10 Day Trips by Rental Car from Nice

Nice is often called “the queen of the Côte d’Azur,” and once you’ve been there, you’ll understand why. It’s a stunning city, beautifully situated on a natural bay that you can already admire as your plane begins its descent toward the airport. Nice has a charming historic center, interesting museums, beautiful squares, cozy bars, restaurants, and outdoor cafes, a lovely beach, and, of course, the iconic Promenade des Anglais along the azure-blue Mediterranean Sea. You can easily spend a few days in the city, and you don’t need a rental car to see the sights in Nice itself or nearby (Villefranche-sur-Mer).

It’s a different story if you want to explore the area. A rental car is ideal for that. Nice is conveniently located near the best attractions and most beautiful sights in southeastern France. This makes it an ideal base for day trips. Rent a car in Nice and get inspired by our guide to the best day trips to the must-see places and activities on the Côte d’Azur!

1. Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat

The Mediterranean coast holds great appeal for the world’s wealthy, and that’s certainly true of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat. This peninsula east of Nice is relatively secluded and boasts stunning natural beauty, including beautiful beaches. Many tourists come to the peninsula primarily to swim, but there’s more to do on Cap Ferrat.

First, the beaches. The most popular beach is Plage Paloma, east of the town of Saint-Jean. It’s fairly small, and part of the beach is private, so it can be difficult to find an open spot. In addition, parking options for your rental car nearby are limited. There are more parking spaces at Plage de Passable on the western side of the peninsula. Part of this beach is also private, but there’s plenty of space left for the public section. From this beach, you have a beautiful view of the harbor of Villefranche-sur-Mer, especially at sunset. One of the largest beaches is the family-friendly Plage Cros Deï Pin, also known as the harbor beach because it’s located next to the Saint-Jean marina.

On the isthmus leading to Cap Ferrat stands a dream villa, built by Baroness Béatrice Ephrussi de Rothschild. The opulent interior of Villa Ephrussi is impressive, and the meticulously landscaped gardens surrounding it are a true masterpiece of landscape architecture, featuring a variety of beautiful trees, colorful flower beds, and water features. They are divided into different styles: French garden, Spanish garden, Florentine garden, Japanese garden, Provençal garden, rock garden, exotic garden, and rose garden.

A walking trail along the La Pointe de Saint-Hospice headland begins at the village square near the harbor in Saint-Jean. You’ll walk along trails right by the coast, with sublime views of the beaches, pine forests, and rugged cliffs. At the very tip of the headland, you can climb up to the Chapelle de Saint-Hospice, next to which stands an eleven-meter-tall bronze statue of the Virgin Mary. Walk back along the southern coast and the limestone cliffs of Pointe du Colombier. At the end of the hiking trail, you can take a refreshing dip at the small Plage des Fossettes or the larger Plage de la Fosse.

2. Grasse, the Perfume Capital

It takes about an hour to drive to Grasse on the A8 highway, but it’s much more fun to take your rental car along the D7 (Route de la Colle-sur-Loup) and D2085 through the hilly landscape of southern France. There are several underground parking garages around the old town center, including one right near the Musée International de la Parfumerie. Did you know that perfume production once began as a way to mask unpleasant odors? Until the 18th century, Grasse was a center for leather processing, and anyone who’s ever been near a tannery knows that they smell terrible. At the museum, you can trace the history of delightful scents dating back to antiquity. Choose one of the three perfumeries in Grasse and take part in a workshop to create your own perfume (well, actually, you’ll be making an eau de toilette).

Grasse has a charming medieval center where you can leisurely wander through the narrow alleys. From the outside, the Notre-Dame du Puy Cathedral doesn’t look all that special, but the interior is stunning, featuring, among other things, three works by the Flemish painter Peter Paul Rubens. Between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., Grasse can get quite busy with tour groups; before and after those hours, the atmosphere in the old town is much quieter and more authentic.

