Nice

Nice is the capital of the French Riviera and France's 5th city (340,000 inner inhabitants, 950,000 metropolitan area). The city is the absolute embodiment of Mediterranean elegance — exceptional climate (2,800 sunshine hours/year, the record with Perpignan), unique bay in a perfect arc, turquoise sea ("Nice Blue" is a Pantone), mountains in the background. It welcomes 4 million international visitors per year and features in all rankings of the most beautiful Mediterranean cities.

The Promenade des Anglais (7 km along the Bay of Angels, created in 1820 by English winterers) is the city's backbone. The Old Nice (Vieille Ville) unfolds its colourful Italian lanes (Nice was Sardinian then French in 1860), with cours Saleya (flower market every morning except Monday, antiques market on Monday), the Sainte-Réparate Cathedral, the opera, the Lascaris Palace. The Castle Hill offers the iconic panoramic view over the bay. The Lympia harbour (18th century) shelters yachts and chic restaurants.

Nice's museums are among France's richest: Matisse Museum (unique collection of the painter, in a Genoese villa), Marc Chagall Museum (17 paintings of the Biblical Message), MAMAC (modern and contemporary art museum), Museum of Fine Arts (19th-20th century collection). Outside, the Albert I Gardens, the Phoenix Park (botanical garden), the Villa Masséna (Belle Époque). Nice's beaches are pebble (no sand), public or private (€15-30/day with sun lounger).

Nice is also a Riviera hub. Direct access: Monaco (20 min by train, €7), Cannes (30 min by train), Antibes (15 min), Èze (15 min by bus, medieval village at 427 m), Saint-Paul-de-Vence (30 min by bus, Fondation Maeght), Vence (Matisse Rosary Chapel), Menton (35 min by train, Italian border town), Mercantour valley (1h30 by car, Neolithic petroglyphs).