Best Tours and Day Trips from Cannes

The Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region has captivated great painters and artists, and celebrities flock annually to Europe's most famous film festival, the Cannes Film Festival. However, the city and its surroundings are also known for its architecture, beaches, caves, castles and picturesque villages. In this publication you will find a ranking of the best excursions from Cannes.

Are you ready to discover the best of the French Riviera? Find out their prices, services included, advantages, disadvantages and itineraries so that you can visit the outlying towns of Cannes at the best price.

If you want to make the most of your stay in Cannes, this type of excursion to Monaco and Eze is ideal for you. Not only will you get to see some of the most iconic sites of the French south, but you can choose your time to explore with half-day or full-day excursions.

In Eze, a charming craggy village with beautiful sea views, you can stroll through narrow streets adorned like gardens with exotic vegetation and enjoy some of the views from the steep steps. The village is crowned by the Church of Our Lady of the Assumption and an esplanade that now serves as a balcony overlooking the sea. You can even visit Fragonard, one of France's most famous perfume factories!

Next, head to glamorous Monaco where you can watch the changing of the guard ceremony at the Prince's Palace, visit the Palais de Justice (where Princess Grace Kelly was married), see the Oceanographic Museum or check out the F1 circuit. This is the pinnacle of glamour and the good life in the French south, so sightseeing is the order of the day.

Details of interest

• Price: from 70 € per person.
• Duration: 5 - 9 hours.
• Timetable: morning and afternoon.
• What the tour may include: professional guide service in your language. Transfer to and from your accommodation.
• Means of transport: air-conditioned minivan.
• Pros: This is a complete tour for small groups, with full and half day options through the streets of Eze and Monaco where the international jet set meets in the South of France. The ability to listen to commentary, stories and historical details in English adds to the value of the tour.
• Cons: Lunch is not included, nor are entrance fees to the palaces, museums, Formula 1 circuit, etc.

When you're ready to take your holiday to the next level, it's time to visit the Côte d'Azur, better known as the French Riviera. This type of full day trip usually goes from Cannes to the most beautiful places in the region. Including its most iconic monument, the Prince's Palace of Monaco.

During your excursion, you'll gaze at the yachts on the billionaires' quay in Antibes and stroll at your own pace along St-Paul-de-Vence, before arriving on the Croisette boulevard. Then you walk through Eze, one of France's rugged villages. The Riviera is a place of beauty, elegance and luxury, a place where style is king and glamour is queen and with this kind of road trip they make sure you remember "carpe diem" as the watchword of the ride.

But wait! There's more to come. You also visit La Turbie in depth. And let's not forget Monaco, one of the jewels in the crown where you can admire the Formula 1 circuit from a distance, or take part in the next race when you buy your tickets. Check out the Monte Carlo Casino, the most opulent in Europe, with its lavish gardens. Visit the Oceanographic Museum (including its outstanding aquarium) and at the end of the tour, you will be taken back to your accommodation.

Details of interest

• Price: from 130 € per person.
• Duration: 8 - 9 hours.
• Timetable: morning.
• What the tour may include: professional guide service in your language. Transport service to and from the accommodation.
• Means of transport: air-conditioned minivan.
• Pros: This is a small group tour, often with no more than 8 people. You are taken around the main attractions of the Côte d'Azur with views of the Mediterranean in the background, while listening to the commentary of an English-speaking guide.
• Cons: Lunch is not included, as well as entrance fees to various palaces, Formula 1 circuit and generally most of the sights.

Embark on an adventure on the glamorous Côte d'Azur with a visit to the medieval hilltop village of Eze, as well as a guided tour of Monaco and Monte Carlo, but not before a visit to the summer paradise of the French Riviera: Nice.

During your minibus tour, after being picked up from your accommodation, you explore the surroundings of the fashionable Principality of Monaco, with enough time to visit even the Casino of Monte Carlo. The atmosphere is opulent, impossible to miss.

The next destination is Eze, a medieval hilltop village with 360° views of the Riviera. You can take the opportunity to buy your perfume at the Fragonard factory, just before visiting Monaco's "terrace" at La Turbie. In this village, the Trophy of the Alps, also known as the Trophy of Augustus, has been stealing the limelight since 7 BC.

To end the tour in style, admire the gardens of the Ritz Paris Hotel which, built in 1864, is a classic French icon. Or visit the Monaco Grand Prix circuit.

Details of interest

• Price: from £119.
• Duration: 7 hours.
• Timetable: morning.
• What the tour may include: transfer service to and from your accommodation. Professional guide service.
• Means of transport: minibus.
• Pros: you get to see the main sites of the capital of the French Riviera, Monte Carlo, Monaco, Eze and La Turbie. Groups are small, usually up to 8 people.
• Cons: Guide service is often only offered in English and French. No food, drinks or entrance fees to any of the palaces and museums are included.

Get off the beaten track in Cannes and customize your experience with your friends and family with this private small group tour of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region.

