Travel tips · Cannes · France
Cannes travel tips: what to know before you go
The etiquette, money and practical details that make the first day easier.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Spike, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Cannes lives by its calendar of festivals and trade fairs, which fill the hotels with film professionals, property investors and advertising executives several times a year. Away from those weeks it is a polished but relaxed Riviera town where locals shop at Forville, play pétanque on the Allées and swim at the public beaches.
Key facts
- Language
- French
- Currency
- EUR
- Plugs
- Type C and E sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
- Tap water
- Tap water is safe to drink.
- Emergency
- 112 (European emergency number)
Things to know
- Say 'Bonjour' when entering a shop or café and 'Merci, au revoir' when leaving.
- Swimwear is for the beach; cover up with a shirt or dress in shops, cafés and on the streets.
- During the film festival, the red-carpet area is reserved for accredited guests and ticket holders; spectators watch from behind the barriers.
- Ask for the bill when you are ready; waiters will not bring it unprompted.
- Cover shoulders when visiting churches and the abbey on Saint-Honorat.
- Avoid the film festival and big trade-fair weeks, when hotel prices can multiply several times.
Tipping
Service is included in restaurant bills in France. Rounding up or leaving a few euros for good service is common, and leaving 5–10% in smarter restaurants or beach clubs is appreciated but not expected.
Language
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Bonjour | Hello / good day |
| Merci beaucoup | Thank you very much |
| L'addition, s'il vous plaît | The bill, please |
| Une carafe d'eau | A jug of tap water |
| Un transat, s'il vous plaît | A sunbed, please |
What to wear
Smart-casual is the norm in the evening, and the palace hotels and smarter restaurants expect it; flip-flops and beachwear stay at the beach.
Practical details
- Plugs and voltage
- Type C and E sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
- Drinking water
- Tap water is safe to drink.
- Emergency number
- 112 (European emergency number)
- Phone and internet
- Mobile coverage is good across the town and islands; EU roaming covers European SIMs, and eSIMs work well for other visitors.
- Time zone
- Europe/Paris
Cannes is generally calm, but bag and phone theft happens on crowded beaches, the Croisette and at the station in summer, and cars with visible luggage are targeted. Summer heat can be intense, so carry water on island walks.
Entry requirements
Visa and passport rules depend on your nationality and change often. Check France's official government guidance and your own government's travel advice before booking.
Plan the trip
Questions travellers ask
+Do you tip in Cannes?
Service is included in restaurant bills in France. Rounding up or leaving a few euros for good service is common, and leaving 5–10% in smarter restaurants or beach clubs is appreciated but not expected.
+Can you drink the tap water in Cannes?
Tap water is safe to drink.
+What plugs are used in Cannes?
Type C and E sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
+What language is spoken in Cannes?
French.