Take a trip to Parc National des Calanques for amazing walks along limestone cliffs and down to coves with jewel-blue water. There are many coves tucked away along these rocky outcrops and they're ideal for impromptu dips. Don't forget your snorkel so you can spot fish and other underwater sealife. Roughly halfway between Marseilles and Cassis, visit Sormiou and Callelongue or, our personal favourite, the Calanque de Sugiton. 

Pack the swimsuits and hit the beach. Enjoy a coastal walk, a paddle or stretch out on the sand. We'll suggest a few of our favourite beach spots. 

Enjoy buzzing evenings in the port. You could splash out on a meal at Mirazur, the equisite Michelin-starred restaurant with stunning views of the Riviera.

Visit L’IMAGE, a small gallery specialising in authentic, vintage posters and browse their eclectic designs (they may only be open by appointment, get in touch in advance). Afterwards, pop by the Muretto de Alassio: an artsy ceramic-tiled wall covered in the autographs of the rich and famous.

Spend some time exploring Laigueglia, with its pretty beach and colourful houses nestled among olive groves. It's a lovely 5km walk along the sea from Alassio or you can hop onto the train to get there in less than ten minutes.

Head into the hills above Alassio for a day's walking, taking in sleepy hamlets and quiet farms on the way. Stop for a fresh lunch of delicious local produce.

Visit the nearby coastal village of Portofino for the day. Admire the pastel facades and luxurious yachts, or while away the hours in the shops and cafés.

You can walk from Santa Margherita to Portofino (it's a challenging route), or take the 15 minute ferry down the coast. Find out more information about the ferry here.

The breathtaking baroque Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Rose is well worth a visit to admire the dazzling interior.

Visit one of the city's 40 palaces – a splendid collection of grand Renaissance and Baroque buildings. We love Palazzo Reale with its stunning paintings and pretty gardens.

Head to the pedestrianised streets of the Quadrilatero Romano, Turin's old Roman quarter that's still home to some buildings fro that era. The bars and restaurants come alive here in the evening.

Turin's Museo Egizio is the world's oldest museum devoted to Egyptology, and it holds some of the most important archeological pieces that can be seen outside of Cairo. See the website for temporary exhibitions and special events.

Visit the grand 16th century Palazzo Reale for an insight into Turin's royal past. Its lavish, gilded interiors are so richly decorated it's hard to take everything in, while the stately Giardino Reale was designed by the same person as the gardens at the Palace of Versailles.

Paris has no shortage of tempting shops, from independent clothing boutiques to sprawling department stores. Don't miss the opportunity to browse the bouquinistes, open-air booksellers on the banks of the Seine, or indulge at the Galeries Lafayette, the luxurious French department store.

Head to Paris' Marais quarter for indie boutiques and some of the city's coolest bars.

Stroll along the Canal Saint-Martin, for boutique shopping by day and buzzing bars and restaurants by night.