Information about flights to Nice

There are just too many reasons why you must visit Nice, the heart of the prestigious French Riviera. One of them is its excellent climate: the city receives an average of around 2,800 hours of sunshine each year and is known for its mild winters and extended warm summers. Another reason to visit is the city's superb transport links. There are regular buses and trains that you can take to explore the entire French Riviera, as well as the charming resorts of Liguria in Italy to the northeast.

The third major reason is simply to admire the outstanding natural scenery. From luxury villas and enormous yachts to lush Mediterranean vegetation and extremely clear turquoise waters, the scenery here alone is enough to keep you among the millions of people returning year after year. Indeed, the Nice area has attracted many notable figures over the years, from impressionist artists like Arman and Matisse to international celebrities like Madonna and Elton John.

The Old Town

Nice's Old Town district feels almost too Italian to be French. This is the place to visit if you're a lover of intimate Italian-style cafés, romantic medieval alleys, charismatic boutiques, and fantastic restaurants and bars. The district is also home to a number of picturesque Baroque churches and is known for its exceptional panoramic views from the Coline du Chateau, especially at sunset.

The Matisse Museum

Overlooking elegant Italianate gardens on a hillside location, the Matisse Museum has, for more than 50 years, showcased the work of one of Nice's most famous artists. The site exhibits many artefacts documenting the life of the influential artists, as well as more than 200 of his drawings and 68 paintings.

Promenade des Anglais

Pioneered by wealthy English holidaymakers who discovered this Mediterranean paradise in the late Georgian period, the Promenade des Anglais is the setting for many of Nice's most important events such as the city's annual Carnival, and is a great place for cycling, jogging, strolling or just admiring the wonderful clear water beneath the pebbly beach.

Day trip ideas

If you have enough time, take a bus, train or short car journey to Villefranche-sur-Mer, which overlooks one of the most spectacular natural bays in the world. This laid-back medieval town is home to one of the best beaches on the French Riviera and is a popular base for boat excursions. You may also want to consider visiting the plush resort and film festival city of Cannes, or some of the Provence Alpes Cote d'Azur's incredible medieval villages such as the perfume capital of Grasse and the dramatic hilltop village of Eze between Nice and the bustling casino centre of Monaco.