Which place is cheaper, Madrid or Nice?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Nice or Madrid?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Nice and Madrid can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Nice
Nice is a chic, glamourous, and beautiful seaside destination. Many visitors also come because of it's amazing beauty. Since it has a quaint atmosphere, you'll want to spend time soaking it all in. Other reasons to visit include nightlife, food, and scuba diving and snorkeling.
Madrid
Madrid is a cultural, diverse, and compact city. With plenty of activities and things to do, it's a huge city that draws plenty of visitors. And you can't forget about the nightlife, live music, and food.
Nice and Madrid: Pros and Cons
Nice
Pros- Active nightlife
- Nice resorts
- Good scuba and snorkeling destination
- Popular beach
- Scenic old town
- Family-friendly
- Good for couples and romance
- Good for backpackers and budget travelers
- Impressive beauty
- Quaint atmosphere
Madrid
Pros- Popular museums and historical sights
- Active nightlife
- Good music scene
- Family-friendly
- Good for couples and romance
- Good for backpackers and budget travelers
- Good for students
- Big city activities
Is there more to do in Nice or Madrid?
Tourists will generally find more to do in Madrid than Nice. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. Madrid is very popular for its museums, music, shopping, and big city activities, while Nice attracts visitors for its nightlife, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, historical sights, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere. Nice is more touristy than Madrid and is popular for its beachfront setting in the French Riviera as well as its popularity with A-list celebrities. Madrid is famous for its art and architecture, its tapas and culinary scene, and its lively flamenco dancing. It is also well known for The Prado Museum.
How is Nice different from Madrid?
Which is Better for a Holiday?
Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Madrid and Nice. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.
Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Nice or Madrid?
Nice
Madrid
Madrid is a city with good options for its sights and museums. However, Nice does not have museums and landmarks.
Madrid offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. 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.
Nice does not have museums and landmarks.
Is the Food Better in Nice or Madrid? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?
Nice
Madrid
There are opportunities to sample the local cuisine at world-class restaurants in both Nice and Madrid.
Many restaurants in Nice have been singled out for their culinary prowess. The cuisine brings together fresh regional ingredients and mixes Provençal and Niçoise flavors. You'll find a lot of Italian influence as well. Fresh seafood is the thing to try while you're in town, but other local favorites include socca, Ratatouille, and Salade niçoise.
Eat your way through Madrid, as it has many local or world renowned restaurants to choose from. 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 Nice or Madrid Better for Nightlife?
Nice
Madrid
Nice is renowned for nightlife. Also, Madrid is not as popular, but is still a nice city for nightlife and partying.
Nice is a destination that you simply have to visit at least once for nightlife. The city has some of the best nightlife on the Cote d'Azur. You'll find a number of nightclubs along the seaside as well a bars and pubs in the Old Town. Some of the best clubs are along Promenade des Anglais.
Madrid offers plenty to do in the evening. 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 Nice or Madrid Better for Music?
Nice
Madrid
Madrid is renowned for its live music scene. However, Nice is not a live music destination.
Live music, and music in many other forms, is everyone in Madrid 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.
Nice is not a live music destination.
Is Nice or Madrid Better for Resorts?
Nice
Madrid
Nice is renowned for its luxury resorts. However, Madrid is not a resort destination.
Nice is a world class resort vacation destination. The city has boutique hotels as well high end luxury resorts. Popular options include Hyatt Regency Nice Palais de la Méditerranée, Hôtel Suisse, and AC Hotel by Marriott.
Madrid is not a resort destination.
Is Nice or Madrid Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?
Nice
Madrid
Nice is a seaside destination 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 Nice. There are some places where you can arrange a snorkeling or dive trip to explore the underwater setting.
Madrid is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.
Is Nice or Madrid Better for Beaches?
Nice
Madrid
Nice is a great seaside destination for its beaches. However, Madrid is not a beach destination.
The beaches at Nice attract visitors from all over. The city has about 4 miles of beach along its coastline and there are both public and private beaches available. La Réserve is a public beach with a laid back and fun vibe. Plage Beau Rivage is a private beach with many amenities, making it a favorite for visitors. Blue Beach is another private beach that is very family-friendly.
Madrid is not a beach destination.
