Taxi Service
Taxis in
Villefranche are usually waiting for you, at the
Port. They are abundant and easily accessible.
However, because most of the towns are so small
there is usually an imposed minimum fee of 8
Euros per cab ride. Nice, the biggest city in
the Riviera, is mostly walkable but if you're
trying to get to the Musee Chagall from Old Town
or the Promenade des Anglais, a cab is worth it.
It is easy to catch cabs on the curb and it
might be more convenient and time-saving than
taking buses to certain attractions.
At the peak of tourist season (July-August), traffic
becomes a problem if you are trying to get from
one town to another via taxi during the day but
if you miss the last train or bus back to your
hotel, keep in mind that most towns on the
Riviera aren't very far from each other.
Rental Cars
Renting a car is also an option for exploring the French Riviera and this service is available at airports and large railway stations. Although renting a car can make many areas that are unreachable by public transportation accessible, it is drastically more expensive than renting a car in the US. Also, mostly all available cars are manual transmission. You have to make advance reservations for automatic cars and these are only available in the large cities. Traffic is a concern in the summer: taking secondary roads or public transportation is a good alternative.
The flexibility and convenience of car travel can make it worthwhile to rent a car on the French Riviera. Plus, there are some incredibly scenic drives where the splendor of the coastline can just take your breath away. On the down side, traffic can be a nightmare, especially along the coast. One reason traffic is so bad is because there are a lot of accidents. Cote d'Azur drivers are known for their aggressive, sometimes demented driving.
The best route: Drivers would be wise to take the Middle Corniche from Nice or Villefrance to Eze le Village. From there, follow signs to Grand Corniche and LaTurbie. Then finish by dropping down into Monaco.
If you do rent a
car, drive
defensively and
consider the
following:
Road
Rules
Drive on the right side of the road.
Seatbelts are compulsory for all passengers.
Children must be over ten years old to sit in the
front.
Alcohol is limited to 0.5 g/l (one to two glasses of
wine).
Priorité a Droite means that priority goes to
the driver on the
right no matter that
a side street is
entering a main
thoroughfare.
Emergency
In case of accident, dial 17. All parties fill out a
constat à l'amiable;
these blue papers
are provided with
your car rental and
must be kept in your
car.
Foreign Drivers
- An international driving license is not required to
drive in France. A
valid driving
license from your
home country is
enough.
Speed
Limits
Along the auto routes the maximum speed ranges from 110
to 130km/hr. In
built-up areas the
limit is 50km/hr.
The French
government has
recently implemented
a crackdown on
speed-driving with
spot controls and
stationary radars
hidden everywhere.
Spot controls are
more frequent on
weekends.
Useful Driving Tips
-
The minimum driving age is 18 years old
-
Laws against drinking and driving and speeding are strictly enforced.
-
Most highways have tolls and they can be paid either by Euros or credit card.
-
A ticket obtained from a "ticket machine" is usually necessary for parking
Events and
festivals
Several major
events take place:
Monaco and southeast
France; Rally
Automobile
Monte-Carlo,
January
Monaco;
International Circus
Festival of
Monte-Carlo, January
/
February
Nice; Carnival,
February
Menton; Lemon
Festival,
February
Tourrettes-sur-Loup;
Violet Festival,
March
Monaco; Formula One
Grand Prix race,
May
Grasse; Rose
Festival,
May
Cannes; Cannes Film
Festival and Cannes
Film Market,
May
Nice; Jazz Festival,
July
Juan-les-Pins; Jazz
à Juan,
late July.
Grasse; Jasmine
Festival,
August
Where to find the best souvenirs
timeless elegance. Terra cotta tiles, bright colored pottery, usually hand
painted with Mediterranean fruits or flowers, rustic urns, 18th
century floral designs, lace, antique baskets, mixing and matching fabrics (florals,
stripes and plaids), intense color scheme: reds, blues, greens, beige and
deep mustard create an inviting, cozy and joyful atmosphere
