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

Should you visit Cannes or Madrid?

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

Cannes

Cannes is a opulent , luxury, and lavish 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.

Madrid

Madrid is a friendly, authentic, and cultural city. Visitors will also find so much to do here because it's a large city with many sights and attractions. Other popular activities here include shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Cannes and Madrid: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Cannes or Madrid?

You'll generally find more things to do in Madrid than Cannes. Madrid is bigger than Cannes, and it also has more attractions and activities for travelers. Madrid is better known for its museums and big city activities, while Cannes is more popular for its resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, historical sights, and impressive beauty. Cannes is more touristy than Madrid and is popular for its popularity with celebrities and its role as host for the international film festival. Madrid is well known for its art and architecture, its tapas and culinary scene, and its lively flamenco dancing. Also, Madrid is famous for The Prado Museum.

How is Cannes different from Madrid?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Madrid 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 Madrid. There are a number of cultural sights in the city including Museo Nacional del Prado, the Royal Palace and Gardens, and Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía.

Cannes does not have museums and landmarks.

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

Picking the best cuisine and restaurants between Cannes and Madrid can be difficult as they are each amazing 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, Madrid is always at the top of any foodie's travel list. The city has a mix of flavors that come from all of Spain. There are amazing markets where you can grab a meal or snack. There are also many high quality restaurants around town where you're guaranteed a good meal. Local favorites include roast suckling pig, Spanish omelette, and meat and chickpea stew.

Is Cannes or Madrid Better for Nightlife?

Both Cannes and Madrid are superb 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.

Madrid has a large number of nightlife venues. Many tourists and international students hang out in the Huertas area, while Malasaña has a bohemian, hipster vibe with small clubs that play indie music. Chueca is a fun area that's known for being gay-friendly with many good bars. Finally, you'll find that the area around Avenida de Brasil is where famous DJs often perform.

Is Cannes or Madrid Better for Music?

Both Cannes and Madrid offer amazing live music venues.

In Cannes you'll find nightly musicians performing at a variety of venues. The city is famous for its music festivals, but there are also many bands, DJs, and performers who visit year round.

Madrid is known as a music capital around the world. Rock, jazz, and flamenco are all popular in the city. Some of the most well known music venues include Sala Caracol, Sala Clamores, and Costello Club.

Is Cannes or Madrid Better for Resorts?

Cannes is renowned for its luxury resorts. However, Madrid is not a resort destination.

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

Madrid is not a resort destination.

Is Cannes or Madrid Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Cannes is a resort city with good options for the nearby scuba diving and snorkeling. However, Madrid is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

It's fun to get in the water and check out the local marine life 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.

Madrid is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Cannes or Madrid Better for Beaches?

Cannes is a great resort city for its beaches. However, Madrid is not a beach destination.

The beaches at Cannes attract visitors from all over. 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.

Madrid is not a beach destination.

Is Cannes or Madrid Better for its Old Town?

Cannes is a great resort city for its historic old town. However, Madrid does not have a historic old town.

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.

Madrid does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Cannes or Madrid?

Both Cannes and Madrid are amazing shopping destinations.

Cannes is a world class destination for shoppers. 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.

People travel from around the world to go shopping in Madrid. Gran Vía is a main thoroughfare in Madrid that is also popular for shopping. Calle Fuencarral is where you'll find the fashion shops and Calle Preciados is a fun pedestrian area to explore.

Is Cannes or Madrid Better for Families?

Madrid 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.

Madrid is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. Kids love splashing around at Madrid Río, taking a ride on the cable car (Teleférico), and exploring the city's many parks and playgrounds. There's even a maze at Sabatini Gardens. Restaurants around the city are also very kid-friendly.

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 Madrid Better for Couples?

Cannes is renowned for romance. Also, Madrid is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its romantic activities.

Cannes is a great resort city for couples, as it has plenty to offer. 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.

Madrid is a very popular place to visit for couples. Fun and romantic activities around town include taking a boat ride at Casa de Campo, riding a bike in one of the many parks, and enjoy dinner and show in the evening.

Is Cannes or Madrid Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Madrid is a well-known place for backpackers. However, Cannes is not a good resort city for backpackers and budget travelers.

Madrid is a very popular city for backpackers and budget travelers. The many hostels around town make it easy for backpackers to find affordable accommodation while also meeting other travelers.

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 Madrid Better for Students?

Madrid is an amazing city to visit for students. However, Cannes is not popular with students.

Students come from all over the world to visit Madrid. With several great universities, this city is popular with international and study abroad students. The city also has a diverse population and an active nightlife that appeals to students.

Cannes is not popular with students.

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

Madrid 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 Madrid is top-notch. The system includes the Madrid Metro, buses, and a light rail system.

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

Is Cannes or Madrid a more walkable city?

Madrid 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 Madrid on foot. Most tourists stay in the central part of Madrid where it's compact and relatively easy to walk to most tourist sights.

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 Madrid Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Madrid or Cannes?

How long in Cannes or Madrid?

In either Cannes or Madrid, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. Most visitors tend to spend more time in Madrid than Cannes because of the overall number of sights and activities. Usually, 2-4 days is a good amount of time for Cannes, and 2-5 days is enough time in Madrid.

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

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

One day in Cannes or Madrid?

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.

Madrid is a bustling city that offers something for everyone. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Cannes or Madrid?

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.

Madrid 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 Madrid?

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.

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

A week in Cannes or Madrid?

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and live music when visiting the opulent 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.

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and live music when visiting the friendly big city of Madrid. 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 Contiki Tours to Spain, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Spain.

When comparing the travel costs between Cannes and Madrid, 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 Madrid Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Cannes or Madrid?

Madrid has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Cannes. When comparing the sizes of Cannes and Madrid, 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.