The Riviera with Avis car hire
Nice makes an ideal touring base for the Côte d'Azur. Whether you choose to head north towards Monaco and the Italian border, or south to Cannes and St Tropez, we’ve got all you need for a great adventure. To make your trip extra special, book one of our luxury vehicles and experience car rental in true style.
Exploring Nice
Perhaps the best way to start is by exploring the characteristic Old Town with its winding streets and alleys, shops and small restaurants. Visit the daily (except for Mondays) flower market at Cours Saleya and savour the sights and smells of this local institution.
Make the most of the wonderful weather by taking a stroll along the Promenade des Anglais lined with palm trees and flanking the pebble beaches. Important landmarks on the Promenade include the Négresco hotel with its distinctive pink dome, a glass ceiling designed by Gustave Eiffel and a Baccarat chandelier with 16,309 crystals in the lobby.
Soak up the sun (there are over 300 days of sun a year) on the expansive beaches, take a dip in the azure sea or watch the bladers at the Baie des Anges. Follow this up with a cocktail by the sea and take up a local sport – people watching.
Culture vultures will flock to the Marc Chagall Museum, the largest permanent collection of the artist’s works. Works by Matisse, with their typical Mediterranean light, are on show at the Musée Matisse in a seventeenth-century villa overlooking the sea. Pride of place in the Musée d’Art Moderne et d’Art Contemporain goes to Yves Klein with his blue monochromes.
Admire the sumptuous interior of the Russian Orthodox Church of St Nicholas decorated with frescoes and icons.
Once you’ve worked up an appetite, you’ll be spoilt for choice in terms of restaurants. Good quality seafood can be found in abundance, particularly in the restaurants surrounding the market square. Due to its close proximity to Italy, the city is also home to many Italian eateries. If you want to splash out, there are also many fine-dining options such as the world-famous “Le Chantecler” at the Négresco.
The city’s annual carnival takes place in February and is truly a sight to behold. Floats adorned with exquisite flower displays proceed along the Promenade des Anglais and extravagantly dressed performers hurl flowers to the crowds.