Nice and easy on the French Riviera

The French Riviera has long been the playground of the rich and famous. Darragh Murphy experiences the high life – but on a limited budget.

YEAR-round sun, a long seafront, an atmospheric medieval old city, the finest museums in southern France, and a cityscape bedecked in belle époque and Art Deco styles? Nice is magnificent.

It’s not cheap, however. People return with scare stories of having to take out second mortgages on their homes for a glass of wine. I decided to test out my pet theory that everywhere is affordable, with the right planning.