Cannes, France
Cannes hosts the biggest film festival in the world for twelve days each May, and spends the other 353 days as a fairly ordinary beach town on the Riviera. The town is smaller than its reputation suggests: you can walk the whole seafront in half an hour. Luxurious yachts line the harbor, while designer boutiques tempt even the most seasoned fashionista. The Croisette is the seafront promenade, and the Palais des Festivals is the building with the red carpet you have seen on television. Out of season you can walk up the steps yourself. Michelin-starred restaurants and chic beach clubs cater to discerning palates, and the nightlife shimmers with excitement. In Cannes, glamour mingles effortlessly with the pull of the sea.