Is Nice or Madrid Better for its Old Town?
Nice
Madrid
Nice is a great seaside destination for its historic old town. However, Madrid does not have a historic old town.
Nice is an extremely popular place to visit the historic old town area. Wandering around the charming old town is a quintessential part of visiting this city. There are many historic churches and squares, as well as great restaurants and shops that you can pop in.
Madrid does not have a historic old town.
Is the Shopping Better in Nice or Madrid?
Nice
Madrid
Madrid is renowned for its shopping opportunities. Also, Nice is not as famous, but is still a good seaside destination to visit for its shopping areas.
The abundance of shops in Madrid make it a world-class shopping destination. 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.
Many visitors explore the shopping areas in Nice. The city has long been a favorite for the rich and famous, so you'll find plenty of shopping opportunities around town. The boutique shops are chic, trendy, and fashionable, but for those on a budget, you can sometimes find a unique local purchase in your budget.
Is Nice or Madrid Better for Families?
Nice
Madrid
Madrid is a well-known place for its family-friendly activities. Also, Nice is not as famous, but is still a good seaside destination to visit for its kid-friendly activities.
Madrid is a very kid-friendly city. 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.
Nice is a family-friendly seaside destination. The town has many fun playgrounds, kid-friendly beaches, and unique cultural opportunities that kids can enjoy. It also makes a great base for exploring the French Riviera and everything that it has to offer.
Is Nice or Madrid Better for Couples?
Nice
Madrid
Nice is renowned for romance. Also, Madrid is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its romantic activities.
Nice is a great seaside destination for couples, as it has plenty to offer. The old town is filled with romance and charm. You can also take a walk along the Promenade Des Anglais or soak up the romantic countryside that surrounds the town.
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 Nice or Madrid Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?
Nice
Madrid
Madrid is a well-known place for backpackers. Also, Nice is not as famous, but is still a good seaside destination to visit for backpackers and budget travelers.
Madrid is a great city to visit for backpackers. The many hostels around town make it easy for backpackers to find affordable accommodation while also meeting other travelers.
Plenty of backpackers visit Nice. Because it's one of the most popular tourist destinations in France, many backpackers make their way here. Nice is known for its high end vibe, so it can be challenging to find affordable options, but if you know where to look, they are around.
Is Nice or Madrid Better for Students?
Nice
Madrid
Madrid is renowned for students. However, Nice is not popular with students.
Madrid is a very popular city for students. 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.
Nice is not popular with students.
Is Nice or Madrid Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?
Nice
Madrid
Madrid is renowned for its public transit. Also, Nice is not as famous, but is still a good seaside destination to visit for times when you don't have a car.
Madrid has a great public transit system. The system includes the Madrid Metro, buses, and a light rail system.
Nice offers a very effecient public transportation network. There are both buses and trams.
Is Nice or Madrid a more walkable city?
Nice
Madrid
Nice and Madrid both are world-class when exploring on foot.
It is easy to get around Nice on foot. You should definitely spend some time exploring the 7 kilometer long Promenade des Anglais.
It's very easy to get around on foot in Madrid. Most tourists stay in the central part of Madrid where it's compact and relatively easy to walk to most tourist sights.
For even more information, also check out Is Nice Worth Visiting? and Is Madrid Worth Visiting?.
Should I spend more time in Madrid or Nice?
How long in Nice or Madrid?
In either Nice or Madrid, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. In our opinion, Madrid has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Madrid than Nice. In general, 3-5 days is a good amount of time for Nice, and 2-5 days is enough time in Madrid.
Families should spend more time in Madrid than Nice. 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 Nice than Madrid. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Nice that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.
Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Madrid than Nice 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.
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How many days in Nice or Madrid? Ideal Length of StayNice 3-5Madrid 2-5
One day in Nice or Madrid?
Many travelers enjoy the shopping and nightlife when visiting the quaint destination of Nice. 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 big city destination where you can fill many days. 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 Nice or Madrid?
Nice is a great place to explore. With so much to do, a weekend is probably not enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.
Madrid is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. 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 Nice or Madrid?
It's hard to know how much time to spend in Nice. 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.
Madrid is a cultural big city where you can fill many days. This city offers something for everyone. Plenty of people spend five days in the area when traveling. Five days is often enough time to do most activities.
