Côte d'Azur
22 min from Nice by TER, Monaco combines the Prince's Rock, the Belle Époque Monte-Carlo Casino, the Oceanographic Museum, Grace Kelly's cathedral and Port Hercule mega-yachts.
30 min from Nice, Èze Village perched at 429m offers a 360° Mediterranean view. Exotic Garden, medieval cobblestone alleys, Fragonard perfumery and Nietzsche who wrote Zarathustra here.
40 min from Nice by TER, Cannes combines the glamorous Croisette, Forville market, sandy beaches and the Lérins Islands with their Cistercian Abbey — the ideal beach and culture excursion.
30 min from Nice by TER, Antibes combines the Picasso Museum in Château Grimaldi, Roman ramparts, the covered Provençal market and Port Vauban — Europe's largest yacht harbour.
35 min from Nice by TER, Menton the Pearl of France reveals an old town with pastel Italian facades, Val-Rahmeh and Serre de la Madone gardens, and its famous Lemon Festival in February.
30 min from Nice by bus, Saint-Paul-de-Vence welcomed Matisse, Chagall, Picasso and Léger. Fondation Maeght, art galleries in the alleys, medieval ramparts and views of the Alps and sea.
10 min from Nice by train, Villefranche-sur-Mer reveals the Mediterranean's finest bay and a baroque old town. Cap Ferrat: Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild and its 9 gardens.
1h from Nice by bus or car, Grasse the UNESCO-listed world perfume capital hosts Fragonard, Galimard and Molinard. Personalised perfume creation workshops and medieval old town.
2h from Nice by car, the Gorges du Verdon are Europe's largest canyon. 700m cliffs, turquoise river, spectacular hiking and canoeing. The essential mountain and nature excursion.
40 min from Nice by TER from €5, Ventimiglia in Italy opens onto the Italian Riviera. Colourful Friday morning market, Ligurian focaccia and pasta specialities, medieval old town on the hillside.