Nice, the capital of the Côte d'Azur, has a lovely city centre and a picturesque port. Strolling the city's winding streets is a joy, and there are plenty of inviting cafés where you can stop for a drink or get lured into whiling the day away people watching on the terraces. Nice, like the rest of the region, has a long history marked by Roman occupancy. You can spot many different architectural styles in the city- keep an eye out for the Palais Lascaris, a fine example of Genoese baroque, and the Saint-Martin-Saint Augustin church, a classic Italian Baroque construction.

Nearby are the resorts-- the glamorous Cannes, Antibes and Menton. The moneyed from all over the world lounge along the beaches and in the cafes here. Spotting them is as much of the Côte d'Azur experience as taking a dip in the water and sipping drinks in the cafés yourself

Commerical Marseille is a vibrant city with a pretty old port, lots of shopping and several good museums. Its ancient history (it was founded by the Phoenicians in 600 BC) and status as France's second city give it a unique air. Be sure to eat the seafood here- it has the reputation as some of the best in France.

This region's long history has left it with a wealth of archeological sites and old Roman ruins. The Roman amphitheatre Arènes, in Nîmes, makes for a fascinating visit; there is another Roman arena in Arles, though it is not as well preserved. For other ruins, you can visit the site of ancient Greek and Roman towns in Glanum (St-Rémy-de-Provence) or the varied Roman ruins in Vaison-la-Romaine.

Other places worth a visit are Aigues-Mortes, a tiny fortress town, and the luxurious palaces Château de Sade and Palais des Papes.