Car hire in Nice
1 office in Nice · airport pick-up · France
Nice is the capital of the Côte d'Azur: the Promenade des Anglais fronting a sea of almost unreal blue, the old town with its flower market on the Cours Saleya, and Cimiez hill with its Matisse and Chagall museums. It is a city for strolling — and also the best base for exploring the French Riviera.
The coastal train links the main towns, but it falls short the moment you want to climb to the perched villages inland or move to your own timetable. With a car collected directly at Nice-Côte d'Azur airport, ten minutes from the centre, the three corniches, the artists' villages and the Provençal markets are all within reach, beholden to no one.
Search cars in NiceWhy hire a car in Nice
- Nice-Côte d'Azur airport sits right beside the city: collect the car on landing and within a quarter of an hour you're on the Promenade des Anglais.
- The perched villages inland, such as Èze, Saint-Paul-de-Vence and Peillon, have sparse bus connections; by car you can string several together in a single day.
- The three corniches between Nice and Monaco are scenic roads made to be driven, with viewpoints where the train doesn't stop.
Day trips near Nice
- Èze — A medieval village perched over the Mediterranean, with an exotic garden and views stretching along the whole coast. About 25 minutes along the Moyenne Corniche.
- Monaco — The principality fits into a morning: the palace, the Monte Carlo casino and the yacht-filled harbour. About 35 minutes along the coast.
- Saint-Paul-de-Vence — A walled artists' village with galleries, cobbled lanes and the Fondation Maeght right at its gates. About 30 minutes inland.
- Cannes and the Estérel — La Croisette, followed almost immediately by the red rocks of the Estérel massif tumbling into the sea. About 40 minutes along the A8 motorway.
Where to pick up your car
- Aeropuerto de Niza-Costa Azul
Final prices in euros · book without paying · free cancellation up to 72 h before.
Frequently asked questions
Is it worth driving the corniches, or is the train better?
The train covers the coastline well, but the Grande and Moyenne Corniches can only be enjoyed by car: these are the roads with the viewpoints over Villefranche, Èze and Monaco. For the Provençal hinterland, a car is simply essential.
Is parking in Nice difficult?
Street parking in the centre is scarce; the practical option is the well-signposted underground public car parks. Many hotels offer their own spaces. For coastal excursions, leave early: the small villages fill their car parks by mid-morning.
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