You want to visit the Côte d’Azur and are wondering where to go: Cannes or Antibes?
We love both destinations. The choice is difficult, but we’re here to help you with our opinions on specific criteria.
Here’s our Cannes vs Antibes battle with tips and photos:
- Atmosphere
- Beaches, monuments and museums
- Location
- Hotels and restaurants
- …
This guide is completely independent, based on our experiences. We visited the region anonymously, making our own choices and paying our bills in full.
Cannes or Antibes: summary of the comparison
Short answer
The two cities are very close, yet very different.
Cannes is ideal for those looking for glamour, sandy beaches and a smaller town.
Antibes has two faces that will delight visitors: the old town with its ramparts and the sea and mountain views, complemented by its seaside resort of Juan-les-Pins.
Depending on what you’re looking for…
- to easily explore the region: equality
- for the most beautiful beaches: equality
- for young children / families: Antibes
- for the most beautiful hotels: Cannes
- for a romantic break: Antibes
- for gastronomy: Cannes
- for the charm of the town: Antibes
- for nightlife: Cannes
- …
See the top-rated accommodations in Cannes.
See the top-rated accommodations in Antibes.
Access + Location to explore the region
Both towns are located on the eastern half of the Côte d’Azur. They are both well placed for exploring the region.
Here’s some road map to help you make a better assessment:
- Cannes to Antibes = 25 min drive
- Antibes to Nice= 35min drive
- Nice to Monaco = 30 min drive
- Cannes to Saint-Tropez = 1h20 drive
Nice-Côte d’Azur airport is the main international airport serving Antibes and Cannes.
Antibes airport: 30min drive
Cannes airport: 30min drive
Compare available flights.
The two towns also have a train station with services between Marseille and Menton.
Book your trains.
OUR TPS FOR RENTING YOUR CAR IN Provence
- Compare prices on our preferred platform: DiscoverCars – one of the best rated sites.
- Choose a car that is powerful enough (the roads are steep) but compact (some passages are narrow).
- Think of thecomplete insurance (some roads are tortuous and narrow).
- There is a lot of demand, book it early.
Best hotel offer: Antibes vs Cannes
Hotels in Antibes
The range of hotels in Antibes is fairly limited. You’ll find plenty of apartment rentals.
You can choose between hotels on the old town side, or close to the Juan-les-Pins beach.
We recommend..:
- Old Town: Hotel La Villa Port d’Antibes – view prices, pictures and availability
- Charm: Hotel Alexandra – view prices, pictures and availability
- Quiet: Hotel La Villa Cap d’Antibes – view prices, pictures and availability
Read our article on where to stay in Antibes.
Hotels in Cannes
The range of hotels in Cannes is less comprehensive and, in our opinion, a little less charming.
However, we really liked some of the hotels, such as..:
- Luxury: Five Seas Hotel – see prices, pictures and availability
- Charming: Hotel Le Suquet – view prices, pictures and availability
- Glamour: Hotel BW Premier – prices, pictures and availability
Read our article on where to stay in Cannes.
Our review
If you’re looking for luxury accommodation, we recommend Cannes.
When it comes to charming accommodation, we think the two towns are on an equal footing.
Attractions, museums and monuments
Attractions in Antibes
The main attractions in Antibes are:
- Walk on the ramparts and admire the statue of Le Nomade
- Explore the narrow streets of the old town
- Enjoy the many sandy beaches with unforgettable views
- Visit Fort Carré
- Learning at the Picasso Museum
- Hike the coastal path to Cap d’Antibes and its impressive Garoupe lighthouse!
- …
Find out more in our article on the best attractions in Antibes.
Cannes attractions
Cannes’ main attractions are:
- Stroll through the Suquet district and admire the views
- Visit the Museum of Civilization and climb to the top of the tower for the best views.
- Feeling like a star on the red carpet steps
- Find the fingerprints of your favorite actors
- Take the boat to Île Marguerite for a soak in nature and visit the famous Man in the Iron Mask Museum.
- Or choose Saint-Honorat island and its abbey
- Stroll along the seafront on La Croisette
- The nearby village of Mougins
Find out more in our article on the best attractions in Cannes.
Our review
Antibes offers more historical attractions, while Cannes offers more nature and shopping.
Our winner: Antibes.
HAVE FUN WITH THESE activities
- Great kayak trips in:
Saint-Tropez to the Ramatuelle reserve
Cassis to the calanques - Helicopter flight from Cannes
- Shuttle service along the coast between Nice and Saint-Tropez
- Bike tours: eBike in Nice – Mountain biking in the Esterel massif
Most beautiful beaches
Antibes beaches
In Antibes, you’ll find beautiful beaches, mostly of fine sand, although some are pebbled. The largest are located in Antibes’ seaside resort, “Juan-les-Pins”, while the “wildest” are at Cap d’Antibes.
