Nice

Nice's beaches are pebbly. On the other hand there are a lot of them, all free, warm and clean as a whistle. The city itself is brash and bold (there's no such thing as being too old to wear a bikini) and enormously popular, so if you're looking for a place of serenity and zen-like peace... move on.

Nice was once the haunt of wealthy aristocrats, but these days its population is wildly varied. As the regional capital and the gateway to the beautiful Côte d'Azur, Nice is spitting distance from glamorous resorts like Cannes and Monaco, and within easy reach of the rural villages of Provence.