If you’re looking for a French Riviera destination then you’ll no doubt be considering Nice and Cannes. They’re both stunning cities, steeped in history with plenty to see, great beaches and some superb restaurants.
As someone who lives in France and visits the Côte d’Azur frequently, I know the region very well. In this guide I’ll tell you more about the differences between the two cities and advise on which is the best destination for you!
Nice or Cannes? What to Consider
If you haven’t visited the French Riviera before, then the two cities may appear, at surface level, very similar. They’re both beautiful, old towns next to the sea.
However the vibe in both cities is completely different. Both are great fun with beaches in the city itself, great restaurants and plenty to see and do.
Nice is much bigger than Cannes and therefore there’s naturally more to see and do. Being the 5th largest city in France, it’s diverse and has large residential areas.
Cannes, on the other hand, is much smaller. It’s much more glitzy than Nice with the promenade (La Croisette) being home to 5* hotels, beach clubs and lots of designer boutiques.
Personally I love both towns and they both have their own charm. If I want to enjoy a luxury, relaxing (beach & restaurants!) trip then I would choose Cannes. If you want to explore, see the sights and move around, I would choose Nice.
That said, there is a lot to consider so scroll down to read my thoughts and what to consider when choosing where to go in the South of France!
Psst. Want to find out more about other destinations in the South of France? Check out my guide to the French Riviera.
Town Centres
Nice has a much bigger town centre to explore and there’s two distinct areas – the Old Town (Vieux Nice) and the modern city centre (Jean-Médecin). The Old Town is nestled between the Promenade des Anglais and the Old Port.
Despite the mass of touristy shops the Old Town is very charming and worth a visit. The small, narrow streets do get busy in the summer months but there is a lot to discover. You can expect to spend around 1 hour discovering the ancient quartier and visiting the old churches.
The modern section between the Old Town and the main train station (La Gare de Nice-Ville) is called Jean-Médecin. This quarter starts from the beautiful Place Masséna and runs up to the station via the main Avenue Jean-Médecin. This area is full of shops, boutiques and restaurants and it’s where you’ll find the real Niçois.
Canne’s town centre is actually very small and the distance between the seafront and the central train station is very short. It’s here where you’ll find shops, restaurants and bars.
Canne’s old town, called Le Suquet is located on a hill right next to the Old Port and to the west of the beach side promenade (La Croisette). It’s much smaller than Nice’s Old Town but there’s a lot less people and it’s much less touristy.
Nice wins in terms of size and things to explore but Canne’s Old Town feels more authentic and is much less crowded.
Ambiance
The difference in ambiance between the two is huge. I’d argue that this is an important factor when choosing between the two destinations.
Nice is a diverse, all-year-round city where you’ll find real people who live there. There are touristy parts to the city but the vast majority is where people live and work.
It’s friendly (perhaps not as much as in Marseille!) and on the whole a lovely place to visit regardless of your budget and theme.
Cannes on the other hand is more of a summer destination. Out of season, it’s quiet and the majority of the population are retired.
As it’s much glitzier than its neighbour, it does attract a wealthier crowd. The huge yachts, 5* hotels, designer boutiques and private beach clubs means that the ambiance is very flashy. The crowds can also be, in my experience, self-entitled and rude! That said, Cannes just feels like a holiday town and for that, I love it.
For me, Nice has a better ambiance but if you’re going as a couple or with friends (and with a big budget!) to have fun, Cannes is great!
Beaches
Cannes is one of the few towns on the Cote d’Azur with a sandy beach. It’s wide, rather narrow but is lovely.
That said, the public part to the beach is rather small and the rest of the beach is taken up by Private Beach Clubs.
These are great fun but they are expensive. You can expect to spend upwards of €40 per person for the day for a sun lounger. Note that they are also notoriously hard to get a booking!
Nice’s beach is huge and is located on the Promenade des Anglais. It stretches all the way around from the Old Town to the Airport. It is, however, a completely pebble beach.
