Car Hire in Nice
The city of Nice is a gorgeous city located on the Mediterranean coast in the south of France and has both beautiful harbours and beaches. A great base to explore the nearby coastal areas, hiring a car in nice is a great way to get around the coast line and to discover the wonderful surroundings.
From watching the sunset at Juan-Les-Pins to venturing further down the coast in search of a beach which isn’t covered in stones, hiring a car makes exploring and finding the parts of France you want to see a lot easier.
Nice itself was part of Italy until 1860, and is now a vibrant city at the base of the hills of Cimiez. The city has its own international airport, which is one of the busiest in France, and EasyJet and Air France offer a number of routes into the airports second terminal.
Nice has a huge range of different things to see within the city, and most are by the seafront, making for some stunning views.
Things to see when hiring a car in Nice
If, like many people, you decide to hire a car in Nice, you’ll find a huge number of places you can go and explore both in the city and in the surrounding region. Most people flying to the region pick up their cars from the airport although you can also pick up cars in the city itself.
Beaches in Nice
The beaches in Nice are pleasant, but not ideal for building sandcastles. Covered in stones, the shore dips away suddenly into a deep sea, making it a good place to swim, but not to paddle. For the best beaches you’ll need to get in your hire car and travel a little further afield.
Antibes
Antibes is a stunning area of the French Riviera and is a great place to go if you are looking for stunning beaches. Founded over 2000 years ago by the Greeks the town first welcomed tourists some 1900 years later, and is now home to a port, the Picasso museum and of course the wonderful beaches.
We would recommend trying to go during the Jazz festival or one of the towns many fireworks displays. The old port and market are also well worth a visit.
Juan Les Pins
A stunning beach and touristy area on the edge of Antibes. The Juan Les Pins is an upmarket area and is home to a range of fashion boutiques and restaurants. The sunset is something not to be missed.
Villefranche-sur-Mer
Villefranche-sur-Mer is a small coastal town near Nice which features a range of beautiful sandy beaches. The town has grown thanks to its beaches and now has around 30,000 inhabitants and a range of hotels, restaurants and cafes.
Le Cosmo restaurant on the sea front is a popular place to eat.
Cannes
Home of the world famous international film festival and one of the most expensive stretches of coastal land in the world, Cannes is a small fishing village in easy driving distance of Nice. Busiest in May because of the film festival, Cannes has a huge number of expensive boutiques, restaurants, cafes and bars and is a wonderful place to visit for the day.
Staying overnight can be very expensive.
Eze-sur-Mer
Located on the road to Monaco, Eze-sur-Mer is a lovely little village with 12th century ruins, fantastic views over the town and a range of hiking paths and caves to visit.
Saint Tropez
Another popular destination with the playboys of the French Riviera, St Tropez was made famous by Brigitte Bardot and is popular for people looking to top up their tan or to visit the expensive boutiques. Those driving to the town are advised to park in the large car park on the edge of town and to walk the final ten minutes.
With a waterfront loaded with restaurants, shops and cafes and a seemingly never ending maze of streets filled with art galleries, cafes and boutiques Saint Tropez is a wonderful place to explore at any time of year.
Hiring a car in Nice
To hire a car in Nice you must be at least 21 years of age, and drivers under 25 are likely to have to pay extra.