Nice

With its vivid sapphire seas and aged, sun-bleached buildings, forget about theatrical Cannes and ostentatious Monte-Carlo, Nice is the true rustic gem of the French Riviera. A city accustomed to change yet true to its traditions, Nice remains a destination where the bold and beautiful wine and dine whilst animated locals go about their everyday business.

As an ancient Roman settlement caught in a strategic tug of war between Italy and France for many years, Nice has had no choice but to develop a fierce character all of its own. Drawing on its French roots and Italianate influences, the city relishes its schizophrenic past with its very own ‘Nizzard’ language and offers up a unique smorgasbord of gastronomic treats. Try wrestling with a local for a bench at one of Vieux Nice’s famous socca restaurants, enjoy a salade niçoise, ratatouille or a pissaladière in market-rich Cours Saleya and round it all off with a gelato at Fennochio's; this is no place for the culinary faint-hearted.

An assortment of narrow streets, wide boulevards and famous seafront promenades lead to ancient ruins, baroque cathedrals, art galleries and hip little bars and whilst she may not be a city world-renowned for her nightlife, Nice loves an excuse to party. July’s Jazz festival has kept the city be-bopping since the 1940s whilst the colorful and infectious Mardi Gras Carnival stands as further proof that Nice isn't just nice, Nice is magnificent.

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  Cathédrale Saint Nicolas

  Nice's exquisite example of Russian Orthodox architecture

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  Cours Saleya

  Vibrant market square in the midst of the old town

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  Chez Palmyre

  Busy bargain bistro with a constantly convivial ambience

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  Chez René Socca

  A Niçoise institution serves up a distinctly Niçois favorite

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