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Planning a trip to one of France’s coastal cities? Then you’re likely to come up against the Nice vs Marseille conundrum. Lucky for you–I’ve been to both and I’ve got all the insider information you need to decide which is right for you.
Nice is France’s VIP beach destination, home to a sprinkling of super yachts and beach clubs galore. Elegant and charming, it’s a hotspot for resort fans and celebrities looking for their next getaway in the French Riviera. With its romantic Promenade des Anglais and lovey-dovey cobblestone streets that are home to many a chic wine bar, it’s a top honeymoon destination too.
Marseille couldn’t be more different. The run-down historical buildings in Le Panier have been given a new lease of life by local street artists, giving renaissance vibes. Hipsters FLOCK to the vintage stores with peculiar bric-a-brac items and cheap designer clothes before quenching their thirst with an aperol, al fresco.
So which of these two beautiful cities is calling to you? The great thing about Marseille and Nice is how different they are, which usually makes it easier to pick a side.
Let’s dive in!
Photo: Nic Hilditch-Short
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Marseille Vs Nice
From the glitz-and-glam town of Nice, sought out by VIP celebrities and rich families, to classic Marseille with its bric-a-brac vintage shops and trendy hipsters. The Marseille vs Nice debate will help you figure out which of these awesome cities is right for you and your trip to France.
Nice
Photo Nic Hilditch-Short
- Size of the place: Nice is positioned between the mountains and the sea, in the enchanting Anges Bay. It’s now France’s 5th biggest city!
- What it’s famous for: With its four miles of white sand beach and crystal clear waters, Nice is a famous beach resort destination.
- Ease of getting there: You can fly to the Nice Côte d’Azur Airport, which is half an hour away from the city centre by bus. Tickets cost less than €2, so it’s cheap as chips getting back and forth.
- How to get around: Luckily for travellers, most of Nice’s main attractions are within walking distance of one another. If you need to get to an out-of-the-way neighbourhood, you can use the city’s bus or tram network.
- Types of accommodations: Resorts, resorts, resorts! Nice is riddled with VIP beach resorts. But don’t let that put you off if it’s not your style. There are Airbnb’s, boutique hotels, and even backpacker hostels in the city.
Marseille
- Size of the place: Marseille is way bigger than Nice. You can walk most of it, but you will get tired feet – it’s the country’s second-largest city after all! The size difference alone might be enough to get you off the fence on the Nice or Marseille puzzle.
- What it’s famous for: Famous for its authentic French vibe, Marseille is a city with TONS of things to do for anyone who wants to get off the tourist route.
- Ease of getting there: You can fly to the Marseille Provence Airport, which is an hour’s bus ride away from the city centre.
- How to get around: You can get around by bus, tram, or metro in Marseille. Renting bikes is a fun option too.
- Types of accommodations: Because it’s less touristy, there is less on offer in Marseille. You’ll mostly find affordable Airbnb apartments and hotels.
Is Nice or Marseille Better?
There’s no right or wrong choice, they’re just super different. If you want to sit in cafes smoking cigs and doing it the ‘European’ way, then Marseille’s rundown streets are calling. But if you’re looking for brochure-worthy beaches and luxury, head to Nice.
For Things to Do
Wondering whether Nice or Marseille has more to do? Let’s get straight to the nitty gritty. Marseille’s grotty port can’t compete with Nice’s pristine beaches. There are also way more sightseeing attractions in Nice, although I’d argue every building in Marseille is worth looking at twice.
Whether you’re after a relaxing beach holiday or want to cram your itinerary full to the brim, then Nice is for you. There are also loads of great snorkelling and scuba diving spots to add to your itinerary in Nice. Getting in the sea and exploring the French Riviera’s underwater universe was a real highlight of my trip!
Photo Nic Hilditch-Short
But here’s the thing… Even though I loved Nice, I can’t get Marseille out of my head. There’s something unique about its grotty alleyways and unmanicured atmosphere.
If you’re like me and it’s the local vibe and underdog destinations that make you tick, then stay in Marseille. You won’t get bored of rooting through the quirky vintage shops selling designer brands for peanuts in the city’s grotty and edgy Le Panier neighbourhood. Nice’s elegant and refined look has nothing on the downright bizarre street art that decorates Marseille’s historical buildings.
Nice is definitely more family-friendly, but Marseille will feel like home to anarchists and hipsters. Marseille also has more on offer for history buffs, who’ll love the city’s Old Port, which dates back to the Middle Ages.
