The red steps
Twenty-four steps every film star has climbed — your turn is free.
Timantha102938 — Public domain · leineart — CC BY-SA 3.0 · MOSSOT — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Alexander Migl — CC BY-SA 4.0
The Palais des Festivals is what makes Cannes 'Cannes': here the world's most famous film festival happens each May, its stars climbing the twenty-four red-carpeted steps before every lens on earth. The rest of the year the steps belong to visitors: a red carpet is laid almost always, and a smiling queue takes turns at the famous ascent photo — a complete free tourist ritual. Around the palace runs the Walk of Fame, three-hundred-plus handprints of stars who passed here, Chaplin onward. The palace itself is a big year-round congress centre, and its position is the Croisette's point zero: the famous seafront starts east of it, the old port and the Suquet old quarter immediately west.
Twenty-four steps every film star has climbed — your turn is free.
Three hundred handprints in the pavement, Chaplin to today.
Croisette east, Suquet and port west — all Cannes from here.
1 Boulevard de la Croisette, 06400 Cannes
Old Port of CannesThe historic harbour of Cannes, between the Palais des Festivals and the Suquet 5 minutes walk4.6
CannesCannes was a small fishing town that became the most famous address on the Frenc5 minutes walk4.1
Cannes War MemorialA memorial to the men of Cannes killed in the First World War, near the old port5 minutes walk4.8
Cannes City HallCannes's city hall on the old port frontage, dating from the end of the nineteen5 minutes walk3.5
Marché ForvilleThe Marché Forville is Cannes's real kitchen and its most honest place: a covere6 minutes walk4.5Outside events, generally only on guided tours the tourist office runs on set days — covering the grand auditorium and festival backstage, worthwhile for film lovers. Otherwise the steps and exterior are the experience.
Early morning before ten is near-empty; evening after dark is handsome under lights with a shorter queue. Summer midday brings a real line — and the carpet may vanish on event days.
For star-atmosphere lovers yes, with right expectations: nothing admits you without invitations and hotels hit fantasy prices, but watching arrivals from the barriers and street star-spotting genuinely delights the inclined. Everyone else should avoid late May entirely.