Nice

Sure, people flock to Nice to worship the sun while sipping cocktails next to a crystalline, azure sea. But did you know that Nice was the home (and inspiration) for some of the world's most famous painters? Marc Chagall and Henri Matisse both called Nice their muse, and as a result, the city is an art lover's paradise, with some of the largest collections outside of Paris.

But don't limit yourself to the beach and the museums. When you're not basking in the sun next to the appropriately named Baie des Anges ("Bay of the Angels"), or admiring the paintings at the Musée des Beaux-Arts Jules Chéret, you can take in a gourmet meal at one of the city's many Michelin-starred restaurants. Afterwards, hit one of the dozens of hip bars and clubs that are tucked away in the romantic, pastel maze of cobblestone streets that comprises Nice's old town -- and don't forget to take a moonlit stroll along the Promenade des Anglais.

Whatever you do, you're guaranteed to find out why this gem of the Côte d'Azur is known to locals as "Nice la Belle" (Nice the Beautiful).