A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Cannes vs. Lake Garda for Food, Families, Couples, and Nightlife

Should you visit Cannes or Lake Garda?

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 Lake Garda can help you decide which place is right for you.

Cannes

Cannes is a lavish, glitzy, and opulent resort city. The beauty of this spot is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. Visitors also love the live music, food, and scuba diving and snorkeling.

Lake Garda

Lake Garda is a scenic, playful, and fun lake. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. Other popular activities here include beaches, hiking, and shopping.

Cannes and Lake Garda: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Cannes or Lake Garda?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Cannes. Although Cannes and Lake Garda are both popular with visitors, Cannes has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Cannes is more popular for its food, music, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, historical sights, and shopping, while Lake Garda is known for its museums and hiking. Cannes is more touristy than Lake Garda and is popular for its popularity with celebrities and its role as host for the international film festival. It is also home to Boulevard de la Croisette. Lake Garda is popular for its beautiful setting, charming towns, and fun amusement parks.

How is Cannes different from Lake Garda?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Lake Garda is very good for its sights and museums. However, Cannes does not have museums and landmarks.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Lake Garda. While most people come for the natural beauty, there are also great castles that you can explore. Castello Scaligeri, Grotte di Catullo, and Castello Scaligero.

Cannes does not have museums and landmarks.

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

Cannes is terrific for its restaurants. Also, Lake Garda is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its restaurant scene.

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.

Dining out in Lake Garda is an experience not to be missed. You'll find many great local restaurants in the area. Most make use of local ingredients such as olive oil, lemons, wine, and fish. Pasta and risotto are both popular throughout the area as well.

Is Cannes or Lake Garda Better for Nightlife?

Both Cannes and Lake Garda are great when it comes to partying.

Cannes offers plenty to do in the evening. 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.

Lake Garda has a large number of nightlife venues. You'll find clubs and bars in various towns that make for a great nightlife scene. You'll even find beach parties and fireworks shows during the most popular times of the year.

Is Cannes or Lake Garda Better for Music?

Cannes is terrific for its live music scene. However, Lake Garda is not a live music destination.

With so many music venues, you're guaranteed a show any night of the week in Cannes. The city is famous for its music festivals, but there are also many bands, DJs, and performers who visit year round.

Lake Garda is not a live music destination.

Is Cannes or Lake Garda Better for Resorts?

Cannes is terrific for its luxury resorts. However, Lake Garda is not a resort destination.

For the ultimate resort vacation, Cannes is a great choice. The city is filled with luxury resorts and elegant hotels. Among the best are Hôtel Martinez, Hôtel Barrière Le Majestic, and Five Seas Hotel.

Lake Garda is not a resort destination.

Is Cannes or Lake Garda Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Cannes is a popular place for its diving and snorkeling. However, Lake Garda is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Cannes has a few good snorkeling spots. 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.

Lake Garda is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Cannes or Lake Garda Better for Beaches?

Cannes and Lake Garda are great choices for a beach vacation.

Cannes is a very popular place to visit for its 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.

You'll have a great beach vacation in Lake Garda. Despite there being no ocean, there are many great swimming beaches in the area. Many have sand and great places to relax. There's also plenty of watersports to choose from.

Is Cannes or Lake Garda Better for its Old Town?

Cannes is an excellent place to visit for its old town. However, Lake Garda does not have a historic old town.

Many visitors explore the old town while visiting 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.

Lake Garda does not have a historic old town.

Is Cannes or Lake Garda Better for Hiking?

Lake Garda is a well-known place for the nearby hiking options. However, Cannes is not a hiking destination.

Lake Garda is a popular spot for hiking. There are many great walking and hiking trails in the area that take you through the natural beauty, connect the charming towns, and offer spectacular viewpoints.

Cannes is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Cannes or Lake Garda?

Cannes is terrific for its shopping opportunities. Also, Lake Garda is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its shopping areas.

Known for shopping, Cannes draws large crowds to its stores. 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 go to Lake Garda to go shopping. Many villages around the lake are great for shopping. You'll find clothing stores, jewelry shops, and souvenir vendors with something for everyone.

Is Cannes or Lake Garda Better for Families?

Lake Garda is an amazing lake to visit 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.

