Car Hire Nice

Nice boasts an ideal location for exploration, with the azure blue of the sea to one side, and one of France’s finest regions all around it. It’s well served by a major road network, taking in motorways and serene coastal drives alike.

Driving is on the right-hand side of the road in France, with overtaking on the left. Speed limits vary, and the top limit on single-carriageway roads has dropped to 80km/h in recent years. Inside Nice itself, and other towns and cities, there’ll typically be a top speed of 50km/h, while on major motorways the limit is up to 130km/h. Always ensure that you check the signs for the route that you are on, however, as this can change according to the road and the driving conditions. Seat belts are compulsory.

The A8 autoroute is the main route serving Nice and the Cote d’Azur, circling around the northern edge of the city and taking you south-west to Marseille. If you follow it east, you’ll pass Monaco en route to the Italian border.

The most scenic coastal drive is probably the M6098, snaking next to the sea past countless gorgeous beaches, while driving west via Voie Pierre Mathis takes you to the airport. From there, cross the River Var and join the M6007 and then the M6098 and D6098 for an unforgettable drive down to Antibes and Juan-Les-Pins.

In the heart of Nice, the main tourist sights are gathered on grand streets such as Avenue Felix Faure and Avenue Gallieni. Voie Pierre Mathis runs east to west through the heart of the city, just south of the Cimiez district. There are thousands of spaces in Nice’s car parks, with some offering 60 minutes’ free parking. However, you’ll need to pay for longer stays and use metered parking on the streets. It’s worth noting that the Old Town is pedestrianised, so you’ll need to park up and proceed on foot.

Nice isn’t just a city made for roaming the Riviera, it’s also a place crammed with culture, fine French food and beautiful churches and squares. Embrace the art and architecture one day, then soak up the sun and people-watch the next.

The vital Vieux

Vieux Nice is the city’s Old Town and a warren of winding streets, many bedecked with scented flowers – and most of them painted with pastel shades made for this kind of glorious weather. Visitors love it, but it still feels authentic – a place where the locals go about their lives and meet for coffee outside a café.

The centrepiece is Cours Saleya market, which combines antique, flea, flower and food stalls, depending on the day. Tick off some of Nice’s most splendid sights here too, such as Cathédrale Sainte Reparate, the beautiful baroque of Chapelle de la Miséricorde and the 17^th-century Palais Lascaris. If you’re here in summer, you can choose from the almost 100 flavours of ice cream, many of them quite unusual, at the legendary Fenocchio’s.

A day at the beach

Nice boasts idyllic beaches: some popular with locals, others thronged with visitors, some with pebbles, and others with sand. On a warm, sunny day, your first choice is which you’ll opt for.

You could head to Plage Beau Rivage, where you can hire sun loungers, indulge in a cocktail (if you’re done driving for the day) and enjoy a vibrant atmosphere. There’s a similar vibe at Florida Plage next to Promenade des Anglais, with parties galore. If you’re in the mood for something more relaxing however, head for Coco Beach or the charming shores of Villefranche-Sur-Mer, a sweet neighbouring town.

Matisse and more

Away from those bronzing themselves by the sea, you can ascend Cimiez Hill and explore Musée Matisse, which boasts one of the finest collections dedicated by the great eponymous artist. There are paintings, sculptures and more drawn from a wide period of time, a fitting dedication to one of France’s greatest creative minds. You can also visit Matisse’s grave in the Monastere Notre Dame de Cimiez opposite, and take a stroll in the gardens.

This is a fine area to wander off the beaten track, with remarkable Roman remains and a general opulence to this upmarket part of the city. At the Musée Archeologie you’ll find ancient baths and an amphitheatre, while art lovers can get even more of a fix at the Musée Chagall. It’s an excellent area to dine too, with views of the town below and the sea beyond.

With car hire in Nice you can explore all of the city’s wonderful neighbourhoods, before heading out to roam the Riviera.