Slightly out of Nice in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat is the marshmallow-pink Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild. Spend the day wandering around the dreamscape gardens and checking out the impressive art collection before heading to the salon de thé which overlooks the bay of Villefranche.

Quite probably the best view in Nice. Climb the Colline du Château (or Castle Hill) to its summit for a clear view over the sparkling, palm-lined vista that is the Baie des Anges. Don’t forget to spend some time exploring the cliff top gardens once you’re up there.

Not exactly in Nice, but an 18-minute train journey will take you to Cap d’Ail, a lively little town with a beautiful beach called La Plage Mala, accessible by walking through a small hamlet. Make sure to visit Eden restaurant – their spaghetti vongole and champagne cocktails are extremely good. Eden’s dappled terrace is shaded by huge maroon parasols and makes the perfect spot to enjoy a post-swim lunch, your hair still damp with sea water and the sun on your face.

Head under a tiny archway off the main street to find this charming local market. Floral scents drift through the air with stalls lining the square with multi-coloured striped awnings. Marché aux Fleurs is open every day apart from on Mondays and Sunday afternoons. In the mornings you can buy a kaleidoscope of fruit, veg and sweet treats from a neighbouring vendor.

Matisse spent much of his later life – some 37 years – in and around Nice. Known primarily as a painter despite his skills as a draughtsman, printmaker and sculptor, his mastery of the language of colour and drawing won him recognition as a leading figure in modern art. The Matisse Museum offers a tasting of the artist’s life and works from the 1890 Nature Morte Aux Livres to his famed gouache cut-out.

Many scenes in “Monte Carlo” were shot in the French Riviera, with some of Nice’s most glamorous buildings and sun-drenched coastal roads evoking the rose-tinted era of travel in the 30s. The grand, belle-epoque exterior and columned lobby of Le Régina sets our eyes like saucers at the start of Rebecca. Queen Victoria once stayed at this opulent hotel (converted to apartments in the 30s), a short walk from the Musée Matisse.