Cannes is the domain of Europe's yachting set

Cannes is a glamorous seaside resort on the French Riviera.

With its sweeping sandy beaches and swanky yachts, the city's seaside promenade bustles with Europe's famously rich parading the latest in fashion and facelifts.

Prime time for celebrity-spotting is during the prestigious Cannes international film festival, held for 10 days in mid-May, when the global movie industry elite descends in a whirlwind of publicity and photo opportunity.

The palm tree-lined promenade de la Croisette runs along Cannes' seafront like a long, perverse catwalk, with the glitzy hotels and boutiques on one side and the moored yachts and private beaches on the other. The Palaias des Festivals lies at the end of the promenade and is the main venue for important cultural and arts events held in Cannes.

Keeping things real is the hilltop Le Suquet (old town) which offers lovely views of the coastline and houses the remains of an 11th century priory and a 12th century church, the latter which has been converted into a museum.

Only 15 minutes ferry ride from Cannes, the Îles de Lérins are popular islands to get away from it all and include the forested Île Ste-Marguerite and the smaller Île St-Honorat.

If your budget doesn't stretch to a hotel on la Croisette, Cannes is not bereft of campsites, hostels, budget hotels, holiday apartments or villas to lay your weary head. Keep in mind that the price of accommodation skyrockets in July and August and you'll need to plan months in advance if you want to stay in town during the film festival.

Cannes is accessible from Nice, which is only 25km away and has an international airport.