Nice — Côte d'Azur at the weekend

Gay Nice is a laid-back destination on the Côte d'Azur for gay travelers, combining Mediterranean lifestyle with a manageable but vibrant scene. Located directly on the Mediterranean Sea, the city scores with the beach on the Promenade des Anglais, which is a must. Queer life takes place mainly in the old town, the Vieux Nice with its narrow streets around Place Garibaldi and Place Masséna. Here, most bars, cafés and small clubs are close together, so you can easily walk from one place to the next in the evening. The scene is not huge, but concentrated and uncomplicated.

Besides the nightlife, Nice has enough for whole days. The old town with its markets, the Cours Saleya, the Colline du Château with a view over the bay and the long beach promenade can be easily explored on foot. As a base, a quarter near the old town or the train station is a good place to start, from which you can combine the scene, beach and sights well. Because France is liberal, gay couples move around Nice without much attention. It's best to travel from late spring to early autumn, when the weather is mild and the sea is warm. In summer, the Pink Parade, the city's Pride, is a queer highlight.