Founded by the ancient Greeks of Marseille in around 350 BC and named after Nike, the Grecian goddess of victory, Nice has lured everyone from aristocrats to artists. Today, it is the second largest French city in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, with a population surpassing one million and a flourishing art, nightlife and fashion scene.

With mild winters and hot summers, Nice’s balmy climate entices visitors year-round. Stroll along the Promenade des Anglais, a five-mile palm and pergola-lined stretch skirting the Baie des Anges, or uncover the old town of Vieux Nice. Its bustling food stalls, pavement-spilled brasseries and busy oyster bars marry under a colourful array of awnings and trees at the Cours Saleya flower market.

The works of Henri Matisse and Marc Chagall showcased in Nice’s magnificent musées will captivate modern art enthusiasts. For insights into how the nobility lived in this glamorous enclave in the early 1900s, the white-marbled Musée Masséna and gold and blue-turreted Russian Orthodox Cathedral are exceptional places to start.

Nice Airport is a mere 5km away from the dynamic city centre and within comfortable driving distance of Southern France’s pebbled beaches, hilly national parks and glamorous metropolises.

Journey along the clifftop Corniches to the chic neighbouring city of Cannes and St Tropez’s pretty coves in under two hours, or enter the opulent realm of Monaco, the second smallest country in the world after the Vatican City, in just 30 minutes. Here you can admire the sprawl of the Prince’s Palace before trying your luck at one of the casinos opposite the dazzling superyachts docked in the marina.

Pitted by deep valleys and home to the 3,143m-high Cime du Gélas, outdoorsy types can escape the stylish hives of the Côte d'Azur by heading into the Parc National du Mercantour. Popular summer pastimes include hiking and cycling, while in the winter the region is a major hit with skiers and snowboarders.

Further inland, lose yourself in undulating rural pastures, medieval walled towns, lavender groves and farmer’s markets offering spectacular cheeses and pastries. Provence offers the potential for a very memorable road trip around the world’s most visited country when you hire a car with Avis at Nice Airport.