Two stunning, sparkling places on the French Riviera, Nice vs Cannes, are home to incredible beaches, a historic old town, delicious restaurants, and a unique European atmosphere.
Though the two cities appear to be very comparable at first glance, they actually have many distinctions, and each is famous for a different reason.
Large boats stay on the dock, and the city is filled with expensive hotels and restaurants with Michelin stars. Cannes is all about that beautiful, upward, luxurious lifestyle. It is also well-known for its major celebrations, such as the September Cannes Boating Festival and the May Cannes Film Festival, which attract a wide range of celebrities.
In addition to being extremely elegant and gorgeous (nice is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site since it was the first “resort city” for European nobility and royalty), the city also has a rich Roman past and a greatly more relaxed vibe.
In this article, I compare Nice and Cannes in 10 distinct categories, discussing the pros and cons of each city and offering my personal opinion on which is more worth visiting.
Nice vs Cannes: Which Cote d’Azur City Should You Visit
1. Location
As I told in the introduction, Nice and Cannes are both on the French Riviera. This area of France called the Cote d’Azur, is directly on the Mediterranean Sea in its extreme southeast.
The French Riviera is part of Provence, a wider region that extends further to the north and west and includes cities such as Marseilles.
The distance by train between Nice and Cannes is approximately 33 km (20 miles), and the travel time by vehicle, depending on traffic conditions, can range from 45 minutes to 1 hour.
2. How Easy Is It To Get To?
You can travel from Paris to either city in under five hours by train, as both cities are well-connected in France. A primary train route that runs down the coast passes through both towns, giving them excellent connections to the surrounding area within the French Riviera.
Cannes needs a commercial airport, although Nice has an international airport (NCE) if you’re travelling in southern France. You will have to fly into Nice and then take a car or train to get there.
Winner: Nice
3. Beaches
The Mediterranean beaches play a significant role in any vacation to any city, even while some visitors to the Cote d’Azur travel particularly for relaxation on beaches, and others combine a city break with sand and waves.
Both cities boast lengthy beaches along their coastlines and pleasant, spacious promenades beside them.
Cannes has no comparison when it comes to real beaches. While many beaches in the south of France are rocky, Cannes has large, lovely beaches with smooth, powdery sand that are ideal for strolls.
La Croissette is Cannes’ primary Promenade and beach area, with beach clubs occupying a sizable portion of the beachfront. Although there is an admission charge for these clubs, you can order food and drink and rent umbrellas and sun loungers.
There is a public beach area at Plage du Midi and other Cannes beaches, as well as on both ends of La Croisette.
But the Promenade des Anglais in Nice, with its expansive views of the coastline and excellent walkway, is amazing.
With palm trees lining its length of 7 km (4 miles), the Promenade is very wide, providing much room for walkers and a designated bike lane. One of the nicest things to do in Nice is to stroll along the Promenade; it’s a whole mood, especially around dusk.
- Winner for Sandy Beach: Cannes
- Winner for Promenade and Views: Nice
4. Cuisine
Both places’ food tastes are affected by Provencal, Mediterranean, and French flavours. Michelin-starred restaurants are located in both cities and restaurant menus often feature fresh seafood. However, there are unquestionably more expensive Michelin-starred restaurants in Cannes.
But Nice is the clear winner when it comes to distinctive food. With distinctive delicacies like socca, pissaladière, salade Nicoise, pan bagnat, and tarte de palettes, Nicoise cuisine is a subculture in itself.
In fact, taking a food tour and trying a few different Nicoise and French dishes is one of my favourite things to do when visiting Nice.
Even while Nice lacks as many high-end businesses, there are still plenty of excellent eateries in the city.
Winners: Nice for local specialities and Cannes for superb dining
5. Markets
Visiting the local markets in Cannes or Nice is a pleasant experience. Delicious fresh fruits and vegetables, cheese and meat, flowers and herbs, honey, jam, hot dishes for a fast lunch or snack, and other speciality items are abundant in these markets.
The Old Town streets of Nice are home to the outdoor market known as the Marché aux Fleurs.
The Marché Forville, a covered outdoor market close to Cannes’ Old Town, is located there.
In my opinion, the Marché aux Fleurs in Nice has the advantage because it is larger, offers a wide variety of unique delicacies, and is situated outdoors in the Old Town, creating a truly lovely atmosphere.
Mondays are closed in both markets, although from June to September, Mondays are when the Marché aux Fleurs in Nice turns into an antique market.
Winner: Nice
6. Old Town
A picturesque Old Town can be found in both Nice and Cannes. It is full of restaurants and stores, narrow lanes that are only accessible by foot, and adorable buildings. In either city, a stroll around Old Town is a necessity.
Le Suquet, or the Old Town of Cannes, is located next to the port and on a tiny hill with views of it.
