If the beautiful yachts that you have seen floating around the Mediterranean this summer have left you wanting more, then the Cannes Yachting Festival is the show for you. Kicking off the show season in early September, the Cannes Yachting Festival is a showcase of some of the finest superyachts for sale and charter in the 30 – 50m range.
What is the Cannes Yachting Festival?
The Cannes Yachting Festival marks the beginning of the Autumn sales season for the yachting industry. Year on year, this highly anticipated annual event welcomes more than 50,000 visitors to view a showcase of new and second-hand yachts exhibited by brokerage companies and shipyards from all over the world. Along with a fine selection of superyachts from the Burgess sale and charter fleets, the expert brokers from Burgess will be on hand to share their knowledge and insights on the market, helping to guide you in whatever yachting direction you are looking to go.
Experience the lovely weather and atmosphere of the festival
Where is the Cannes Yachting Festival held?
Once a small fishing village, the glamorous seaside town of Cannes has become the epicentre of yachting on the French Riviera. The Cannes Yachting Festival is unusual in that it is spread across two aquatic locations, with new yachts on display in the Old Port (or Le Vieux Port as it is locally known) and sailing yachts and pre-owned yachts displayed across the bay in Port Canto. The show organisers run boat shuttles between the two for those with passes, and Burgess also has a complimentary tender running for Burgess clients accompanied by a Burgess broker.
Le Vieux Port, home to the Cannes Yachting Festival
When is the Cannes Yachting Festival?
A much-anticipated event on the yachting calendar, the Cannes Yachting Festival is held annually in the early part of September. Spread across six days from Tuesday to Sunday, the show signals the end of the summer yachting season and the beginning of the Autumn sales season across the globe.
Enjoy the stunning purple hue sunsets
How to get to the Cannes Yachting Festival?
There are two airports conveniently located on the Côte d’Azur, at Nice and Cannes. The large commercial airport of Nice has good connections from most major European cities and a large private jet terminal. Located close to the main A8 motorway, it is just 17 miles from the centre of Cannes.
Nice Airport, located 17 miles from central Cannes
Cannes-Mandelieu is exclusively a private jet terminal. Located above Cannes next to the A8 motorway, it is a slightly quicker ground transfer into Cannes, but in reality, flying into Nice instead of Cannes will only add 10 -15 minutes to your total journey, since the majority of traffic en route is usually on the Boulevard Carnot (the road leading down from the motorway into the centre of Cannes). For those short on time there is also a helipad by the port for transfers between Nice and Cannes.
What is Cannes like in September?
September is one of the most pleasant months on the Côte d’Azur. During the shoulder-season the summer crowds have largely dissipated, the climate is only slightly cooler than the hotter months of July and August, and better still, most things are open but much less crowded. Discover all the charm of Cannes – walks along the Croisette, lunches on sun-filled terraces, and the opportunity to visit some of the finest yachts for sale and charter at the Cannes Yachting Festival – what’s not to love?
Walk along the coast admiring the beautiful scenery
Where to stay during the Cannes Yachting Festival?
Despite its small size, Cannes holds its own against nearby Nice and Monaco in terms of its international-class collection of palace hotels. The first luxury hotel to open in Cannes, the historic Carlton Cannes, a Regent hotel, is certainly one to consider, having re-opened its doors after an impressive two-year renovation. With an enviable location on the Croisette, this grand hotel occupies an entire block of the coastline’s most prestigious beachfront promenade, and is just a short walk from the main entrance to the Cannes Yachting Festival at the Palais des Festivals.
Carlton Cannes located along the coastline
The Art Deco Hôtel Martinez is another quintessential Cannes’ property, having been open for over 90 years. Also located on the famous Croisette, this utopia of hospitality features a two-Michelin star restaurant called La Palme d’Or (unfortunately currently under refurbishment and due to re-open Spring 2024), and the new beach club and restaurant La Plage.
Explore the tastes and sights that Cannes has to offer
For those looking to escape the hustle and bustle of Cannes but still wishing to soak up the Côte d’Azur in all its glory, Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc in nearby Cap d’Antibes is the epitome of French Riviera glamour. The property is also something of a celebrity magnet, regularly welcoming film stars and members of many of Europe’s royal families. With several restaurants helmed by Eric Frechon, the brand-new Dior-Spa Eden Roc and the iconic seawater pool, it is well worth the short car ride to and from Cannes, even if just for a drink.