A week in Nice or Madrid?
Travelers enjoy the scuba diving and snorkeling and shopping when visiting the beautiful destination of Nice. This seaside destination 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 diverse city of Madrid offers shopping and museums. 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 in France, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in France, The Best Contiki Tours to Spain, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Spain.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayNice €131Madrid €136
The average daily cost (per person) in Nice is €131, while the average daily cost in Madrid is €136. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Nice and Madrid in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personNice €59Madrid €77
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomNice €118Madrid €154
Compare Hotels in Nice and Madrid
Looking for a hotel in Nice or Madrid? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Nice Hotel Prices and Madrid Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Nice €25Madrid €19
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nice
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Nice:
- Airport transfer to Genoa: $745
- Airport transfer to Marseille: $745
- Airport transfer to Aix en Provence: $692
- Nice Intl Airport (NCE): Private Transfer to Cannes hotels: $514
- Nice Intl Airport (NCE): Private Transfer to Monaco hotels: $441
- Airport transfer to St Tropez: $404
- Nice Airport Transfer to SAINT-TROPEZ: $394
- Airport transfer to Port Grimaud: $372
- Airport transfer to San Remo: $319
- Private Transfer Nice City or Nice Airport (NCE) to Sanremo: $295
- Cannes Private Transfer from Nice Airport to central Cannes: $295
- Nice Intl Airport(NCE):Transfer to Villefranche-sur-Mer-Port: $291
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Madrid
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Madrid are as follows:
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Taxi Ride€26
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Madrid
Also for Madrid, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Madrid Barajas Airport: Transfer to/from Atocha Bus Station: $7.44
- Madrid Barajas International Airport - Private Arrival Transfer: $22
- Private transfer from Atocha Station to Madrid city center: $22
- Hotel Madrid City Private Transfer To Madrid Barajas Airport: $26
- Private One-way Airport Transfer Madrid Airport To Madrid: $28
- Private Arrival Transfer from Barajas Airport: $40
- Private Transfer: Madrid to Madrid Barajas Adolfo Suárez Airport (MAD): $42
- Madrid Airport Private Departure Transfer: $43
- Private Transfer From Madrid Barajas Airport to Madrid: $44
- Madrid Airport Private Arrival Transfer: $45
- Transfers Madrid Airport to Madrid Center in Vans up to 7 Passengers: $47
- Madrid City Center: Private Transfer to Madrid Airport: $49
Is it cheaper to fly into Nice or Madrid?
Prices for flights to both Madrid and Nice change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayNice €49Madrid €34
Typical Food Prices in Nice
Some typical examples of dining costs in Nice are as follows:
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Slushee€2.50
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Strawberries€4.00
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Loaf of Bread€3.20
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Nice
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Nice.
- Viator Exclusive: Organic French Dinner in the Garden of Nice: $95
- Nice Small-Group Walking Food Tour with Local Specialties & Wine Tasting: $97
- The Flavors of Nice Food Tour: $103
- Old Nice Food Tour - Do Eat Better Experience: $104
- Nice Evening Food Tour - Do Eat Better Experience: $104
- 3.5-Hour Original Old Town Food Tour: $106
- Viator Exclusive: Local Cooking Class & Dinner with View of Nice: $107
- Private French Cooking Class with a Fun Local Noel: $112
- PRIVATE Award-Winning Nice Food Tour: 6 or 10 Tastings: $112
- Half-Day Walking Food Tour in Nice with Lunch: $115
- Half Day Afternoon Walking Food Tour with Dinner: $147
- Dinner in the vineyard French Riviera: $191
Typical Food Prices in Madrid
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Madrid:
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Coffee€2.00
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Ice Cream€3.00
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Kebabs (for 2)€16
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Croissant€1.50
