Nice: Promenade des Anglais and Old Town

Nice's famous seafront promenade curves for 7 km along the Baie des Anges, lined with palm trees and grand hotels such as the Negresco. Behind it, the Old Town (Vieux Nice) is a maze of narrow streets painted in Italian colours, with the Cours Saleya flower and food market. Try socca, a chickpea pancake.

Climb (or take the lift) up Castle Hill for the view over the bay and the port. Nice is a good base for the Riviera: trains and buses run along the coast to Villefranche, Monaco and Menton.