“Vieille Ville,” or “Old Town,” is the informal name for Nice’s Old Town.
While the Old Town in Cannes is wonderful and quaint and worth spending time wandering through, Nice FOR SURE wins in this category. In fact, Nice is exceptional when it comes to its Old Town.
First, due to its size, you could take a long time touring Nice’s Old Town. There are many little squares scattered around the area, in addition to some wide and other narrow streets. The stunning Palais de Justice, several beautiful churches, and the historic Opera House of Nice are also nearby.
In addition, many local stores offer a variety of items, such as dried herbs, apparel, soaps and handmade goods, chocolates and candies, olive oil, and dried herbs.
And lastly, Nice’s Old Town is home to an abundance of excellent gelato stands and small, delectable restaurants.
There are lots of people out eating and shopping in this lively, bustling location.
Winner: Really nice
7. Safety
Whether you’re travelling as a company, as a couple, with kids, or on your own, Cannes and Nice are both regarded as quite safe locations. Even though pickpocketing or small-time theft can happen anywhere there are tourists, the tourist destinations of Nice and Cannes are thought to be extremely secure.
As a visitor, you will only be going to some areas that are significantly farther out from the city centre, but they are some of the more hazardous ones and should be avoided.
Winner: a tie
8. Street Art
Nice and Cannes both feature stunning architecture and breathtaking views, but Cannes is the place to go if you want to see some unique street art murals. All across the city, there are fifteen “Mur Peint,” or “painted walls,” honouring the film industry and movie icons.
Winner: Cannes
9. Proximity to Other Villages and Cities in Southern France
While exploring the large cities is certainly exciting, one of the nicest aspects of travelling to southern France is getting to know all the quaint little towns and villages that dot the area.
Sunny coastal towns with pastel-coloured buildings and quaint “perched” hilltop settlements with cobblestone lanes and city walls can be found.
Many of these communities can easily visited as day trips from either city. The French capital of perfume, Grasse, is located very near to Cannes, while Nice is easily accessible from Villefranche-sur-Mer and Cap Ferrat.
Saint-Paul-de-Vence, Eze, La Turbie, Menton, the larger city of Antibes, and the nation of Monaco are additional wonderful villages to visit.
Winner: A Tie
10. Attractions and Things to Do
Top 7 Things to Do in Cannes
- See the fingerprints of movie stars engraved on the sidewalk at Le Chemin des Etoiles.
- See the red carpet during the annual Cannes Film Festival, which takes place at the Palace of Festivals. July and August are when you can take a tour of the palace.
- Admire every sailboat and yacht in Old Port.
- Explore the La Malmaison art museum, housed in the old Grand Hotel’s lone surviving wing.
- Walk down La Croisette and unwind at the beaches that are directly off the Promenade.
- The medieval tower’s summit offers views of the Museum of the Explorations of the World.
- Discover as many Mur Peint as you can while exploring Old Town.
Top 7 Things to Do in Nice
- The Beach des Anglais is a fantastic location for cycling, running, or walking because it’s adjacent to the Old Port and has access to ports.
- Explore every inch of Old Town; the Marché aux Fleurs and Place Rossetti are not to be missed.
- Climb Castle Hill for a sweeping perspective of Nice. The castle vanished a long time ago.
- See the wildly surreal Place Massena, a large square with the Fontaine du Soleil (a Neptune fountain and statue), a black-and-white checkerboard floor, and striking red buildings.
- Take a stroll through the Jardin Albert I and the nearby Promenade du Paillon park to explore the lovely green area featuring numerous benches, a refreshing reflecting pool, sculptures, and a playground.
- Discover the history of Nice and take in the magnificence of a historic manor house by visiting Villa Massena.
- Take a tour of the Cimiez area, which is home to the Chagall and Matisse museums as well as Roman ruins.
While beaches, walks, Old Town, the port, and other similar attractions are present in both Nice and Cannes, there are also some distinctive activities and destinations.
Nice vs Cannes: My Overall Recommendation
Now that you’ve heard that, which city would I advise you to visit?
Remember that atmosphere matters more than just what you see while deciding between Cannes and Nice.
That’s why Nice is, without a doubt, my favourite city.
Cannes is stunning, with its charming settings, upscale hotels, and amazing beaches, but Nice percolates a peaceful, lovely atmosphere that is difficult to replicate.
You feel it when strolling down the Promenade des Anglais or meandering through the historically significant alleyways of Old Town. The city has a lot of beauty and vitality, but it doesn’t overpower you with activity.
Therefore, Nice offers a blend of beauty, leisure, and genuine experiences, whereas Cannes may have its distinct style and refinement. This city captivates you not just with its views but also with its friendly, relaxed vibe.