This crowded, glamorous and sun-soaked slice of France includes the Côte d’Azur between Nice and Marseille, and part of the famed Riviera. The official Riviera, which stretches 65 km from Cannes to the Italian border, is a hedonist’s paradise of deluxe hotels, casinos, sumptuous restaurants, haute couture boutiques and massive yachts. It is also hideously over-developed in parts, uncomfortably crowded in July and August, and horribly expensive if you are not careful. However, there is good news if you are unimpressed by caviar and cachet: there are a few seductive and reasonably priced hotels, the Mediterranean really is azur here, and among the best places to visit are the spectacular amount of 19th-20thC art and acres of gorgeous palm-fringed gardens. You can also escape to the hills with ease -see Exploring locally, France. The coastal stretch between Nice and the Italian border at Menton is featured in The Corniches – also see Exploring locally, France.

In Nice, we recommend The Windsor Jungle Art Hotel for a unique and memorable stay.

TRANSPORT

One of the most accessible regions of France: there are flights from Paris to Nice, Marseille and Toulon-Hyères; and fast TGV trains from Paris serve Avignon (4 hours) and Marseille (5 hours), as well as Saint Raphael and the Riviera and Côte d’Azur between Menton and Marseille (connections for Aix); buses are more expensive and less reliable.