We love the Ponteil beach with its view of Antibes old town and the mountains behind.
See our article on Antibes’ most beautiful beaches (coming soon).
Cannes beaches
After visiting the town, we particularly recommend the Plage du Midi and the Plage de la Bocca for quiet family afternoons. However, if you’d like to enjoy the hustle and bustle of Cannes, we recommend the lively Plages de la Croisette. We also loved the small coves of the Îles de Lérins, but you’ll need swimming shoes!
Find out more in our article on the beaches of Cannes.
Our review
Both towns have beautiful sandy beaches with stunning views.
Excursions around the cities
Excursions from Antibes
From Antibes, you can visit:
- The magnificent village of Èze – see our article
- Monaco, Cannes, Antibes and Menton
- The city of Grasse and its perfumes
- The villages of St Paul de Vence, Mougins, Vallebonne
Excursions from Cannes
From Cannes, you can visit
- The village of Mougins
- The towns of Antibes, Nice…
- Take the ferry to Saint-Tropez or the ferry to Monaco
- Île Sainte-Marguerite: between hiking, swimming and the must-see Iron Mask Museum and Fort Royal, you’ll love this green setting – book your ferry trip now.
- The best of Provence: visit the towns of Èze, Monaco, Antibes and Saint-Paul-de-Vence in a small group, and enjoy magnificent views of the Côte d’Azur – see prices, photos and availability.
- vineyards between Grasse, Gourdon and Valbonne – see prices, photos and availability.
See our article on the best excursions from Cannes.
Our review
If you choose not to rent a car, it’s best to opt for Cannes, which offers guided tours.
If you have a car, Antibes is ideally located between Cannes and Nice.
Best gastronomic offer
Restaurants in Antibes
The restaurant offer is interesting for the size of the town. There are numerous restaurants offering refined, traditional cuisine. We were impressed by the concentration of bistronomic restaurants.
Among our favorite restaurants:
- Restaurant L’Arazur: colorful plates that change with the seasons
- Healthy Lounge Restaurant: for a healthy lunch while exploring the Old Town.
- Restaurant Le Figuier Saint-Esprit (1 star): traditional French gourmet cuisine.
Discover our selection of the best restaurants in Antibes.
Restaurants in Cannes
In Cannes, Mediterranean flavors transported us. You’ll discover a cuisine that combines land and sea, using local Provencal produce.
There are also plenty of bars and restaurants with private beaches.
Among our favorite restaurants:
- Restaurant Table 22: fresh local produce cooked with great finesse
- Restaurant La Môme: a must for Provencal evenings, where you can enjoy tasty cocktails!
- Restaurant Mademoiselle Gray (Plage Barrière): enjoy an exceptional panoramic sea view
Discover our selection of the best restaurants in Cannes.
Our review
We preferred Cannes’ gastronomic offerings.
Ease of getting around these cities/regions
Getting around Antibes
Antibes’ old town side is easy to explore on foot.
The alleyways are narrow and mainly pedestrian, anyway.
However, if you want to explore Cap d’Antibes, you’ll need a car.
Getting around Cannes
Cannes is smaller. So it’s easy to explore everything on foot. However, it is also quite steep.
To explore the Suquet, for example, you have to go upstairs.
You can also use the bus network.
Can we visit Cannes and Antibes on the same trip?
The two towns are quite close.
By car, 25min drive.
By train: 20min, good frequency
And why not other cities/regions?
On the Côte d’Azur, there are plenty of other great towns to discover. You can read our comparison:
Or see our list of the most beautiful towns on the Côte d’Azur.
PLAN YOUR TRIP TO THE Côte d’Azur
- Inspiration
The most beautiful landscapes in 30 photos
Best things to do on the Côte d’Azur
Most beautiful villages
Best beaches on the Côte d’Azur
Most beautiful gardens
Best boat tours (coming soon)
Most beautiful islands
Secret places
- Practical advice
Successful travel on the Côte d’Azur (coming soon)
Rent a car in Provence – in Nice – in Cannes – in Marseille – in Aix-en-Provence.
Itineraries: 5 days – 1 week – 10 days
Weekend ideas: best-of – romantic – luxury – unusual
- Where to stay
Where to stay on the Côte d’Azur
Best luxury hotels on the Côte d’Azur
Hotels by the sea
Best boutique-hotels
