
1.
Nice
This sunny stretch of the Côte d'Azur has long attracted Europe's cultural jet setters. Loved by artists such as Matisse, Renoir and Chagall, Nice has a touch of old-world opulence cut through by neighbourhoods with rugged charm. Soak up the sparkling seaside before wandering among the tall-shuttered buildings of Vieux Nice, where you should settle down in a dimly lit restaurant to feast on seafood. Stop by Cours Saleya market, where producers from the Alpine foothills peddle fresh produce and stalls serve street snacks including socca (a chickpea-flour pancake) and pissaladière (a caramelised onion tart).