Are you planning to visit the Côte d’Azur and wondering whether to go to Cannes or Nice?
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 Nice 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 Nice: comparison summary
Short answer
The two cities are very close, yet very different.
Nice offers a blend of historic charm and modernity, with numerous top-class art museums and an elegant ambience.
Cannes is ideal for those looking for glamour, sandy beaches and a smaller town.
Depending on what you’re looking for…
- to easily explore the region: equality
- for the most beautiful beaches: Cannes
- for young children / families: equality
- for the most beautiful hotels: Nice
- for a romantic break: Nice
- for gastronomy: Nice
- for nightlife: Cannes
- …
See the top-rated accommodations in Nice.
See the top-rated accommodations in Cannes.
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.
However, it’s quicker to get out of the smaller town of Cannes.
Here’s some road map to help you make a better assessment:
- Cannes to Nice = 45 min drive
- Nice to Monaco = 30 min drive
- Cannes to Saint-Tropez = 1h20 drive
Nice-Côte d’Azur airport is the main international airport serving Nice and Cannes.
Nice airport: 15min 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: Cannes vs Nice
Hotels in Nice
The variety and quality of hotels in Nice are undeniable: luxury hotels overlooking the sea, charming Art Deco hotels, quieter Aparthotels close to attractions…
Here are some of our favorite accommodations:
- Luxury: Anantara Plaza Hotel Nice – see photos and availability
- Art Deco: Hôtel Le Riviera Collection Best Western – see photos and availability
- Poetic: Hôtel Apollinaire – see photos and availability
Read our article on where to stay in Nice.
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
We prefer Nice’s range of hotels, with a good selection at all levels.
Attractions, museums and monuments
Nice Attractions
Nice’s main attractions are..:
- The seafront promenade (Promenade des Anglais)
- The old town with its Italian influence
- The ancient heritage
- Numerous museums, especially art-related: MAMAC, Musée Matisse, Musée Chagall…
- Views from Colline du Château
- Belle-Epoque and Art-Déco architecture
- St. Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral
- …
Find out more in our article on Nice’s top attractions.
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
Nice offers a wider choice of attractions and museums.
But we also liked the access to nature from Cannes, with the islands of Île Marguerite and Saint-Honorat.
Our winner: Nice.
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
Beaches of Nice
Nice boasts several magnificent beaches along its coastline. Pebbles, sand, the crystal-clear waters of the Mediterranean Sea: the choice is yours if you want to swim, stroll or take a break in front of the azure immensity! Restaurants are located near most public and private beaches, but you can also bring your own packed lunch.
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
We prefer the beaches of Cannes.
Excursions around the cities
Excursions from Nice
From Nice, you can visit:
- The magnificent village of Èze – see our article
- Monaco, Cannes, Antibes and Menton
- Spend a day in the village of Èze, then stop off in Monaco and Monte-Carlo, the must-sees of the Riviera – see photos, details and availability.
- Visit the fortified town with its 16th-century ramparts, opt for a day trip to discover beautiful Antibes and its Fort Carré, then head inland – see photos, details and availability.
- Explore the Gorges du Verdon, its cliffs and transparent waters, then stroll through the lavender fields. A magical experience – see photos, details and availability.
See our article on the best excursions from Nice (coming soon).
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
Both towns offer great excursions. However, the choice is greater in Nice.
Our preference: Nice.
Best gastronomic offer
Restaurants in Nice
Nice has a wide range of restaurants to suit all tastes. You’ll discover a cuisine of land and sea, based on local Provencal produce, blended with Mediterranean notes and flavours, but that’s not all! Reservations are strongly recommended for all establishments where possible.
Among our favorite restaurants:
- Restaurant JAN (1 star): a sensory and poetic dining experience
- Restaurant Sweet Sisters: a colorful place to enjoy a healthy meal in Nice
- Restaurant Peixes: for seafood lovers
- Restaurant La Storia: for specialties from Nice
Discover our selection of the best restaurants in Nice.
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 Nice’s gastronomic offerings.
Ease of getting around these cities/regions
Getting around Nice
Nice is a fairly large city that you can explore on foot (for the old center), by streetcar or by bus.
We found it quite easy to get around.
Nice also has a hop-on-hop-off bus to see the main places of interest – save time, buy your ticket.
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 Nice on the same trip?
The two towns are quite close.
By car, 45min drive.
By train: 40min, good frequency
And why not other cities/regions?
Around Nice and Cannes, 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