3. Entrevaux

About a two-hour drive north of Grasse lies the medieval fortified town of Entrevaux. Follow the beautiful route along the D5, right through the Parc naturel des Préalpes d’Azur. This winding road is popular with cyclists, so watch out for them, especially when they’re descending at high speeds. Entrevaux is listed among Les Plus Beaux Villages de France, and when viewed from the south, it lies across the Var River. Park your rental car on this side of the river and walk into the town through the impressive Porte Royale and a stone arch bridge. Near the Gothic cathedral, walk across the drawbridge at the Porte d’Italie to the citadel, which was built on top of the hill in the 17th century by the famous military architect Vauban. From there, you’ll enjoy a spectacular view of the old town and the Var Valley.

No matter how small the town is, it has its own train station, where the slow-moving Train des Pignes (from Nice to Digne-les-Bains) stops. On certain days, a historic train runs on a shorter route. Park your rental car and take a trip back in time!

4. The Road to Monaco

As the saying goes , “the journey is the destination,” and that certainly applies to the route to the Principality of Monaco. That city of glitz and glamour may be the ultimate destination, but the drive there is an experience in itself! For the drive to Monaco, you have no fewer than three options for following a so-called corniche, each offering a different view of the mountains and the coast. The highest route— the Grande Corniche —follows the ancient Roman road Via Julia Augusta. You may recognize the Col d’Èze mountain pass near the village of the same name from the James Bond film *GoldenEye*. Be prepared for a spectacular drive with dramatic views of the coastline below. The lower-lying and wider Moyenne Corniche runs through Èze and other hilltop villages almost all the way to the Italian border. Finally, there’s the coastal road, the Corniche Inférieure, which passes through all the seaside resorts before taking you past Monaco’s marina—filled with luxury yachts—to the center of Monte Carlo. Although Monaco is a separate country (the second-smallest country in the world), there are no border controls, and you can drive there easily in your rental car. To be on the safe side, be sure to let the car rental company know that you ’ll be crossing the border.

At first glance, Monaco seems to consist mainly of large buildings with expensive apartments. However, part of the old town has been preserved in the narrow streets south of the harbor. That neighborhood, Le Rocher, lies at the foot of the Prince’s Palace. The palace is open from late March through mid-October. From the Terrace du Palais, you have a beautiful view of the city and the harbor. An even more beautiful view can be found in La Turbie, on a hill just outside Monaco. You’ll recognize it by the Tuscan columns of the ruins of the Trophée d’Auguste. The Romans built it in honor of Emperor Augustus after he defeated the mountain tribes in the Alps. With its narrow, cobblestone streets, La Turbie has a distinct medieval charm.

Car enthusiasts visiting Monaco should check out Prince Rainier III’s impressive collection of classic cars. In addition to the more than 100 cars on display—including several iconic race cars—the museum features photos and videos documenting the history of these vehicles.

5. Menton / Roquebrune / Èze

Many of the places to visit around Nice are relatively small, which means you don’t need a whole day to see them. For example, you can easily combine the three towns of Menton, Roquebrune, and Èze into a single day trip. They are among the most beautiful spots on the French Riviera.

Start by driving to Menton, which is the farthest from Nice (about thirty kilometers). Taking the A8 toll road takes less than half an hour, but the route via the D2564 and D6007 is more scenic, though it does take about twice as long. Park your rental car in the large Vieille Ville-Sablettes underground parking garage, near the old harbor. With its cheerfully colored houses, Menton is a unique town on the Côte d’Azur, right on the border with Italy. You’ll notice many shades of yellow, which is due to lemon cultivation—Menton has been the center of this industry for centuries. The lemons that grow there are special, with a slightly more intense flavor. Of course, you have to try Menton’s famous lemon cake, and you can buy many other products made with lemon: from jam to lemon liqueur and even cosmetics. Every February, the city pulls out all the stops for the Fête du Citron, a two-week-long carnival featuring, among other things, large floats made of lemons. Menton’s relatively small historic center does require a bit of stamina, as the narrow streets and steps can be quite steep, such as les escaliers. These geometric staircases lead to the Basilica of Saint-Michel Archange, which features magnificent ceiling murals.

