Alpes-Maritimes is a department in southeastern France, part of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region. Its capital and largest city is Nice. The department takes its name from the Alps and the Mediterranean, and that pairing is a fair guide to what a visit offers: sea on one side, mountains on the other.
The coast and the mountains
Much of the department lies along the French Riviera, known locally as the Côte d'Azur. Its resort towns, Cannes among them, have long drawn visitors for the seafront, the promenades and the light. Monaco's neighbouring areas are close by, so the coast can be explored as a string of towns linked by road and rail.
Inland, the landscape changes quickly. The Alpine scenery rises behind the coast, giving the department a second character that many visitors do not expect. A day can begin with the sea and end among mountain villages.
Planning a visit
Alpes-Maritimes is a major tourist destination, and its appeal rests on a few things:
- Coastal towns and beaches along the Riviera
- Alpine landscapes reachable from the coast
- Nice as a base, with its size and variety of places to stay and eat
- Easy movement between coast and hills, making day trips practical
Visitors who want both sea and mountain air, and who are happy to move between towns, will find the department well suited to a stay. Those looking for quieter, rural holidays may prefer to focus on the inland areas and spend less time on the busy coast.