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Lunch at Airport (for 2)€16
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Madrid
For Madrid, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Tipsy Tapas Food Tour with Drinks and Food: $27
- Drunken Tapas Food Tour with Dinner in Madrid: $32
- Tapas Dinner Party Food Tour with Guide: $33
- Tapas Crawl Food Tour with 6 Tapas and 4 Drinks: $35
- Madrid Tipsy Tapas Guided Food Tour with Dinner: $42
- Madrid Tapas Dinner Party with Guide: $43
- Madrid Tipsy Tapas Tour with Dinner and Drinks: $43
- Paella and Sangria Workshop with Dinner and Drinks: $47
- San Miguel Market and Street Food Tour: $52
- The Authentic Morning Madrid's Food Tour: $59
- Opera and Zarzuela Show and Dinner: $61
- Iberico Ham and Spanish Wine Small-Group Food Tour: $63
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Nice €12Madrid €34
Tours and Activities in Nice
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Nice are as follows:
- Half Day Shared Tour in Eze, Monaco and Monte Carlo: $66
- Majestic Christmas tour in French Riviera: $235
- Monaco, Monte-Carlo and Eze Village Small Group Half-Day Tour: $59
- Èze: Private Village Guided Walking Tour: $201
- 3-Hour Segway Tour to Nice & Villefranche-sur-Mer: $80
- 7h sightseeing excursion: Visit Monaco and Eze: $104
- A Guided Walking Tour through the Charming Streets of Nice: $37
- A perfect guided tour in Monaco Monte Carlo, on the footpath of Grace Kelly, : $197
- A walk of wealth – guided tour in Monaco: $250
- Afternoon Tour to Monaco Monte-Carlo Eze from Nice : $104
- Antibes Electric Bike Tour: $75
- Antibes Provencal Tasting Tour (Food & Drinks): $107
Tours and Activities in Madrid
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Madrid.
- Madrid Essential: Free Walking City Tour: $1.06
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.19
- Madrid Mountains Free Walking Tour: $3.28
- Guided tour of the Madrid of spies: $3.28
- Escape Game and Tour: $4.26
- Madrid Old Town & Hidden Gems Walking Tour: $4.26
- Wonders of Madrid Walking Tour: $4.26
- Marvels of Madrid Walking Tour: $4.26
- Secrets of Madrids Walking Tour: $4.26
- Ticket Entrance to the Madrid Nougat Museum: $5.32
- Mapfre Foundation Entry Ticket: $5.32
- Private Audio Guided Walking Tour in Madrid: $5.45
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayNice €17Madrid €20
Sample the Local Flavors in Nice
Also in Nice, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Nice Bar Crawl | Ultimate night experience: $8.51
- Pub Crawl Party with VIP Entry and Free Shots: $16
- Pub Crawl Nice with Drinking Games and Optional Drink special: $17
- Riviera Bar Crawl Party with Free Shots and VIP Entry: $23
- Pub Crawl/Bar Crawl NICE - The Ultimate Night: $29
- Brewery Tour and Craft Beer Tasting: $32
- Vineyard Tour with Wine Tasting within Nice city borders: $36
- Nice Walking Tour with Wine Tasting: $45
- New Year's Eve Pub Crawl with Shots and VIP Club Entry: $52
- New Year’s Eve Bar Crawl Nice France: $53
- New Years Eve Pub Crawl in Nice: $54
- Provence Organic Wine Tasting Half Day Tour from Nice: $66
Typical Alcohol Prices in Madrid
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Madrid are as follows:
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Beer€5.00
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Drinks and Tapas (for 2)€13
Sample the Local Flavors in Madrid
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Madrid:
- Pub Crawl with Tapas and VIP Club Entry: $9.58
- Madrid Pub Crawl with VIP Club Entrance: $11
- Visit to the Winery with Wine Tasting and Appetizers in Navarra: $12
- Pub crawl & Party Tour Madrid: $14
- Pub Crawl Madrid Running since 2005 Bar Exploration: $16
- Guided Pub Crawl Madrid Experience and Club Entry: $16
- Pub Crawl Madrid: $19
- Wine Tasting Experience with 4 Spanish Wines: $26
- Wine Tour with tasting in the Natural Park of La Mata: $38
- Wine Tasting Experience: $49
- Toledo Day Trip with Winery Visit and Wine Tasting: $55
- Toledo Full Day with Winery Visit, Tapas & Wine Tasting : $57
When comparing the travel costs between Nice and Madrid, we can see that Madrid 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 Nice Expensive? and Is Madrid Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Nice or Madrid?
Madrid has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of Nice. When comparing the sizes of Nice 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.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.