Lérins islands day trip from Cannes: boats, forts and the abbey

Yes, and it is the easiest day trip in Cannes. The two islands sit about a quarter of an hour offshore, and boats run from the old port area through the main season. The Cannes travel guide lists the other sights, and the France guide covers the rest of France.

Île Sainte-Marguerite is the larger island, with forest paths, rocky coves and a fort. Île Saint-Honorat is smaller and quieter, home to a working monastery and vineyards. Each takes a half day, and you can see both in a full day if you plan the boats. The islands are car-free and relatively undeveloped, so you walk, swim and picnic, and there are few shops and limited shade.

The islands suit a range of travelers: families, couples and anyone who wants a break from the Croisette. If you are staying in the center or in Le Suquet, the old port is within a short walk; our guide to where to stay in Cannes shows which bases save the most time on island days.

Boats to the two islands are run by separate companies. Trans Côte d'Azur sells crossings to Île Sainte-Marguerite from Quai Laubeuf in Cannes, and the Abbaye de Lérins names Planaria as the boat company for Saint-Honorat. The crossing takes about 15 to 20 minutes. Timetables change by season, with more sailings in summer and fewer in winter, so check the current schedule on each operator's site before you go.

Buy tickets at the quay or online. On Trans Côte d'Azur's booking page the ticket must be used for a same-day round trip, it is non-refundable and it stays valid for three months after purchase, so choose your date carefully. The abbey's site also warns that the Laubeuf car park has been closed for works since January 2025, so check where to board and where to park before you travel. In July and August, boats fill, so arrive early or book ahead; in shoulder months, walk-up tickets are usually fine. Check the last return sailing before you set out, because missing it leaves you stranded or paying for a taxi boat. Weather can cancel or delay boats, so keep a spare day if your plans are fixed.

The islands are separate stops, so you buy a ticket for each. If you plan both islands in one day, check whether the operators connect them or whether you return to Cannes between them. Some operators run direct links between the islands in season; others do not.

Sainte-Marguerite is the larger of the two islands. The main sight is the fort, which holds a museum and a former prison cell associated with a famous mysterious prisoner. Check the official site for opening hours and any entry fee before you go, since both vary by season.

Beyond the fort, a network of paths runs through pine and eucalyptus forest and along the coast. A walk around the island takes a couple of hours at an easy pace, and the coves on the shore are the best places to swim. Bring water, a hat and shoes with grip, because paths can be rocky and shade is limited in places.

There are a few places to eat on the island, mostly near the quay, and they get busy at midday. Many visitors bring a picnic, which is easier and often better. Please take litter back with you, since the island has few bins.

Saint-Honorat is smaller and quieter, and has been a monastic site for over a thousand years. A community of monks still lives and works on the island, and part of the grounds is open to visitors. The monks make wine from vines on the island, and visitors can walk among them.

Respect the rules posted at the quay. The abbey church welcomes visitors, and according to the abbey's own site the community prays several times a day, with a mass at 11:30am from Tuesday to Saturday and at 10am on Sundays and no public midday service on Mondays. The monastery is a place of prayer, so dress modestly, keep voices low and follow signs on where you can and cannot go. The abbey runs a boutique selling products made by the monks, and a restaurant on the island was listed as open until 31 October 2026. Check the abbey's official site for visiting hours, any guided tours and whether the shop is open on your day.

A walk around the island takes about an hour, along a coast path with views to the mainland. There are fewer swimming spots than on Sainte-Marguerite, and facilities are limited, so bring water and a snack. It is a good choice if you want something calmer.

Take an early boat, ideally one of the first of the day. The islands are quietest in the morning, and the light is soft for photographs. Aim to be at the quay about 20 minutes before departure, and buy a return ticket at the same time if the operator allows.

For one island, spend the morning on the main sights and walk the shore path, then have lunch and swim in the early afternoon. For both islands, start at Sainte-Marguerite for the fort and forest, return to Cannes or take a connecting boat in the middle of the day, then visit Saint-Honorat in the afternoon. Check the last boat from the second island before you commit.

Pack water, sun protection, a hat, shoes you can walk in and a swimsuit. Bring a bag to carry out rubbish. Keep cash and a card, because small cafés and shops may prefer one or the other. Check the weather the evening before, since wind can cancel boats.

Compare data plans in the connectivity guide and cover in the travel insurance guide.

If you have half a day, choose one island. Sainte-Marguerite is the better pick for first-timers who like walking, swimming and a fort, because it has more paths and more places to swim. Saint-Honorat is the better pick if you want a quiet walk around a monastery island, a view of the vines and a calm hour in the abbey church. Choose both only for a full day with the first boat out and the last boat back, and check whether each boat company lets you move between the islands or sends you back through Cannes.

Do not plan a fixed time for the second island until you have seen how long the first takes. A fort visit, a picnic and a swim fill a morning easily, and rushing to catch a boat turns a relaxed day into a chore. If you want a slow day, take only Saint-Honorat or only Sainte-Marguerite.

The islands are quieter in winter, but the days are short and the boats run a reduced timetable. The abbey's seasonal restaurant, for example, was listed as open only through 31 October 2026, so do not plan a winter lunch on Saint-Honorat without checking. Rain makes the paths slippery and wind can stop boats, so keep your Cannes day flexible. A same-day, non-refundable ticket is a reason to check the forecast the evening before and again at breakfast. If the weather turns, Le Suquet, the old port market and the museums in town are a good plan B.

The first mistake is arriving at the quay at midday in July and expecting a short queue. The second is not checking where the boat leaves from, since the quay and the car park arrangements have changed. The third is carrying only a card to an island with few shops. The fourth is planning a swim without water shoes, since many shores are rocky. The fifth is leaving rubbish behind, which the abbey asks visitors not to do.

The islands are protected sites, and the rules are posted at the quays and on the paths. Expect limits on fires, smoking and picking plants, and keep to the marked trails, especially on Saint-Honorat. Dogs and drones may be restricted, so check the island sites before you bring either. Do not leave rubbish behind; the abbey describes Saint-Honorat as an island without bins, so carry your waste back to Cannes.

Wind and swell decide whether boats run. A calm morning can turn rough by afternoon, so keep your plan flexible and check the operator's updates. In July and August, shade is scarce and midday heat can be intense, so walk early and rest in the middle of the day. Spring and autumn are cooler, quieter and good for walking, though swimming may be too cold for some.

If you are traveling with children, choose Sainte-Marguerite for its forest paths and coves, and keep young swimmers close, since some shores are rocky. If you have limited mobility, check the paths and the quay access in advance, as surfaces can be uneven.

For most travelers, the public boat is simpler and cheaper: you choose your own times and pace, and you can combine an island with a stay on the Croisette. A guided tour or a combined ticket can help if you want commentary, a set plan or transport that links several stops, but it gives you less freedom and may include stops you do not want.

If you are building a longer trip, our guide to where to stay in Cannes helps you choose a base, and getting around France covers how to link it with other stops. Browse the wider tours and tickets guide for other bookable days on the Riviera.