A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers York vs. Nice for Food, Nightlife, Old Town, and Families

Should you visit York or Nice?

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

Should I visit York or Nice? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

York

York is a medieval, fanciful, and historic city. And you can't forget about the nightlife, food, and shopping.

Nice

Nice is a beautiful, opulent, and trendy seaside destination. You'll find world class beauty here as well. This is an attractive and quaint destination worth visiting as well. It's also known for scuba diving and snorkeling, beaches, and shopping.

York and Nice: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in York or Nice?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Nice than York. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. Nice is very popular for its nightlife, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, shopping, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere, while York attracts visitors for its museums and historical sights. Nice is more touristy than York and is known for its beachfront setting in the French Riviera as well as its popularity with A-list celebrities. It is also well known for The Promenade des Anglais. York is famous for its markets, old town, and its many ghost tours.

How is York different from Nice?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in York or Nice?

York is a well-known place for its sights and museums. However, Nice does not have museums and landmarks.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into York. Popular museums include the York Castle Museum, the National Railway Museum, Castle Howard, and JORVIK Viking Centre.

Nice does not have museums and landmarks.

Is the Food Better in York or Nice? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Foodies will find both York and Nice both to be terrific destinations.

For foodies, York is an obvious choice, as it is one of the food capitals of the world. Meat pies, fudge, and fish and chips are just some of the culinary experiences you'll find here. The Shambles Market has vendors that sell a wide variety of cuisines. There are also food trucks throughout town that offer affordable and delicious meal options.

Nice has long been recognized as a culinary destination with great restaurants. 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.

Is York or Nice Better for Nightlife?

Nice is a world-class destination for nightlife. Also, York is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for nightlife and partying.

People head to Nice just to party. 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.

York has a large number of nightlife venues. The young population and thriving tourist scene means there's no shortage of nightlife around town. Check out a pub or music venue to experience everything that city has to offer.

Is York or Nice Better for Resorts?

Nice is a world-class destination for its resorts. However, York is not a resort destination.

For the ultimate resort vacation, Nice is a great choice. 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.

York is not a resort destination.

Is York or Nice Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Nice is a popular place for the nearby scuba diving and snorkeling. However, York is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Nice has a few good snorkeling spots. There are some places where you can arrange a snorkeling or dive trip to explore the underwater setting.

York is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is York or Nice Better for Beaches?

Nice is a well-known place for its beaches. However, York is not a beach destination.

Nice is considered a top beach destination. 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.

York is not a beach destination.

Is York or Nice Better for its Old Town?

York is renowned for its old town. Also, Nice is not as famous, but is still a good seaside destination to visit for its historic old town charm.

The old town of York is one of the most recognized in the world. The charming old town is filled with shops and restaurants. There are street performers, fudge shops, and all of the Harry Potter merchandise that a person could need.

There are many historical things to see in the old town of Nice. 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.

Is the Shopping Better in York or Nice?

Nice is a well-known place for shopping. Also, York is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its shopping opportunities.

Nice is an extremely popular place for shoppers. 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.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting York. The old town has many great candy stores that sell fudge and other local specialties. There are also Harry Potter stores that sell potions, t-shirts, games, and more.

Is York or Nice Better for Families?

York is renowned 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.

York is an extremely popular city to visit for families. The city does an amazing job bringing history to life in a way that kids will enjoy. The JORVIK Viking Centre transports visitors back in time and introduces them to a fully immersive viking experience. The York Dungeon is great for older kids as long as they don't scare easily. Actors and special effects offer a terrifying and entertaining visit through a York dungeon. Harry Potter fans will enjoy exploring the potion shops and broomstick stores along the iconic Shambles, which is said to be an inspiration for J.K. Rowling's Diagon Alley.

Nice is a family-friendly city. 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 York or Nice Better for Couples?

Nice is a world-class destination for romance. Also, York is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its romantic activities.

Nice makes for a terrific place to visit as a couple. 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.

York makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Couples can explore the history and entertainment venues that make York an enjoyable destination. There are museums, restaurants, and outdoor markets that make this a great weekend getaway.

Is York or Nice Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

York 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.

York is a great city to visit for backpackers. There are a few hostels around town as well as nightlife venues and entertainment spots that appeal to backpackers and younger travelers. For great and affordable food, grab a meal at one of the many food trucks around town.

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 York or Nice Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Nice is a well-known place for its public transit. Also, York is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for times when you don't have a car.

Public transit in Nice is fairly effecient and thorough. There are both buses and trams.

York has some public transit options. There is a reliable and efficient bus system around town.

Is York or Nice a more walkable city?

Nice is a world-class destination for its walkability. Also, York is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its high level of walkability.

It is easy to get around Nice on foot. You should definitely spend some time exploring the 7 kilometer long Promenade des Anglais.

York is a somewhat walkable place. The old town has many pedestrian streets that are easily explored on food.

For even more information, also check out Is York Worth Visiting? and Is Nice Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Nice or York?

How long in York or Nice?

In either York or Nice, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. Most visitors tend to spend more time in Nice than York because of the overall number of sights and activities. Usually, 2-4 days is a good amount of time for York, and 3-5 days is enough time in Nice.

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

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

One day in York or Nice?

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the destination of York. 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.

Visitors enjoy the food and scuba diving and snorkeling when visiting the destination of Nice. 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 York or Nice?

York is a fun place to experience. Most people visit for the food. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. 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.

Nice is a fun place to experience. 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 a weekend exploring. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Five days in York or Nice?

You'll find museums and nightlife around the fanciful destination of York. This 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.

Visitors enjoy the shopping and nightlife when visiting the glamourous destination of Nice. This seaside destination offers something for everyone. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. Plenty of people spend five days in the area when traveling. Five days is often enough time to do most activities.

A week in York or Nice?

The historic city of York offers nightlife and food. 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.

The beautiful seaside destination of Nice offers nightlife and food. 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 London, The Best 10-Day Tours from Edinburgh, The Best 10-Day Tours in France, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in France.

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

Which is Bigger, York or Nice?

Nice has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of York. When comparing the sizes of York and Nice, 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 York or Nice?

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 York or Nice in the Summer?

Both Nice and York are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to York in the summer for the family-friendly experiences. Also, most visitors come to Nice for the beaches, snorkeling, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In the summer, York is cooler than Nice. Typically, the summer temperatures in York in July average around 16°C (62°F), and Nice averages at about 23°C (73°F).

In July, York usually receives more rain than Nice. York gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Nice receives 16 mm (0.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit York or Nice in the Autumn?

Both Nice and York during the autumn are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to York for the shopping scene during these months. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Nice because of the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.

In October, York is generally much colder than Nice. Daily temperatures in York average around 11°C (52°F), and Nice fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).

Nice gets a good bit of rain this time of year. York usually gets less rain in October than Nice. York gets 47 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Nice receives 108 mm (4.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit York or Nice in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both York and Nice. The winter months attract visitors to York because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, the shopping scene and the cuisine are the main draw to Nice this time of year.

The weather in York can be very cold. York is much colder than Nice in the winter. The daily temperature in York averages around 4°C (39°F) in January, and Nice fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).

In January, York usually receives less rain than Nice. York gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Nice receives 83 mm (3.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit York or Nice in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to York as well as Nice. Also, many travelers come to Nice for the beaches and the natural beauty.

In the spring, York is much colder than Nice. Typically, the spring temperatures in York in April average around 8°C (46°F), and Nice averages at about 13°C (56°F).

York usually gets less rain in April than Nice. York gets 47 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Nice receives 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Nice and York