A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Athens vs. Cannes for Food, Nightlife, Old Town, and Couples

Should you visit Athens or Cannes?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Athens and Cannes. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Athens

Athens is a historic, ancient, and vibrant city. As it's a big city, visitors will find plenty to do, too. It offers plenty of beauty for visitors. Other popular activities here include nightlife, food, and shopping.

Cannes

Cannes is a opulent , luxury, and lavish resort city. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. It's also popular because of the shopping, nightlife, and live music.

Athens and Cannes: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Athens or Cannes?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Athens than Cannes. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. Athens is very popular for its museums, nightlife, historical sights, and big city activities, while Cannes attracts visitors for its music, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, shopping, and impressive beauty. Cannes is more touristy than Athens and is popular for its popularity with celebrities and its role as host for the international film festival. Athens is famous for its ancient temples and landmarks as well as its influence as the birthplace of democracy. It is also well known for The Acropolis.

The Acropolis

How is Athens different from Cannes?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Athens is an amazing city to visit for its sights and museums. However, Cannes does not have museums and landmarks.

You'll find many recognizable landmarks that put Athens on the map. As a historical capital of the world, this city has countless museums and archeological sites including the famous Acropolis, the National Archaeology Museum, and the Ancient Agora.

Cannes does not have museums and landmarks.

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

Dining out at restaurants in both Athens and Cannes can be an enjoyable experience.

Eat your way through Athens, as it has many local or world renowned restaurants to choose from. Make sure you try the souvlaki, moussaka, and dolmades at any of the many local restaurants throughout the city.

For foodies, Cannes is an obvious choice, as it is one of the food capitals of the world. 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.

Is Athens or Cannes Better for Nightlife?

Athens 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.

Athens has a colorful and one-of-a-kind nightlife scene. There are all-night dance clubs as well as local bars and chill live music venues.

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 Athens or Cannes Better for Music?

Cannes is an unbeatable place for its music scene. However, Athens is not a live music destination.

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.

Athens is not a live music destination.

Is Athens or Cannes Better for Resorts?

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

Vacationers flock to Cannes for its luxury resorts. The city is filled with luxury resorts and elegant hotels. Among the best are Hôtel Martinez, Hôtel Barrière Le Majestic, and Five Seas Hotel.

Athens is not a resort destination.

Is Athens or Cannes Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Cannes is a good destination for snorkeling and scuba diving. However, Athens is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Grab a mask and fins and explore the underwater scenery in Cannes. 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.

Athens is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Athens or Cannes Better for Beaches?

Cannes is great for the beach. However, Athens is not a beach destination.

Many people visit Cannes for it's beautiful beaches. 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.

Athens is not a beach destination.

Is Athens or Cannes Better for its Old Town?

Athens is an amazing city to visit for its historic old town charm. Also, Cannes is not as famous, but is still a good resort city to visit for its historic old town.

Athens offers visitors a world-class historical old town to explore. The city's "historic triangle" is between Syntagma, Omonia, and Monastiraki Squares. This area is also at the political and financial heart of the city.

Many visitors go to Cannes to see the historical old town. 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 Athens or Cannes?

Cannes is an unbeatable place for its shopping areas. Also, Athens is not as popular, but is still a nice city for shopping.

Many people travel to Cannes specifically to go shopping. 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.

Athens is a great destination for shopping. Most neighborhoods have a shopping street but head to Ermou Street for some of the city's best shopping.

Is Athens or Cannes Better for Families?

Athens is a well-known place for its family-friendly activities. Also, Cannes is not as famous, but is still a good resort city to visit for its kid-friendly activities.

Athens is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. With its rich history, beautiful outdoor activities, and kid-friendly food, Athens is a fun place to explore with the whole family.

Cannes is a family-friendly city. 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.

Is Athens or Cannes Better for Couples?

Cannes is an unbeatable place for couples. Also, Athens is not as popular, but is still a nice city for romance.

