Nice, France, is a near perfect destination for a short city break holiday - it's the Queen of the Riviera; the capital city of the Côte d'Azur; a superb winter and summer resort and, thanks to budget flight airlines, a holiday resort that is extremely easy and cheap to reach.
Sitting at the head of the Baie des Anges, Nice owes its fantastic climate to the circle of hills that protect it from northerly winds, including the fearsome mistral that can create havoc in less well protected holiday resorts to the west.
Nice has been home to notable artists like Matisse, meaning the resort is also a cultural centre with some world class galleries. The famous food market and a huge selection of restaurants and cafes in this French city also mean it's worth visiting Nice purely to enjoy the food.
The French resort is split in two by the Paillon, a torrent that runs through a park to the sea, often underground. To the west is the elegant modern city where most of the hotels can be found; to the east is the old city, with its narrow alleys and hundreds of enticing shops, cafes and bars, the attractive port and the castle hill.
This is also a Mediterranean French city with more than a touch of Italy about it. Indeed the resort and the surrounding countryside were for centuries part of the Kingdom of Sardinia and became French for a short time under Napoleon. In 1814 Nice returned to Italian rule, and only in 1860 did the people vote to become part of France.
With cheap flight airlines running services from most UK airports, and Nice Côte d'Azur Airport being one of the busiest in France, getting to this wonderful city couldn’t be simpler. There is even a six times daily train service from Paris.
The city is also an excellent base for travel to many top Riviera attractions including St Tropez, Cannes, the principality of Monaco (including Monte Carlo), and a string of smaller exclusive resorts along the Mediterranean Cote d'Azur. Inland, ski resorts are within an hour's drive while Italy is also easily reached by car or train. For those considering a holiday break in France, Nice could be the perfect spot for a weekend short city break.