cote d'azur

just a 90 minute flight from paris, a cheap and memorable destination is hiding. nestle yourself in nice, in the french riviera to experience france outside of the paris bubble. from nice, cannes is quick to access. its beautiful waterfront and white sandy beaches. rocky stretches for climbers and coves to bury hidden treasure.

nice is the gateway to the riviera and is also the place where the famour artist matisse spend his later days. his namesake museum is atop the hill of cimiez, not too far from the franciscan monastery, the italian gardens, and the gallo-roman ruins. the museum is a collection of donated works, travelling exhibitions, and also displays a large collection of his drawings. 2,50€ entrance fee for students is completely affordable to see this french man's work.

in town the marketplace is a great sight to see. look for socca, chickpea pancakes, at the stands there. some even serve it with ratatouille which is a good option for lunch when a restaurant carte isn't in the budget. it is also very cheap to rent a bike in nice and cycle yourself around the promenade anglais for 1€ a day. look for velobleu.

from cathedrals, to parks and promenades, to museums and galleries and artsy shops. it is easy to get lost in the streets here and wonder where the day went.

for a side-trip, cannes is worth a visit. it is famous for its may film festival where everything doubles and triples in price.