Holiday rentals in Nice

Over the course of the past three millennia, Ancient Greek mariners, Victorian Brits, French heatseekers, and famous artists have all fallen for Nice. It will only take you a few hours of basking in the warm, clean light of the French Riviera to understand why. Plunge into the warren of narrow streets in Vieux Nice, the Old Town, snacking on socca (a chickpea-flour crepe), or stroll along the Promenade des Anglais, which hugs the Mediterranean coast, checking out the buskers, street artists, and the crowds. Nice is not just a resort, however. It’s the sixth largest city in France, and you can sense its urbane buzz in the Place Masséna and along the Avenue Jean Médecin, the city’s main shopping street. Even the most bustling quarters exude a relaxed charm.

Tucked between the Alps and the Mediterranean Sea, Nice doesn’t really have a bad season. Expect sun — lots of it, with some 300 days of clear skies a year. Peak beach weather lasts from May through September. In July and August, the temperature often hits 80 or 90 degrees Fahrenheit during the day, with nights that remain warm. Shorts and sundresses, or perhaps lightweight pants for dining out, are common. (You’ll also want to have mosquito repellent on hand.) The temperatures gently descend from there, and in December and January, they drop into the 40s at night, so definitely pack a jacket and a sweater or two.

Vieux Ville / Old Town

There are few neighborhoods as charming as Vieux Nice, whose curving lanes are bordered by high buildings painted orange and ochre. In the morning, the Cours Saleya Flower Market is filled with blooms and fresh produce. Late at night, the cafes and bars hum with the city’s nightlife.

Matisse Museum

The celebrated Modernist painter spent most of his adult life in Nice, and this 17th-century villa has assembled a collection of his works that span his career. The museum is just one reason to spend an afternoon in Cimiez, a neighborhood filled with Belle Époque mansions, a medieval monastery, and Roman ruins.

Promenade des Anglais

La Prom, as locals call it, was constructed for the benefit of the British who began spending winters here in the 1820s. One one side of the boulevard are the pebbly beaches and the deep blue Bay of Angels, and on the other, a long swath of 19th-century buildings with ornate balconies. Well-marked bike lanes also make this an attractive spot to pedal.