A Travel Price Comparison for France Cannes vs. Avignon for Food, Old Town, Couples, and Nightlife

Should you visit Cannes or Avignon?

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

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Cannes and Avignon can help you decide which place is right for you.

Cannes

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

Avignon

Avignon is a scenic, picturesque, and historical town. Because it offers so much small town charm with a variety of activities, it attracts plenty of visitors for a good reason. Other popular activities here include museums, food, and shopping.

Cannes and Avignon: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Cannes or Avignon?

Travelers will generally find more things to do in Cannes than Avignon. While Avignon is larger than Cannes, Cannes has more sights and attractions for tourists. Cannes is very popular for its nightlife, music, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, shopping, and impressive beauty, while Avignon attracts visitors for its museums & sights, historical sights, and small town charm. Cannes is more touristy than Avignon and is popular for its popularity with celebrities and its role as host for the international film festival. It is also well known for Boulevard de la Croisette. Avignon is famous for its architectural beauty and historical importance.

How is Cannes different from Avignon?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

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

You'll find many recognizable landmarks that put Avignon on the map. The town is filled with historical landmarks such as Palais des Papes, Pont Saint Bénézet, Musée du Petit Palais, and Basilique Métropolitaine Notre-Dame des Doms.

Cannes does not have museums and landmarks.

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

Picking the best cuisine and restaurants between Cannes and Avignon can be difficult as they are each first-rate in their own way.

Cannes has long been recognized as a culinary destination with great restaurants. 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.

Known for it's food and restaurant scene, Avignon is always at the top of any foodie's travel list. For such a small town you'll find many great eateries where you can sample French cuisine. You'll find bakeries, patisseries, restaurants, chocolatiers, and cafes to try. Cooking classes are also a popular activity in town.

Is Cannes or Avignon Better for Nightlife?

Cannes is a very popular place for its evening party scene. However, Avignon is lacking in good options for nightlife.

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.

Avignon is generally a quiet destination but there are options around. There's a limited nightlife scene but the bars you'll find are usually centered around Place de lHorloge, Place du Palais, Rue Carnot, and Place des Corps-Saints.

Is Cannes or Avignon Better for Music?

Cannes is renowned for its music scene. However, Avignon 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.

Avignon is not a live music destination.

Is Cannes or Avignon Better for Resorts?

Cannes is renowned for its luxury resorts. However, Avignon 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.

Avignon is not a resort destination.

Is Cannes or Avignon Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Cannes is a good destination for snorkeling and scuba diving. However, Avignon 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.

Avignon is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Cannes or Avignon Better for Beaches?

Cannes is a very popular place for the beach. However, Avignon 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.

Avignon is not a beach destination.

Is Cannes or Avignon Better for its Old Town?

Avignon is an amazing town 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.

Avignon offers visitors a world-class historical old town to explore. The walled medieval old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and it's filled with history.

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 Cannes or Avignon?

Cannes is renowned for its shopping areas. Also, Avignon is not quite as popular, but is fairly good 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.

Avignon is a great destination for shopping. There are several shopping streets in town like Rue de la Republique, Rue Joseph-Vernet, and Rue St Agricol.

Is Cannes or Avignon Better for Families?

You'll find nice kid-friendly activities in either Cannes or Avignon.

Cannes is a family-friendly place to visit. 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.

Avignon is a family-friendly resort city. Families can enjoy cooking classes, boat tours, and exploring the old town together.

Is Cannes or Avignon Better for Couples?

Cannes is renowned for couples. Also, Avignon is not quite as popular, but is fairly good 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.

Couples visit Avignon frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. Filled with history, couples can enjoy strolling through the old town or dinner on amazing French food.

Is Cannes or Avignon Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Avignon is very good for backpackers. However, Cannes is not a good resort city for backpackers and budget travelers.

Avignon is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. You'll find a few affordable hotels, but hostels are a little bit more difficult to come by.

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

Both Cannes and Avignon offer nice public transit options.

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

Avignon has some public transit options. There are city buses as well as tourist shuttles around town.

Is Cannes or Avignon a more walkable city?

Avignon is an amazing town 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 Avignon on foot. There's almost no traffic in the city center so it's easy to explore 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 Cannes Worth Visiting? and Is Avignon Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Avignon or Cannes?

How long in Cannes or Avignon?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Cannes or Avignon to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Cannes than Avignon because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 2-4 days is a good amount of time for Cannes, and 1-2 days is enough time in Avignon.

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Avignon 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 Avignon.

One day in Cannes or Avignon?

In Cannes, you'll find scuba diving and snorkeling and shopping. Travelers enjoy the resorts in the area as well. This resort city offers something for everyone. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

Avignon might be a small town, but there's plenty to do in the area. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

A weekend in Cannes or Avignon?

In Cannes, you'll find shopping and nightlife. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. Visiting the old town is also a must. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Cannes has to offer.

Avignon 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 Cannes or Avignon?

Cannes is a great place to explore. You can also relax and pamper yourself at one of the resorts. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Avignon. 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 Cannes or Avignon?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Cannes. Many people enjoy the live music and food when visiting Cannes. It's also a relaxing resort destination. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

Avignon is a small town, so it's a great destination if you're short on time. This town 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 Bicycle Tours in France, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in France, The Best Coach Bus Tours in France, and The Best Adventure Tours to France.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cannes and Avignon, we can see that Avignon 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 Avignon would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Avignon 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 Cannes Expensive? and Is Avignon Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Cannes or Avignon?

Avignon has a larger population, and is about 28% larger than the population of Cannes. When comparing the sizes of Cannes and Avignon, 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 Cannes or Avignon?

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 Cannes or Avignon in the Summer?

Both Avignon and Cannes during the summer are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Cannes in the summer for the beaches, snorkeling, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences. Also, most visitors come to Avignon for the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

Cannes is around the same temperature as Avignon in the summer. The daily temperature in Cannes averages around 23°C (73°F) in July, and Avignon fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).

Cannes usually gets less rain in July than Avignon. Cannes gets 16 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while Avignon receives 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Cannes or Avignon in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Cannes and Avignon. Most visitors come to Cannes for the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Avignon because of the shopping scene and the small town atmosphere.

In the autumn, Cannes is around the same temperature as Avignon. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Cannes in October average around 17°C (63°F), and Avignon averages at about 16°C (61°F).

Avignon receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Cannes gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Cannes usually receives less rain than Avignon. Cannes gets 108 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Avignon receives 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Cannes or Avignon in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Cannes as well as Avignon. The winter months attract visitors to Cannes because of the shopping scene and the cuisine. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Avignon this time of year.

In January, Cannes is generally a little warmer than Avignon. Daily temperatures in Cannes average around 9°C (48°F), and Avignon fluctuates around 7°C (44°F).

Cannes usually gets more rain in January than Avignon. Cannes gets 83 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Avignon receives 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Cannes or Avignon in the Spring?

Both Avignon and Cannes are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The beaches and the natural beauty are the main draw to Cannes this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Avignon for the small town charm.

Cannes is around the same temperature as Avignon in the spring. The daily temperature in Cannes averages around 13°C (56°F) in April, and Avignon fluctuates around 13°C (56°F).

In April, Cannes usually receives more rain than Avignon. Cannes gets 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Avignon receives 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Avignon and Cannes