Cannes, France: Airport Accessibility And Travel Options

Cannes, France, is a popular travel destination, known for the Cannes Film Festival and its location on the French Riviera. The closest airport to Cannes is the Cannes-Mandelieu airport, which is located 6km to the west of the city. This airport caters to private and business flights and is one of the major gateways for private jet passengers flying into the French Riviera. For major airlines, the closest airport to Cannes is the Nice Côte d'Azur Airport, located 27-28km from the city centre. This airport is a major gateway to Southern Europe, serving 90 destinations and hosting nearly 50 airlines. It offers convenient transport links to Cannes, with a 45-minute shuttle service and a 25-minute bus service, making it a popular choice for travellers.

Cannes' closest airport

Cannes is a city in the Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur region of France, located on the French Riviera. While Cannes does have its own airport, the closest major airport is Nice Côte d'Azur Airport (NCE/LFMN), which is around 12.3 miles or 27 km away.

Nice Côte d'Azur Airport is a major gateway to Southern Europe, serving 90 destinations with direct flights and hosting nearly 50 airlines. It is the second-largest international airport in France after Paris, receiving flights from across Europe, the US, North Africa, and the Middle East. The airport has two terminals, with a free shuttle running between them, and is easily accessible from the city of Nice, just 8 kilometres away.

From Nice Côte d'Azur Airport, travellers can take a shuttle to Cannes, which runs every 40 minutes and takes about 45 minutes via the motorway. Tickets can be purchased online or from the shuttle company for around €19.50 one way.

Other nearby airports to Cannes include:

• Cannes-Mandelieu Airport (6 km away)
• Marseille Provence Airport (126 km away)
• Toulon-Hyères Airport (175 km away)
• Monaco Heliport (56 km away)
• La Mole - Saint-Tropez Airport (80 km away)

Cannes-Mandelieu airport

The airport serves as a gateway to the French Riviera, from Saint-Tropez to the Principality of Monaco. It complements the Nice Côte d'Azur Airport, which is primarily dedicated to regular commercial flights. Cannes-Mandelieu Airport focuses on general tourist and business aviation, emergency and surveillance missions, and the development of theoretical and practical training for air transport professions.

The airport has a strategic geographical position in the Mediterranean basin, with a sunny climate and beautiful scenery. It is nestled between the Estérel massif, the bay of Cannes, and the Grasse region. The city of Cannes can also be accessed by train, bus, car, sea, or helicopter.

Nice Côte d'Azur airport

The airport is a major hub for Southern Europe, offering direct flights to 90 destinations and hosting nearly 50 airlines. It has two terminals with a free shuttle service between them. Terminal 1 has 25 gates and serves domestic, Schengen, and non-Schengen areas, while Terminal 2 is newer and larger, equipped to handle all destinations with 29 gates. The airport's theoretical capacity is 14 million passengers annually, and it handled 14,189,965 passengers in 2023.

The airport covers an area of 3.70 km2, with 2.70 km2 dedicated to its two parallel runways and three passenger terminals, including a business aviation terminal. It is positioned on the western end of the Promenade des Anglais, and Nice tramway line 2 connects the airport to the Port of Nice (Lympia Port). The tram runs every 8 minutes during the day, and there is also a tramway line 3 that serves the western suburbs.

Marseille Provence airport

History

In September 2006, the airport introduced a new terminal, MP2, dedicated to budget airlines. Seven years later, in 2013, the airport expanded its retail and dining offerings, adding 30 new shops and restaurants, including the first Burger King in France since 1997.

Airlines and Destinations

Some of the destinations served by the airport include:

• Lyon
• Paris–Charles de Gaulle
• Paris–Orly
• London–Gatwick
• Bristol
• Düsseldorf
• Seoul–Incheon
• Istanbul–Sabiha Gökçen
• Casablanca
• Marrakesh
• Rabat
• Agadir
• Alicante
• Berlin
• Bologna
• Bucharest–Otopeni
• Budapest
• Catania
• Charleroi
• Dublin
• Madrid
• Málaga
• Lisbon
• London–Stansted
• Stockholm–Arlanda
• Vienna
• Athens
• Heraklion
• Algiers
• Annaba
• Batna
• Chlef
• Constantine
• Oran
• Seasonal: Setif, Tlemcen

Ground Transportation

The airport is easily accessible by car, train, or shuttle bus. It is served by the Vitrolles Marseille Provence Airport rail station on the TER network, and a public bus connects the airport to the station.

Private jet airports near Cannes

Cannes Mandelieu Airport (CEQ) is the go-to airport for private jet passengers flying to and from the French Riviera. It is located just 4 miles west of Cannes and 15 minutes from the city centre. The airport has a dedicated private jet terminal and is the second most important airport for business aviation after Paris-Le Bourget.

Cannes Mandelieu Airport has one main runway and is open from 0700-1900 hrs in winter and 0600-30 mins after sunset in summer. The airport offers a range of services for aircraft, including refuelling, aircraft maintenance, and secure hangars. For passengers, there are VIP lounges, business meeting spaces, and catering services. The airport also provides valet parking, VIP welcome, and luggage handling.

The airport was originally built and funded by private individuals in the early 1930s before being taken over by the government during World War II. After the war, the airport was rebuilt and renamed Cannes Mandelieu Airport.

Other nearby airports that accept private jets include Toulon Hyeres Airport, Nice Côte d'Azur Airport, and La Mole St Tropez Airport.

Frequently asked questions