"A feast for the eyes, Nice - where Queen Victoria was amused, Matisse painted his Blue Nudes and Coco Chanel invented the suntan. It's marvellous to escape from dreary winter Britain into its sharp light and balmy Mediterranean air: to wander round the harbour, through the flower market in the ornate Cours Saleya, or into the bar of the Hotel Negresco for a cocktail as exotic as the building itself. Home of one of the biggest summer jazz festivals, off-season Nice also offers cool sounds in many a late-night cafe-bar.

At the turn of the Nineteenth century, the English made the port such a popular watering-hole that the Prom was named in their honour. As we approach the turn-of-the-Twentieth, Sir Elton John has spent such a fortune on his villa above town that he's been made an Honorary Citizen. Is Nice set for a revival as the "in" place to chill out? For my money - though considerably less than Sir Elton's - it always has been."

Nice, on France's spectacular Côte d'Azur, offers everything you could wish for in a holiday destination - history, spectacular scenery, architecture and a buzzing nightlife, not forgetting plenty of sun and sea.

The 4000-year-old city has many historical sights to see. Visit the Old Town which dates back to medieval times or La colline du chateau dating back to the eleventh century.

The old town contains within its narrow alleyways,
the expanses of its squares and the Cours Saleya
over 250 restaurants, 200 boutiques and galleries.

Other excellent places for sightseeing include the Basilique Notre-Dame - the largest church in Nice, built in 1864.

Other sightseeing hotspots include La Cathedrale Saint-Reparate, built in the seventeenth century, and the sixteenth century L'Ancien Hotel de ville, formerly Nice's town hall.

Nice benefits from a superb climate. Thanks to sea-breezes the climate is mild even in winter and never too hot in summer. Inhabitants often have lunch in a T-shirt in the middle of February while the rest of France is shivering in the cold.

Also known as the 'Bay of Arts', Nice has three theatres, an opera house, a symphony orchestra and many museums and art galleries. Visit the Musee et Site Archeologiques with its magnificent collections from the bronze age to the late middle ages.

Be sure to explore the Bibliotheque du Chevalier de Cessole, with its many old books and manuscripts tracing the history of the city.

Nice has always held on to its independence and even has its own language. The people of Nice like to keep their individuality intact with their own folk-dancing troupes, street bands and craftwork. Theatre is also a very important part of the town's culture and The Opera de Nice is well worth a visit.

If you enjoy strolling around the shops then you are in the right place; Nice offers excellent variety. Choose from small boutiques in the Old Town specialising in provencal fabrics, jewellery shops on Avenue de Verdun and Rue Paradis with its up-market shopping arcades, department stores and chic couturiers. There are also many markets, including the Marche a la Brocante - a flea market open all-year-round and the Marche aux Poissons - a fish market open every morning except Monday.

Nice is lively by day and even more lively by night. You are spoilt for choice when it comes to discos, nightclubs, casinos and restaurants. And you could, if you prefer, go to a karaoke club or one of the many cabaret clubs which are equally delightful. You can even choose to do some late-night shopping as there are many shops that stay open 24 hours a day.

With so much to see and do, it's not surprising that Nice is such a popular destination, whatever time of year you choose to visit.