Perched on a hill between Menton and Monaco lies the historic town of Roquebrune, set in a landscape characterized by slender cypress trees and shimmering, silvery-green olive trees. This is yet another village steeped in history and Mediterranean charm. Climb the centuries-old stone steps and enjoy endless views of the Mediterranean Sea from the 10th-century Château de Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, one of the oldest castles in France. Stroll back through the winding streets to admire the 2,000-year-old olive tree, which still bears fruit every year. On the north side of the old village is a parking garage where you can park your rental car, but be aware that there are two entrances: one for a private garage and one for the public section.

The most popular village on the Côte d’Azur is Èze, so it’s best to get there very early (before 10:00 a.m.), before the buses full of tourists arrive. Of course, that’s not feasible if you’ve driven to Menton first and are making your way back to Nice at a leisurely pace. In that case, you can visit Èze in the evening when most day-trippers have already left. Even better is to spend the night in Èze, so you can enjoy the village’s beauty both in the evening and early in the morning. The downside is that accommodations in Èze are quite pricey. In any case, avoid visiting in the middle of the day during the summer, unless you enjoy squeezing through the narrow streets with crowds of other tourists.

So should you just skip Èze? No, definitely not, because it’s so popular precisely because it’s an incredibly beautiful medieval village, perched high above the Côte d’Azur like an eagle’s nest. Stairs and alleys lead in all directions, but you won’t get lost easily, since Èze isn’t very big. There are several lovely vistas, but the best view of the coast is from the botanical garden, Le Jardin Exotique. You’ll have to climb a lot of stairs, but the view, the sculptures, and the variety of plants make a visit well worth the effort. On the north side of the village is a large underground parking garage, Géneral de Gaulle. If, by any chance, it’s full, you can park your rental car at the Èze Nord parking lot, along the M46 (Boulevard du Maréchal Leclerc), and walk to the old town center in about 15 minutes or take a shuttle bus.

6. Other hilltop towns: Falicon and Carros

The route described above is beautiful, but it can get crowded, especially in the popular town of Èze. North of Nice are two other charming towns that are less crowded. Take your rental car along the M114 for about twenty minutes to Falicon, which sits high on a hill, surrounded by fig and olive trees. You can park your rental car outside the ramparts and explore the fortified town on foot. As the name suggests, Place Bellevue offers a spectacular view of Nice and the Mediterranean coast.

A stunningly beautiful route winds through the hills from Falicon to Carros. Cross the Var River at La Manda and drive another 15 minutes north. In Carros, too, you can park your rental car for free on the outskirts of town at Place du Puy. There’s no shortage of picturesque villages in this part of France, but Carros takes the crown in the Alpes-Maritimes region. It is a breathtakingly beautiful medieval town, with the Château de Carros as its highlight. Be sure to admire not only the castle but also the museum of contemporary art (CIAC) housed there, which is free to visit. The view from Carros is once again extraordinary: you can look out over the Var plain, from the sea all the way to the peaks of the Alps. Carros also has a small open-air theater, where performances are held regularly in the summer.

7. Mercantour National Park

Another high-altitude village is Saorge, located about sixty kilometers northeast of Nice. It’s impossible to drive through the narrow streets, so you’ll have to park at the entrance to the village. Keep in mind that the roads leading to the village are also relatively narrow and very winding. Saorge is located in the vast Mercantour National Park, where you’ll find countless opportunities to enjoy the rugged natural landscape. Just south of Saorge, you’ll find the secluded swimming spot Bain du Sémite, where you can take a dip in clear—though fairly cold—river water. Even further south, in Breil-sur-Roya, you can go rafting in single- or two-person inflatable boats through the Gorges de la Roya. Drive your rental car north from Saorge to reach the Accro des Merveilles adventure park, which features no fewer than eleven climbing, scrambling, and zip-line routes through the woods.

