Towns & Villages in Nice

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

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.

Saorge is a wonderful medieval village perched high on a rock overlooking the magnificent Gorges de Saorge and the Vallée de la Roya; it's classed as one of the 40 most beautiful villages in France.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

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.

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.

The gorgeous island of Saint Marguerite is the largest of the islands off the coast of Cannes. Regular ferries run from Cannes and only take around 15 minutes, yet this small island made up of a quiet pine forest and pretty coves feels far separated from the glitzy boutiques and hotels of Cannes.

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

Cap de Nice and Mont Boron is a peaceful exclusive area to the east of Nice and is a mix of affluent residential properties and a national park.

Annot combines medieval charm with modern Provençal style in a wonderfully relaxed fashion. It's also a great centre for mountain sports.

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.

Sitting on a beautiful rocky peninsula of pine trees and palms just to the east of Nice is Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat. This area is the epitome of elegance and old Riviera glamour: from the small, chic harbour to the palatial gated villas and magnificent gardens of celebrities, oligarchs and famous family dynasties.