In general, in Nice the roads are quite good, with exception of some mountain roads, where the gas station can as well be quite far from each other, but nothing to worry if we make a good trip planning.

Concerning parking spaces in the city centre: Parking meters (called horodateurs) are common in Nice, which means that you have to pay for you parking spaces only for a maximum period indicated on the bill and paying the registration fee in the meter. If you park incorrectly the crane service can take your car quickly.

The car rentals that are available in Nice are Europcar, Budget, Thrifty, Sixt, Alamo, Avis and Hertz. They offer the best choices and appropriate deal without demanding any deposits. Visitors can decide for any type of vehicle and save money. 

You can hire a car directly from any of the Car Hire companies operating in the International Nice Airport or in several points across the city.

Places for car rental in Nice city, France
Giraffe Car Hire Nice
www.giraffecarrentals.com – Avenue Jean Médecin, Nice – 04 83 58 01 04
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Sixt Car Hire Nizza City
www.sixt.co.uk – 1 Promenade des Anglais, Nice – 08 20 00 74 98
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Hertz
www.hertz.fr – 9 Rue de Belgique, Nice – 04 93 16 10 30
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Avis Location Voiture Nice
www.avis.fr – Gare Sncf, Ave Thiers, Nice – 08 20 61 16 31
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Rent A Car Classic
www.rentacarclassic.com – 77 Promenade des Anglais, Nice – 09 54 00 29 33
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Avis Location Voiture Nice
www.avis.fr – 2 Avenue des Phocéens, Nice – 04 93 80 63 52
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Hertz Location de Voiture Nice
www.hertz.fr – 9 Avenue Gustave 5, Nice – 04 93 87 11 87

The following airlines currently provide service From Nice France to London:

1.British Airways
2.Easyjet

All Airlines currently operating on Nice International Airport:

1.Air Berlin
2.Air France
3.Alitalia
4.American Airlines
5.BLU Express
6 British Airways
7.Easyjet
8.German Wings
9.Sterling Airlines
10.Virgin Express

For current flight information, please visit the Nice Côte d’Azur Airport website.

Route 98 Nice Direct Airport-Downtown/Coach Station-Airport via Promenade des Anglais (calling at certain hotels): Departs from both Terminals approximately every 20 minutes from Monday to Friday between 6am and 11.50pm (Sundays and bank holidays until midnight). There is a possibility (by asking bus driver) of calling off at the SNCF railway station after 9pm.

Route 99 Airport-SNCF Railway Station-Airport: Departs from both terminals approximately every half hour from 7.53am to 9pm every day.

By Rail
The SNCF (National Railway Company) provides 11 regular connections from abroad and 20 daily connections with the largest cities in France. The TGV (high-speed train) connects Paris and Nice in 5 1/2 hours.

Direct daily connections. A ‘car-train’ service is available between big cities in France: the vehicles are conveyed at the same time as their owners travelling in sleeping cars, except Paris.

By Road
Nice is connected to the major European cities by a major motorway network. The city is on Motorway A8, “La Provençale”, from Aix-en-Provence to the west to the Italian border to the east.

To reach the city centre: The motorway provides direct access to the neighbourhood of your choice, with 5 exits:
- exit n° 50: Promenade des Anglais (map B5)
- exit n° 51: Saint-Augustin (map B4)
- exit n° 52: Saint-Isidore (map B2)
- exit n° 54: Nice-Nord (map I1)
- exit n° 55: Nice-Est (map L1)

Location
BP 3331, 06206 NICE cedex 3, France
Customer Services: +33 (0) 4 898 898 28
Fax: +33 (0) 4 93 21 31 47

Within Nice
 
The ideal way of discovering a town is simply to walk. If you do want to drive, In most parts of Nice, you’ll find numerous car parks: take the time to note the different rates for car parks that are often not that much further away from your destination.

Beyond Nice
There are direct bus services to the main cities in south-eastern France and the Italian Riviera from the airport.

Nice Cote d’Azur International Airport offers regular connections to the main cities on the Greater Riviera and the major cities in south-eastern France. A scheduled bus service runs between Nice and Genoa, departing from the airport terminals. Information is available from staff at the coach stations by each of the terminal buildings.

