Nice, a fairly populated city, rests in the southwest of France in the region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur. Having spent five weeks studying in this sunny European city, I am here to share why this city should rest at the top of every traveler’s bucket list.

The first highlight of this city would have to be the location. Nice rests right on a sea of clear blue water, typically filled with pristine white yachts and local beach goers. This warm Mediterranean sea connects Nice to many neighboring cities that are often easily accessible by train, boat, or even car. An easy train ride of under an hour usually costs around 10 euros and can get you to famed cities like Menton or Cannes, or hidden wonders like Ézé or Saint Paul de Vence. The city’s architecture is also world renowned, with pink stucco buildings and original Oeil-de-boeuf windows on most of the architecture.

Besides the architecture and location, the people may just be the highlight of this Riviera city. Nice has grown in popularity internationally in the past couple of years, meaning that people from all around the world bustle into the historic city. During my time in the city, I met people from over 15 different countries, including Korea, Mexico, and New Zealand. Along with these international people, I met countless French natives who were open to teaching tourists about French culture.