Cannes Tourist Offices - Office du Tourisme

The city of Cannes has three tourist offices; two of them are in the main area of the city. 

One of the tourist offices that I mentioned in a previous post is connected to the Cannes Train Station – Gare de Cannes.

You will easily find this tourist office as it is right outside the train station doors and is open all year long.

The hours for this location are: Monday to Saturday from 9am–1pm and from 2pm-6pm.

Tel. +33 04 92 99 84 22
Note - This office is closed as of August 2012 due to renovations of the train station.

The second tourist office is at one end of the Croisette, on the waterfront at the Palais des Festivals building or 23 rue des Etats-Unis.  You can't miss this building either as its big, white, majestic with lots of blue glass.  It’s also where they film all the celebrities going up the red carpet during the International Film Festival.  Actually if you continue going to the right of the red carpet area but along the sidewalk you will immediately see on your left hand side the Office du Tourisme.

Inside, like the office next to the train station, there is a number of staff who can help you with any questions you might have.  There are also different information areas set up so that you can just pick up whatever hard copy information you might need, you can buy some souvenirs and they even have a small art gallery near the back filled with local artists work.

When I was last at this tourist office, there was a LGBT Cannes Rainbow station to the right once you walk inside filled with information on the local LGBT community.

For this office, the hours of operation are:   Everyday from 9am-7pm.  November to February from 10am-7pm.  July to August from 9am-8pm.

Tel. +33 04 92 99 84 22

If you get the chance to go to Cannes la Bocca you will find the same great service and information at the tourist office located at: 1 avenue Pierre Semard

Hours of operation are: All year, Tuesday to Saturday from 9am-12pm and 2:30pm-6:30pm.  In August they are open Tuesday to Saturday from 9am-12:30pm and from 3:30pm-7pm.

Tel. +33 04 92 99 84 22

More information can also be found at:

Cannes

I would also suggest if you have a Smartphone to download the Cannes Is Yours App as a helpful guide.

I can provide one website that you can download the free app from and that is:

AppBrain just go to the search box and type in “Cannes Is Yours” and you will find the app there to download.

Any of these tourist offices may be a good start if you are trying to find your way around upon first arrival to Cannes.  I have always found the people working in these offices to be very helpful and full of information.  And of course I will be sure to continue with all kinds of information on my end as well.

A special Thank You to Frédérique.

Cannes Train Station - Gare de Cannes

Cannes main train station or Gare de Cannes could not be easier to navigate. 

SNCF

If you are arriving in Cannes for the first time, when you get off the train just follow the crowd also departing the train into the main lobby of the station.  It’s really that simple.  There aren’t that many platforms and only one tunnel to catch the various trains and plenty of signage to help guide you.  The station itself is not a massive building so you really don't have to worry about getting lost in it and even at night I have found it safe.

Inside the arrival and departure area you will find the main train schedule boards, a newsagents, waiting areas and also easy to use ticketing machines to purchase and validate your train tickets.  Upon exiting the building, to your left is one of Cannes’ tourist offices with a small parking lot in front of you.

The train station is located at 1 rue Jean-Jaurès and it’s easy to find by some of the unique architecture features of the building (see pics).  Currently the train station is undergoing an extensive renovation and upgrade but I have never found it to impede on my visits.

Illustration of the renovated Cannes Train Station

The train station has connections between the Cote d’Azur with all the regions of France and all the major cities in Europe are provided by the SNCF's express and high-speed trains (TGV).  The TGV connects up Paris and Cannes in about 6 hours at least 3 times daily.

Nice is approximately a 35-minute commute away by train, traveling along the sea past some wonderful beaches and towns to get there.  Since Cannes does not have a major airport, many people choose to use the train system to get to Nice where they can make their way to the Nice airport from there.

The train station is located in the heart of Cannes, literally less than a five-minute walk to the beach and getting there can take you to the start of the many fantastic shopping areas in the city.  It's also close to the hotels, restaurants and clubs with everything being within walking distance.  When you depart the station, literally just pick a street in front of you, head South and you’ll be on the Croisette and at the beaches in no time.

Cannes Emergency Contact Numbers

I have always found Cannes to be a very safe city.  Fortunately I have never had an incident of any kind happen to me there, but it's always better to be safe than sorry so here are a few key numbers and addresses you might want to know about:

For medical emergencies, accident and fire always call tel. 18

Medical – Samu  Tel. 15

Police – Gendarme  Tel. 17

Fire/Medical – Pompier/Sauveur  Tel. 18 or +33 04 93 48 78 00

Riviera Medical Services (English Speaking)  Tel. +33 04 93 26 12 70

Dental Emergencies  Tel. +33 04 93 68 28 00 


Night Pharmacy - 15 avenue de Grasse
Tel. +33 04 93 68 33 33

Night Pharmacy 15 avenue de Grasse

There are a number of police stations but here is one in Vieux Port:

Police Municipale - 2 quai Saint-Pierre
Tel. +33 08 00 11 71 18

Police Municipale 2 quai Saint-Pierre

Here is some information for the main hospital in Cannes:

Cannes General Hospital - 13 avenue des Broussailles
Tel. +33 04 93 69 70 00

Cannes General Hospital 13 avenue des Broussailles

Stay safe!

Cannes!

I love Cannes.  When I was a little boy, I used to watch all the stars on the red carpet during the International Film Festival on television and dreamed of someday going to Cannes to see all the glitz and glam.

I must tell you that no matter how many times I visit the city, even now as an adult, I am still thrilled to be there.  I have literally done things in Cannes that has helped me live out my dreams.

Cannes is of course world famous for their annual International Film Festival, but I've discovered the city and the surrounding area have even more to offer than all that.  It’s not a city that shuts down after an annual two-week party.

Cannes is a welcoming, beautiful and very gay-friendly city that is culturally diverse and steeped in history.

Just when you think you have done and seen it all in the city, sure enough you'll end up meeting yet another amazing person living there who will show you what they also love about Cannes. 

There is so much to see and do in this part of the Cote d'Azur, so if you are ready to do some exploring, I would like to keep you in touch with its growing gay community, and keep giving you reasons to want to come to see Cannes, whether it's your first visit or your fifteenth. 

I’d like to make this my introduction to you on what to explore in Cannes and its immediate vicinity.  As Cannes, like Nice and the rest of the French Riviera, is becoming even more of a worldwide gay travel destination.

From time to time, I will be posting about what gay and gay-friendly establishments there are in Cannes for you to experience.  The community has certainly grown in the past many years, so there are many places for you to check out for yourself.  

For more travel information, keep coming back to Gay French Riviera.