Towns & Villages in Nice

First recorded in 1040, Entrevaux is an arresting sight - a walled medieval town surrounded by a moat, with a drawbridge entrance, towering gatehouses and a series of fortified walls leading up to a 17th century citadel perched up high above an enormous valley.

High up above the hot crowds of Nice is a tranquil oasis with shady trees, panoramic views and, if you’re lucky, a cool breeze. Off the typical tourist trail, Cimiez lies about 2km north east of the centre of Nice.

Beaulieu-sur-Mer is filled with Belle Époque buildings, cafés and restaurants.

Situated between Nice and Cannes, Villeneuve Loubet is a delightful area split into two parts - a seaside resort with plenty of outdoor activities and a fascinating old town.

Sospel is a more of a mountain town than a quaint little village; as well as having its fair share of crooked back streets and ancient buildings, it also has quite a large population of residents and attracts lots of hikers and bikers, so it doesn't rely entirely on coachloads of sightseers to get by.

A wonderful medieval village, Eze is perched on a hilltop overlooking the Riviera with a ruined 12th century castle at its pinnacle. It's actually split into two very distinct areas - Eze-Sur-Mer and Eze Village.

The town lies in the hills above Cannes and offers a fresher climate than the balmy coastal towns. A little bit scruffy in places, it does have some wonderful grand mansions in the centre and around the outskirts.

Tende is a wonderful little town right on the Italian border with a rich heritage, fascinating architecture, prehistoric relics and plenty of outdoor activities to keep everyone happy.

La-Colle-sur-Loup is a pretty medieval village just down the road from the more famous Saint-Paul-de-Vence. It's much more tranquil, retaining a quiet charm that makes a wander around very pleasant.

Just the other side of the airport to Nice, Saint-Laurent-du-Var has been brought bang up to date in recent years. 

Biot is a lovely picturesque old town located up in the hills of Antibes. This medieval town is full of culture, history and art.

One of the most dramatic villages in Provence, Gourdon is situated on top of a rock, overlooking the Vallée du Loup. The views of the valley, all the way to the Mediterranean, are outstanding - you can see Nice and Théuole on a good day.

Just to the east of Nice lies the coastal town of Villefranche-sur-Mer; with its little cobblestone lanes and 16th century citadel.

A lovely old town with a river running through it, overlooked by vast mountains and surrounded by terraced olive groves.

Known as the 'City of Art', Vence has a rich history of attracting artists and writers, from D H Lawrence to Chagall and Matisse.

Haut Cagnes is the perched medieval village that overlooks the resort, and is home to the famous Renoir House and the Grimaldi Castle, two of the area’s most popular attractions.

The island of Saint Honorat is the smaller of the two inhabited Lerins islands. Its main attraction is the monastery, a wonderful stone building well worth a visit.

A friendly seaside resort with a splash of old-school glamour, Cap d'Ail has several beaches ranging from fine sandy beaches with elegant restaurants, to remote and rocky coves.