A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Amsterdam vs. Cannes for Food, Nightlife, Music, and Couples

Should you visit Amsterdam or Cannes?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Amsterdam or Cannes, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Amsterdam

Amsterdam is a historic, canal-lined, and party-oriented city. Visitors will also find so much to do here because it's a large city with many sights and attractions. You'll find world class beauty here as well. Other popular activities here include nightlife, live music, and shopping.

Cannes

Cannes is a glitzy, opulent , and luxury resort city. The beauty of this spot is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. And you can't forget about the beaches, shopping, and nightlife.

Amsterdam and Cannes: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Amsterdam or Cannes?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Amsterdam than Cannes, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Amsterdam is more popular for its museums, nightlife, big city activities, and impressive beauty, while Cannes is known for its food, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, and shopping. Amsterdam is popular for its scenic canals, huge biking culture, and its wild nightlife scene. It is also home to The Rijksmuseum. Cannes is popular for its popularity with celebrities and its role as host for the international film festival.

How is Amsterdam different from Cannes?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Cannes and Amsterdam. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Amsterdam or Cannes?

Amsterdam is a well-known place for its sights and museums. However, Cannes does not have museums and landmarks.

Many visitors head to Amsterdam specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. The city has a number of sights and museums including the Anne Frank House, the Van Gogh Museum, and the Royal Palace. The world renowned Rijksmuseum is a must see for any art enthusiast. There are also many smaller, lesser known museums that are well worth a visit.

Cannes does not have museums and landmarks.

Is the Food Better in Amsterdam or Cannes? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Cannes is an unbeatable place for its restaurant scene. However, Amsterdam is not particularly known for its local flavors and cuisine.

Known for it's food and restaurant scene, Cannes is always at the top of any foodie's travel list. The city is known for its fresh seafood and produce, local markets, and innovative chefs. There are also a number of traditional dishes that you should try in town including bouillabaisse, daube, and farcis niçois.

Amsterdam may not make the list for most foodies, but you'll find what you need while you're in town. Food is expensive in this city, particularly in the touristy areas. There are some markets that sell great local items and the dessert cafes are awesome!

Is Amsterdam or Cannes Better for Nightlife?

Amsterdam is an amazing city to visit for its evening party scene. Also, Cannes is not as famous, but is still a good resort city to visit for nightlife.

Amsterdam has a colorful and one-of-a-kind nightlife scene. The city has some of the best nightlife in Europe. There are plenty of bars, dance clubs, and other activities that you can enjoy throughout the night.

Cannes has a large number of nightlife venues. The nightlife scene is all about the glamour and prestige that this city is known for. There are exclusive nightclubs and luxury cocktail bars where the goal is to see and be seen. Parties last late into the night and the glitz and glamour fill the streets.

Is Amsterdam or Cannes Better for Music?

Live music enthusiatsts will find something to enjoy in either Amsterdam or Cannes.

Live music, and music in many other forms, is everyone in Amsterdam The city attracts its share of world renowned DJs and musicians. Popular music venues include Paradiso, De Melkweg, and Chicago Social Club.

Cannes has become a mecca for musicians from around the world. The city is famous for its music festivals, but there are also many bands, DJs, and performers who visit year round.

Is Amsterdam or Cannes Better for Resorts?

Cannes is an unbeatable place for its resorts. However, Amsterdam is not a resort destination.

Cannes offers an unforgettable resort vacation. The city is filled with luxury resorts and elegant hotels. Among the best are Hôtel Martinez, Hôtel Barrière Le Majestic, and Five Seas Hotel.

Amsterdam is not a resort destination.

Is Amsterdam or Cannes Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Cannes is a nice place to visit for its diving and snorkeling. However, Amsterdam is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Cannes has a few areas where visitors often go scuba diving or snorkeling. You can arrange scuba diving and snorkeling trips from a few vendors in town. You might see sponges, sea slugs octopus, cuttlefish, lobsters and even stingrays.

Amsterdam is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Amsterdam or Cannes Better for Beaches?

