A morning in Antibes, a day in Nice, or a journey towards Monaco and Menton: staying in Cannes gives you plenty of ways to explore the Riviera. Choose one main destination and leave room for lunch, a view and the journey home.
Which day trip suits your stay?
| Destination | Best for | Getting there | Allow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nice | Old town, food and waterfront | Train to Nice-Ville; walk or tram onward | Full day |
| Monaco | Harbour, grand buildings and aquarium | Train to Monaco–Monte-Carlo | Full day |
| Èze village | Hilltop lanes and coastal views | Train plus bus or taxi uphill | Most of a day |
| Menton | Colourful old town and gardens | Train to Menton | Full day |
| Grasse | Perfume and heritage | Train; onward transport to the centre | Half to full day |
| Antibes | Ramparts, art and an easy first outing | Train to Antibes; walk onward | Half to full day |
| Saint-Paul-de-Vence | Art and a hilltop village | Train to Cagnes-sur-Mer, then bus or taxi | Most of a day |
| Mougins | Village wandering and a long lunch | Car, taxi or a planned bus connection | Half day |
| Saint-Tropez | Harbour atmosphere and old-town lanes | Seasonal excursion boat or road | Long full day |
CITY & SEAFRONT
A day in Nice
Make Nice a day of contrasts: old-town lanes, a leisurely lunch and the open sweep of the Promenade des Anglais. Start around Place Masséna, explore Vieux Nice and finish beside the sea. Add Castle Hill if everyone has the energy for a climb, or choose one museum when the weather is less inviting.
Plan it: take the train to Nice-Ville, then walk or use local transport towards the old town. The station is not on the waterfront. Keep the afternoon flexible rather than committing to sights at opposite ends of the city.
Good to know: a city day involves more walking than it first appears. Families can shorten the outing to the old town and promenade. Budget for the return train, lunch and any museum entry; a waterfront walk needs no attraction ticket.
Official Promenade des Anglais guide · Find Vieux Nice on a map
HARBOUR & HERITAGE
A day in Monaco
Choose two parts of the principality: the old town on the Rock and the harbour, or the harbour and Monte-Carlo. For a family outing, make the Oceanographic Museum the main visit and allow a relaxed lunch instead of trying to fit everything in.
Plan it: travel to Monaco–Monte-Carlo station and check which exit suits your first stop. Monaco has different levels, so use its public lifts and local buses where helpful. Book paid attractions through their official websites and check entry conditions separately if you intend to visit the casino.
Good to know: Grand Prix preparations and major events can change access and make the day much busier. Give Monaco its own day if you want a substantial museum visit; combining it with Èze leaves little time to linger.
Official Monaco visitor information · Oceanographic Museum tickets and opening information · Station map
HILLTOP VIEWS
Visiting Èze village from Cannes
Èze is an outing for wandering slowly: stone lanes, small galleries and views from the hilltop. Choose the village and, if open, the Jardin Exotique as the focus of your visit. A quiet lunch is a better companion to this trip than several more towns.
Plan it: Èze-sur-Mer railway station is at sea level; the medieval village is high above it. Plan an onward bus or taxi and verify the connection before leaving Cannes. You can also compare routes via Nice using the current local transport planner.
Good to know: the Nietzsche path is a steep walking route, not a convenient station shortcut. Take proper shoes and water if deliberately choosing the hike. The village has slopes and steps, so it needs thought for pushchairs or limited mobility. Check garden admission and opening times before travelling.
Official information on the Nietzsche path · Plan local bus connections · Map of Èze village
COLOUR & GARDENS
A day in Menton
Menton rewards an unhurried day: a waterfront stroll, lunch and an exploration of the pastel-coloured old town. Garden enthusiasts can choose one garden as a booked or timed visit, leaving the rest of the day open.
Plan it: take the coastal train to Menton and check the walking route to your first stop. Allow a full day from Cannes; adding Nice or Monaco would make this a much more hurried outing.
Good to know: the upper old town has steps and steep streets. A waterfront-led day is an easier alternative. Gardens are not all beside the station or each other, and some visits have specific opening or reservation arrangements. During the Lemon Festival, check the actual programme, tickets and expected crowds before travelling.
