With its sweeping coast, 300 days of sunshine and palm tree lined promenades, the Côte d'Azur may not be the first destination you think of for Christmas, but there are plenty of things to do and see here over the festive season. With events taking place in many towns across the coast, you may not know where to begin, so here's a quick guide to all things festive on the Riviera this year!

Christmas in Nice begins with the opening of the annual Marché de Noel on Place Massena. The Christmas village is surrounded by an ‘enchanted forest' of 600 trees among which is the 15m tall Christmas tree offered to the city by the people of Sweden. The market itself is made up of log cabin stalls selling all kinds of goodies, from gingerbread to santons (the small, handcrafted figurines that feature in the decoration of French households at Christmas). You can nibble on some deliciously festive treats while you wander. Choose from freshly made crêpes smothered with nutella, roasted chestnuts or a glass of mulled wine, guaranteed to get you in the spirit! No need to worry about the kids, there are games, a bouncy castle, outdoor ice rink and Santa himself, not to mention the big wheel that dominates Place Massena over winter months.

If you're in the Old Town, be sure to pass by Place Rossetti where the Crèche Vivante or living nativity scene takes place in the days leading up to Christmas. In front of the Cathedral St Réparate, actors and live animals act out a nativity scene.

Heading along the coast to Cannes, there is a larger Christmas market, which, in my opinion, beats its Niçois competitor hands down. In fitting with luxurious Cannes, you can sip a glass of champagne at the Christmas market! More traditional fare is also on offer.

The Christmas festivities in Monaco boast a Christmas Village with the largest outdoor ice rink in the region, set against the backdrop of the of the principality. The ice rink is open from November until February, while the village stands open on the 4th December until the 3rd January.

The smaller villages such as St Paul de Vence, Biot and Valbonne, shouldn't be forgotten, as these villages often have nice markets, activities and can be especially pretty to visit at Christmas.

Luna Park is a fun day out for all the family. The largest indoor attraction park in Europe, Luna Park is open near the Acropolis in Nice from 5th December through to 3rd January.

Another great option for families is Christmas at Marineland. A family favourite all year round, Marineland celebrates Christmas with night shows featuring the park's resident whales and dolphins. There are also cabarets, and you can even enjoy a special Christmas meal in one of the park's restaurants.

If you feel like going further afield, you can head to the mountains for a white Christmas. Enjoy champagne and mulled wine on the slopes while watching spectacular torchlight descents; it doesn't get more Christmassy than the region's ski stations, Isola 2000, Auron or Valberg.

Don't stay in and miss out, the Riviera is a great place to be this Christmas. So go and make the most of it! Merry Christmas and happy exploring!

This article was contributed by Keely Barrett of Riviera Pebbles. Nice Pebbles and Riviera Pebbles are sister agencies managing high quality holiday rentals and sales across the Riviera.

You can find the above events on the FR2DAY What's On guide here.