Inspiring instagrams #Cannes

Going to a Cannes beach club is one of the quintessential experiences of visiting the French Riviera, and it’s the perfect opportunities for some glamorous selfies, or artistic shots of handsome waiters, ice buckets full of champagne, and the glittering sea.

The ‘Avenue of Stars’ just by the Palais des Festivals, where you’ll find the palm-prints of some big movie stars marked into the paving stones. While this ‘walk of fame’ is not nearly as extensive as the one you’d find in Hollywood, there are some big celebrities featured here, including Meryl Streep, Sylvester Stallone, and Sharon Stone. Either snap some creative shots to put on Instagram, or crouch down, stretch your hand out next to one of the big names, and take a selfie.

Forget celebrity: at this spot the Mediterranean landscape is the real star. Climb up Le Suquet to the grounds of the Musee de la Castre, where you’ll get a fantastic view of the coast. You’ll be able to see the terracotta roofs of the old town and the superyachts in harbour, and across the sparkling sea to the Cannes islands in the foreground and the mighty Alps rising up over the coast in the distance. If visiting in peak season, try to take your photos early or at sunset to avoid the summer haze.

You can get some extraordinary photos of the superyachts (and pose for a selfie like you own one) as you stroll along the quays of Cannes. Port Pierre Canto by the Palais is home to most of the very big superyachts, while the Old Port at the foot of Le Suquet tends to have a good mix of photogenic classic sailing boats and big motoryachts. If you can get a view from Port Pierre Canto across to the Old Port around sunset you’ll be rewarded with a sensational photo— the late afternoon light paints the Provencal buildings of the old town golden, and the sailing boat masts clustered in the foreground make for a truly great shot. Otherwise, go very early when the sea is glassy calm, the docks are quiet, and the yachts shine in the morning light.

There are so many good rooftop bars in Cannes that we’ve written a whole article about them here, but for high glamour over the Mediterranean, it would be hard to go past 360 rooftop bar on the roof terrace of Blu 1835 Hotel & Thalasso. However, if you’d prefer a rooftop infinity pool setting for your selfie, then Five Seas Hotel is your best bet.

Probably the most photographed place in all of Cannes and the site of a million selfies, are the stairs of the Palais des Festivals. Each May movie stars and directors flock to these red-carpeted stairs for the Cannes Film Festival- and while you won’t get the red carpet rolled out at other times of year, it’s still a very iconic place to take a selfie.

For photos of crystal clear coves and quiet pine forest, board the ferry and head over the Cannes Islands to get a glimpse of what the Mediterranean used to look like. You can visit either Ile Sainte Marguerite with its pretty beaches and old fort, or take a gentle stroll through the vineyards and monastery grounds of Ile de Saint Honorat. Photo opportunities abound.

This grand dame of an art deco hotel dominates the skyline along the Croisette, with its decorative façade and iconic domes. You could pose for a selfie out front, or try and get the whole façade in from a distance. If looking from the outside isn’t enough, you could head inside the hotel, walk through the opulent lobby, and enjoy a champagne brunch in the restaurant—an ideal selfie opportunity to make the friends back home jealous!