Vacation Time! Nice La Belle

Queen of the French Riviera THE FIFTH LARGEST CITY IN FRANCE, Nice oozes chic with its glamorous beaches and chateaux, its treasure-filled museums and atmospheric old town. Recognised by UNESCO as a winter resort town, it enjoys a warm Mediterranean climate year-round and close proximity to the Alps. PROMENADE DES ANGLAIS, the renowned walkway that overlooks La Baie des Anges, stretches for 7 kilometres and enjoys beautiful sea views. You can rest up on iconic Mediterranean-blue deckchairs, or rent skates, scooters and bikes to discover impressive La Prom landmarks, such as the art-deco Palais de la Méditerranée. APPRECIATE ART at the Musee Matisse, which homes a wonderful selection of Henri Matisse’s oil paintings, drawings, sculptures and tapestries. Fans of Marc Chagall can also drop by the Musée National Marc Chagall to view the largest public collection of the painter’s work. GET CULTURED at the Musee Massena, which was originally built as a home for Prince Vector d’Essling, the grandson of one of Napoléon’s favourite generals. The museum documents the origins of Nice, the history of the French Riviera and the impacts of tourism, and the enduring importance of February’s Carnaval de Nice COURS SALEYA MARKET dates back to 1861. It’s filled with a plethora of glorious Mediterranean produce – flowers, fresh fruits and vegetables – and transforms into a flea market on Mondays. As you wonder the pedestrianised marketplace, treat yourself to local specialties like pissaladiere (onion and anchovy tart) and socca (chickpea flour pancakes). PARC PHOENIX zoological garden features everything from flamingos and peacocks to crocodiles. Built around a central lake and spread over seven hectares, it’s home to more than 2,500 plant species. There’s also a huge greenhouse, the Diamant Vert, in which a total of six tropical climates are recreated. GET YOUR GLAM ON year-round at La Galet. There are four miles of pebble-strewn beach to explore in Nice – this is the capital of the Côte d’Azur, after all – and La Galet has to be one of the most picturesque. It’s also one of the best places to see the Carnaval de Nice march past.