Crazy to drive to Cannes and Monaco during festivities?

Yep it is crazy to drive (for security reasons) when the train stops at each.
Those are small towns ; are the late night festivities not in each town?

My thoughts were that the rich and famous will be partying in Monaco and Cannes, not antibes. It seems like it would be fun to participate to some extent. And I read that the lines to the trains during these events are long and the latest train is not very late.

What are the security concerns?

It's crazy to drive in Monaco on an average day, I'd hate to think what it'd be like during the Grand Prix. I can't imagine you'd be rubbing shoulders with the rich and famous (do you want to?) as I suspect they'll be on luxury yachts or at private clubs.

I drive to Monaco fairly often, and have no trouble parking in a high rise car park. The Autoroute is very expensive in that area, probably because the territory is so difficult for a high speed road.

Driving in Nice is never particularly easy, parking difficult.

I don't go to Cannes so can't speak to driving there.

BUT I would never attempt to drive any where near there during Grand Prix weekend. It will be such a complete zoo. No way.

I have been there in early June and very late May when the race is over but the Armco barriers and seating were still up and never had any issues - no more than when I am there in January or February.

But not the 10 days before the race. No way.

What you don’t realize is that the Grand Prix is not held on a race track, but on the city streets. Monaco is the size of a pocket handkerchief. The winding little streets will be blocked off.

Cannes is less problematic but the large parking garage under the festival building will probably be filled for days. You’ll have to park further away and hike over in your tux and tiara.

I vaguely remember that my husband was in Cannes one year during the Festival at lunchtime b/c he said a famous name was at the next table giving an interview. His sister lives on the coast and they didn’t hesitate to go over with the Festival going on. But they do avoid Monaco the weekend of the race.

The Cannes filmfest is a commercial convention for the movie industry. It's packed with expense-account business and the public is not invited. In nearby towns it can be difficult to find a taxi since many drivers shift to the croissant's cash. Good luck there.

Yes. We were in Nice during those festivals and it was a mob scene. Can’t imagine how crowded Cannes and Monaco were. I would avoid them both.

We were in Cannes and Monaco last July. The traffic was atrocious. Our guide told us it was like that all the time, and she said, "You should see it during the festivals!" Also I found both Cannes and Monaco to be not worth the visit.

Thanks, everyone, for the advice and accounts of first hand experience. I did drive in Monaco several years ago but I think time had glossed over my memory of the steep hills, sharp turns, and crazy drivers. I'm sure late on a festival night would be even worse.

So, if we go at all, it will be by train.

Thanks everybody! You guys are great!

Also I found both Cannes and Monaco to be not worth the visit.

I haven't been to Cannes but I also found Monaco to be not worth the visit. Even the much vaunted aquarium paled in comparison to the one in Palma and that rarely receives such gushing praise as Monaco's does. Perhaps because there's so little to experience in Monaco that people's appreciation of what there is is warped.

I much preferred Nice and the surrounding villages.

I think different folks see different things differently...

quoting

steep hills, sharp turns, and crazy drivers

Steep hills - yes there are quite a few in Monaco. The whole place is three dimensional, my favourite thing there is following the hidden and not so hidden methods of levelling out the city. Open air escalators, elevators/lifts, ramps and those excellent and very cheap buses and solar boat. All good fun... I actually really like the place.

Sharp turns - a few of those too, although more on the corniches.

Crazy drivers - in all the years I've been going to the south of France and Monaco I never really came across these - certainly fewer than in London or even here in rural Northamptonshire