In another part of the national park, near Saint-Martin-Vésubie, there are beautiful hiking trails around Lac de Trécolpas. The well-maintained trails are perfect for all skill levels, from beginners to experienced hikers. You’ll be impressed by the reflection of the mountain peaks in the turquoise water, while the silence is deafening—except for the singing birds.

8. Antibes / Juan-les-Pins

Antibes is best known for the beaches near the city itself and at the seaside resort of Juan-les-Pins, but there’s more to discover. For example, you can see sections of the ancient Roman city wall. The best-preserved section is the Porte de l’Orme, next to which stands the Le Tourraque tower on the street of the same name. A walk along the city ramparts on the seaside (Promenade de l’Amiral de Grasse) offers panoramic views.

Right next to Port Vauban, Antibes’s large marina (where superyachts up to 160 meters in length can dock!), stands the city’s symbol, Le Fort Carré. The star-shaped fortress was built in the sixteenth century to repel attacks from the neighboring Duchy of Savoy. In the summer, there are often open-air concerts in the evenings, where you can enjoy not only the music but also the view of Antibes lit up as night falls.

The beaches Plage de la Gravette (near the marina), Plage du Ponteil, and Plage de la Salis all have fine sand, which is a pleasant change from the many pebble beaches along the Côte d’Azur. The downside is that they can get particularly crowded, especially in the height of summer. Juan-les-Pins also has a beautiful, though heavily visited, sandy beach. If you want to avoid the crowds, head to the stunning botanical garden at Villa Thuret—a true oasis of tranquility!

La Route des Peintres (The Painters’ Trail) is a roughly two-hour walk past spots where painters found inspiration to capture Antibes on canvas. You’ll pass easels displaying reproductions of paintings along with brief explanations. You’ll see where Monet, Picasso, Peynet, and Boudin worked. Next to the cathedral, in the former bishop’s palace, is the Picasso Museum, featuring paintings, sculptures, decorative arts, and ceramics.

9. La Route des Peintres / Saint-Paul-de-Vence

All along the Côte d’Azur, artists found inspiration in the breathtaking light, including Picasso, Bonnard, Matisse, Chagall, and Renoir. They were captivated by the beauty of the landscapes, the mild climate, and the incomparable light that bathed the coast and the hinterland. Easels displaying reproductions of paintings created at these locations can be found in Nice, Cagnes-sur-Mer, Vence, Biot, Antibes, Cannes, Grasse, and Saint-Tropez. The Romanesque chapel at the Château de Vallauris is adorned with two frescoes by Picasso: War and Peace and The Four Parts of the World.

The La Colombe d’Or hotel-restaurant in Saint-Paul-de-Vence houses a unique collection of works by famous painters, who often paid for their stays or meals with their art. Marc Chagall, among others, was a frequent visitor; he lived and worked in Saint-Paul-de-Vence for twenty years and was also buried there. Several of his works can be admired at the Fondation Maeght, including a mosaic at the entrance. This museum also features modern artworks by other artists, such as sculptures by Joan Miró in the garden.

The walled town of Saint-Paul-de-Vence is one of the oldest medieval towns in this part of France and boasts a stunning historic center teeming with art galleries. Looking for a secluded spot to swim? Drive your rental car north on the M2, turn right onto the Chemin du Riou, and park at the end of the paved road. Then walk down to the gorge. Climb up a bit further and you’ll come to a large waterfall that flows into a fantastic natural swimming pool.

