Nice vs Marseille: Côte d'Azur glamour or ruige port city?
Nice is geraffineerd kustleven: Promenade des Anglais, Côte d'Azur to Monaco-trips. Marseille is ruige authentic port city with Vieux Port and Calanques-fjorden.
Nice
Nice is the capital or the Côte d'Azur: turquoise sea, the gele and orange facades or Vieux Nice, and the iconische Promenade des Anglais. Perfecte basis for Monaco, Cannes and Saint-Paul-the-Vence.
Flight from NL: €80 return
View Nice →Marseille
Marseille is France's ruige port city: 2600 year old, multicultureel, ongepolijst honest. Vieux Port, Notre-Dame the la Garde on the hill, Calanques-fjorden ten south. Flights from Schiphol from €70 return, 3 days from €420 per person.
Flight from NL: €70 return
View Marseille →Best time to visit compared
Nice
May to June and September to October: 22-27 degrees, sea zwembaar. July/August are 30+ and mega-busy. November to March is mild (12-16°C) but many restaurants dicht.
Marseille
April-June and September-October: 20-25 degrees, perfect for walking + calanques visit. July-August is bloedheet (35+) and very busy.
Flights + transfer from the Netherlands
Nice
Directly from Schiphol to Nice Côte d'Azur (NCE) in 2 hour. KLM, easyJet, Transavia. Tram 2 to center €1.50 in 26 minutes.
Marseille
From Schiphol to Marseille (MRS) in 2 hour. KLM, Transavia. Shuttle €10 to center.
Costs compared
Nice
Hostels from €25, mid-range hotels €100 to 160, vacation rentals €110 per night. Food: socca €4, lunch €15, dinner €25 to 40.
Marseille
Hostels from €20, hotels €80-130, vacation rentals €90/night. Food: pan bagnat €5, lunch €12, dinner €25-35.
Who is it for?
Choose Nice if you are...
Who glamour + plage because, basis for Monaco/Cannes-tripjes.
Choose Marseille if you are...
Avonturiers (Calanques-wandelingen), multiculti-fans, lager budget.
Our verdict
Marseille is 25% cheaper. Nice is veiliger and chic. Train between 2.5u.