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

Should you visit Lyon or Cannes?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Lyon or Cannes, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Lyon

Lyon is a quaint, authentic, and historic city. As it's a big city, visitors will find plenty to do, too. You'll find world class beauty here as well. As it offers a special and quaint atmosphere, visitors come from all over to experience this destination. Other popular activities here include nightlife, food, and shopping.

Cannes

Cannes is a luxury, lavish, and glitzy resort city. The beauty of this spot is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. And you can't forget about the beaches, shopping, and nightlife.

Lyon and Cannes: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Lyon or Cannes?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Lyon than Cannes, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Lyon is more popular for its museums, historical sights, big city activities, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere, while Cannes is known for its music, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, and shopping. Cannes is more touristy than Lyon and is known for its popularity with celebrities and its role as host for the international film festival. Lyon is popular for its world-renowned cuisine, charming old town, and vibrant new town. It is also home to The Basilique Notre-Dame de Fourvière.

How is Lyon different from Cannes?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

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

You'll find many recognizable landmarks that put Lyon on the map. There are many world class museums and historic landmarks in the city including Musée des Beaux Arts, Musée de la Civilisation Gallo-Romaine, and Basilique Notre-Dame de Fourvière.

Cannes does not have museums and landmarks.

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

Picking the best cuisine and restaurants between Lyon and Cannes can be difficult as they are each terrific in their own way.

Known for it's food and restaurant scene, Lyon is always at the top of any foodie's travel list. Known as "the Gastronomic Capital of the World" this city stands above the rest when it comes to Michelin star restaurants (there are 17!), fresh ingredients, and unique local flavors. Favorite local dishes include pâté en croûte, rosette de Lyon, and saucisson brioché.

Many restaurants in Cannes have been singled out for their culinary prowess. 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.

Is Lyon or Cannes Better for Nightlife?

Both Lyon and Cannes are excellent when it comes to partying.

Lyon offers plenty to do in the evening. The city has enough diverse neighborhoods that you'll find a scene that is great for everyone. There are dance clubs, cocktail bars, and wine bars that meet every personality and style.

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.

Is Lyon or Cannes Better for Music?

Cannes is an amazing resort city to visit for its live music scene. However, Lyon is not a live music destination.

Live music, and music in many other forms, is everyone in Cannes The city is famous for its music festivals, but there are also many bands, DJs, and performers who visit year round.

Lyon is not a live music destination.

Is Lyon or Cannes Better for Resorts?

Cannes is an amazing resort city to visit for its resorts. However, Lyon is not a resort destination.

Cannes offers an unforgettable resort vacation. The city is filled with luxury resorts and elegant hotels. Among the best are Hôtel Martinez, Hôtel Barrière Le Majestic, and Five Seas Hotel.

Lyon is not a resort destination.

Is Lyon or Cannes Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Cannes is a nice place to visit for its diving and snorkeling. However, Lyon is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Cannes has a few areas where visitors often go scuba diving or snorkeling. 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.

Lyon is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Lyon or Cannes Better for Beaches?

Cannes is a well-known place for the beache. However, Lyon is not a beach destination.

You'll have a great beach vacation in Cannes. 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.

Lyon is not a beach destination.

Is Lyon or Cannes Better for its Old Town?

Lyon is an amazing city 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.

Lyon offers visitors a world-class historical old town to explore. This impressive old town climbs from the river into Fourvière Hill. It's a Renaissance era district with beautiful buildings and plenty of character. You can spend days wandering the quaint streets and popping in the world class restaurants.

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 Lyon or Cannes?

Cannes is an amazing resort city to visit for its shopping opportunities. Also, Lyon is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its shopping areas.

The abundance of shops in Cannes make it a world-class shopping destination. 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 explore the shopping areas in Lyon. The city has many trendy markets, pedestrian shopping areas, and character-filled boutiques. From the charming shops in old town to the chic shopping streets, there are plenty of places to splurge around town.

Is Lyon or Cannes Better for Families?

Lyon 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.

