Cannes Dress Code

Dress casually but well and remember that the French often read a great deal into the way you dress. Some restaurants and hotels are likely to expect a shirt and tie to be worn. For business meetings and formal events, both men and women should wear a smart suit. The French are often somewhat formal, appreciating punctuality and adhering strictly to custom in administrative issues. Also, make sure you carry business cards!

Greeting Someone in Cannes

A friendly handshake is the standard greeting between business people in France. Less formal meetings might begin or end with the slightly more intimate gesture of kissing both cheeks, a traditional European custom that the French know is not international. The advice here is to allow the French to lead. First-name terms are not automatic but are likely to be established as familiarity grows.

Cannes Business Hours and Banking

Both government and commercial offices operate between 09:00 and 17:00. Generally, banks in France are open weekdays from 09:30 to 16:30 (the Banque de France is an exception and closes at 15:30), and some banks are also open on Saturday. Most take a one-hour, or even a 90-minute, lunch break, except for those in Paris. Banks at airports and main train stations open as early as 06:30 and close as late as 22:30.

Cannes Smoking

Smoking, although more widely accepted in France than in many English-speaking countries, has recently become an issue. Expect to find no-smoking signs in many public places, although most cafes and restaurants will allow smoking in at least part of their premises. The non-smoker may find this difficult, as so many people do smoke.