La Croisette, best known for its annual film festival, is also packed with designer shops, cafés, and sun worshipers. During the day, crowds of tourists spend their time on the 2 km beach stretching along the shore. When the sun goes down, people line up outside glamorous nightclubs looking their best to get past the doormen scanning the crowds. Expect famous DJs and Champagne flowing freely. There is a gay scene and a casino here as well, but be prepared to pay cover charge steep prices.

The Le Vieux (Le Suquet) neighborhood of Cannes is where the locals go to get away from the crowds at the center of town. The old port is a scenic break from the tanned and oiled masses viewing for their place in the sun. An elaborate labyrinth of back streets and quaint cafés, with little squares that provide cool places for a quiet drink or meal. Suquet Hill offers unparalleled panoramas of Cannes, and Musée de la Castre offers a bit of historic and cultural education for those interested.

The Town Center Cannes is a high profile, luxury shopping and entertainment hub if there ever was one. High fashion labels are the flavor every day here, but besides designer labels, there’s always famous art to look at. Nice boutique hotels, and overall less expensive amenities are the highlights of this area. And when it comes to nightlife, this is where it all begins: first a drink at one of the pubs, than go down to La Croissette for the best nightclubs in town.