Nice (pop. 336,000), the most famous of Riviera towns, is a good starting point for exploring the region and a delightful town itself. In summer, there are beach activities and a carnival; in winter, there are festivals. Nice has a strong cultural heritage—visit the Opera House; the Chagall, Matisse and Naval Museums; and the fine-arts museum, with its Monet, Degas, Renoir and Rodin collections. Also drop by the Flower Market, St. Reparate Cathedral and the old city (most of which is closed off to cars). Take time to stroll down the Promenade des Anglais (along the beach—made of smooth stones, not sand), which passes some very old and exclusive hotels, such as the Hotel Ncgresco. If you like Renoir, lake a side trip to his villa in Cagnes-sur-Mer, which displays some of his paintings and memorabilia. Nice is 100 mi/160 km east of Marseille on the Riviera.
About 6 mi/10 km southwest of Nice is Antibes (pop. 71,000), a pretty beach town that has long been a favorite of Parisians. It offers a wide range of activities and many nice restaurants, galleries and trendy clothing shops. Antibes also has an excellent Picasso museum in the 12th-century Chateau Grimaldi. Behind the chateau are the ramparts of the old city go up for gorgeous views of neighboring resorts and the sea. Also walk along the Rue Fourmilliere, a street full of flowers; the Place Nalionale (restaurants, cafes and outdoor concerts); and the Rue James Close (shops and restaurants). Antibes has a jazz. festival every summer.

Just outside Antibes' walls is the area known as Safranier and the Bastion St. Andre (archaeological museum). From the harbor, Port Vauban, you can see the 16th-century Fort Carre (open July-August). At the resort of Cap d'Antibes, see the Tour du Grillon Naval and Napoleonic Museum in the Sella Tower. Nearby Juan les Pins has sandy beaches, all kinds of water sports, upscale boutiques, nightlife and the Eden Beach Casino. From April to September, it's possible to take a boat trip to two Lerins Islands: Stc. Marguerite (the fortress where "The Man in the Iron Mask" was imprisoned) and Ste. Honorat (an 11th-century abbey).
Drive another 6 mi/10 km southwest along the coast and you'll find Cannes (pop. 75,000). Every year, people jam this scenic town for its internationally renowned film festival. Stroll along La Croisette, the elegant seaside promenade, to the Palm Beach Casino, and visit the Old Harbor, In Le Suquet, the old part of the city, it's fun to just walk around, looking at the lovely flower gardens and shopping on the Rue d'Antibes. The Lerins Islands are still a short ferry ride away, while just to the north is Grasse, the heart of the national perfume industry. Thousands of tons of flowers are processed there every year, providing the base elements for most of France's major perfume brands.
Though its beach is far from the best on the Riviera, St. Tropez (pop. 6,000) has great shopping, a picturesque old town and some very interesting exhibition spaces (including the Marine and the Armonciade Museums). Located about 40 mi/65 km southwest of Nice, the town can easily be seen in a few hours. Be sure to walk through the winding medieval streets and to slop lor a drink at one of the many sidewalk cafes. In the summer, St. Tropez is swamped with "beautiful people." If you're lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of Brigitte Bardot (who lives there). Some of the famous beaches nearby include Tahiti. Plage des Graniers, Tropezina and Tabou. Should time permit, visit the neighboring villages of Ramatuelle (17th-century church and good views) and Gassin (13th-century church and Alp views) and lake boat excursions to the Hyeres islands.