Africa
Asia
Caribbean
Central America
Europe
Middle East
North America
Pacific
South America
If Serge Gainsbourg's 'Couleur Café' were a town...
Nice, the capital of the Côte d'Azur, is not 'nice' - what an insult! Nice is a sparky, sexy city, with a gritty underside that keeps it grounded. If Nice were a person, it would wear designer cocktail dresses with old army boots, cause lots of trouble and be livid about that insipid adjective.
Nice's beaches are pebbly. On the other hand there are a lot of them, and most are free, warm and clean as a whistle. The city itself is brash and bold (no such thing as being too old to wear a bikini) and enormously popular, so if you're looking for a place of Zen-like peace... move on.
Nice is in the southeast of France, perched on the Mediterranean coast halfway between Monaco (of Grand Prix fame) and Cannes (home to the International Film Festival). Paris is 931km (580mi) away, and it's 30km (18mi) to the Italian border. The city stretches along the Baie des Anges (Bay of Angels), where the Alps and the Paillon River meet the sea. The town is protected by wooded hills and the Mercantour mountains to the north, and the Estérel range to the southwest.
The port and the old town (perched on a hill known as Le Château) are in the city's southeast - a great quarter for sightseeing, restaurants and nightlife. In the northeast is the wealthy residential neighbourhood of Cimiez, which is home to some outstanding museums. The modern city stretches north and west of the central square, place Masséna, behind the famous promenade des Anglais. The promenade follows the crescent-shaped shoreline westwards from the port.
