Nice Itinerary introduces visitors to the city and its sun-drenched region.

Day 1: Orientation to Nice

The ubiquitous open air tourist buses take newcomers on a 90-minute tour of Nice with commentary provided in five languages, but the Tourist Office has four different itineraries with downloadable maps for visitors who want to see the city at their own pace.

Day 2: Nice for Art Lovers

Picasso, Matisse, Chagall, Renoir, Léger - these are just a few of the 19th and 20th c. artists who have lived along the Riviera or worked here in seaside villas or hilltop villages. A sampling of places to include on your wanderings: Picasso at the Musée Picasso in Antibes and Musée National "La Guerre et La Paix" (War and Peace) in Vallauris, Matisse in the Musée Matisse in Nice and at the Chapelle du Rosaire in Vence and Renoir in Cagnes-sur-Mer.

Day 3: Nice for the Star-Struck

The film industry has been a part of the French Riviera since its earliest days. If you happen to be in Nice during the Cannes Film Festival in May, keep an eye open for international stars who congregate for the screenings and award ceremonies. Any time of the year you're bound to recognize locations and scenery from Hitchcock's To Catch a Thief made in 1955 to more recent James Bond movies and Ocean's Twelve. If royalty is more your thing, there's a palace in Monaco (princes and princesses, too) where a daily changing of the guard attracts an audience.

Day 4: Nice for Walkers

The foothills of the Alps plunge into the Mediterranean in the region around Nice providing ample opportunities to hike from the coast up to hilltop villages (panoramic views over the sea and mountains await!) or from one village to another.

Day 5: Nice for Risk Takers

A day (or evening) at the Casino de Monte-Carlo won't break your bank if you keep to a limit and leave when the euros are gone, but don't forget to figure in the entrance fee of 10€. Thrill seekers might prefer to rent a car and drive one or all three of the hill-hugging, dizzying corniches that connect Nice to Menton.

Day 6: Nice for Nature Lovers

Gardeners in search of a plant fix should not miss the Jardin Exotique (Exotic Garden) and its spectacular views over the bay in hilltop Eze or a similar garden in Monaco that looks out over the tiny principality. The Musée Océanographique and its aquarium, one of the finest in Europe, occupy a privileged site on the Rock at Monaco.

Day 7: Nice for Sun Lovers

With over 2600 hours of sun in an average year (that's almost a full 7-hour day of sun every day of the year), sun worshipers will love Nice. The beach is pebbly, but the Promenade des Anglais extends along the coast for blocks inviting walkers and runners alike. The sunny days make for leisurely exploration of Nice's Old Town and flower market or museum hopping alongside the Roman ruins in the Cimiez neighborhood.