Reasons Why the French Riviera is the Ultimate Summer Destination

The French Riviera, also known as the Côte d’Azur, is a dreamy French region that extends east along the coast from Menton and Monaco to Théoule sur Mer and up into the Southern Alps. The Riviera contains several cities (Nice and Cannes among them), 14 natural parks, Roman ruins, medieval villages and whale watching just off shore. So we're sure you'll have a grand time exploring the Riviera. Download the French Riviera Travel Guide and Offline Map now!

1. Vieux Nice

Getting lost among the dark, narrow, winding alleyways of Nice’s old town is a highlight. The layout has barely changed since the 1700s, and it’s now packed with delis, restaurants, boutiques and bars, but the centerpiece remains cours Saleya: a massive market square that’s permanently thronging in summer. The food market is perfect for fresh produce and foodie souvenirs, while the flower market is worth visiting just for the colors and fragrances.

2. Casino de Monte Carlo

Peeping inside Monte Carlo’s legendary marble-and-gold casino is a Monaco essential. The building, open to visitors every morning, is Europe's most lavish example of belle-epoque architecture. Prince Charles III came up with the idea of the casino and in 1866, three years after its inauguration, the name 'Monte Carlo' – Ligurian for 'Mount Charles' in honor of the prince – was coined.

3. Marseille

Marseille is a dynamic, edgy, bustling city that’s rich with more than 1500 years of history. And since its stint as the European Capital of Culture in 2013 and the addition of a brace of swanky new museums, the city has sparkled with a new sense of optimism and self-belief. The heart of the city is the vibrant Vieux Port (old port), mast-to-mast with yachts and pleasure boats. 

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Top Three Spots to Visit in Nice, the Epitome of the French Riviera

Do you have a trip planned to France during the European Winter, but can't take much cold weather? Then Nice is the place for you where the sun shines all year round. This 19th-century picturesque coastal city has everything you could ask for. It is filled with great markets, a bewitching old town, and of course, beautiful architecture. There's no better way to enjoy what the French Riviera has to offer than in Nice. So what are you waiting for? Download the Nice Travel Guide and Offline Map and head over to Nice!

1.     Vieux Nice

Nice' Old Town is such a treat for any explorer. With its well-preserved buildings from the 1700's, you won't mind getting lost in its narrow, winding alleyways. For all its delis, restaurants, and bars, there is one place that will instantly draw you in--the Saleya. A huge market square that's divided into sections. The most famous being the food market filled with fresh produce and foodie souvenirs and the flower market for all your fresh blooms and fragrances need.

2.      Promenade des Anglais

In 2015 this famous 4-kilometer stretch of the Baie des Anges was submitted as a candidate for UNESCO World Heritage status. And rightly so, the sweeping promenade is filled with historic landmarks including the Hôtel Negresco, the art-deco Palais de la Méditerranée (1929) and Niçoise sculptor Sabine Géraudie’s giant iron sculpture La Chaise de SAB (2014), which pays homage to the city’s famous blue-and-white beach chairs.

3.     Musée Matisse

The brightly colored museum in the heart of the Cimiez quarter is home to a multitude of works by Henri Matisse. The fascinating art pieces range from oil paintings, drawings, sculptures, tapestries, and his most famous paper cut-outs. They are displayed as a permanent collection in a red-ochre 17th-century Genoese villa surrounded by an olive grove. Matisse himself is buried in the Monastère Notre Dame de Cimiez cemetery, across the park from the museum.

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New Orleans, a City Reborn

Over 10 years after the devastation brought about by Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans is like a phoenix that rose from the ashes and is now the best it has ever been. Revered institutions have been restored and new and exciting in cultural, musical, culinary, and cocktail trends have emerged. Many hotels have undergone renovations and a few new ones are scheduled to open in the near future. Below are a few marvelous reasons to go to New Orleans today. So ready your New Orleans Travel Guide & Offline City Street Map.

The Colorful Culinary Scene

New Orleans offers a dining experience that cannot be found in any other city in the United States. The city has somehow managed to bring together cuisines of numerous influences such as Creole, Cajun, French, Israeli, and more. Popular food destinations in the city include:

• Shaya – an Israeli restaurant helmed by Chef Alon Shaya. Its specialties include traditional Israeli chicken, lamb shank, hummus, and curried fried cauliflower.
• Balise – a simple bar headed by Chef Justin Devillier. Its bestsellers are flounder and roasted grouper.
• Booty’s – known for its amazing brunch menu that includes the Cuban Sandwich and Amsterdam fries.
• Peche – led by James Beard Award-winning chef Ryan Prewitt, serves smoked-tuna dip, smothered catfish, and a Louisiana shrimp roll.
• August – owned by local chef John Besh and is famous for its potato-crisp P & J oysters and Wagyu hangar steak with sesame, kimchi, and cured yard egg.
• Brennan's – famous for its roasted gulf oysters with chili butter and a Manchego crust.

Cocktails Everywhere

There’s a place to grab a drink anywhere in the city. This is not really a surprise considering most historians believe cocktail originated for New Orleans. Pubs and bars are simply everywhere. Notable ones include:

• Cane & Table – an allegedly haunted establishment that serves modified cocktails such as the Extra Classic Sazerac and The Secret Howler.
• CellarDoor – a former brothel, this establishment offers a wide array of tradition New Orleans cocktail.
• Lüke – known for the Oyster Happy Hour and Sauvignon Blanc.
• Bacchanal Wine – famous for its live music and cheese plate.

Unconventional Attractions

If you have an appetite for the strange, New Orleans can give you your fill.

• Priestess Miriam’s Voodoo Spiritual Temple – sells reading materials and ingredients for various things voodoo and mystical.
• Louis Cemetery No. 1 - showcases the tombstones of politicians and aristocrats.
• Greenwood Cemetery – final resting place of 600 Confederate soldiers and Major League Baseball player Al Jurisich.

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