A classic South of France seaside resort: busy beaches, calm water, and pricey cocktails. Nice is on the French Riviera, but it's less pretentious than its neighbors, particularly Cannes. It's also a great deal more accessible to the average European tourist—and flights are much more convenient, because the airport's right outside the city.

It has a lot of the common Cote d'Azur elements, though. Casinos, bars, and sidewalk cafés are everywhere, and in the daytime, beaches are packed with sunbathers (many topless). For a day trip, take a nice drive north to Cap Ferrat—a beautiful town on the cliffs—or go southwest to Cannes.