The water is stunning but it is not a comfortable beach (unless you bring appropriate equipment!). There are plenty of beach clubs but again, you’ll need to wear waterproof shoes to get in and out of the sea.
Cannes is a clear winner for me, especially if you want a relaxing day at a beach club.
Things to See & Do
Nice, by virtue of being a very large city, has much more things to do than Cannes. It’s thriving city with many cultural sites to visit. In August there’s the Nice Jazz festival that’s always good fun.
Read More: Check out my guide to what to see and do in Nice.
In Cannes you’ll find that that you can see the sights in a day. That said, exploring the nearby town of Mougins and taking the ferry over to the nearby Île Sainte Marguerite is great fun. There’s also the Cannes International Film Festival in May and the Cannes Yachting Festival in September to check out.
Read More: Check what else you can do and see in my guide to Cannes.
Nice wins here but again if you’re after a relaxing beach town then Cannes is much better – there’s less walking and less people!
Eating and Drinking
Nice is the clear winner in terms of diversity when it comes to eating and drinking – there’s simply more options. You’ll also find a lot more trendy, newer restaurants serving interesting food. From quality Italian food at Epiro to traditional Niçoise cuisine at Le Meranda, there’s plenty of awesome options.
Read More: Check out my guide to the best restaurants in Nice.
Cannes is more old school, catering to the wealthier crowds. There’s plenty of beach clubs serving expensive, Mediterranean food. That said, I’ve got a huge soft spot for the excellent Table 22 and Le Maschou on the bustling Rue Saint-Antoine.
Read More: Discover my guide on where to eat in Cannes.
Nearby Towns to Visit
Both cities have plenty of nearby towns to visit. As they’re both on the same train line they’re equally as easy to visit. You can visit the following towns easily from both cities:
- Villefranche-sur-Mer
- Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat
- Beaulieu-sur-Mer
- Eze
- Monaco
- Menton
Just note that if you’re taking the local train (the TER) from Cannes, it’ll take 25 minutes longer compared to leaving from Nice.
That said, note that getting to the central train station in Nice takes about 25 minutes walking from Old Nice or 15 minutes by tram.
If you’re visiting Cannes then there’s also the beautiful old town of Mougins to visit.
Transport and Accessibility
Nice is the clear winner in terms of transport and accessibility. To start, there’s Nice International Airport at the western edge and you’ll be able to fly in and be in the city centre in less than 30 minutes.
I would say that due to the size of Nice, walking anywhere takes a lot of time. It’s roughly 30 minutes walk to get from the train station to the old town.
To go to Cannes by public transport, you’ll need to take a bus to Nice’s train station then hope on a 25 minute local train.
In Cannes, the train station is a 7 minutes walk from the main beach so it’s very easy to get around.
Nice Vs Cannes – My Personal Recommendations
I love both cities and for me, it depends on who I’m going with and what the mood of the trip is. Here are my personal recommendations:
Pick Nice if: You’re wanting to avoid the expensive glitz of the Riviera, explore, see sights and move a lot. You’ll need to be ok with walking a lot in the centre to go anywhere and of course, be competing with lots of people in the peak summer months.
Pick Cannes if: You’re wanting to really relax, enjoy beach time, see a few sights and want to party. To properly enjoy Cannes you’ll need to prepare to spend a lot. Restaurants and beach clubs aren’t cheap! It is, to some degree, less crowded than Nice but it is an exclusive and an expensive destination so prepare to be with the crowd that comes with it!
Another Option: Antibes
Finally, another option that you may have not considered is Antibes. Antibes is a beautiful town located between Cannes and Nice. It’s bigger than Cannes yet has a much bigger Old Town and there’s plenty of beautiful beaches to explore.
It’s more relaxed than both cities and you’ll find some great restaurants, beach clubs and a beautiful coastal walk.
Discover more about the town in my Complete Guide to Antibes.
