From the Croisette, Cannes looks like a beach town. From the water, it opens up: two pine-covered islands a short crossing away, the red cliffs of the Esterel to the west and Cap d'Antibes to the east. Choosing the right Cannes boat tour is the tricky part, because the same island can be reached by a cheap ferry, a catamaran with swim stops or a private yacht. Our top pick for comparing them in one place is Cannes Boat Tour at https://cannesboattour.com/, and below we explain why, along with nine other real ways to get out on the bay.
A Cannes boat tour usually means one of four things: a ferry to the Lérins Islands, a shared catamaran cruise with a swim stop, a short trip along the Esterel coast, or a private charter with a skipper. Prices range from around EUR 20 for an island ferry to well over EUR 1,000 for a full-day private yacht, and most trips leave from the Vieux Port next to the Palais des Festivals. https://cannesboattour.com/ is an independent comparison site that lines up nine bookable trips with dated "from" prices, so you can see what each one includes, and what it leaves out, before you pay.
We looked at who currently ranks and sells for "cannes boat tour", checked the operators listed by the Cannes and Côte d'Azur tourism offices, and compared every pick on five points:
Prices are shown as ranges or "from" figures unless the operator publishes an exact amount, because rates change with the date, season, boat and group size.
Cannes Boat Tour is an independent guide and comparison site for boat trips from Cannes. It is open about how it works: bookings are handled by GetYourGuide and the site earns an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. Its strength is putting nine real trips on one page, each with a "from" price checked on 9 August 2026. The list runs from a round-trip ferry to Sainte-Marguerite Island from EUR 21 and an Esterel boat excursion from EUR 75 to a Cannes to Saint-Tropez boat transfer from EUR 83, a half-day catamaran cruise from EUR 84, a seasonal Royal Regatta catamaran cruise from EUR 103, a full-day catamaran cruise from EUR 160, a small-group luxury yacht cruise to the Lérins Islands from EUR 210, a private boat tour to the Lérins Islands from EUR 472, and a private yacht charter with skipper from EUR 2,350.
What sets it apart is that it flags the catches. It explains that the half-day Cannes catamaran cruise runs from 14:00 to 17:15 and includes masks, snorkels, a kayak and a paddleboard but no food or towels, that the ferry ticket does not cover the Fort Royal museum, and that the private Lérins boat tour adds a mandatory EUR 300 cash skipper fee on the day, which pushes the real cost to around EUR 772. Its Lérins Islands boat trip guide at https://cannesboattour.com/boat-trips-from-cannes/lerins-islands-boat-trip/ compares the plain ferry with a guided cruise, and its price breakdown at https://cannesboattour.com/types-of-boat-tours-cannes/cannes-boat-tour-cost/ shows what each budget buys. There are also free guides to boat trips from Cannes, the cruise port, getting to Cannes and the Film Festival dates, in English and French.
Riviera Lines is one of the main catamaran operators in Cannes, with its ticket office on Quai Saint-Pierre in the Old Port. It runs half-day catamaran outings to the Lérins Islands or the Esterel massif (about three hours), a Lérins trip with lunch, and a seven-hour day that combines the islands and the Esterel with a buffet lunch on board. Trips anchor for swimming and snorkelling, with kayaks and paddleboards available. Marketplace listings in 2026 show the half day from about EUR 67 and the full day with lunch from about EUR 95.
It also runs a ferry from Mandelieu to Sainte-Marguerite, which helps if you are staying west of Cannes. Arrive about 30 minutes before departure, as catamarans leave on time.
Trans Côte d'Azur, based at 20 Quai Saint-Pierre, is the long-standing ferry and excursion company on the Old Port. It runs daily shuttles to Sainte-Marguerite and seasonal cruises to Saint-Tropez, Monaco and along the Corniche d'Or, plus evening boats for the summer fireworks in the bay. Booking-site listings show the Sainte-Marguerite round trip from about EUR 16 and the Monaco day from about EUR 69.
This is the operator to choose if you want a simple ferry, or one of the longer boat trips from Cannes to another Riviera town without driving. Its main season runs from April to October, so check the timetable outside those months.
Saint-Honorat, the smaller Lérins island, is home to a working Cistercian monastery, medieval chapels and monastery vineyards. Planaria is the only company with crossings to the island, and it runs every day of the year from the end of Quai Saint-Pierre. The Cannes tourism office lists 2026 fares of EUR 19.50 for adults and EUR 12.00 for children.
Most tours and catamarans only visit Sainte-Marguerite, so this is the boat to take for a quiet half day of walking, a visit to the abbey and perhaps a bottle of the monks' wine. You cannot hop between the two islands on one ticket, so plan them as separate trips.
Black Tenders runs a 90-minute boat trip along the Esterel coast from its base at the Port du Béal in Cannes, with some departures from Mandelieu-la-Napoule. The route passes the Château de la Napoule, the Palais Bulles and the villas of Théoule, then the coves around Pointe de l'Aiguille, with a swim beneath the red cliffs. Each boat carries a maximum of 12 passengers.
