Cannes Tourist Information

Cannes is a shopaholic’s paradise. The Croisette boasts most of the biggest name brands in the world with the rue d’Antibes offering more affordable clothes and shoe shopping. The small roads between the two have a plethora of boutiques to suit all tastes. 

Sales (soldes)

Did you know... you are not allowed to walk the streets in just your bathing suit - it's not Spain!

Crazy Taxes:  shopkeepers in France have to pay a tax to put the name of the store on their facade?

It is down to each local authority whether to impose it but it raised 42m euros in 2009  

Your size? 

Not all sizes are always on show so if you see something you like ask for your size. 

                                                                            Other clothes conversions

Tip: Sales staff will offer to help you but are very relaxed if you tell them you are just looking.

 Made in Cannes

The perfume Chanel No 5 was born in Cannes, in a perfume factory in La Bocca - created by Ernest Beaux one of its "noses". Coco Chanel chose the fifth of a batch of perfumes presented by Ernest and it was launched on 5 May 1921.The current Chanel shop is to be found at 5 La Croisette.

Cannes has given 7,000 sq m of PVC advertising toiles that hang throughout the year in the town to the company Resines Esterel Azur which is employing 16 long term unemployed to create bags and other accessories for men and women. Mary Valencia has created a number of designs which use the PVC together with leather and wood as well as organic cotton and linen.

The deal was struck in July this year but the products will not be available for a few months while the workforce is being trained up. 

Monaco based creators of swimwear to be found on the rue d'Antibes. Well, Monaco's not that far away.

At Cordonerrie Pasteur, 4 rue Pasteur you can by sandals made in Le Cannet. 80-300 euros.

Made in Cannes by Jean-Luc Pele and his team are wonderful chocolates, patisserie and macarons.  Both his shops - 36 rue Meynadier and 42 rue d'Antibes - have their own kitchens and are located on the shady side of the streets. In the rue d'Antibes shop there is a huge wall of chocolate to be gawped at as well as sweeties to drool over.

Crazy Taxes: white and milk chocolate is considered a luxury and is taxed at 19.6% VAT. Dark chocolate, however, is classified as a food product at 5.5% VAT.

Reminiscence is a perfume created in Cannes in 2010. It is for women and has oriental woody tones.

Until September 2010 it can only be bought in Cannes, Juan les Pins, St Tropez and Monaco.

Don’t miss a stroll along the pedestrianised rue Meynadier. 

Here you can find some of the town’s best butchers, wet fish, bread, cheese, chocolate and sweet shops as well as an off-licence and one of the few centrally located supermarkets – Carrefour Market (formerly Champion).  There’s a choice of traiteurs – the uniquely French approach to catering – where you can buy ready made dishes fit for the finest dinner party.  All these culinary delights nestle among clothes boutiques, home stores, cut price cosmetics, jewellery shops and shoe shops, one with a heel bar. And, if looking for gifts to take home, there’s several  ‘provencal’ outlets.  The lower part of the street is packed with restaurants, bars and cafes including Aux Bons Enfants restaurant – mentioned in many guides.