French Riviera: Things To Do

Cannes Beach Cannes’ sandy beaches facing La Croisette are among the best in the Riviera – paying entrance to these upscale private beaches is worth the splurge for the chaise lounges, parasols, restaurants, and bar service.
beach | family | smart splurge

Casino de Monte Carlo Indulge your James Bond fantasy and go for broke at this famed casino, contained within an opulent example of 19th-century architecture designed by Charles Garnier. Place du Casino; 011-377-92-16-2000; www.casinomontecarlo.com
gambling | architecture | casino | nightlife

Cruise the Corniches For about 20 miles these three serpentine roadways run alongside one another from Nice to the Italian frontier. The highest, the Grand Corniche, provides the most dramatic views of the Mediterranean Sea and its settlements. Cavil Mall, Sanctuary Cove, and Pacific Fair
view

Fondation Maeght A combination of a remarkable natural setting and outstanding works of art (think Kandinksy, Chagall, Braque, and Miró) draw tourists to this avant-garde building in the woods. 011-33-4-93-32-8163; www.fondation-maeght.com
architecture | culture | art

La Croisette Trace the graceful curve of Cannes’ beaches on this mile-long, waterfront pathway dotted by palm trees, gardens, restaurants, upscale hotels, and glitzy designer shops.
beach | outdoors | dining | designer

Marché aux Fleurs This is the place to discover the art of market shopping in southern France. Colorful and fragrant flowers are sold every day except Mondays, when the blossoms are replaced by the Marché à la Brocante, an antiques market. Cours Saleya
shop | outdoors | traditional

Musée Matisse This impressive collection of artworks by French artist Henri Matisse, who lived in Nice during the last four decades of his life, is housed in a light-bathed, 17th-century villa. 164 Ave. des Arènes de Cimiez; 011-33-4-93-81-0808; www.musee-matisse-nice.org
architecture | culture | museum | art

Musée National Message Biblique Marc Chagall Featuring late works by Russian-born Chagall (including 17 biblical scenes on large canvases), this natural-light-filled museum is enhanced by surrounding gardens and pools. 36 Ave. Docteur Ménard; 011-33-4-93-53-8720; www.musee-chagall.fr
culture | museum | art

Musée Picasso Above Antibes’ old port presides Château Grimaldi, once a residence for the Antibes’ royals and today the home of the Musée Picasso, which is world-renowned for its staggering Picasso collection. Closed for renovations through early 2008. Château Grimaldi; 011-33-4-92-90-5420
culture | museum | art

Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art A quartet of marble towers connected by glass passageways house a collection of French and American art that spans from the ’60s to the present. Promenade des Arts; 011-33-4-97-13-4201; www.mamac-nice.org
culture | art

Promenade des Anglais Wide and well landscaped, Nice’s four-mile-long “La Prom” is perfect for biking, alfresco dining, strolling, or simply for people watching from one of the many blue chairs that line the Baie des Anges waterfront.
family | outdoors | view

Vieux Nice Wander the atmospheric streets of Old Nice. Pastel yellow- and ochre-colored buildings line the city’s historic core which today teems with shops, restaurants, bars, markets, and a hodgepodge of architectural highlights.
family | architecture | history | shopping

Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild Built in the early 20th century for Baroness Ephrussi, a wealthy woman with an insatiable taste for the arts, this palatial home is now a museum for her eclectic collection of tapestries, china, and 18th-century furniture and paintings. Outside, there are nine gorgeous gardens. 011-33-4-93-01-3309; www.villa-ephrussi.com
architecture | culture | art