Parking in Nice: Short & Long-Term Guide
If you come to Nice by car, parking is usually the main difficulty. This guide helps you choose short- and long-term options.
Hotels with long-term parking in Nice
As you will see in this article, parking a car in Nice is quite complicated and can be expensive. We recommend comparing hotels with our search engine to book one that offers parking:
General information on parking in Nice: where to leave your car
Be aware that most tourist sites are packed with vehicles almost all year round, and it is very often hard to find a parking space, at least in peak tourist season. Locals know very well how hard it is to park in town and do not hesitate to ride a two-wheeler or to park double or even triple-parked for the time of a quick errand.
Tourists, who do not know where it is safe to park a little informally and who also do not know « how far one can go », are better off choosing official spaces, underground car parks, or taking the bus into town from the hotel.
Here is an overview of the parking options available to you.
« Informal » parking
Tourists who venture to park « informally » will often face the displeasure of locals ... and of the police, who will not hesitate to fine you (fines of €11, €35 or €75 depending on the type of offence).
Be aware, however, that there are no wheel clamps in France. On the other hand, your vehicle will be sent straight to the impound if it is in the way. A hefty “ransom” must be paid, and you should expect a long wait at the administrative counters to get it back.
You are asking for trouble if you park in a disabled bay, on a pedestrian crossing, in a space reserved for firefighters or... for the police (as Chevalier and Laspales put it, “some have tried, and they ran into trouble”).
Tolerated behaviour: free parking / street parking in Nice
Overall, and given the parking difficulties in the city, the police have ended up adopting a certain tolerance. You should know that it is relatively tolerated to park your car:
- Slightly overlapping a no-parking space, as long as you do not block traffic and most of your vehicle is on an authorised space
- On a spot that is neither a parking space nor forbidden, as long as you do not block traffic or the exit of a private property (garage, gate, delivery area)
- (surprisingly) on the yellow lines marking bus stops
What is more, you can park for free on the sea side of the Promenade des Anglais opposite the old town, even though there is no official space there, while the opposite side is... paying!
Safe car parks for short-term parking in Nice
For any short stay of a few hours, do not hesitate to park on the street, remembering to pay at the parking meter. Payment is made in coins and may be limited to a few hours. There is no particular risk in leaving your vehicle in the middle of town.
Covered car parks are a bit expensive but sometimes the only solution. Avoid the Nice Etoile car park, which is completely overpriced.
Long-term car parking in Nice
In France, a vehicle may not remain parked without moving for more than 7 consecutive days. To park a car for several days, you have two options:
- Park in one of the many Vinci Park car parks (a paid underground car park operator)
- Leave your car in the airport's long-term car park and reach the city centre by bus. This last option will certainly be the cheapest.
Useful car parks (selection, Open Data OTM)
A few central or convenient car parks (check rates and availability on the official website):
- Interparking Grimaldi, 11 rue Maccarani, website
- Interparking Nice Thiers (near the station), 12 av. Thiers, website
- Nice Azur Parking Palais de Justice, 19 rue Alexandre Mari, website
- Nice Azur Parking Promenade des Arts, 18 av. Saint-Jean-Baptiste, website
- Parking Indigo Arénas (airport), 455 Promenade des Anglais, website
Are you renting a car?
Airport, Nice-Ville station and city-centre agencies, pick-up at the Car Rental Center and return traps: see Car rental in Nice. And if you are still undecided, the comparison of hotels with parking is in Where to stay in Nice.
Avoiding the parking headache
If you want to park your car at the hotel, compare the establishments that offer parking or a partner car park in our selection of hotels with parking in Nice. Also useful before booking a stay by car: see Car rental in Nice.