Official Menton visitor guide and current events · Choose a Menton garden · Menton map
PERFUME & OLD TOWN
A day in Grasse
Build the day around perfume: choose a museum, a perfumery tour or a hands-on workshop, then explore the historic centre and stop for lunch. A workshop gives the day a clear focus, particularly for visitors who enjoy making something to take home.
Plan it: take the train to Grasse, then arrange the last part of the journey. The tourist office places the station around two kilometres from the centre; it is not an arrival straight into the old town. Compare the local bus connection with a taxi before setting out.
Good to know: reserve workshops in advance and check language, minimum age and duration. A free commercial perfumery tour and a paid creation workshop are different experiences. Old-town streets can be steep; retain time for getting back to the station.
Official Grasse transport information · Grasse museums · Historic centre map
AN EASY FIRST EXCURSION
Antibes: old town, ramparts and Picasso
Antibes makes a satisfying shorter outing. Walk from the station towards the old town, explore the lanes and waterfront ramparts, and leave time for lunch. Art lovers can make the Picasso Museum the main stop rather than an extra squeezed in at the end.
Plan it: take a train that stops at Antibes, then continue on foot. Choose a half day for a wander or a full day if including the museum and a longer lunch.
Good to know: check museum opening days first. Cap d’Antibes is a separate, longer excursion with extra transport and walking; do not assume a coastal hike fits effortlessly into an old-town visit.
Official Picasso Museum visitor information · Old Antibes map
ART & VILLAGE LANES
Saint-Paul-de-Vence
Choose Saint-Paul for galleries, stone streets and a village lunch. If modern art is your priority, plan a visit to the Fondation Maeght and allow separate time to reach it rather than treating it as a quick stop in the village.
Plan it: travel by train to Cagnes-sur-Mer and connect by bus or taxi. This is not a direct rail destination. Check the current bus route and return departure before committing to a meal reservation.
Good to know: cobbled lanes and slopes make comfortable shoes worthwhile. Allow most of the day once connections and lunch are included; a car or prearranged transfer can simplify a trip with several inland stops.
A LEISURELY LUNCH
Mougins village
Mougins is a good choice when you want a village atmosphere without planning a whole coastal tour. Wander the lanes, browse galleries and make lunch the centre of the outing.
Plan it: specify the historic village when arranging a taxi or planning a route. The wider commune covers more than the hilltop centre. For public transport, check both the stop and the remaining walk using current Palm Bus information.
Good to know: reserve a particular restaurant ahead and organise your return. This is a useful half-day alternative to a much longer excursion, but the village’s slopes still matter for anyone with limited mobility.
Official Mougins village guide · Palm Bus journey information · Historic village map
MAKE A DAY OF IT
Saint-Tropez
Saint-Tropez is best treated as a special full-day outing: harbour views, old-town lanes and a leisurely lunch. Choose the town itself as your focus. A beach-club day outside the centre is a different plan and needs its own transfer arrangements.
Plan it: check whether an excursion boat from Cannes operates on your date and how long it leaves ashore. Reserve the return journey as part of the plan. Road travel is another option, but traffic and parking can take a substantial part of the day.
Good to know: this is not a direct train trip from Cannes. Boat departures depend on the operator’s programme and conditions; do not build an inflexible restaurant booking around an unchecked sailing.
Cannes official boat-trip operators · Saint-Tropez tourist office · Harbour map
Keep the day comfortable
- Choose one main destination. Nice, Monaco and Menton each offer enough for their own day. Èze adds a hilltop connection.
- Check live journeys. Use SNCF TER regional information and SNCF Connect for your date, fares and return options. Leave a buffer rather than relying on the final service.
- Set a budget before booking. Add return transport, onward buses or taxis, lunch and attraction tickets. Village walks can be inexpensive; workshops and boat excursions change the budget considerably.
- Pack for the whole outing. Water, comfortable shoes, sun protection and a charged phone make a difference. Check accessibility with the transport operator and attraction where needed.
Prefer to stay nearer home? Explore the Lérins Islands or use our three-day Cannes itinerary.
Prepared for Cannes Holiday Apartments using official visitor and transport information. Sources checked 24 September 2026. Opening times, fares and services can change; use the linked official sources for your travel date.