The word Cannes conjures up images of dazzling film stars, ultra-modern yachts and clinking glasses of champagne. But it’s important to remember how much there is to do beyond the glamour of the city. Our transfer between Cannes and Nice Airport brilliantly showcases the highlights of this region, helping to uncover the riveting secrets of the Riviera. Keep your eyes peeled for these three historic cities, whose historic landmarks you may want to discover during your holiday.
1. Le Cannet
Cannes is famous for the international flavour of its film festival. But if you really want to delve into the artistic and cultural soul of the region itself, then head to Le Cannet. Perched to the north of the larger city, it retains a more bohemian feel, giving sweeping views across Cannes towards the glistening Med.
Le Cannet’s most famous offspring is the artist Bonnard. A canonical painter of the turn of the nineteenth and twentieth century, Bonnard had a crucial influence on Matisse, sharing his joint focus on the rich colours of domestic interiors along with the vibrancy of the natural world. The Bonnard Museum is well worth a visit. Alongside its permanent collection, it features special exhibitions throughout the year.
After the Museum, why not take a stroll around the Old City? With Bonnard’s bright colours still uppermost in your mind, you’ll absorb the sights and stories of the place with an artist’s eye-view. The Tourist Office offers free guided tours, which is a real plus, although they do need to be booked a couple of days in advance. Highlights of the tour include a sixteenth-century church and a clutch of contemporary murals and artists’ studios, testimony of the continued creative spirit of Bonnard’s home.
Almost as famous as Bonnard is the region’s renowned orange wine. Seeming to capture the sun’s glow as it sets across the Riviera, this drink is as delicious as it is beautiful. Sipping some at a local street-side café, you’ll feel like you’ve stepped into the rich orange hues of a painting by Van Gogh.
Recommended Visit Time: With its combination of charm, cultural significance and natural beauty, Le Cannet will definitely reward a full day’s trip.
2. Marineland
For a holiday outing of an entirely different kind, head to Marineland. Again situated in the overlooked Cannes-to-Nice stretch, Marineland is an aquarium with a difference. Come face-to-face with penguins, sally up to sea lions, tickle a ray – depending on your levels of squeamishness – and even get up close and personal with a shark!
In a world where the health of our seas is becoming an increasingly urgent question, a trip to Marineland can be a great way to educate the kids (and adults!) on the variety of species hidden beneath the waves. Particularly valuable from this point of view is the coral reef aquarium, which shows just how precious these fragile ecosystems really are. A trip here will also raise important questions about the responsible role these aquariums can, or should, be playing in these difficult times.
Recommended Visit Time: A half-day should be enough to make the most of the attraction, but restaurant facilities are available for lunch if you want to make a day of it.
3. Cagnes-sur-Mer
Last up in this hat trick of Riviera roaming is the eye-wateringly charming resort of Cagnes-sur-Mer. It’s hard to know where to start when describing this jewel in the Côte d’Azur’s crown. From the impeccable beach that stretches as far as the eye can see to the space-age shopping centre, complete with multiplex cinema and casino, there’s something to please everyone.
If you’re after some historic sightseeing, then the resort will happily provide. The Château Musée Grimaldi is an ornate castle built in 1309 for none other than the royal family of Monaco. Beneath the castle, Haut-de-Cagnes, the oldest part of the town, spreads down the hillside in a charming, flower-filled disarray of alleyways and picture-perfect squares.
If, on the other hand, Le Cannet has whetted your appetite for art, then Cagnes-sur-Mer has been the home of a roll-call of superlative artists, including, most famously, Pierre-Auguste Renoir. Creator of the masterpiece Luncheon of the Boating Party (instantly recognizable from the film Amélie), Renoir lived in the town for the last portion of his life. A dedicated museum has been built to honour his memory.
Recommended Visit Time: A whole day could be very happily spent wandering the quaint streets, visiting the castle and the various museums, and relaxing on the beach.
From Cannes to Nice
From the glitz of Cannes to Nice’s gateway to the rest of Europe and beyond, I hope to have shown you just how much is going on in this small stretch of coast. The spirit of the great Impressionists who looked closely at nature and at the colours of communal life lives on in these bustling, creative and picturesque destinations. You never know – maybe the special magic of the place will work on you too, and you’ll become the next Bonnard or Renoir. Be sure to pack a paintbrush or two!
About Shuttle Direct
If you are looking for reliable travel from Cannes to Nice Airport, then Shuttle Direct, Europe and North Africa’s premier provider of airport transfer services, is an excellent choice. Safe, reliable and comfortable, our transfer from Cannes to Nice takes only 30 minutes.
NB.This route guide has been compiled as an aid to visiting the region. Your airport transfer service from Cannes to Nice Airport does not include stops to these destinations.