Lake Garda is one of the most popular family destinations. The nearby amusement parks, including Gardaland, make this a popular destination for families. The area also has many places to swim, trails to explore, and castles to experience. Kids and adults alike will love this amazing kid-friendly area.

Cannes is a family-friendly resort 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 Cannes or Lake Garda Better for Couples?

Cannes is terrific for its romantic activities. Also, Lake Garda is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for couples.

Cannes makes for a terrific place to visit as a couple. 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 Lake Garda frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. You'll find a lot of families in the area because of the amusement parks, but that doesn't mean that this isn't a romantic and beautiful spot for couples. There are many charming towns to explore and scenic viewpoints to check out. There are also excellent romantic restaurants that you should try.

Is Cannes or Lake Garda Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

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

Lake Garda is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. There are a few good hostels around the lake that are affordable and fun. The area also see enough backpackers to keep the atmosphere fun and social.

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

Lake Garda 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.

Lake Garda offers a very effecient public transportation network. There are ferries, buses, and trains in the area.

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

Is Cannes or Lake Garda a more walkable city?

Cannes and Lake Garda both are great when exploring on foot.

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

Lake Garda is very walkable. There are walking trails that connect the villages around the lake and this how many people choose to get around.

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

Should I spend more time in Lake Garda or Cannes?

How long in Cannes or Lake Garda?

It's fun to spend time in either Cannes or Lake Garda. In our opinion, Cannes has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Cannes than Lake Garda. However, 2-4 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

Couples should spend more time in Cannes than Lake Garda. 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 Lake Garda 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 Lake Garda.

One day in Cannes or Lake Garda?

With live music and food around the glitzy resort city of Cannes, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Lake Garda. Hikers are also drawn to this area. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Cannes or Lake Garda?

With food and scuba diving and snorkeling around the destination of Cannes, there's plenty to do. Travelers enjoy the resorts in the area as well. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this resort city.

Lake Garda 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 Lake Garda?

Cannes, a popular resort city, is full of activities for travelers. Visiting the old town is also a must. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Lake Garda. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. 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 Lake Garda?

Cannes is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the playful destination of Lake Garda. This lake offers a variety of activities to choose from. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking 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 Tours for Seniors to Italy, and The Best Contiki Tours to Italy.

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

When is the best time to visit Cannes or Lake Garda?

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 Lake Garda in the Summer?

Both Lake Garda and Cannes during the summer are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Cannes for the beaches, snorkeling, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Furthermore, the summer months attract visitors to Lake Garda because of the beaches, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Cannes is generally around the same temperature as Lake Garda. Daily temperatures in Cannes average around 23°C (73°F), and Lake Garda fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).

Cannes usually gets less rain in July than Lake Garda. Cannes gets 16 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while Lake Garda receives 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Cannes or Lake Garda in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Cannes and Lake Garda. The autumn months attract visitors to Cannes because of the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area. Furthermore, the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Lake Garda this time of year.

Cannes is a little warmer than Lake Garda in the autumn. The daily temperature in Cannes averages around 17°C (63°F) in October, and Lake Garda fluctuates around 14°C (57°F).

Cannes gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Cannes usually receives more rain than Lake Garda. Cannes gets 108 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Lake Garda receives 82 mm (3.2 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Cannes or Lake Garda in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Cannes as well as Lake Garda. The shopping scene and the cuisine are the main draw to Cannes this time of year. Additionally, many travelers come to Lake Garda for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Lake Garda. In the winter, Cannes is much warmer than Lake Garda. Typically, the winter temperatures in Cannes in January average around 9°C (48°F), and Lake Garda averages at about 2°C (36°F).

Cannes usually gets more rain in January than Lake Garda. Cannes gets 83 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Lake Garda receives 55 mm (2.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Cannes or Lake Garda in the Spring?

Both Lake Garda and Cannes are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Cannes for the beaches and the natural beauty. Also, many visitors come to Lake Garda in the spring for the beaches and the natural beauty.

In April, Cannes is generally around the same temperature as Lake Garda. Daily temperatures in Cannes average around 13°C (56°F), and Lake Garda fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).

In April, Cannes usually receives less rain than Lake Garda. Cannes gets 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Lake Garda receives 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Lake Garda and Cannes