The Promenade de la Croisette is the engine of Cannes: a two-kilometre seafront boulevard flanked by palm trees, luxury hotels, and a sandy public beach. Walking the full length is the essential Cannes experience, whether or not you can afford to stop at any of the establishments along the way.
The beach itself is split between public sections and private beach clubs attached to the hotels, where you pay for a sunbed and service. The public portions are perfectly usable. In the mornings, before the day's crowds arrive, the Croisette is quiet and genuinely beautiful — the light on the bay in early morning is worth setting an alarm for.