A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Santorini vs. Cannes for Food, Resorts, Couples, and Nightlife

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Should you visit Santorini or Cannes?

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

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

Santorini

Santorini is a romantic, stunning, and historic island. You'll find world class beauty here as well. This is an attractive and quaint destination worth visiting as well. Other popular activities here include museums, nightlife, and food.

Cannes

Cannes is a opulent , luxury, and lavish resort city. The beauty of this spot is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. Visitors also love the live music, food, and scuba diving and snorkeling.

How is Santorini different from Cannes?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Is Santorini or Cannes better for Food?

Foodies will appreciated the dining options available in Cannes a bit more than Santorini.

Known for it's food scene, Cannes is always at the top of any foodie's travel list. 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.

There are many up and coming restaurants in the Santorini area. Popular foods on this island include fava, Greek salad, and kofta.


Is Santorini or Cannes better for Nightlife?

If the nightlife is your priority, you'll find comparable options between Santorini and Cannes.

If you're looking for night time activities Santorini has a few options to choose from. It is one of the calmer, more romantic islands in Greece. For the best nightlife, you'll want to stay near Fira.

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.

Is Santorini or Cannes better for Resorts?

With a similar set of options, resorts can be found in both Santorini and Cannes.

Santorini offers an unforgettable resort vacation. The resorts range from all-inclusive options to resorts with a more local feel. The island is one of the most romantic of the Greek Islands, and the resorts are no exception.

If you're looking for a fantastic resort destination, Cannes is a perfect 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.

Is Santorini or Cannes better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

You'll find snorkeling or scuba diving in both Santorini and Cannes.

Santorini has a few areas where visitors often go scuba diving or snorkeling. Some of the best snorkeling places are found at Red Beach, White Beach, and the less accessible Kambia. One of the island's best diving spots is Caldera Beach.

It's worth going snorkeling or scuba diving 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.

Is Santorini or Cannes better for Beaches?

Both Santorini and Cannes have beaches worth visiting.

Santorini has a beach worth visiting. The island has many beaches, most of which are made of black pebbly sand that are a result of the island's volcanic history. Popular beaches include Perissa Beach, Kamari Beach, and Perivolos Beach.

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.


Is Santorini or Cannes better for Shopping?

If you're looking to go shopping, Santorini and Cannes both offer plenty of spots.

Santorini is well-known for its shopping. Towns around the island are filled with clothing and jewelry boutiques as well as many unique Greek shopping experiences.

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.

Is Santorini or Cannes better for Families?

Santorini and Cannes are both fun destinations for the whole family.

Santorini offers lots of family activities. It is a calmer destination than many of the Greek Islands. While it's a great place to relax with kids, the beaches aren't as good as they are on some of the other islands. Most families hang out in Kamari and Perissa Beach.

Cannes is a family-friendly place to visit. 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 Santorini or Cannes better for Couples?

Santorini and Cannes are both fun to visit as a couple.

Santorini has so much to offer for a romantic couple's vacation. It is a dream honeymoon destination that is famous for its picturesque setting and luxury resorts. For many couples, this is a top pick for a romantic trip to the Greek Isles.

For those traveling as a couple, Cannes 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.

Is Santorini or Cannes better for Public Transit?

Santorini and Cannes both offer public transit to get you around.

While Santorini offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There is a bus system, KTEL Santorini Buses, that runs 23 buses during the summer months but only a small fraction of that operate during the winter months.

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


Is Santorini or Cannes a more walkable city?

Santorini and Cannes are similar when it comes to walkability.

Santorini is a somewhat walkable place. Many towns on the island are walkable, including Fira, but the actual island is too large to explore on foot.

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

Santorini and Cannes: Pros and Cons

Santorini
Pros
  • Good scuba and snorkeling destination
  • Popular beach
  • Family-friendly
  • Good for couples and romance
  • Good for backpackers and budget travelers
  • Impressive beauty
  • Quaint atmosphere
Cons
  • Less popular for food
Cannes
Pros
  • Popular for food and cuisine
  • Good scuba and snorkeling destination
  • Popular beach
  • Family-friendly
  • Good for couples and romance
  • Impressive beauty
Cons
  • Less popular with backpackers


Should I spend more time in Cannes or Santorini?