Despite its relatively small size, Cannes packs a sizeable punch, with its famous boulevards and grand hotels. Arguably the star of the French Riviera, the Cannes Croisette has become one of the most iconic promenades in the world, well-trodden by just about every Hollywood A-lister and film director during the iconic Cannes Film Festival. Whether strolling along the famous seafront setting, or through the labyrinth of cobblestone streets in the old town, the city combines glamour with history at every turn. Take some time out away from the show and discover all that Cannes has to offer.
Walk amongst A-list celebrities as they attend the Cannes Film Festival
Visit the iconic Croisette
Feel the excitement in the air as you walk beneath the palm trees and Belle Epoque hotels of the Croisette. Stretching for over two miles from the Palais des Festival, where the Cannes Film Festival takes place, to Port Canto, the promenade is flanked by beach clubs and the sparkling Mediterranean on one side and one of the world’s ultimate shopping destinations to the other. Yves St Laurent, Chanel, Dior, Hermès… the famous Croisette is literally lined with flagship haute-couture boutiques from all the greatest brands.
The Croisette home to many designer flagship boutiques
Shopping in Cannes
If you can tear yourself away from the designer boutiques on the Croisette, then the Rue d’Antibes, which lies parallel to and just behind the Croisette, also has a succession of luxury brands on show, as well as high-end jewellers. For a more local ‘Cannois’ experience, the Marché Forville covered market is known for its kaleidoscope of fresh produce, flowers and typical Provençal produce.
Rue d'Antibes known as the place to go for high-end jewellery when in Cannes
Where to eat and drink
When the sun is out, lunching at one of the outdoor restaurants lining the Croisette is a must, not just for the food but for the views across the Bay of Cannes as well. Reserve a spot at La Môme Plage, or head to Mademoiselle Gray at La Plage Barrière for a seafood buffet. When evening falls the belle-epoque hotels lining the Croisette are home to some of the finest restaurants along the Côte d’Azur. Try the rooftop of the Hotel Belle Plage where the restaurant Bella serves a unique brand of modern Israeli cuisine. Alternatively, Le Fouquet at the Barrière or Riviera at the Carlton Cannes are both firm favourites both for their setting and their cuisine. If you are looking for a more low-key vibe then head away from the seafront to the old town, or Le Suquet as it is often called. Here you will find a number of family-run restaurants, including the locally favoured Auberge Provençale and Table 22.
Treat your tastebuds to mouthwatering fresh seafood
Take in the nightlife of Cannes
Kick off the evening with a cocktail in Bar 58 at the Carlton Cannes; the buzzy hotspot is great for people-watching. And if you want to soak up Cannes at its glitzy best then you can always head to Le Baoli. The quintessential flashy nightclub attracts the yachting crowd to its panoramic rooftop terrace, Cloud Nine, followed by dancing until the early hours at Le Baoli’s club.
Discover the array of cocktail bars and nightclubs that contribute to Cannes' vibrant nightlife
Take a day trip to Île Sainte-Marguerite
L’île Saint-Marguerite and L’île Saint-Honorat, collectively known as Les Iles de Lérins after the eponymous monks, lie just across the Bay of Cannes and offer a peaceful day away from the bustling port. Arrange a private tender transfer for this however as although the islands are accessible from Cannes by ferry, you can’t access both of them in one trip unless you go private. You can explore the monastery on Saint-Honorat, where the monks still live, take a hike through the forest of eucalyptus and Aleppo pine trees on neighbouring Sainte-Marguerite, and have lunch at the famed La Guerite restaurant.
Make a day of it. Hike up to the towers of the Saint-Honorat monastery
Get active with a hike in La Croix-Des Gardes
Only 10-minutes drive from the center of Cannes, the Croix-Des Gardes is the ideal place to head for a walk or exercise. Watching over the city, the park area is a reserve for the flora and fauna with umbrella pine forests and maquis of various varieties. Over 16 miles of paths lead through an arboretum, dotted with viewpoints which, at the highest points afford 360-degree views over the bay of Cannes all the way to the Lérins islands and the Estérel massif.
Take in the breathtaking views of the Croix-Des Gardes
Sail around the French Riviera
Providing the perfect combination of effortless charm and elegance, the cruising grounds of the French Riviera are a perennial favourite for the yachting crowd, and rightfully so. This sun-soaked corner of southeast is a quintessential summer playground for superyachts. July and August are the busiest months, but there are plenty of peaceful and scenic anchorages for those in the know or take advantage of the shoulder month of September and you’ll have your pick of the best. From the legendary beach clubs of Pampelonne to the renowned haute cuisine of Saint-Tropez, Cannes and Monaco, the 40 miles of coastline have undeniable cruising appeal.