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

Should you visit Marseille or Cannes?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Marseille 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.

Marseille

Marseille is a energetic and vibrant city. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. This is an attractive and quaint destination worth visiting as well. Other popular activities here include nightlife, food, and beaches.

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.

Marseille and Cannes: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Marseille or Cannes?

Travelers will generally find more things to do in Cannes than Marseille. While Marseille is larger than Cannes, Cannes has more sights and attractions for tourists. Cannes is very popular for its music, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, and shopping, while Marseille attracts visitors for its nightlife, historical sights, christmas markets, and quaint atmosphere. Cannes is more touristy than Marseille 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. Marseille is famous for its unique history, its diverse population, and its authenticity.

How is Marseille different from Cannes?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Foodies will find both Marseille and Cannes both to be terrific destinations.

Known for it's food and restaurant scene, Marseille is always at the top of any foodie's travel list. It's famous for its bouillabaisse, which is a hearty seafood soup that was once affordable but is now quite pricey.

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 Marseille or Cannes Better for Nightlife?

Marseille is an amazing city to visit for its evening party scene. Also, Cannes is not as famous, but is still a good resort city to visit for nightlife.

Marseille has a colorful and one-of-a-kind nightlife scene. Much of the city's nightlife is centered around being outdoors. Whether you're on the beach or hanging out at a rooftop bar, Marseille is a magical place.

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 Marseille or Cannes Better for Music?

Cannes is a world-class destination for its music scene. However, Marseille 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.

Marseille is not a live music destination.

Is Marseille or Cannes Better for Resorts?

Cannes is a world-class destination for its luxury resorts. However, Marseille 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.

Marseille is not a resort destination.

Is Marseille or Cannes Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Cannes is a nice place to visit for snorkeling and scuba diving. However, Marseille 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.

Marseille is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Marseille or Cannes Better for Beaches?

Cannes is an excellent place to visit for the beach. Also, Marseille is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its beaches.

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.

Plenty of visitors enjoy relaxing on the beach in Marseille. The city has nice beaches that offer both culture and diversity, which may be lacking some other coastal parts of the French Riviera.

Is Marseille or Cannes Better for its Old Town?

Marseille 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.

Marseille offers visitors a world-class historical old town to explore. The Old Port is filled with shops and boutiques, and is the most scenic part of the city. It dates back to the Middle Ages and is filled with history and character.

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 Marseille or Cannes?

Cannes is a world-class destination for its shopping areas. Also, Marseille 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.

Marseille is an extremely popular place for shoppers. The city has boutiques, farmers markets, and flea markets to explore, as well as any luxury brand you may want.

Is Marseille or Cannes Better for Christmas Markets?

Marseille is very good for its Christmas markets. However, Cannes does not offer Christmas markets.

Marseille offers some nice Christmas markets. The old town has a Christmas craft market where you can buy toys, Christmas treats, or decorations.

Cannes does not offer Christmas markets.

Is Marseille or Cannes Better for Families?

Cannes is a nice place to visit for its kid-friendly activities. However, Marseille is lacking in options for its family-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.

Marseille doesn't usually come to mind when thinking about kid-friendly destinations. Nearby beaches and an outdoor climbing area make it a diverse city to visit with kids.

Is Marseille or Cannes Better for Couples?

Cannes is a world-class destination for couples. Also, Marseille is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for romance.

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.

Couples visit Marseille frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. Strolling the boulevards and exploring the history and culture of this city make it a top couples' destination.

Is Marseille or Cannes Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

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

Marseille is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. It has a decent number of hostels for a city of its size.

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 Marseille or Cannes Better for Students?

Marseille is a well-known place for students. However, Cannes is not popular with students.

Marseille is very popular with students. It attracts international students because of its rich culture, unique atmosphere, and lively bar scene.

Cannes is not popular with students.

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

Visitors will find nice public transit in both Marseille and Cannes.

Marseille has some public transit options. The city has trams, a metro, and buses that you can use to explore.

You'll find some public transit in Cannes, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There are buses that travel around the city.

Is Marseille or Cannes a more walkable city?

Marseille and Cannes are excellent when it comes to walkability.

Marseille is a very walkable destination. The Old Port (Vieux Port) is particularly walkable and is one of the best areas to explore on foot.

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 Marseille Worth Visiting? and Is Cannes Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Cannes or Marseille?

How long in Marseille or Cannes?

It's fun to spend time in either Marseille or Cannes. Generally, people tend to spend more time in Cannes due to the larger number of activities and things to do. Usually, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Marseille, and 2-4 days is enough time in Cannes.

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

One day in Marseille or Cannes?

Many travelers enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the quaint destination of Marseille. 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.

You'll find nightlife and live music around the resort city of Cannes. People often spend their time relaxing at one of the resorts. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A weekend in Marseille or Cannes?

Marseille 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.

You'll find live music and food around the glitzy destination of Cannes. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this resort city has to offer. This resort city offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Five days in Marseille or Cannes?

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

Travelers enjoy the food and scuba diving and snorkeling when visiting the lavish resort city of Cannes. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. It's also a relaxing resort destination. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Marseille or Cannes?

Travelers enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the energetic destination of Marseille. 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.

Cannes is a popular choice for travelers. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. 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. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Contiki Tours to France, The Best G Adventures Tours to France, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Paris, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Paris.

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

Which is Bigger, Marseille or Cannes?

Marseille has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Cannes. When comparing the sizes of Marseille 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 Marseille or Cannes?

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 Marseille or Cannes in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Marseille as well as Cannes. Most visitors come to Marseille for the beaches 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.

Marseille is around the same temperature as Cannes in the summer. The daily temperature in Marseille averages around 24°C (75°F) in July, and Cannes fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).

Marseille usually gets less rain in July than Cannes. Marseille gets 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while Cannes receives 16 mm (0.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Marseille or Cannes in the Autumn?

Both Cannes and Marseille are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The autumn months attract visitors to Marseille because of 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 the autumn, Marseille is around the same temperature as Cannes. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Marseille in October average around 16°C (61°F), and Cannes averages at about 17°C (63°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Cannes. In October, Marseille usually receives less rain than Cannes. Marseille gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Cannes receives 108 mm (4.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Marseille or Cannes in the Winter?

Both Cannes and Marseille during the winter are popular places to visit. The shopping scene and the cuisine are the main draw to Marseille this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Cannes for the shopping scene and the cuisine.

In January, Marseille is generally cooler than Cannes. Daily temperatures in Marseille average around 7°C (44°F), and Cannes fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).

Marseille usually gets less rain in January than Cannes. Marseille gets 47 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Cannes receives 83 mm (3.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Marseille or Cannes in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Marseille and Cannes. Many travelers come to Marseille for the beaches and the natural beauty. Furthermore, many visitors come to Cannes in the spring for the beaches and the natural beauty.

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

In April, Marseille usually receives less rain than Cannes. Marseille gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Cannes receives 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Cannes and Marseille