Cannes is fantastic couple's destination with fun and romantic activities. 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.

Athens is a nice destination for couples. The city is historical, fascinating, and romantic, making it a beautiful place to explore as a couple.

Is Athens or Cannes Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

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

Athens is a very popular city to visit for backpackers. The city has long been established as a backpackers destination with budget friendly food and plenty of hostels around town.

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 Athens or Cannes Better for Students?

Athens is a well-known place for students. However, Cannes is not popular with students.

Athens is very popular with students. International students will appreciate the rich history, archaeological ruins, and unique opportunities that are available here.

Cannes is not popular with students.

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

Athens is a well-known place 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.

Athens offers a very effecient public transportation network. The city's metro system has 3 lines that connect to bus, tram and commuter rail lines.

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

Is Athens or Cannes a more walkable city?

Athens and Cannes are high quality when it comes to walkability.

Athens is a very walkable destination. You'll find the city's most walkable area's in the historical heart, where there are many pedestrian only streets and shopping areas.

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 Athens Worth Visiting? and Is Cannes Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Cannes or Athens?

How long in Athens or Cannes?

It's fun to spend time in either Athens or Cannes. Generally, people tend to spend more time in Athens due to the larger number of activities and things to do. Usually, 3-7 days is a good amount of time for Athens, and 2-4 days is enough time in Cannes.

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

Couples should spend more time in Cannes than Athens. 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 Athens 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 Athens.

One day in Athens or Cannes?

Athens 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.

Many travelers enjoy the food and scuba diving and snorkeling when visiting the destination of Cannes. 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.

A weekend in Athens or Cannes?

Athens is a great place to explore. With so much to do, a weekend is probably not enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Cannes 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.

Five days in Athens or Cannes?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Athens. 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.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Cannes. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A week in Athens or Cannes?

Athens 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.

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and live music when visiting the glitzy destination of Cannes. This resort city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Greece, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Greece, The Best Bicycle Tours in France, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in France.

When comparing the travel costs between Athens and Cannes, we can see that Cannes is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Europe, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

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

Which is Bigger, Athens or Cannes?

Athens has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Cannes. When comparing the sizes of Athens 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 Athens or Cannes?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Athens or Cannes in the Summer?

Both Cannes and Athens during the summer are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Athens for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences. Furthermore, many visitors come to Cannes in the summer for the beaches, snorkeling, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.

Athens is a little warmer than Cannes in the summer. The daily temperature in Athens averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Cannes fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).

Athens usually gets less rain in July than Cannes. Athens gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Cannes receives 16 mm (0.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Athens or Cannes in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Athens and Cannes. Many visitors come to Athens in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area. Furthermore, most visitors come to Cannes for the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.

In the autumn, Athens is a little warmer than Cannes. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Athens in October average around 19°C (67°F), and Cannes averages at about 17°C (63°F).

Cannes receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Athens usually receives less rain than Cannes. Athens gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Cannes receives 108 mm (4.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Athens or Cannes in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Athens as well as Cannes. Most visitors come to Athens for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Additionally, the winter months attract visitors to Cannes because of the shopping scene and the cuisine.

In January, Athens is generally a little warmer than Cannes. Daily temperatures in Athens average around 10°C (51°F), and Cannes fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).

Athens usually gets less rain in January than Cannes. Athens gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Cannes receives 83 mm (3.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Athens or Cannes in the Spring?

Both Cannes and Athens are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The spring months attract visitors to Athens because of the activities around the city and the natural beauty. Also, the beaches and the natural beauty are the main draw to Cannes this time of year.

Athens is a little warmer than Cannes in the spring. The daily temperature in Athens averages around 16°C (60°F) in April, and Cannes fluctuates around 13°C (56°F).

In April, Athens usually receives less rain than Cannes. Athens gets 25 mm (1 in) of rain, while Cannes receives 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Cannes and Athens