Car Hire in Nice

About Nice

Nice offers a perfect blend of an exciting seaside resort and the richness of a cosmopolitan European city. And if you want to experience the distinct bliss of the French Riviera, a vacation in the greatest city in the world, Nice, is for you.

It offers a mild Mediterranean climate, a colourful culture, a lively old town, and an immaculate coastline with great hotels. This city in southeastern France has been a popular tourist destination since the 18th century. Nice's intense light, captivating architectural structures, and imaginative market centres have long attracted artists from around the world. Artists such as Matisse and Chagall have witnessed Nice's artistic fame. As an art and history lover, you'll be spoilt for choice here, as no other French city has more museums.

Nice is a major air hub in Europe. Many budget airlines offer flights to the airport on the Côte d'Azur from London, Paris, and elsewhere. There are also fast train services from Paris to Nice. Public transport in the city includes a tram system, a transit service, and a ferry service. There is a wide range of hotel accommodation in and around Nice, from budget hotels to luxury resorts by the sea.

Despite its distinct historical profile, dating back to the 4th century BC, the city does not appear to have lost its modernism. Efforts have been made to modernize the city's infrastructure.

Basic info and car hire in Nice

• Location: The city of Nice is located on the French Riviera and is the second-largest city in France on the Mediterranean coast.
• Population: 942.000 (2020 )    
• Official language: French is the official language in Nice.          
• Currency: Euro (€).        
• Weather: Nice has a Mediterranean climate, where summers are hot and mild winters.
• Holidays in Nice: Nice is the largest city on French Riviera and a very popular tourist destination because of its climate and beautiful architecture.
• Internet coverage: Hotels, bars, restaurants, and cafés offer Wi-Fi.
• Road conditions: Major roads are in good condition, while some secondary roads are worse for wear. 
• Car hire in Nice: The most common pick-up point for vehicles is the Nice Côte d'Azur Airport or simply Nice Airport and Nice Ville Railway Station. It is best to book a car 3 to 8 weeks in advance of your desired pick-up date - this will ensure you get the cheapest rental rate. Alternatively, it is also possible to find cheap last-minute car hire. Find the best deal on car hire in Nice!

Driving in Nice

There are three major French roads in France: Autoroutes, National Roads and departmental roads. Autoroutes is the fastest option and in English, this road is called a highway, motorway,y or freeway depending on where you are coming from. Department roads is a good choice if you are not in a hurry and also want to enjoy scenic routes. It's a good choice for exploring new towns along the way and getting a glimpse of the vast French countryside, as this road mostly passes through towns and villages. National roads are the usual shortest routes between major centres such as ports, cities, and airports.

The best time to visit Nice is in the spring and summer. This is mainly due to the weather, but also because the city becomes more lively at this time of year.

• Age limits: 21 (Minimum age may vary according to car hire companies. A Young Driver fee will apply to drivers under 25 years of age. To hire a car, it is required that a driver has held a license for more than one year).          
• International Driving Permit: Yes, if you are a non-EU license holder.   
• Additional papers: Identification(passport), a valid driving license, and valid proof of insurance. (It is advisable to buy insurance at the car hire agency in case your policy doesn't cover you while driving in France).          
• Additional requirements: Warning triangles, reflective vests, spare wheel, spare light bulbs are required as well as a hands-free equipment with hearing aids are required when talking on the phone while driving.
• Children in the car: All car occupants must wear a seat belt. Children under the age of twelve, or shorter than 4ft 11in / 1.50 meters, may travel in the front passenger seat if they are in a secured, rear-facing children’s seat.            
• Driving side of the road: Right.                
• Lights: Headlights are turned on while in a tunnel or during conditions of poor visibility.    
• General speed limits: The speed limit in cities is 50 km/h (31 mph), on main roads its 80 km/h (50 mph), on motorways without tolls the limit is 110 km/h (68 mph), and on toll motorways its 130 km/h (80 mph). 
• Parking suggestions: Parking in the centre of Nice is metered everywhere from 9 am to 8 pm Monday to Saturday. However, please note that you can park in these zones for 30 minutes for free. There are also some free parking zones with no time limit. So use them if possible to avoid spending your money on parking fees.

What to see in Nice

There is much to see in Nice! Parallel to the coast stretches the famous English Promenade, 5 km long, to which Nice "owes" its fame and popularity. This phenomenal, recognizable avenue runs along the entire Gulf of Nice. It is hard to imagine that such a boulevard was originally only 2 m wide. The most famous building on the promenade is the Grand Hotel "Negresko" 5 *, built in 1912. It was included in the list of historical monuments of the city in 1974. Museum of Contemporary Art - the pride of the city of Nice, between the bus station and the Acropolis. Museum Massena (Museum of Art and History) - on the corner of English Promenade and France Street. The opposite is a part of the coast - Blue Beach. Casino RUHL from 1884 - on Av. de Verdun towards Massena Square. Marble Cross (La Croix du Marbre) - between the city centre and the English Promenade. Alberta, I Park - The oldest park in the centre of Nice. The centre of Nice is marked by a large "Sun Fountain", opposite Massena Square. Masen Square - All the major boulevards start from it. The square is reminiscent of northern Italian cities. It is the centre of city life and the place where the carnival is held. The square is recognizable by its red buildings. Massena Park - It was opened to the public in 1983. In this part is the Clock Tower, the tower of St. Francisca. Hum Castle - a 92 m high hill overlooking the old town. A beautiful park with a viewpoint, waterfalls, green areas, walking trails ... On it are the remains of a castle from the time of Greek settlement in the area. Belanda Tower (La Tour Bellanda) - at the foot of Hum Castle, near the old town of Nice. It was built in 1830 as a military facility and today the Nice Maritime Museum is located at this site, on the 214th step to the top of Castle Hill. It is equipped with a telescope for astronomical observations. A neighbourhood of narrow and winding streets, full of restaurants and cafes. This part of the city is home to a poorer world, mainly employed in the hotel and port industry.