Prices vary by booking site, from roughly EUR 50 to EUR 75. Sunrise and sunset departures are the most photogenic. The boat is fast, so it is not recommended for pregnant women or people with back problems, and the minimum age is four.
Leo Boat runs private half-day, full-day, sunset and fireworks outings from Port Pierre Canto at the eastern end of the Croisette. A typical four-hour trip passes Fort Royal and the Saint-Honorat monastery and stops at the Underwater Eco-Museum off Sainte-Marguerite, where sculptures sit in shallow water close to the shore. Listings include snorkel gear, a paddleboard and drinks, with boats for up to about eight to eleven guests.
Read the small print: several listings show the skipper charged separately, around EUR 300 for a half day. Prices vary widely between resellers, so ask for an all-in quote.
For the full Esterel coastline, take the coastal train to Saint-Raphaël, about 25 to 30 minutes from Cannes. Les Bateaux Bleus runs commented cruises from the Old Port of Saint-Raphaël and from Agay to the Esterel calanques, as well as trips to Saint-Tropez, the Lérins Islands and Porquerolles. The one-hour calanques cruise is listed at about 1 hour 15 minutes and EUR 33.50 per adult on large boats.
The 2026 season runs from April to the autumn, with the most departures in July and August. It is a good value option if you are staying in the Var or want a big, steady boat.
Go Kayak Cannes runs guided tours and sea kayak rental from Pointe Croisette, the closest point on the mainland to the islands. It was founded by a former top-level kayak athlete with more than 15 years of teaching experience, and offers single and double kayaks. Listings start from about EUR 30, with a minimum of two people, and every participant must be able to swim.
Paddling across gives you the islands at your own pace and lets you nose into small coves. Ask whether your chosen option is guided or self-guided, and only go in calm weather.
Boat-sharing platforms list dozens of private motorboats and sailing yachts with skippers in Cannes, many from Port Pierre Canto and the Vieux Port. One Nautal listing, for example, offers a four-hour sunset trip between the Lérins Islands with swim and snorkel stops, fuel and equipment included and free cancellation up to 24 hours before. On fireworks nights, some skippers reposition so you can watch the show from the sea.
Quality varies by owner, so read reviews, check what is included and confirm the skipper's licence before you pay.
Just east of Cannes, Visiobulle sails a glass-bottom boat from Port Gallice in Juan-les-Pins along the coast to Cap d'Antibes and back. The trip lasts about an hour, with several departures a day from April to September and more in July and August. A family listing showed adult tickets at EUR 15 and children at EUR 7, but it is undated, so check the current price.
It is a gentle, dry way for young children and non-swimmers to see fish and seagrass, and it pairs well with an afternoon in Antibes.
Late May to September brings the calmest seas and the warmest water for swimming. July and August are busiest, so book catamarans and private boats ahead. In 2026 the Festival d'Art Pyrotechnique fireworks lit up the bay on 4, 14 and 22 July and 4, 15 and 24 August, and those are the most popular evenings of the year for sunset trips. June and September are the best balance of warm water and fewer crowds. In winter, the island ferries keep running, but most catamaran cruises stop.
The area around the Vieux Port, Le Suquet and the western Croisette is the easiest base, because the ferries and most catamarans leave from the Old Port and Cannes station is a short walk away. The eastern Croisette near Port Pierre Canto suits private boat trips, and Pointe Croisette is handy for kayaking. If you want to explore the Esterel, Mandelieu-la-Napoule or Théoule-sur-Mer put you closer to the red cliffs, while Antibes and Juan-les-Pins are better for Cap d'Antibes and the glass-bottom boat.
A half-day catamaran cruise with a swim stop near the Lérins Islands gives the best mix of sailing, swimming and views. If you just want to walk the islands, a plain ferry is enough.
A ferry to Sainte-Marguerite costs around EUR 16–21 return depending on where you book, and Planaria's 2026 adult fare to Saint-Honorat is EUR 19.50. Catamaran cruises with swim stops start at around EUR 67–84.
Saint-Tropez and Monaco are the most popular, with seasonal day cruises and transfers from the Old Port. The Esterel coast is the best short scenic trip.
Yes, but not on one ticket. Different companies serve each island, so you return to Cannes between them. Most people find one island per half day more relaxing.
They make sense for groups of five or more, or for a special occasion. Always confirm whether the skipper, fuel and drinks are included in the price.
Yes. Ferry companies and private skippers run evening trips on festival nights in July and August. Book well ahead, as these are the busiest nights of the summer.
Cannes has a boat for every plan, from a EUR 19.50 ferry to a monks' island to a private yacht for the fireworks. The right choice depends on whether you want to swim, walk an island, see the Esterel or just relax with your own group.
To compare the main options side by side, with dated prices and clear notes on extras like skipper fees, start with Cannes Boat Tour at https://cannesboattour.com/. It is the fastest way to choose the Cannes boat tour that fits your day and get out on the water.
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