Nice

Nice, at the southeastern corner of France, is a famous resort city and, thanks to its airport (the second busiest in France), the gateway to the rest of the French Riviera. Only Paris tops Nice as a destination for tourists in France; they come for the Mediterranean beaches and resort-town nightlife as much as for the unique culture, a blend of French, Italian, and purely local ("Nissart"), from architecture to cuisine. The two biggest draws each year are the Carnaval parade in February and the Jazz Festival in July. Year-round, visitors are sure to enjoy a Sunday seaside stroll on the Promenade des Anglais, window-shopping (and eating) in ...

Nice, at the southeastern corner of France, is a famous resort city and, thanks to its airport (the second busiest in France), the gateway to the rest of the French Riviera. Only Paris tops Nice as a destination for tourists in France; they come for the Mediterranean beaches and resort-town nightlife as much as for the unique culture, a blend of French, Italian, and purely local ("Nissart"), from architecture to cuisine. The two biggest draws each year are the Carnaval parade in February and the Jazz Festival in July. Year-round, visitors are sure to enjoy a Sunday seaside stroll on the Promenade des Anglais, window-shopping (and eating) in the car-free Zone Pietonne, or architectural sightseeing in the Cimiez district (including Roman ruins). Nice is a major yacht harbor, and boat lovers will enjoy just looking at the boats in the marina.

About the Expert

Juliette Rogers is coauthor of the guidebooks Eating New England: A Food Lovers Guide to Eating Locally, Secret Providence and Newport, and two Thomas Cook guides on France.