10. Corniche d’Or / Corniche de l’Esterel

If you’ve rented a car in Nice, you can take a beautiful drive along the rugged cliffs of the Esterel Massif. It’s one of the most scenic parts of the Côte d’Azur, where nature reigns supreme and you can truly unwind. Drive your rental car west from Nice; just past Mandelieu-la-Napoule, the Corniche de l’Esterel—also known as the Corniche d’Or (Golden Road)—begins. All the way to Fréjus, you’ll be amazed by the stunning contrast between the reddish mountains, the green pine and eucalyptus trees, and the azure-blue sea. The color of the mountains changes depending on the time of day and the position of the sun: from terracotta to orange to fiery red. Officially, the route (part of the D559) is only forty kilometers long, but don’t think you’ll be able to cover it “in a flash.” There’s so much beauty to see that you’ll often want to stop. And pull your rental car over in Saint-Raphaël to take a hike or bike ride through the Massif de l’Esterel.

Driving the same coastal road in the opposite direction is no hardship, but you can also choose to drive back to Nice via the DN7 (Route de Cols). It’s a stunningly beautiful road through densely forested hills.

Toll Roads in Provence

Tolls are charged on most of the A8 along the southern coast. However, there are plenty of options for choosing toll-free routes and avoiding the A8. Furthermore, you don’t have to pay tolls on certain sections of that highway if there are few alternatives, such as the stretch near the bridge over the Var between Saint-Isidore and Cagnes-sur-Mer. You’ll also have to pay tolls on the A50 ( Toulon–Marseille) and on the A51, heading north from Meyrargues.

Renting a Car for a One-Way Trip from Nice

Above, we’ve described the best day trips from Nice, but you can also use the city as a starting point for a longer trip and return your rental car somewhere else. This is called one-way car rental and is very easy to arrange. Simply enter your pickup and drop-off locations on our search form, and we’ll automatically show you the rental cars for which this is possible. You will have to pay a small surcharge for this, which is listed on our cost overview as the “One-way surcharge.”

Popular one-way destinations from Nice include Marseille and Montpellier. Or how about combining some of the day trips mentioned above with a road trip to Grenoble via the Route Napoléon? This road follows the route Napoleon Bonaparte took when he returned from exile on the island of Elba in 1815. Today, it’s one of the most beautiful driving routes in southern France. The road is 328 kilometers long and begins in Golfe-Juan on the coast, about thirty kilometers southwest of Nice. When driving from Nice in your rental car, don’t go all the way to that official starting point; instead, take the scenic D2085 just past the airport.

Past Grasse, you’ll travel along the beautiful D6085 through the Parc Naturel des Préalpes d’Azur. There are several spots along the way that invite you to stop. For example, in Castellane, which is dominated by an 184-meter-high limestone rock. The village is the gateway to the deep Gorges du Verdon, a spectacularly beautiful canyon between the Var and the Hautes-Alpes. The emerald-green water sparkles between steep cliffs. It’s a great spot for paddleboarding or pedal boating. You can relax in the spa town of Digne-les-Bains, where Napoleon once stayed at the Château de Malijai. Just past Gap, Col Bayard (1,246 m) is the highest point on the official route, but if you love hairpin turns, you’ll want to take a detour here. The road to the Col de Gleize has an average gradient of over nine percent and features eleven hairpin turns. At the summit (1,691 m), there’s a parking lot with picnic tables and barbecue grills—perfect for lunch with a stunning view! At the final destination, Grenoble, the Bastille is a literal highlight. A cable car with spherical gondolas— bulles —takes you to this former fortress, 264 meters above the city.

Why Rent a Car in Nice

There are certainly options for traveling from the city to attractions and sights around Nice by public transportation, but we still recommend renting a car. First, you won’t be dependent on the fixed schedules of buses and trains. Moreover, public transportation in France runs less frequently on Saturdays and Sundays. More importantly, you can stop wherever you want. And that’s exactly what you’ll often do when traveling through Provence in a rental car. There are beautiful spots, charming restaurants, and other reasons to pull over everywhere you go. As you’ve read above, there are many steep roads in Provence. So don’t choose a rental car with an engine that’s too underpowered if you plan to head into the countryside.