Cannes is well known for the beache. However, Amsterdam is not a beach destination.

You'll have a great beach vacation in Cannes. You can choose from both public and private beaches in the area. You'll find more amenities and convenience at the private beaches which are closer to La Croisette (the main promenade in town). These beaches also come with a price tag attached. The public beaches have a more relaxed and natural vibe but are a little less convenient to get to.

Amsterdam is not a beach destination.

Is Amsterdam or Cannes Better for its Old Town?

Amsterdam and Cannes both have excellent historical old towns that attract visitors.

Many visitors go to Amsterdam to see the historical old town. The old city center is one of the best preserved in Europe. It's enclosed by canals and has many historic churches, plazas, and buildings.

Cannes is an extremely popular place to visit the historic old town area. Known as Le Suquet, the old town has many historic landmarks including the the Château de la Castre. There are also cobblestone streets and many great restaurants around town.

Is the Shopping Better in Amsterdam or Cannes?

Cannes is an unbeatable place for its shopping opportunities. Also, Amsterdam is still popular, but not quite as popular for its shopping areas.

The abundance of shops in Cannes make it a world-class shopping destination. With its many affluent visitors, the shopping scene in town is filled with luxury brands and posh boutiques. Perfume and porcelain are both popular things to buy in the area.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas in Amsterdam. For the best shopping in town, head to the Nine Streets area in the historic district and the two main shopping streets of The Kalverstraat and Leidsestraat.

Is Amsterdam or Cannes Better for Families?

Cannes is a nice place to visit for its family-friendly activities. However, Amsterdam is not particularly known for its kid-friendly activities.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Cannes. Most people associate the city with the film festival and late night partying, but there are also kid-friendly restaurants, fun beach activities, and plenty of kid-friendly entertainment along La Croisette Boulevard. Make sure you check out the Grand Carousel and the many playgrounds around town.

For families, Amsterdam is not always the best place to visit. The city does it's share of partying, and there are some areas, like the red light district, that aren't exactly kid-friendly, but there are some nice parks, playgrounds, and the impressive NEMO Science Museum that you can explore.

Is Amsterdam or Cannes Better for Couples?

Cannes is an unbeatable place for its romantic activities. Also, Amsterdam is still popular, but not quite as popular for couples.

Cannes has so much to offer for a romantic couple's vacation. It's grand hotels and luxury beach clubs make this a perfect romantic destination. There are world class restaurants, a vibrant nightlife scene, and many romantic spots around town that make for a memorable honeymoon or couple's getaway.

Amsterdam is a great city if you're traveling as a couple. For many, a visit to this city is all about the party, but for couples who enjoy history, architecture, or boat rides along the scenic canals, the city also makes a great getaway. It's also fun to stay in a houseboat and have a unique experience.

Is Amsterdam or Cannes Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Amsterdam is an amazing city to visit for backpackers. However, Cannes is not a good resort city for backpackers and budget travelers.

Amsterdam is a very popular city to visit for backpackers. With it's party-hard personality and countless low price hostels, this city attracts its share of backpackers. Do note that many of the hostels aren't focused on quality, so make sure you understand what you're paying for. It may be worth booking a slightly more expensive room in a hotel.

Cannes is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. It's more famous for it's celebrity jetsetters than young budget travelers, but there are still several hostels and budget accommodation options tucked away in town.

Is Amsterdam or Cannes Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Amsterdam is an amazing city to visit for its public transit. Also, Cannes is not as famous, but is still a good resort city to visit for times when you don't have a car.

Public transit in Amsterdam is top-notch. The city has metros, trams, buses, and ferries that help you get around. Since this is the Netherlands, getting around by bike is very popular.

Cannes has some public transit options. There are buses that travel around the city.

Is Amsterdam or Cannes a more walkable city?

Amsterdam is an amazing city to visit for its ease of walking around. Also, Cannes is not as famous, but is still a good resort city to visit for its walkability.

It is easy to get around Amsterdam on foot. The historic parts of the city are very walkable and much of the city is best explored on foot.

