From defensive fort to public park, Le Château is a great place to visit. Although the castle that once perched on the hill is long gone, there are stunning views of the city below and you’ll find a grassy park, Roman ruins and a relaxing waterfall.

You’d be forgiven for thinking that Nice is all about seeing and being seen, but culture vultures will also find themselves at home here, in one of the many museums. Art lovers should head to the Musée des Beaux-Arts Jules Chéret , which is set in the former private mansion of a Ukrainian princess and offers the opulence and grandeur synonymous with Nice.

Other recommended museums and art galleries include the Natural HistoryMuseum, the Naval Museum and the Galerie des Ponchettes.

No visit to Nice would be complete without a tour of its old town, or “veille ville”. Splendidly narrow and rambling streets give way to baroque churches, colourful markets and quiet squares. This is a favourite area for locals to meet and an excellent place to start discovering the history of Nice.

The Cours Saleya market, lined with café terraces, is not to be missed. Every day is market day and you’ll find anything from flowers to crafts and antiques on offer over the course of a week. This is the place to pick up some great bargains and practice your French bartering skills. Or take a seat at one of the many cafes and simply watch the world go by.

Nice also offers an oasis of greenery with its numerous parks and gardens, the oldest of which is leJardin Albert Premier, which stretches more than two kilometres from the coast towards the hills.

Summer – music lovers rejoice; the Sacred Music festival rings throughout the churches of the old town and free concerts take place thought Nice in June. Jazz is the order of the day in July, when Nice Jazz Festival comes to town, while Bastille Day is a huge celebration on July 14th. Meanwhile, August brings concerts in the Cloister of the Cimiez monastery.

Autumn – bargain lovers should watch out for the Fête de la San Bertoumieu in September, a huge market of traditional arts and crafts in old Nice. And October offers not only Halloween celebrations, but the return of the International Festival of Military Music.

Winter – February is carnival time in Nice and you can expect Mardi Gras and flower processions to liven up the French Riviera’s winter season. Closing parades will include bonfires and fireworks displays best seen from the Promenade des Anglais.

Of course, the Côte D’Azur is also home to Cannes‘ notorious film festival, when the razzle dazzle of the French Riviera is showcased in a week-long celebration of the showbiz world’s famous, infamous and up-and-coming. The event, this year celebrating its 60th anniversary, takes over the region between May 16th and 27th – a party not to be missed.

Music festivals don’t have to be like this though, especially if you visit a music festival in Europe. There are many music festivals this summer taking place in France, where you can stay in hotels or go camping in a much warmer and more pleasant climate.

Here are some of the music festival highlights this summer in France.

There are two jazz festivals this summer in France. The first takes place in Nice, in the south of France, and runs from July 18th to July 25th. The second jazz festival is in Marciac and runs from July 31st to August 16th.

Running from July 3rd until July 31st is the Aix lyrical festival, and nearby is a piano festival at La Roque-d’Anthéron, which starts on July 24th and runs until August 22nd.

For those of you like a more rounded feel to their music, the ‘Music of the World’ festival takes place from July 10th through until August 8th in the Côte d’Azur. This festival includes free concerts, with the last taking place on August 5th.

There could be little better than camping in sunny France at a top music festival.

For those of you like a more rounded feel to their music, the ‘Music of the World’ festival takes place from July 10th through until August 8th in the Côte d’Azur. This festival includes free concerts, with the last taking place on August 5th.

There could be little better than camping in sunny France at a top music festival.

The Promenade des Anglais, running alongside the waters of la Baie des Anges, offers beautiful ocean views and is also home to some excellent bars and restaurants. A much celebrated walkway along the sea, this is a great place for a stroll, particularly on Sundays, when bicyclists, skateboarders and dog walkers take to the Prom in force. Pull up a pew – or “chaise bleue” – and watch the world go by, this is a great vantage point for contemplating the azure Mediterranean, which stretches as far as the eye can see.

For those seeking a little opulence – and this is what Nice is all about – why not try the palatial Hotel Negresco , built in 1912 to be a landmark of quality, it was listed by the government of France as a national historic building and attracts the wealthiest of clients. The Negresco’s now famous pink dome, the work of Gustave Eiffel, stands out against the blue sky. And those strolling by should look out for the doormen, bedecked with red-plumed postilion hats, they evoke days gone by, bringing to mind an 18th-century elite bourgeois household.

Visitors will find beaches aplenty sweeping the five-kilometre stretch between the end of the Promenade des Anglais and the foot of the castle hill. You’ll have the chance to experience a little glamour at one of Nice’s 15 comfortable private beaches, punctuated along the Baie des Anges by the public ones. They offer the luxury of sun-loungers, parasols and towels for rent, while those wishing for a more authentic experience can brave the pebbles of the public beaches. Here’s a round-up of the favourites.

Private Beaches

It is easy to distinguish the private beaches from the public ones – they tend to be fenced off, with orderly sunbeds, flags and waiter service. A popular choice, they can get extremely busy during July and August but you can often reserve your sunbeds in advance by telephone (the local Office du Tourisme can provide the numbers for you). The cheapest option is often to hire a sunbed just for the afternoon, but remember this is when the sun is at its hottest.

Castel Plage – claims to be Nice’s prettiest beach, truly a “beautiful place for beautiful people”. It lies at the eastern edge of Nice’s beaches, boasting a wonderful view of the bay and a promenade lined with elegant palms and artistic sculptures.

Beau Rivage – the private beach of the Hotel Beau Rivage. This is your chance to indulge with a little four-star pampering “a la niçoise”.

Blue Beach – alongside the Promenade des Anglais and surrounded by some of the most prestigious hotels in Nice, this child-friendly beach has a small children’s pool and restaurant.

The Sporting Beach – just next door to Blue Beach, the clue is in the name and all your paragliding needs will be taken care of here.

Public Beaches

Plage Publique de Beau Rivage – a free beach with good facilities so no wonder it gets busy! Get there early to grab a good spot.

La Reserve – a small beach to the east of the harbour, beside the Nice Sailing Club