 minutes to walk down to the main strip each morning.
Grocery Necessities: Make buying a pack of bottled water your first stop—there aren’t many convenience stores along La Croisette, so it’s easier to grab one from your fridge each day. Rosé, cheese, meat, baguette, dijon, and fruit are great to have for a quick bite to eat!
Wine Opener: You’d be surprised how many Airbnbs don’t have one.
Bathroom/Hair/Skincare Products: There’s a big Sephora in Cannes if you need to pick something up. Just keep in mind your U.S. Sephora rewards account won’t work there.
Navigating Cannes
Walk whenever you can—Uber/ride-share waits are long.
If you need a lift, book Blacklane in advance.
Comfortable shoes are a must!
Day-to-Day Survival
Carry everything you need: snacks, water, charger, a pen, and a notebook (or your phone’s notes app).
Add your phone number to every calendar invite so people can text or call on the move.
Cluster meetings by neighborhood—save yourself walking back and forth in the heat.
For emergency charging or AC, duck into the casino’s basement.
Block off a lunch break. It’s easy to forget to leave time to eat and service can be slow so plan for more time than you think you need.
Prepare for marathon days. Chances are you’ll be going from 8am-1am and your social battery will get drained!
Pro tip: take the following Friday–Monday off to mentally and physically recover! 🙂
Go to Harry’s Bar! They have another iconic location in Paris!
Salty snacks pair nicely with a crisp white wine!
Restaurants & Recommendations
Click here to save a Google Maps list of all my recommendations for Cannes and navigate with ease once you arrive!
La Croisette – main street
IGY Vieux-Port de Cannes – yacht dock
🍎 Grocery Stores
Monoprix
Carrefour
UExpress
☕ Coffee & Pastries
Au Gourmet Cannois – my go-to
Copenhagen Coffee Lab – busier but has iced coffee!
Lenôtre – love the pastries
🥗 Lunch Spots
Ma Nolan’s – pub food
De Laura Cannes – Italian
Astoux et Brun – Healthy seafood
Salsamenteria di Parma – the best spot for lunch, I think I ate here 4x in 8 days
Spa Belle Plage – great if you want something fresh like a good salad or a green juice
La Piazza – great wood-fired pizza
🍸 Drinks
Carlton Cannes – every afternoon and into the evening, the Carlton will have the who’s who of the advertising industry. Great spot to run into friendly folks.
Le Baoli
Morrisons Irish Pub
Gutter Bar – late-night scene
Harry’s Bar – Amazing drinks off the main strip
🍝 Dinner
Aux Bons Enfants
De Laura Cannes – Great for dinner too!
Mamo – they have NYC & Miami locations but this is the OG and the food is incredible!
Bijou Plage Experimental – Off the main strip, a refreshing change of scenery
💐 Other Must-Dos
L’Atelier Beauté – for a mani/pedi
Marché Forville – flower market
Rue d’Antibes – main shopping street for anything you forget
Sephora & Zara – just in case
Being from Charlotte, NC – I had to snap a pic of this!