Lyon is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. The city has many kid-friendly museums including Musée des Confluences and the Cinema and Miniature Museum. There are also playgrounds, patisseries, and river cruises that you can enjoy as a family. Puppet shows are also fun, but do note that they're usually in French. While the restaurants are amazing for adults, it can be tricky to find a kid-friendly option with early opening hours that are convenient for little ones.

Cannes is a family-friendly 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 Lyon or Cannes Better for Couples?

Cannes is an amazing resort city to visit for its romantic activities. Also, Lyon is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for couples.

Cannes has so much to offer for a romantic couple's vacation. 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.

Lyon makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Couples can enjoy wandering the beautiful Old Town, taking a river cruise, and dining on some of the best food in France.

Is Lyon or Cannes Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

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

Lyon is a very popular city for backpackers and budget travelers. The city has several hostels and a number of activities that are fun for budget travelers and backpackers.

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 Lyon or Cannes Better for Students?

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

Students come from all over the world to visit Lyon. It is a very livable city with many fun cultural activities for students. There are many different entertainment options during the day, and during the evening there are plenty of places to hang out.

Cannes is not popular with students.

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

Lyon 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 Lyon is top-notch. The city has a metro, trams, and buses, that make it easy to get around.

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

Is Lyon or Cannes a more walkable city?

Lyon and Cannes both are excellent when exploring on foot.

Lyon is a very walkable city. The old town is particularly walkable, but the hills can make things a bit challenging. There are also a number of pedestrian streets around town.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Cannes or Lyon?

How long in Lyon or Cannes?

It's fun to spend time in either Lyon or Cannes. Generally, people tend to spend more time in Lyon due to the larger number of activities and things to do. Usually, 2-5 days is a good amount of time for Lyon, and 2-4 days is enough time in Cannes.

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

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

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

One day in Lyon or Cannes?

Lyon is a bustling city that offers something for everyone. 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.

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.

A weekend in Lyon or Cannes?

Lyon 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.

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.

Five days in Lyon or Cannes?

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

You'll find food and scuba diving and snorkeling around the opulent 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.

A week in Lyon or Cannes?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the cultural big city of Lyon. This 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.

The glitzy 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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours from Paris, The Best 2-Week Tours from Paris, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to France, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in France.

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

Which is Bigger, Lyon or Cannes?

Lyon has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Cannes. When comparing the sizes of Lyon and Cannes, 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 Lyon or Cannes?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Lyon or Cannes in the Summer?

Both Cannes and Lyon are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Lyon for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Cannes because of the beaches, snorkeling, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Lyon is around the same temperature as Cannes. Typically, the summer temperatures in Lyon in July average around 22°C (71°F), and Cannes averages at about 23°C (73°F).

In July, Lyon usually receives more rain than Cannes. Lyon gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Cannes receives 16 mm (0.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Lyon or Cannes in the Autumn?

Both Cannes and Lyon during the autumn are popular places to visit. The autumn months attract visitors to Lyon because of the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area. Also, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Cannes this time of year.

In October, Lyon is generally cooler than Cannes. Daily temperatures in Lyon average around 14°C (56°F), and Cannes fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).

Cannes gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Lyon usually gets less rain in October than Cannes. Lyon gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Cannes receives 108 mm (4.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Lyon or Cannes in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Lyon and Cannes. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Lyon this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Cannes for the shopping scene and the cuisine.

It's quite cold in Lyon in the winter. Lyon is much colder than Cannes in the winter. The daily temperature in Lyon averages around 4°C (39°F) in January, and Cannes fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).

In January, Lyon usually receives less rain than Cannes. Lyon gets 55 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Cannes receives 83 mm (3.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Lyon or Cannes in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Lyon as well as Cannes. Many travelers come to Lyon for the activities around the city and the natural beauty. Also, many visitors come to Cannes in the spring for the beaches and the natural beauty.

In the spring, Lyon is cooler than Cannes. Typically, the spring temperatures in Lyon in April average around 11°C (53°F), and Cannes averages at about 13°C (56°F).

Lyon usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as Cannes. Lyon gets 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Cannes receives 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Cannes and Lyon