You’ll find the city of Nice in the far south-eastern corner of France, between the Alps Maritime mountains and the sparkling Mediterranean. It’s just 30 miles to the Italian border. If you’re renting a car in Nice, you’ll find you’re in the heart of the French Riviera, the glamorous Cote D’Azur strip of affluent resorts. It’s a great area for touring by car. The A8 motorway provides easy access west and east a short way inland, and the spectacular old Corniche road provides one of Europe’s great classic coastal drives. Heading inland, there are dozens of memorable drives into the mountains too.
Nice itself is a large busy city. Yes, there’s a stylish seafront and expensive yacht marina but the life of France’s fifth biggest city continues in the maze of streets behind. If you’re renting a car in Nice, you’ll find it’s a major tourist city too. The highlights include the palm-lined Promenade des Anglais and the network of pedestrianised streets and alleys in the Old Town, with market stalls, cafes and bars. Elsewhere, look out for the 17th-century cathedral, the pretty Place Rossetti public square and the grand central Place Massena. And don’t miss Nice’s collection of acclaimed art galleries.