Once a small fishing village, Cannes is now a glamorous and expensive seaside town considered to be one of the social hubs of Europe. Its moment to shine arrives in May as the venue for the Cannes Film Festival, entertaining the rich and famous. During the festival, fans can see actors, celebrities, and directors up close and in person on the famous steps of the Palais des Festivals at the end of La Croisette. Although its nightlife, casinos and high end restaurants give Cannes a feel of exclusivity, Cannes does have alternatives to suit all types of budgets. Tourists can check out the beauty and architecture of Le Suquet, with its cobbled streets and breathtaking views, or sit at street side tables and enjoy the favoured hobby of people watching up and down the lovely marina.

Renowned for its luxury boutiques and designer fashion, forgetting your credit card would be a big mistake when visiting Cannes. The shops in Cannes are concentrated between La Croisette and rue d'Antibes - a distance easily covered on foot. Here you'll find all the luxury boutiques you could possibly desire as well as other shops selling products at a more affordable price range. The old town has any number of shops selling souvenirs as well.

Stroll, or stop by, the wide array of international designer shops that line La Croisette, which include Chanel, Dior, and Gucci. Check out the l`enfant terrible of French fashion, Jean Paul Gaultier in the Gray d'Albion arcade at number 17.  

Although it tends to get pretty pricey to eat out in Cannes, it is possible to get a delicious meal incorporating the mouth-watering, fresh regional produce sourced from the markets. The most popular restaurants to eat at are all along the riverfront, although they are they are not particularly value for money. While the food is ok, it's overpriced, however the people watching and posing-potential is an important compensation.

The best areas for dining are the rue Meynadier, in the beautiful old district of Le Suquet, where you can dine outdoors with a stunning view of the town below, and in the backstreets of the Rue de Antibes, you can find some reasonable dining options. Our favourite resturant in the world is the Martinez's La Palme d'or, With it's ideal location overlooking the bay of Cannes, La Palme d'Or represents the best in Cannes. Food is of an extremely high standard, the stylish and contemporary decor impresses and the service is impeccable. Two Michelin stars have been awarded to this restaurant, ranking it as one of the finest eating establishments in the world.  

The focus of nightlife, as elsewhere on the Côte d'Azur, is the casino. The streets buzz at night, particularly around La Croisette and along la rue du Dr Monod and la rue Saint Antoine in Le Suquet. Many restaurants double up as bars and clubs. On the whole, the Cannois like to dress up to go out, but visitors will feel at ease in anything from jeans to evening wear, depending on the venue. Restaurant and bars serve drinksuntil about 0200, casinos remain open until about 0400 and discos and nightclubs until the small hours. The legal drinking age in France is 16 years of age.