Visit Nice

Promenade des Anglais

1.1 miles from downtown

Scarf, Chanel shades and game-face – check! This 6 km palm-lined coastal promenade has a reputation for glitz. Browse the shops around Cours Saleya, or catch some rays on one of the Mediterranean-facing blue chairs. Then dine at one of Nice’s nicest eateries – Koudou for some colonial chic, Le Méridien for its rooftop terrace, or Le Negresco hotel for Michelin-star cuisine.

Places to stay from $50 a night

Nice Old Town

0.4 miles from downtown

‘Old Town’ has amazing light in every season. It casts shadows of the baroque Cathédrale de Sainte-Réparate, refracts from the ochre-and-harvest coloured houses along its narrow lanes, and swathes in to Place Rossetti. Once here, buy a gelato in classic or new-fangled flavours at Fenocchio, then fan out for dinky boutiques and gourmet eats.

Places to stay from $36 a night

Nice Port

0.8 miles from downtown

Vieux Port is a sepia-toned postcard from the past. European aristocracy came here for getaways during the 19th century and today it's like they've permanently relocated here. Spot the million-dollar yachts, exclusive seaside diners in and around Rue Bonaparte, or shop for curios in the Quartier des Antiquaires ('Antiques Quarter').

Places to stay from $36 a night

Palais des Congres Acropolis

0.7 miles from downtown

An elegant strip within shouting distance of Old Town. The quirky Tête Carrée (‘Blockhead’) sculpture-come-house sets the avant-garde tone for the area. Try the MAMAC (Museum of Contemporary and Modern Art) for its Warhol’s, Klein’s and Lichtenstein’s. The Nice Acropolis satiates the commercial appetite with its constant rotation of trade shows.

Places to stay from $43 a night

Nice City Centre

In downtown

Centre Ville’s magnificence is best seen from the breezy comfort of a Vélo Bleu bike. Arcaded 17th-century buildings, painted in shades of gold and terracotta, border Place Masséna. Cross the square for a trio of commerce, culture and fine dining, or head to Promenade de Anglais to breath in the real-deal – a vibrantly azure Mediterranean Sea.

Places to stay from $12 a night

Les Baumettes

1.2 miles from downtown

The biggest draw card of this primarily residential area is the Musée des Beaux-Arts (Fine Arts Museum). Its small but uplifting collection includes the likes of Fragonard, Monet, Degas and more. For the rest, it’s sweet and sleepy – you’re likely to see mothers push their baby buggies gingerly uphill along streets lined with trees.

Places to stay from $38 a night

Arenas

3 miles from downtown

Everything in Arenas circles around Park Phoenix’s gravitational pull. The parkland has fabulous manicured gardens, zoological and botanical gardens, containing rare blooms that will enchant even the most seasoned gardener. The Kenzo Tange-designed Museum of Asian Art - filled with treasures from the far east - lies within the park.

Places to stay from $42 a night

Gambetta

0.8 miles from downtown

Gambetta is a sleepy suburb of Nice. Locally referred to as the ‘Russian District’ after the shops here that cater to the community, it’s also home to a handsome Russian Cathedral on Rue Tsarewitch. Lemon-coloured lo-rise apartment blocks, palms swaying in the breeze, and cheerful mums with kids are ubiquitous sights.

Places to stay from $36 a night

Riquier

0.9 miles from downtown

Riquier is slightly grittier than the suburbs that surround it. However, a recent revitalisation project has injected the area around Palais de L'Esplanade with new life. Sushi shops, no-frills eateries and low-key cafes cater to the large student population. It’s also within easy reach of the centre and the coast.

Places to stay from $43 a night