How long in Santorini or Cannes?

It's fun to spend time in either Santorini or Cannes. Generally, people tend to spend more time in Santorini due to the larger number of activities and things to do.

The ideal length of time for a trip to Santorini is 3-7 days, and the ideal length of time for a trip to Cannes is 2-4 days.


  • How many days in Santorini or Cannes? Ideal Length of Stay
    Santorini 3-7 
    Cannes 2-4

One day in Santorini or Cannes?

Many travelers enjoy the scuba diving and snorkeling and shopping when visiting the quaint destination of Santorini. You can also relax and pamper yourself at one of the resorts. 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 Santorini or Cannes?

Santorini 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.

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 Santorini or Cannes?

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

Travelers enjoy the food and scuba diving and snorkeling when visiting the glitzy 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 Santorini or Cannes?

Many travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the romantic destination of Santorini. This island offers a variety of activities to choose from. Travelers enjoy the resorts in the area as well. If you have one week, this is a great place to go. This would be the perfect place to spend one week, as it has just the right amount of activities.

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.

Which city is cheaper, Cannes or Santorini?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Santorini is €131, while the average daily cost in Cannes is €110. 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 city. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Santorini and Cannes in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Santorini €66
    Cannes €60
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Santorini €132
    Cannes €120

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Santorini €23
    Cannes €13

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santorini

Also for Santorini, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Shared Transfer Service: $17
  • Santorini transfer service: $17
  • Oia Sunset: Evening Shuttle Transfer and Free Time: $23
  • Private Airport Transfer: $25
  • Santorini Airport Hotels Transfer Shuttle Bus Service: $27
  • Transfer from Santorini Airport&Port all destination except OIA up to 4 customer: $37
  • Santorini Airport to Hotel: Private Arrival Transfer: $45
  • Private Transfer to/from Santorini Airport (JTR): $50
  • Santorini Taxi Service & Airport, Hotel and Port Transfers: $62
  • Tour of Caldera on Sailing Boat & Bus Transfer:Volcano-Hot springs-Thirassia-Oia: $75
  • Premium Santorini Private Day Tour Lagoon 450, BBQ, drinks, transfer: $933
  • Helicopter Transfer between Mykonos & Santorini: $2,839

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cannes

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cannes:

  • French Riviera: Half-Day Private Tour and Transfer: $397
  • Nice Airport Transfers : Cannes City to Nice Airport NCE in Luxury Car: $157
  • Private Departure Transfer from Cannes to Nice Airport: $148
  • Cannes Private Transfer from Cannes city centre to Nice Airport: $146
  • Nice Airport departure private transfer from Cannes - Mónaco - Cap d Antibes in Luxury Car: $140
  • Nice Airport Transfers : Cannes City to Nice Airport NCE in Luxury Van: $124
  • Nice Airport departure private transfer from Cannes - Mónaco - Cap d Antibes in Luxury Van: $114
  • Transfer from Cannes to Nice airport: $111
  • Nice Airport Transfers : Cannes City to Nice Airport NCE in Business Car: $108
  • Departure Private Transfers from Cannes to Nice Airport NCE in Business Car: $108
  • Nice Airport departure private transfer from Cannes - Mónaco - Cap d Antibes in Business Car: $98
  • Private Transfer: Cannes to Cannes - Mandelieu Airport (CEQ): $89

Is it cheaper to fly into Santorini or Cannes?

Prices for flights to both Cannes and Santorini 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Santorini €38
    Cannes €36

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Santorini

For Santorini, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Live Virtual Cooking Class: $26
  • A taste of Mediterranean Cuisine Dinner: $90
  • Hands on Cooking Class with a Chef: $90
  • Fira: 4-Hour Walking Food Tour With Tastings: $108
  • Sunset Sea Kayak and Snorkel with Dinner: $108
  • Santorini : Sunset Sea Kayak & Snorkel with Dinner: $118
  • Santorini : Cooking Class, Easy Hike, and Snorkeling: $131
  • Cooking Class with Santorini’s Aroma: $506
  • Full-Day Royalty Private Cooking Class and Tour in Santorini: $506
  • Cooking Class with Santorini’s Aroma: $546
  • Santorini Private Sunset Sailing Cruise with Dinner, Drinks &Transfer included: $1,350

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cannes

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cannes.