Since you can choose your destinations and duration at each stop, itineraries are tailored to your preferences. However, you often start on the red carpet at the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès in Cannes just before heading to Juan les Pins. This lively beach community is packed with shops, coves, bars and restaurants, and that's just what's on land! And with a bit of luck, you'll also see some luxury yachts running aground.

The Provençal market also has its own particular charm. The next destination is Saint Paul de Vence, which has an incredible history with art: it was the home of Marc Chagall for many years! You can explore its medieval streets and admire the treasures hidden around every corner.

Next, you'll be driven to Antibes to visit its Picasso Museum of Antibes and if you're an art lover, your excursion won't be complete without a stroll through the Maeght Foundation or Fondation Maeght, a modern art museum where you'll find works from Alexander Calder, Marc Chagall and llsworth Kelly to Joan Miro and more. At the end of the day you will have visited some of the most beautiful towns on the Côte d'Azur.

Interesting details

• Price: from 486 € for groups of maximum 7 people.
• Duration: 4 hours.
• Timetable: morning.
• What the tour may include: Shuttle service from your accommodation to and from the port of Cannes. Boat trip to and from Antibes and Saint Paul de Vence. Professional guide service in your language (you must notify with your booking that you require English speaking guides and they will be available). Bottled water.
• Means of transport: minibus and small boat.
• Pros: the tour is exclusively for your group which guarantees personalised attention and comfort during your tour.
• Cons: Entrance fees to the palaces, museums and sites of interest visited are not included, nor are meals or drinks. The guide's language is often English or French, but for a supplement, an English-speaking guide will lead the tour.

This could well be called a wine and perfume tour because that is the main attraction of this excursion to Valbonne and Grasse from Cannes. However, behind the exquisite fragrances and wine tourism there is much more to discover.

First we have Valbonne, an ancient village built as a grid with a monastery of the abbey of Valbonne, whose architecture has had such an impact that it is considered a UNESCO World Heritage Site. During your visit you will have plenty of time to explore this historic area known for its wine cellars, taverns, châteaux and the vineyards of French Provence, where you will enjoy a wine tasting including the Château de Bellet a renowned French appellation in its home town.

Next stop is Grasse, the perfume capital of France. This has been home to some of the world's most famous perfumers for centuries.

During your time in the town, you'll visit its main factories where you'll learn about the history, inspiration and culture of fragrances from experts such as those at the Grasse Fragonard Perfumery. There will also be time to enjoy the different scents and even take home some souvenirs before returning to Cannes to learn the secrets of the world of perfume.

Details of interest

• Price: from 129 € per person.
• Duration: 8-9 hours.
• Timetable: morning.
• What the tour may include: transport service to and from your accommodation. Bottled water. Wine tasting.
• Means of transport: minibus.
• Pros: this is the star tour for those who want to taste French wines from the cellar to the table, nothing could be more authentic. Also, passing through the renowned fragrance factories and sharing the experience of the process in person adds another perspective to the perfumes. Small groups tend to ensure a more personalised service.
• Cons: This type of tour is often only offered in English and French. Entrance fees to the castles, museums and sites of interest visited are not included, nor are meals or drinks, with the exception of wine tasting.

If you are looking for a day trip in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur that is both fun and educational, you are in luck, this kind of tour to Grimaud and Saint-Tropez from Cannes is the one for you.

The tour starts after picking you up from your accommodation to head to Port Grimaud, mostly known as the "Little Venice" of Saint-Tropez.

Although it covers only 44 km², it is home to a harbour full of luxurious yachts, beaches and bridges such as the mysterious Fairy Bridge where you can make your wishes, or the Port Grimaud beach where water sports take place.

During the tour you will walk through the interior of the town while listening to local experts comment on its history and anecdotes. Once past Port Grimaud, the group heads to Saint-Tropez, a favourite holiday destination for celebrities.

You will stroll through its citadel, proof that, despite the luxury that surrounds Saint-Tropez, its nostalgic melancholy is still present in its atmosphere and hence its traditional charm. The town also hosts an interesting traditional Provençal market and between the Place aux Herbes, the Pampelonne beach, the old town, the Maritime History Museum or the Citadel of Saint-Tropez, and the bars, beach bars and restaurants on the quayside, there is plenty to see and do in Saint-Tropez.

Interesting details

• Price: from 125 € per person.
• Duration: 7 hours.
• Timetable: morning.
• What the tour may include: transport service to and from your accommodation. Bottled water. Local professional guide service.
• Means of transport: minibus.
• Pros: This tour is perfect for family outings. It is educational, fun and visually stunning.
• Cons: This type of tour is usually only offered with English and French speaking guides.

Prices vary according to two main points. Firstly, if you are travelling in a group, the costs are reduced by the package prices. If you are travelling on your own, you will find that the average cost is €120 for day trips, while for half-day trips, be sure to budget around €70 as an average cost.

Another point to consider is the type of activities and the cities you wish to visit. Monaco, Monte Carlo, and Cannes itself tend to have the highest costs, while if you travel to less popular towns or cities such as Saint-Raphaël, Antibes and Grimaud, you'll find better prices.