Car Hire Nice Deals - Sixt rent a car

Sixt Services in Nice

Our Nice car hire branches offer premium fleets of rental cars and minibuses with something for all party sizes and budgets. Economy saloons or roomy estates are perfect for exploring the town while rugged 4x4s give spacious comfort for touring the countryside and vineyards of Southern France. Sports cars and convertibles are a luxurious choice for cruising along the beautiful Riviera coastline.

All of our rental cars are supplied by trusted names that include BMW, Porsche, Audi and Mercedes-Benz. We also have a selection of cars adapted for different mobility needs. For the best driving experience on your French holiday have a look at our attractive range of extras. Sat Navs get you to your destination while child seats and extra insurance ensure your peace of mind. Other extras include additional driver and unlimited mileage packages. We are always happy to insure drivers under 25.

Traffic and Driving Information in Nice

A Sat Nav is extremely useful when navigating the streets of Nice. There are many complicated one-way systems as well as bicycle and bus lanes. Traffic lights are very often set low on the pavements and sometimes appear where you would not expect them. Like many cities, Nice becomes congested during the morning and evening peak hours.

Metered street parking is widely available during the day but usually with a maximum stay of only two hours. Street parking is free after 8:00 p.m. and on Sundays and there are several multi-storey car parks in Nice where the first hour's parking is also free. Five Park and Rides are located on the city outskirts.

Start your day with a drive in your car hire up the Colline du Chateau with its ruined castle and viewing platforms that give stunning views across the city and the Baie des Anges. This is also a good way to see where attractions in Nice are located. While in the Old Town pop into the Musee Chagall with its beautiful stained glass windows and the Musee Matisse. Take a stroll through the network of alleys and streets that make up Vieux Nice doing some souvenir shopping before stopping for an alfresco coffee. A short drive to the West of the town brings you to the Musee des Beaux-Arts with its collections of paintings, pastels and decorative furniture. A walk along the Promenade des Anglais is a must for any visitor to Nice. This is shown at its best as the sun sets, the perfect time for cocktails.

Sixt Tip: Nice's Long and Rather Italian History

Although populated for over 400,000 years Nice has only been a part of France for a little over 150 years. In 1860 Italy reluctantly gave the city to France in return for French military aid. Nice today reflects a varied mix of French and Italian which can be seen in its architecture, cuisine and lifestyle. A lifestyle that includes the flamboyant annual Carnival that began in the Middle Ages. The town's popularity as a holiday resort started in the late Victorian period when it was a Winter destination only. The aristocracy would not consider taking a Riviera holiday during the heat of the Summer. It was these upper-crust English tourists that gave the Promenade des Anglais its name. Queen Victoria, Winston Churchill and Isadora Duncan have all taken a stroll along the Promenade.

Sightseeing Destinations

Head to the small mountain village of Eze, just off the road to Monaco. Here you can visit a beautiful cactus garden and enjoy a tour of the Fragonard perfume factory. Take some time for a hike on the Path of Nietzsche, listening out for the hidden waterfall.

Distances to Eze

• From Nice Airport: 18 miles, about 30 minutes
• From Nice Train Station: 8 miles, about 30 minutes

The beaches in Nice are made up of river washed pebbles so for sandier family-friendly beaches drive to the resort of Villefranche-sur-Mer. Relax on the sand before touring the ancient Citadelle St Elme and taking a drive around the peninsula of St Jean Cap Ferrat admiring the secluded homes of the seriously wealthy.

Distance to Villefranche-sur-Mer

• From Nice Airport: 8.5 miles, about 30 minutes
• From Nice Train Station: 5 miles, about 25 minutes

Head inland from Nice to the hilltop village of Saint-Paul de Vence. Always an art mecca, the work of local artists can be explored at La Fondation Maeght, the town's museum of contemporary art. Otherwise just enjoy meandering around the narrow medieval streets of Saint Paul.

Distance to Saint-Paul de Vence

• From Nice Airport: 7 miles, about 17 minutes
• From Nice Train Station: 11 miles, about 30 minutes

Business Destinations

Tourism is the most important economic sector in Nice employing a high percentage of the population, especially during the peak Summer season. The city is also home to several large shopping centres which serve the region, these include Nicetoile, Northern Forum and Cap3000 in nearby Saint-Laurent-du-Var. Computing, electronics, biotechnology and pharmacology are all growing sectors, with many companies based in the Sophia Antipolis Technology Park. Nice has one conference centre, the Palais des Congrès Acropolis which hosts conferences, trade shows and sporting events.

Distances to Nice Acropolis

• From Nice Airport: 35.5 miles, about 13 minutes
• From Nice Train Station: 1 miles, about 9 minutes