  • Summer Fireworks and Dinner Catamaran Cruise from Cannes: $135
  • Small-Group Evening Tour and Dinner in Monte Carlo from Cannes: $223
  • Unforgettable night photos of the French Riviera and dinner in Monaco: $622

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Santorini €29
    Cannes €24

Tours and Activities in Santorini

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Santorini.

  • Akrotiri Prehistoric City Audio Tour: $18
  • Unique Oia's Sunset Tour in Santorini: $30
  • Royalty Unique Oia’s Sunset Tour in Santorini: $31
  • Santorini-Unique Oia’s Sunset Tour: $31
  • Island Bus Tour: The Majestic Spots Of Santorini: $43
  • Santorini Volcano and Thirassia Islands Tour: $43
  • Oia and Fira Evening Small Group Tour: $45
  • 3 Hour Santorini Walking Tour with Hotel Pickup: $50
  • Volcanic Sunset Cruise: $58
  • Santorini Traditional Villages and Oia Sunset Tour: $62
  • Santorini-Classic Tour in Traditional Villages: $67
  • Santorini-Classic Tour in Traditional Villages: $71

Tours and Activities in Cannes

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Cannes are as follows:

  • 4-Hour Private Sightseeing Tour of Nice from Cannes: $547
  • All French Riviera For One Day Sightseeing Tours From Cannes: $1,011
  • Antibes, St. Paul-de-Vence, St. Jeannet, and Gourdon Private Tour from Cannes: $675
  • Best of Riviera Tour: Coastal Day trip from Antibes (Nice, Monaco, Cannes): $747
  • Cannes 2.5-Hour E-bike Tour: $67
  • Cannes Like a Local: Customized Private Tour: $43
  • Cannes Private Walking Tour: $338
  • Cannes Private Walking tour: $214
  • Cannes Shore Excursion: French Riviera Private Tour of Nice - Eze - Monaco - Monte Carlo: $827
  • Cannes Shore Excursion: Private Half-Day Tour to Saint-Paul de Vence, Cannes and Nice: $658
  • Cannes Shore Excursion: Private Luxury Motorboat Cruise with Personal Skipper: $2,009
  • Cannes Shore Excursion: Private Tour of the French Riviera: $783

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Santorini €21
    Cannes €14

Sample the Local Flavors in Santorini

Also in Santorini, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • 4-Hours Santorini Vothonas Village Tour with Wine Tasting: $89
  • Authentic Santorinian Tour at Vothonas Village with Wine Tasting: $93
  • Half-Day Santorini Tour Vothonas Village with Wine Tasting: $93
  • Santorini-Wine Tour Αround Megalochori Village: $111
  • Sunset and Wine Tasting Tour by Electric Bike: $114
  • Santorini-Wine Tour Around Megalochori Village: $117
  • Santorini-Wine Tour Around Megalochori Village: $124
  • Santorini-Sunset Caldera’s View from Megalochori with Wine Tasting: $134
  • Santorini-Sunset Caldera’s View from Megalochori with Wine Tasting: $140
  • Half-Day Sunset Wine Tasting Tour in Santorini with Pick Up: $141
  • Santorini Wine Tasting and History Small Group Tour: $153
  • 4-Hour Sunset Wine Tour: $159

Sample the Local Flavors in Cannes

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Cannes:

  • Grasse, Valbonne & Gourdon: Day Tour with Wine Tasting: $132
  • Provence Wine Tour - Private Day Tour from Cannes: $342
  • Private Day Trip: Wine Tasting Tour Including Pinic Lunch From Cannes: $559
  • 5-Hour Private Cannes Shore Excursion: Eze, Nice, Wine Tasting: $658

About these numbers

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Santorini and Cannes, we can see that Santorini is more expensive. And not only is Cannes much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Cannes would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cannes and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Santorini would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Santorini than you might in Cannes.

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Santorini vs. Cannes Travel Comparison

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