Winner: Nice’s beaches and more obvious tourist attractions put it in first place, but not by much.
For Budget Travellers
Let’s talk money. Is Nice or Marseille better for your bank? Honestly, because Nice has become such a celebrity hotspot along the French Riviera, it’s gotten pretty expensive. With its elegant demeanour and classical French charm, it doesn’t scream budget-friendly, but there is a plethora of places to stay in Nice.
Meanwhile, Marseilles’ pop-up street markets and cheap-as-chips vintage stores usher bargain hunters in. The city’s rough-around-the-edges alleys always lead you to a cheap bakery selling cheap pastries you can munch on the go… Or to a random food cart being pushed around an understated plaza.
Because Nice attracts celebrities and families looking for glitz-and-glam resort holidays, it is harder to find affordable options. That doesn’t mean they aren’t there; you just have to work harder to find them.
The one exception to the rule is backpacker hostels. As Marseille isn’t on the obvious tourist trail, there are a few great Marseille hostels to choose from, but not tonnes. Nice is more prepared accommodation-wise for travellers of all kinds, and the competition makes the prices lower.
List of price comparisons:
Marseille
- Central Accommodation Prices = Hotel rooms cost around €50.
- Main mode of transport = A metro ticket costs €1,70.
- 1 restaurant meal = A cheap lunch menu costs €12-€18.
- Beer = A pint costs around €6.
Nice
- Central Accommodation Prices = Hotel rooms cost around €150, but there are heaps of hostels in Nice.
- Main mode of transport = A tram ticket costs €1,50.
- 1 restaurant meal = A cheap lunch menu costs €18-€25.
- Beer = A pint costs around €7.
Winner: Marseille is cheaper for the day-to-day stuff, so it’s my top pick for budget-friendly travel.
EasyHotel Marseille Euromed | Where to Stay in Marseille
Backpackers will love this rustic and minimalist hotel that’s within walking distance of the city centre and the beach. Top tip – it’s worth paying for their breakfast (I always made myself a sneaky sandwich which I’d pack as an on-the-go lunch).
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It doesn’t get much more romantic than a sunset stroll, hand in hand, along Nice’s Promenade des Anglais. Lined with palm trees gently swaying in the wind, as the last rays of the sun reflect off the crystal-clear sea. From there, climb up to the Colline du Chateau and get lost in the views (and one another!) from the city’s best viewpoint.
Marseille is many things, but I’m not sure it’s romantic. It does offer a refuge from France’s mushy romantic atmosphere. Escape the corny couples and go on a less cheesy holiday for two in this rough-around-the-edges city! Get lost in the maze of street art in Le Panier and treat yourselves to brunch at the edgy cafes in the city’s Old Port.
Photo Nic Hilditch-Short
Of course, if it’s cocktails on the beach and moules frites at fancy restaurants you’ve got in mind, Nice’s lovey-dovey honeymoon resorts are just right.
Winner: Nice is the sappy winner when it comes to romance, but Marseille is perfect for couples who cringe at the idea of a corny getaway. But no matter what you look for as a couple, you can’t go wrong with a visit to Nice or Marseille.
Maison des Barons | Where to Stay in Nice
Step into your aristocracy-worthy hotel studio just off the Promenade des Anglais. The exquisite attention to detail, plush dressing gowns, and art nouveau decor made me feel like I’d stepped into a Downton Abbey set.
For Getting Around
Even though France has a reputation for being a little sleepy (and sometimes downright lazy)…The ‘we open when we want to’ approach many French shops take to their schedule has luckily not impacted their approach to transport.
Nice is small, and most of the city’s attractions are squished into a small area. You can quickly get from the Promenade des Anglais (the city’s beachfront high street) to attractions like the Colline du Chateau easily. And through the narrow and quaint streets of the Vieux Nice neighbourhood, and its bustling city centre streets to attractions like Promenade du Paillon Landscape Park.
It’s no surprise that in Marseille, it takes a little longer to get from A to B. The city is about five times bigger after all! Luckily, there are great public transport routes around the city, just like in Nice. Hop on the speedy metro that has more than 30 stations across the city, a single ticket costs just €1,70.
Not that it’s any cheaper than Nice’s tram line, which costs just €1.50 per journey.
Even though Nice is quicker to get around, Marseille is arguably more fun to move around. You can rent e-bikes and pedal your way through the city. Or, you can take a ferry right from the Vieux Port, winding from the town hall in the north to the aux Huile in the south.
