Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat, A Four Seasons Hotel Nice, France

Nice weathers its storms of tourisms each summer with all the usual accoutrements of a Riviera town: Casual affluence, an ample beach, museums, flowery avenues but lack the affected aloofness of its neighbours. Furthermore, Nice is blessed with good public transport within the city and to all points on the Côte d’Azur, and makes it a good base for Riviera exploring. Nice’s long thin beach and bronzing guests are the city’s principal attractions for most visitors. Nonetheless, Nice’s vieille ville, the old town, is worth a visit. The old quarter is an unusual blend of glitter and a Mediterranean medieval quarter of tiny streets and outdoors markets. For a spectacular Riviera panorama, climb up to the top of the chateau. The city has several outstanding museums, such as the Musée Matisse, devoted to the work of French painter Henri Matisse, or the Musée National Marc Chagall, dedicated to the work of painter Marc Chagall. The majestic promenade des Anglais sweeps along the coast. This pedestrian zone swarms with boutiques, busy restaurants and all variety of tourists. The nightlife in Nice is effervescent, the labyrinth of tiny streets in the vieille ville hides restaurants and bars, and accounts for the city’s Mediterranean flair.