An all-inclusive card to enjoy free access to the major museums and sites of the French Riviera and to make the most of exclusive advantages at recommended and Riviera touch addresses:
Restaurants, boutiques,leisure, facilities, artist’s studios…

On Sale in the Nice Convention and Visitors Bureau information Offices and the Website (www.frenchrivierapass.com)

Tarifs 2009

Pass 24 hr – 24 Euros
Pass 36 hr – 36 Euros
Pass 72 hr – 54 Euros

This amazing tour will take you to main attractions like Promenade d’Anglais, Albert 1st Gardens, Cimiez Square Massena, the Harbor, Mont Boron and many more .

Departure every 30 minutes from 9:45 am to 06:15 pm.

SAINT PAUL DE VENCE
A small village of artists on the hill with laneways of adorable houses. In the Fondation Maeght, the greatest names in painting and sculpture from this century are represented (in rotation, since the entire collection cannot be displayed at any one time) : Braque, Chagall, Kandinsky, Miro, Giacometti, Bonnard, Matisse, Hartung, Calder, Arp, Zadkine and more. Every year, thematic exhibitions are organized.

GRASSE
Grasse is the town of perfumes and gloves, it has the same essences as design houses. Visit the perfumery Fragonard in the centre of the town, its very big and if you visit with a guide its even more interesting. This museum traces the history of perfume, the techniques used and the stages involved in creating a perfume. Found at 8, Place du Cours , Honoré Cresp.
It is opened from June 1st until September 30th, from 10 am to 7 pm, and from 1st October to 31st May, from 10 am to noon and from 2 pm to 5 pm. Its closed on Mondays, Tuesdays and Bank Holidays. LES GORGES DU VERDON
If you wish to have a super tour for around 4 hours, go to the “Grand Canyon du Verdon”. This is a beautiful walk with many spectacular sights, and some quaint old villages.

CANNES AND THE ILES DE LERINS
Cannes has a reputation for Croisette, les Grands Palaces and especially le Palais des Festivals et des Congrès, which house the Casino and which take place all the month of, during the Cannes film festival. This festival attracts the greatest filmmakers, actors and actresses every year, setting off veritable riots on the Croisette.
If Cannes is too crowded for your taste, take a boat trip to Sainte-Marguerite island, where the enigmatic ‘Man in the Iron Mask’ stayed in 1687. On your visit particularly notice the Royal Fort, carry a plan or a map of Vauban, and try to see the sea museum.
A smaller island is Saint Honorat. This is a religious site since 410 and is the home to about 40 monks. Saint Patrick left from this monastery to evangelize Ireland. The island is always occupied by the community of Cistercian monks, which distil local alcohol and cultivate vines and lavender. The buildings are conventional, and are only accessible through the public museum, the church and the ancient monastery are fortified.
These two islands are about 15 minutes by boat from Cannes.

MONACO
The Grimaldi Palace, standing on its famous rock contrasts interestingly with the modern town. Although you will not see any princes or princessess you can visit the palace. With remains from the 13th century, the Cour d’Honneur paved with 3 million white pebbles, the Salle de Trone (throne room), and its sumptuous, richly decorated and finely furnished suites: you can still understand why there’s still magic in stories of princes and princessess. Don’t miss the changing of the Garde des Carabiniers on the Place du Palais every day at 11.55 am sharp. The palace is open for visits from September to June, from 9.30 am to 6.30 pm; and in October from 10 am to 5 pm. It is closed from November to May.

SAINT-TROPEZ
Saint-Tropez is famous by certain places, the harbour for boating pleasure and its cafes. One must also visit the Annonciade museum. Paul Signac in 1892 was the first of a host of painters such as Matisse, Bonnard, Marquet, Dunoyer de Segonzac and many others, to be followed by writers, actors and singers. This is the reason why a pretty little Mediterranean port has become one of the most famous resorts in the world and also has such a magnificent collection of authentic masterpieces. Open everyday except Tuesdays from June 1st to September 30th, from 10 am to noon and 3 pm to 7 pm; from October 1st to May 31st , 10 am to noon and 2 pm to 6 pm. It is closed in November, January 1st , May 1st , Ascension and Christmas.

The cost per journey is a standard fare of 1.30 euros. You can also get a day pass for four euros entitling you to unlimited travel for the day. You can buy tickets at any of the self-service stations where you catch the tram.

The journey from Place Massena to Pont Michel takes approx 16 minutes and there is a tram every four minutes during peak times and every eight minutes off-peak. Trams run from 4 am until 2.30 am the next morning.

For more information go to:
www.tramway-nice.org