A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Cannes vs. San Remo for Food, Couples, Nightlife, and Beaches

Should you visit Cannes or San Remo?

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 San Remo 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.

San Remo

San Remo is a beautiful, scenic, and authentic coastal city. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. Other popular activities here include nightlife, food, and beaches.

Cannes and San Remo: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Cannes or San Remo?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Cannes than San Remo. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. Cannes is more touristy than San Remo 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. San Remo is famous for its olives, lemons, and flower market.

How is Cannes different from San Remo?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Cannes is terrific for its restaurants. Also, San Remo 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.

With its innovative style combined with traditional elements, San Remo makes for a great culinary experience. The local restaurants are charming and sell a number of local specialties. Many traditional dishes are made with rabbit or chicken. There are also vegetable pies and sardenaira, which is a type of pizza that's made with tomatoes, garlic, and anchovies. Also make sure you pick up Baci di Sanremo, which are soft chocolate biscuits that are available in local bakeries.

Is Cannes or San Remo Better for Nightlife?

Cannes is a very popular place for its evening party scene. Also, San Remo is not quite as popular, but is fairly good 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.

San Remo has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. The city has a number of clubs and bars where you can enjoy a drink or hang out late into the evening. It's a pretty mellow nightlife scene, but there's still plenty of places to go as well as a local vibe that doesn't have the influx of tourists that you find in many of other Italian cities.

Is Cannes or San Remo Better for Music?

Cannes is terrific for its music scene. However, San Remo 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.

San Remo is not a live music destination.

Is Cannes or San Remo Better for Resorts?

Cannes is terrific for its luxury resorts. However, San Remo 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.

San Remo is not a resort destination.

Is Cannes or San Remo Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Cannes is a popular place for snorkeling and scuba diving. However, San Remo 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.

San Remo is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Cannes or San Remo Better for Beaches?

Cannes and San Remo 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 San Remo. The beautiful sandy beaches are nice to visit and it's possible to rent chairs and umbrellas in many places. The main beach in town is Spiaggia dei Porti. Other popular nearby beaches include Spiaggia dei tre ponti, which is a large public beach, and Cala degli Orsi, which is one of the most beautiful public beaches in the area.

Is Cannes or San Remo Better for its Old Town?

Cannes and San Remo are both popular destinations with charming historical areas.

There is a nice variety of sights 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.

Many visitors go to San Remo to see the historical old town. The old quarter of Pigna is a Medieval area with narrow streets that feel as if they're frozen in time. The hills offer impressive city views and the area has a unique historic character.

Is the Shopping Better in Cannes or San Remo?

Cannes is terrific for its shopping areas. Also, San Remo 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.

San Remo is a great destination for shopping. There are local and international brands as well as a shopping mall and outlets where you can enjoy shopping.

Is Cannes or San Remo Better for Families?

San Remo 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.

San Remo is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. The area offers plenty of outdoor activities that the whole family will enjoy. There's horseback riding, hiking, rowing, snorkeling, cooking classes, farm tours and more. There are also a number of hotels in the area that have kid-friendly activities.

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 San Remo Better for Couples?

Cannes is terrific for couples. Also, San Remo is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for romance.

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 San Remo frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. It's known as the city of flowers, and the many beautiful gardens make this a truly romantic place to visit. Couples will enjoy soaking up the city's history and enjoy the vibrant culture and outdoor activities that are available.

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

Both Cannes and San Remo offer nice public transit options.

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

San Remo has some public transit options. There are local buses around town.

Is Cannes or San Remo a more walkable city?

Cannes and San Remo 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.

San Remo is very walkable. The old quarter is fun to explore on foot and there are a number of walking tours through town.

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

Should I spend more time in San Remo or Cannes?

How long in Cannes or San Remo?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Cannes or San Remo to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Cannes than San Remo 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 San Remo.

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

Couples should spend more time in Cannes than San Remo. 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 San Remo 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 San Remo?

The beautiful resort city of Cannes offers shopping and nightlife. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

Many travelers enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the destination of San Remo. 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 San Remo?

Cannes is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this resort city makes for a great vacation. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Cannes, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

San Remo 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 San Remo?

Cannes is a popular choice for travelers. Five days 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. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

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

Cannes is a great place to explore. Visiting the old town is also a must. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This resort city offers something for everyone.

Travelers enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the scenic destination of San Remo. This coastal 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 Bicycle Tours in France, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in France, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Italy, and The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Italy.

When comparing the travel costs between Cannes and San Remo, we can see that San Remo 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 San Remo Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Cannes or San Remo?

Cannes has a larger population, and is about 38% larger than the population of San Remo. When comparing the sizes of Cannes and San Remo, 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 San Remo?

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 San Remo in the Summer?

Both San Remo 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. Also, the summer months attract visitors to San Remo because of the beaches and the family-friendly experiences.

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

Cannes usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as San Remo. Cannes gets 16 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while San Remo receives 16 mm (0.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Cannes or San Remo in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Cannes and San Remo. The autumn months attract visitors to Cannes because of the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area. Also, the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to San Remo this time of year.

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

San Remo receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Cannes gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Cannes usually receives around the same amount of rain as San Remo. Cannes gets 108 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while San Remo receives 108 mm (4.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Cannes or San Remo in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Cannes as well as San Remo. The shopping scene and the cuisine are the main draw to Cannes this time of year. Also, many travelers come to San Remo for the shopping scene and the cuisine.

In January, Cannes is generally around the same temperature as San Remo. Daily temperatures in Cannes average around 9°C (48°F), and San Remo fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).

Cannes usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as San Remo. Cannes gets 83 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while San Remo receives 83 mm (3.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Cannes or San Remo in the Spring?

Both San Remo 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 San Remo in the spring for the beaches and the natural beauty.

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

In April, Cannes usually receives around the same amount of rain as San Remo. Cannes gets 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while San Remo receives 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for San Remo and Cannes