A Travel Price Comparison for France Cannes vs. Caen for Food, Couples, Nightlife, and Families

Should you visit Cannes or Caen?

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 Caen can help you decide which place is right for you.

Cannes

Cannes is a lavish, glitzy, and opulent resort city. This is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. Other reasons to visit include scuba diving and snorkeling, beaches, and shopping.

Caen

Caen is a important, historic, and park-filled city. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. Other popular activities here include museums, nightlife, and food.

Cannes and Caen: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Cannes or Caen?

Travelers will generally find more things to do in Cannes than Caen. While Caen is larger than Cannes, Cannes has more sights and attractions for tourists. Cannes is better known for its food, nightlife, music, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, historical sights, shopping, and impressive beauty, while Caen is more popular for its museums and big city activities. Cannes is more touristy than Caen and is popular for its popularity with celebrities and its role as host for the international film festival. Also, Cannes is famous for Boulevard de la Croisette. Caen is well known for its role in World War II and its memorials and historical buildings.

How is Cannes different from Caen?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Caen 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 Caen?

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

Many visitors head to Caen specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. There are many monuments around town commemorating the city's long history. You'll want to see Château de Caen, Pegasus Bridge, Mémorial de Caen, Musée de Normandie, and Musée des beaux-arts de Caen.

Cannes does not have museums and landmarks.

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

Cannes is renowned for its restaurants. Also, Caen is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its restaurant scene.

Eat your way through Cannes, as it has many local or world renowned restaurants to choose from. 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.

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit Caen. There's a market that's at its best on Sundays where you'll find fresh produce and other local ingredients. There are also Michelin starred restaurants, seafood restaurants, and other traditional dishes. Head to the Vaugueux Quarter for traditional dishes.

Is Cannes or Caen Better for Nightlife?

Cannes is a very popular place for nightlife. Also, Caen is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for nightlife and partying.

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.

Caen has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. The nightlife scene stays active thanks to the 30,000 students living in town. Head to the Rue Ecuyère for a pub crawl or hit up any of the other bars around town.

Is Cannes or Caen Better for Music?

Cannes is renowned for live music. However, Caen is not a live music destination.

Cannes is known as a music capital around the world. The city is famous for its music festivals, but there are also many bands, DJs, and performers who visit year round.

Caen is not a live music destination.

Is Cannes or Caen Better for Resorts?

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

Caen is not a resort destination.

Is Cannes or Caen Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Cannes is a good destination for the nearby scuba diving and snorkeling. However, Caen 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.

Caen is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Cannes or Caen Better for Beaches?

Cannes is a very popular place for its beaches. However, Caen 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.

Caen is not a beach destination.

Is Cannes or Caen Better for its Old Town?

Cannes is a very popular place for its historic old town. However, Caen does not have a historic old town.

There are many historical things to see in the old town of Cannes. 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.

Caen does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Cannes or Caen?

Cannes is renowned for shopping. However, Caen is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

People travel from around the world to go shopping in Cannes. 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.

Caen is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Cannes or Caen Better for Families?

You'll find notable kid-friendly activities in either Cannes or Caen.

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.

Caen is a family-friendly resort city. There are museums, parks, monasteries, and castles that kids and adults alike with enjoy visiting.

Is Cannes or Caen Better for Couples?

Cannes is renowned for romance. Also, Caen is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its romantic activities.

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.

Caen makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Couples that are fascinated by history will enjoy a visit to this town in Normandy. There are also abbeys, castles and parks.

Is Cannes or Caen Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

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

Caen is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. You'll find more apartments and bed and breakfasts than hostels in town, but backpackers still make their way here.

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 Caen Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Caen 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.

Caen offers a very effecient public transportation network. There are buses and trams that travel throughout the city.

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

Is Cannes or Caen a more walkable city?

Cannes is a very popular place for its walkability. Also, Caen is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its high level of walkability.

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

Caen is a somewhat walkable place. The city center is best explored on foot.

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

Should I spend more time in Caen or Cannes?

How long in Cannes or Caen?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Cannes and Caen. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Cannes than in Caen. Usually, 2-4 days is a good amount of time for Cannes, and 2-3 days is enough time in Caen.

Families should spend more time in Cannes than Caen. 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 Caen. 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 Cannes than Caen 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 Cannes.

One day in Cannes or Caen?

Visitors enjoy the nightlife and live music when visiting the destination of Cannes. Visiting the old town is also a must. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

Many travelers enjoy the food and museums when visiting the destination of Caen. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Cannes or Caen?

Cannes is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. You can also relax and pamper yourself at one of the resorts. A weekend is often enough time to do most activities. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Caen 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 Caen?

You'll find food and scuba diving and snorkeling around the lavish destination of Cannes. This resort city offers something for everyone. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

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

The opulent resort city of Cannes offers scuba diving and snorkeling and shopping. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. 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.

Travelers enjoy the food and museums when visiting the park-filled destination of Caen. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. 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 comparing the travel costs between Cannes and Caen, 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 Cannes Expensive? and Is Caen Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Cannes or Caen?

Caen has a larger population, and is about 58% larger than the population of Cannes. When comparing the sizes of Cannes and Caen, 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 Caen?

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 Caen in the Summer?

Both Caen 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 Caen for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In the summer, Cannes is a little warmer than Caen. Typically, the summer temperatures in Cannes in July average around 23°C (73°F), and Caen averages at about 18°C (64°F).

Cannes usually gets less rain in July than Caen. Cannes gets 16 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while Caen receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Cannes or Caen in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Cannes and Caen. 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 Caen because of the city's sights and attractions.

In October, Cannes is generally a little warmer than Caen. Daily temperatures in Cannes average around 17°C (63°F), and Caen fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).

Cannes gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Cannes usually receives more rain than Caen. Cannes gets 108 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Caen receives 68 mm (2.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Cannes or Caen in the Winter?

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

It's quite cold in Caen in the winter. Cannes is much warmer than Caen in the winter. The daily temperature in Cannes averages around 9°C (48°F) in January, and Caen fluctuates around 5°C (41°F).

Cannes usually gets more rain in January than Caen. Cannes gets 83 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Caen receives 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Cannes or Caen in the Spring?

Both Caen 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 Caen for the activities around the city.

In the spring, Cannes is a little warmer than Caen. Typically, the spring temperatures in Cannes in April average around 13°C (56°F), and Caen averages at about 9°C (49°F).

In April, Cannes usually receives more rain than Caen. Cannes gets 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Caen receives 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Caen and Cannes