Cannes is very walkable. Many areas are easily explored on foot including the historic areas and the coastline.

For even more information, also check out Is Amsterdam Worth Visiting? and Is Cannes Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Cannes or Amsterdam?

How long in Amsterdam or Cannes?

It's fun to spend time in either Amsterdam or Cannes. Generally, people tend to spend more time in Amsterdam due to the larger number of activities and things to do. Usually, 2-7 days is a good amount of time for Amsterdam, and 2-4 days is enough time in Cannes.

Families should spend more time in Cannes than Amsterdam. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Cannes, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Cannes than Amsterdam. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Cannes that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Amsterdam than Cannes if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Amsterdam.

One day in Amsterdam or Cannes?

Amsterdam is a bustling city that offers something for everyone. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

You'll find nightlife and live music around the resort city of Cannes. People often spend their time relaxing at one of the resorts. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A weekend in Amsterdam or Cannes?

Amsterdam is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

You'll find live music and food around the lavish destination of Cannes. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this resort city has to offer. This resort city offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Five days in Amsterdam or Cannes?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Amsterdam. For many, it makes a great getaway for five days. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill five days here. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Travelers enjoy the food and scuba diving and snorkeling when visiting the glitzy resort city of Cannes. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. It's also a relaxing resort destination. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Amsterdam or Cannes?

Amsterdam is a bustling city that offers something for everyone. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. If you have one week, this is a great place to go. This would be the perfect place to spend one week, as it has just the right amount of activities.

Cannes is a popular choice for travelers. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours from Amsterdam, The Best 2-Week Tours from Amsterdam, The Best Bicycle Tours in France, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in France.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Amsterdam and Cannes, we can see that Amsterdam is more expensive. And not only is Cannes much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Cannes would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cannes and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Amsterdam would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Amsterdam than you might in Cannes.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Amsterdam Expensive? and Is Cannes Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Amsterdam or Cannes?

Amsterdam has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Cannes. When comparing the sizes of Amsterdam and Cannes, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit Amsterdam or Cannes?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Amsterdam or Cannes in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Amsterdam and Cannes. Most visitors come to Amsterdam for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Furthermore, the summer months attract visitors to Cannes because of the beaches, snorkeling, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Amsterdam is cooler than Cannes. Typically, the summer temperatures in Amsterdam in July average around 17°C (62°F), and Cannes averages at about 23°C (73°F).

In July, Amsterdam usually receives more rain than Cannes. Amsterdam gets 75 mm (3 in) of rain, while Cannes receives 16 mm (0.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Amsterdam or Cannes in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Amsterdam as well as Cannes. The autumn months attract visitors to Amsterdam because of the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area. Additionally, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Cannes this time of year.

In October, Amsterdam is generally much colder than Cannes. Daily temperatures in Amsterdam average around 11°C (51°F), and Cannes fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).

It's quite rainy in Cannes. Amsterdam usually gets less rain in October than Cannes. Amsterdam gets 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Cannes receives 108 mm (4.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Amsterdam or Cannes in the Winter?

Both Cannes and Amsterdam are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Amsterdam this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Cannes for the shopping scene and the cuisine.

It's quite cold in Amsterdam in the winter. Amsterdam is much colder than Cannes in the winter. The daily temperature in Amsterdam averages around 2°C (36°F) in January, and Cannes fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).

In January, Amsterdam usually receives less rain than Cannes. Amsterdam gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Cannes receives 83 mm (3.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Amsterdam or Cannes in the Spring?

Both Cannes and Amsterdam during the spring are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Amsterdam for the activities around the city and the natural beauty. Also, many visitors come to Cannes in the spring for the beaches and the natural beauty.

In the spring, Amsterdam is much colder than Cannes. Typically, the spring temperatures in Amsterdam in April average around 8°C (46°F), and Cannes averages at about 13°C (56°F).

Amsterdam usually gets less rain in April than Cannes. Amsterdam gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Cannes receives 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Cannes and Amsterdam