Choses à faire à  Nice

Occupying a prime spot on the Cote d’Azur, Nice is known for its seaside location and all that comes with it: sunny climate, easy-on-the-eye coastline, and seafood in abundance. The soft sunlight here is also famed, having attracted artists such as Henri Matisse and Marc Chagall over the years.

Start with breakfast amid the blooms at Cours Saleya Flower Market, then stroll to the Nice Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art—it’s a central alternative to the excellent, more distant, Matisse Museum. Treat yourself to some beach time at glamorous Plage Beau Rivage, before catching the sunset from Castle Hill.

Yes. If you want to mix French seaside vibes with bustle, Nice is a tourist-friendly city that merges culture and sun with convenience. Its international airport and train links make Nice an easy city to visit: Once you’re there, you’re perfectly placed for coastal explorations and trips further inland.

Stroll the Promenade des Anglais to see the iconic face of Nice, and admire the colorful flowers and bustle of Cours Saleya Flower Market. The historic streets of UNESCO-listed Vieux Nice make for a pleasant afternoon amble, while Castle Hill offers a steeper walk that ends with rewarding coastal vistas.

Nice alone can be covered in a couple of days, but a trip of around five days will give you a fuller Cote d’Azur and Provence experience. The must-see cities of Cannes and Monaco are just an hour away, along with inland favorites including Eze and St. Paul de Vence.

No. Nice depends on tourism, but that hasn't tainted a visit to the city. In summer, there are throngs of tourists—just as there are in other European cities—but the traditional French culture is alive and kicking here, and the city is unspoiled by mass tourism.