Île Sainte-Marguerite – excursion from Cannes to the Lérins Islands

Writer: Helena Bergström

Updated: September 2026 | Île Sainte-Marguerite is just a short boat ride from Cannes, but offers a completely different world with pine forests, turquoise blue waters, small bathing coves and historic Fort Royal. We took a day trip to the largest of the Lérins Islands and had a day of swimming, luxury yachts, a broken sandal and the man in the iron mask.

Sainte-Marguerite Island outside Cannes

Île Sainte-Marguerite is the largest of Lérins Islands, Îles de Lérins, located just outside Cannes on the French Riviera.

The archipelago consists primarily of the two larger islands Sainte-Marguerite and Saint-Honorat, both of which can be visited by boat. In addition, there are the much smaller islands of Îlot Saint-Ferréol and Îlot de la Tradelière.

We had been to Cannes before, but missed the islands, so when we returned in 2018 we decided to finally take the boat out to Sainte-Marguerite. It would turn out to be a very good idea.

Boat from Cannes to Île Sainte-Marguerite

The boats to Sainte-Marguerite depart from the Vieux Port in Cannes and the crossing takes about 15 minutes. The boat ride itself is part of the experience. Cannes disappears behind you and out on the water you can see sailboats, motorboats and the occasional luxury yacht.

Tickets and departure times can change between seasons, so check with the shipping companies for current times before visiting. The island itself is car-free, so once you get off the boat, it's all about walking.

Hike among pine trees and eucalyptus

The contrast to Cannes is striking. On Sainte-Marguerite you are greeted by forest, paths, cliffs and sea instead of hotels, shopping streets and traffic. Pine and eucalyptus trees shade parts of the island and in several places you come down to small coves along the coast.

There is a network of paths, which makes the island perfect for walking. At least in theory. When we got here it was about 35 degrees, and my sandal broke. So it wasn't quite the long walk around the island that we might have imagined.

Swim in turquoise blue water

Instead, the swimming opportunities began to feel more and more enticing. We found a small cove where we could seek shade and then cool off in the clear, turquoise Mediterranean.

It was one of those simple stops that you'll remember for a long time. Swimming in the Mediterranean, water, and an egg sandwich. Holiday life doesn't really need to be more complicated than that.

Sainte-Marguerite does not have long sandy beaches, but swimming is mainly done from smaller coves and rocky areas along the coast. Swimming shoes can therefore be practical.

Luxury yachts and strange water toys

But of course we didn't completely leave the glamour of Cannes behind us. Around the island lay one luxury yacht after another. And the people on board were apparently not content with just lying on deck and looking out over the Mediterranean.

Among other things, we saw a yacht with water slide, an inflatable winged horse and someone who drove flyboard over the water. A helicopter also landed on one of the boats. It made our egg sandwich feel a little less extravagant. But it was good.

La Guérite on Sainte-Marguerite

The island also has the well-known restaurant La Guerite, right on the water. Guests come here both from Cannes and directly from boats and yachts off the island. When we passed by, the environment was incredibly beautiful and the atmosphere was high, with musicians playing.

We settled for a drink break with beer and mineral water. Seafood platter and champagne will have to be reserved for another time.

Fort Royal and the Man in the Iron Mask

The major historical attraction at Sainte-Marguerite is Fort Royal. The fortress was developed in the 17th century and later used as a prison. Its most famous prisoner is the mysterious the man with the iron mask, whose identity is still unknown.

He was imprisoned at Sainte-Marguerite between 1687 and 1698 before being taken to the Bastille in Paris. The story has given rise to numerous theories and was later made famous, not least through Alexandre Dumas's story of the man in the iron mask.

Peter decided to visit the fort. I looked at the temperature: 35 degrees. I decided to dare to refuse bail. Peter came back very sweaty after the stairs, while I could see that there are also advantages to delegating cultural experiences within the family.

Musée du Masque de fer et du Fort Royal

Fort Royal is now located Musée du Masque de fer et du Fort Royal, which was previously called the Musée de la Mer.

Here you will find information about the history of the fort and the man in the iron mask. The museum's collections also include archaeological finds from the area, including objects from ancient shipwrecks. So those who want to combine a nature excursion with a bit of history have much more to discover than just the fortress itself.

The cemeteries on the island

During our walk we also passed two small cemeteries that tell the story of a much darker part of the island's history. On Grand Jardin Cemetery French soldiers are buried there who were cared for at Sainte-Marguerite after the Crimean War in the 19th century.

Nearby is also a cemetery for North African soldiers who were stationed on the island during World War II. These are small and quiet places that are easily overshadowed by the island's swimming coves and beautiful nature.

Sainte-Marguerite or Saint-Honorat?

The two larger Lérins Islands offer slightly different experiences.

Sainte-Marguerite is the largest and is well suited for those who want to combine hiking, swimming, nature and history around Fort Royal.

Saint-Honorat is smaller and above all known for its monastery and the long monastic tradition on the island. There is still a Cistercian monastery there and the monks produce wine, among other things.

We chose Sainte-Marguerite and thought it was a perfect contrast to Cannes. We still have Saint-Honorat to discover.

Is Ile Sainte-Marguerite worth a visit?

Yes, really! Above all, we like the contrast. In Cannes, you can find the Croisette, the film festival, the luxury yachts, the shopping and the restaurants. Just a short boat ride away, you can instead walk through the forest, swim from cliffs and small coves and discover a centuries-old fortress. But apparently you can't completely avoid the luxury yachts. They came with you to the island...

For us, Sainte-Marguerite was one of the best excursions we've done from Cannes, despite 35 degree heat and a sandal that gave up. And while Peter can still say that he actually visited Fort Royal, I can at least say that I'm very good at daring to refuse bail.

See more in the neighbourhood

If you are around Cannes and want to see more nearby, there is so much to discover! Here are our best tips:

• Things to do in Nice
• Le Lavandou
• Gorges du Verdon
• The Esterel Mountains and the Corniche d'Or