The old town of Nice, Vieux Nice, is a maze of narrow streets with colourful buildings and Baroque churches. The Cours Saleya hosts a famous flower and food market. Above it, Castle Hill offers a park, a waterfall and the best views over the Bay of Angels and the port. Socca, a chickpea pancake, is a local speciality.

The Promenade des Anglais runs about seven kilometres along the Bay of Angels in Nice. It was named after the English visitors who paid for an early path along the sea in the 19th century. Its blue chairs, palm trees and pebble beach are symbols of Nice. Grand hotels like the Negresco line the road. The city's Belle Époque seafront is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Èze is a medieval village perched on a rocky peak about 430 metres above the Mediterranean between Nice and Monaco. Its narrow stone lanes wind up to the Exotic Garden at the top, built on the ruins of a castle, with cacti and views over the coast. The philosopher Nietzsche walked a path from the sea to the village.

Cannes is a city on the French Riviera famous for its international film festival, held each May since 1946 at the Palais des Festivals. The Boulevard de la Croisette runs along the bay, lined with palm trees, luxury hotels and beaches. The old quarter of Le Suquet climbs a hill with views over the bay. Ferries go to the Lérins Islands.

Saint-Tropez is a small town on the Riviera that grew from a fishing village to a famous resort. Painters such as Paul Signac came here in the 1890s, and the 1956 film And God Created Woman with Brigitte Bardot made it world famous. Its old port is lined with colourful houses and yachts. A citadel on the hill gives views of the bay.

Bonifacio is a town at the southern tip of Corsica, built on white limestone cliffs above the sea. Its old town, the Haute Ville, sits about 70 metres above the water. The King of Aragon's Staircase, cut into the cliff, leads down to the sea. Boat trips show the cliffs, sea caves and views across to Sardinia.