Winner: It’s a close tie, and both cities have great public transport links. But because Nice is more walkable, it takes the pedestal on this occasion.
For a Weekend Trip
Running low on holiday days, and you can only book a weekend trip? Don’t worry—I’ll get to the bottom of whether Marseille or Nice is best for a short trip.
Personally, I think you’d struggle to see and do everything Nice has to offer in a weekend. I could spend hours staring at the Fontaine du Soleil alone, and that’s just a peep into the delights of Nice. There’s nothing worse than leaving a holiday with that ‘dam, there’s so much I didn’t do’ feeling in the pit of your stomach.
Because Marseille is more about the vibe, there’s not a long list of specific things to do and places to see that you need to tick off. You can just wander aimlessly through the cobbled streets and see where the day takes you.
If a weekend trip is all you can manage, don’t let FOMO ruin your French holiday. Come to Nice when you’ve got more time on your hands. Marseille’s trendy vintage shops, understated beachfront, and anarchistic atmosphere are enough to fill a weekend!
Winner: Marseille’s relaxed atmosphere and less obvious attractions are perfect for a weekend getaway. Save yourself the FOMO and skip trying to visit Nice in a weekend.
For a Week-Long Trip
Even with my rose-tinted glasses on, it’s obvious that there isn’t enough to really fill a week-long trip in Marseille. There are only so many times you can go bargain hunting in La Penier, check out the Notre-Dame de la Garde or sip cheap coffee. Frequenting the same shops and cafes won’t take long before even the locals assume you’ve moved to the city.
Marseille’s rough charm can start to wear off, and suddenly, the cracked buildings and unkept streets start to feel less endearing.
My advice is that you leave before the magic wears off and opt for Nice over Marseille if you’re planning a longer trip. Bounce between the beach and the city centre, lose yourself in the elegant facades of Nice’s Old Town, then change it up. Go from day to night and dance until the early hours of the morning in the city’s famous party district, Vieux Nice.
Winner: Marseille can’t offer the number of things to do that Nice can, which is why Nice is my top pick for a week-long trip.
Visiting Marseille and Nice
I still can’t decide if Nice or Marseille is for you. Maybe you’re on a long backpacking trip and you want to do it ALL! Then get the best of both worlds and skip the decision paralysis, visit Nice AND Marseille.
The great news is, even though they feel worlds apart because they’re so different, Nice and Marseille are actually surprisingly close to one another. There are a few different options for getting between the two, so let’s smooth out the details.
Photo Nic Hilditch-Short
The quickest (and by far the cheapest) way to get from Marseille to Nice is Flixbus. Now, there’s no secret that the company has flaws—almost always late, drivers can be rude, and sometimes their drop-off and pick-up locations are very random. But, they are the kings of cheap travel in Europe – sometimes the pros outweigh the cons, and in this instance, this is very much the case.
The trip takes just over two hours, and you can get tickets for as little as €9! The train is comfier, but annoyingly, it actually takes longer (closer to three hours) and it’s more than double the price. You can check out tickets on Trainline if you don’t mind paying the extra.
Of course, you could always rent a car and drive. But once you’ve factored in the faff of going to pick it up and the cost of the rental plus petrol, it’s not really worth it. Marseille isn’t very driver-friendly anyway, and French roads are testing for even the most confident drivers.
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View on OspreyFAQs About Marseille vs Nice
Armed with experience and local insight, I’m here to answer all your burning questions about Nice and Marseille.
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Final Thoughts on Nice or Marseille
Consider yourself a trend-setting hipster? Or an adventurous couple who get the ick from anything lovey-dovey? Then Marseille’s rough-around-the-edges streets coated in rebellious street art and dotted with bric-a-brac stores are calling!
Not sure you’re enough of an anarchist to enjoy Marseille? Then pack your bags for a glamorous beachside holiday at a resort in Nice. Immerse yourself in the French Riviera and get lost in the city’s elegant charm.
Not sure which you are? Then do it all and visit both! It’s the best way to find out if Nice or Marseille is the city for you.
Image: Nic Hilditch-Short
- Get inspired by our Backpacking Europe guide
- Book your dream place to stay in Nice
- Devise your ultimate itinerary for Nice with our in-depth guide.
- Check out our Backpacking France guide for everything you need to know
- Use our Where to Stay in Marseille guide to plan your adventure.
- Read up on the very best things to do in Marseille
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