The Secret Island Monastery You’ve Never Heard Of
Île Saint-Honorat: The Ultimate Family Guide to a Hidden Gem Near Cannes
00:00 – Introduction – Îles de Lérins & Île Saint-Honorat
00:50 – In this Video
02:27 – 1. Free boat trip from Cannes
05:43 – 2. Free guided tour
12:10 – 3. The Monastery Tower
17:31 – 4. Hidden beach
19:14 – 5. Lérins Abbey
21:20 – 6. Through vineyards toward the Port
22:31 – 7. Restaurant La Tonnelle
23:48 – Our Verdict
Discover our video about Île Sainte-Marguerite https://youtu.be/eu1TBzTBK-M
Lérins Abbey @abbayedelerins3163
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Côte d’Azur France – https://cotedazurfrance.com/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfDRYxdvXreDjTE6tUZc7Kw
Cannes Office de Tourisme – https://www.cannes-france.com/
@VideoCannes @CannesWebTV
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PASS Cote d’Azur https://www.pass-cotedazurfrance.fr/
Save €73 (36%) for a Family of 4
With PASS: €128 | Without PASS: €201
Île Sainte-Marguerite with Trans Cote d’Azur
https://www.trans-cote-azur.com/
Adult 19 €, 13.5 € child 5-12 y.o.
Île Saint-Honorat with Cannes Iles de lerins @abbayedelerins3163
Adult 19,50 €, 12 € child 4-15 y.o.
Oceanographic Museum of Monaco
Adult 22,50 €, 14 € child 4-17 y.o.
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Discover Île Saint-Honorat, one of the beautiful Îles de Lérins, just a short boat ride from Cannes on the French Riviera. In this complete family travel guide, we explore the island with Alex and Steven and share everything you need to know before visiting.
Île Saint-Honorat is often overlooked by visitors to the Côte d’Azur, but we found it to be one of the most peaceful and fascinating places to explore with kids. From its ancient monastery and medieval fortified tower to hidden coves, crystal-clear Mediterranean water, vineyards, and spectacular viewpoints, there is much more to discover than you might expect.
We begin our journey in Cannes, taking the boat from the Old Port to Île Saint-Honorat. We explain how we used the Pass Côte d’Azur to include the ferry trip in our activities and share practical tips for getting the best views during the 15-minute crossing.
Once on the island, we join a free guided tour with Claudine, discovering the history of the island, the monks who still live here, historic chapels, vineyards, hidden coves, and fascinating stories about the Lérins community. We also discover how the monks produce wine and other artisanal products, including Lérina herbal liqueur, olive oil, honey, jams, and preserves.
One of the biggest highlights is the medieval Monastery Tower, which reopened to visitors on July 2, 2026, after nearly six years of restoration. We explore its historic interior and climb to the rooftop terrace for spectacular panoramic views of Île Saint-Honorat, Lérins Abbey, Cannes, the Mediterranean, and the Esterel Mountains.
We also search for the island’s hidden beaches and secluded coves, where Alex and Steven enjoy swimming and snorkeling in the crystal-clear water.
The historic Lérins Abbey is at the heart of the island. Founded around 410 by Saint Honoratus, the monastic community has continued here for more than 1,500 years. We also discover the Abbey Church, historic chapels, and the peaceful atmosphere that makes this island so unique.
Our tour continues through the vineyards toward the small sheltered harbour managed by the city of Cannes, where private boats anchor and visitors can enjoy La Tonnelle, the island’s restaurant.
Finally, we share our honest opinion: don’t underestimate Île Saint-Honorat. Although the walking route around the island is only about 3.4 km, there are so many places to explore, swim, photograph, and relax that we recommend spending a full day here rather than rushing through it in a few hours.
If you’re planning a trip to Cannes, Nice, Monaco, or the French Riviera, add Île Saint-Honorat to your itinerary for a different side of the Côte d’Azur—one filled with history, nature, culture, and peaceful Mediterranean beauty.
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