Lérins Islands

"A 15-minute boat ride from the port in Cannes, sibling islands Sainte-Marguerite and Saint-Honorat dominate the bay. The beaches are entirely different from what you’ll find along La Croisette (think shaded, secluded coves). Boats often post up in the channel between the two islands, where sculptor Jason deCaires Taylor designed the first underwater eco-museum in France and the Mediterranean, with six submerged statues shallow enough to snorkel around. On the larger island of Sainte-Marguerite, make the light hike to Fort Royal, known for its famous former prisoner, the Man in the Iron Mask, or try and snag one of the hardest reservations on the French Riviera — beach restaurant and club La Guérite — and dance into the late afternoon." - Lane Nieset Lane Nieset Lane Nieset is a travel writer from Miami who has lived in France for the past decade. From Paris, she covers a mix of lifestyle, wine, food, and design for publications including Food & Wine, Condé N

"Just a 15-minute ferry ride from the glitz and glamour of Cannes, the Lérins Islands look like lipstick marks left by a star’s kiss. Ste-Marguerite is home to just 20 residents, who share their 15 beaches with day-trippers looking for a peaceful escape from the Riviera scene. Also on the island is a Vauban-designed fortress, which was once the home of the Man in the Iron Mask and today houses the Maritime Museum. Just a stone’s throw away, St-Honorat features a 5th-century abbey where monks make a nationally acclaimed wine that can be enjoyed on the abbey’s restaurant terrace overlooking the sea."