Want to move to France? To the vibrant, Mediterranean Nice, with its old-world, young-world charms, its history, its French vibe intermixed with its Italian cultural influence? Maybe it’s the sea, maybe it’s the art, maybe it’s all the French things that draw people to Nice; you have your reasons, but you want to move to Nice. You’re in luck. Moving to Nice is relatively straightforward, and it’s a pretty desirable city in which to live.
Why Choose Nice?
Nice, the fifth largest city in France and the capital of the Alpes-Maritimes department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region, is a coastal city situated on the French Riviera, also known as the Côte d’Azur. It has always been a popular destination for tourists and expatriates alike due to its natural beauty, its mild Mediterranean climate and its quality of life.
The Promenade des Anglais with its palm trees on the seafront is perfect for a daily walk, the old town ‘Vieux Nice’ with its narrow streets, houses painted in all the colours of the rainbow, artisan shops and local markets with their fruit and vegetables, flowers and the typical products of Provence, with its beaches and its night-life, its restaurants and its cuisine are first class. You can live in Nice in a relaxed manner but also in the greatest pleasure.
The French Bureaucracy and Paperwork
The most consequential decision you’ll make when moving to France is the paperwork. Like many European countries, it’s famously frustratingly bureaucratic in France, and getting the permits to live and work can be a drawn-out process. EU citizens have it relatively easy, but if you are a non-EU resident, you will have to apply for what’s called a long-stay visa (visa de long séjour) if you want to stay longer than 90 days.
Gather all the paperwork – proof of accommodation, proof of funds, etc – as early as possible in the process. You will need to show that you have the becoming a financial burden to the country, as well as proof of health insurance. It can be a bit of a minefield, but with forbearance and due diligence it is doable, and a relocation expert or lawyer can ease some of the administration headaches.
Finding a Place to Live
From studio apartments to villas with sea views, Nice has a wide range of living options. Each neighbourhood within Nice also has a different flavour. If you are looking for a party, touristy neighbourhood, then the neighbourhoods right along the Promenade des Anglais or even in the Old Town are ideal. If you are looking for more of a family-friendly, quieter, more upscale neighbourhood, I would recommend Cimiez, with its famous Roman ruins. When first moving to Nice, renting an apartment is the most common option. When looking for an apartment, I recommend visiting every single place you are offered before signing a lease.
There are many self storage companies that can be useful to store your home belongings while you are looking for a new home. And of course companies that can move you.
Costs of rental are an important factor for Nice. Overall prices range between €900 to €1,500 per month for a one-bedroom apartment in the city centre, with lower costs outside the city centre (still relatively high compared to most of the rest of France). Having a guarantor is commonplace, especially for foreigners who do not have a French credit history.
Getting Around Nice
Probably the greatest asset to living here is its excellent and well-developed public transport: you can go just about anywhere in Nice by tram, bus or train, and reach nearby cities such as Cannes, Monaco or even into Italy quite easily. Nice is quite a pedestrian-friendly city, especially in the Old Town or along the Promenade des Anglais where you can walk or bike to your destination.
And for drivers: be aware that while the older parts of the city are a maze of narrow streets, parking is limited – and very expensive. If you want to get out and about, having a car is essential for the villages of Provence, which are too far apart for trains or buses, and the beaches along the coast are very hard to get to without your own transport.
Culture and Language
A cosmopolitan city with a large expat population, French is an essential for everyday living in Nice – even if most locals speak some English, especially in tourist areas. This way, you’ll enjoy your stay more and integrate more fully into the community.
The town has a good cultural life; Nice is known for its art scene – Henri Matisse and Marc Chagall were among the artists who spent time here; and the city is full of museums and galleries with historical monuments everywhere. There are many annual events such as the Nice Carnaval, one of the biggest in the world, which are evidence of the town’s love for festivity and tradition.
Adjusting to the French Way of Life
Accommodating the French way of life takes some time but ultimately is a gratifying part of living in Nice. The pace of life in France is generally slower than in Anglo-Saxon countries. It’s about quality of life, whether it means having a leisurely lunch with friends, a traditional café au lait at a terrace café, or an afternoon spent at your local marché.
Perhaps this is the main reason that the Mediterranean diet, made up of seafood, fresh vegetables, and olive oil, is so much loved in Nice. Salade niçoise, pissaladière (a flatbread with onions, olives and anchovies), and socca (chickpea pancake) are just some of the delicacies you can find, both in the markets and in the restaurants of Nice.
Conclusion
If you’re thinking of moving to Nice, France, this is going to be the craziest adventure of your life. From learning to speak French and navigate French administration, to hunting for your dream apartment with a view over the Mediterranean, this is a learning curve like no other – one that will be full of laughs, tears and memories. Whether you’re lured by the sunshine, the art, the culture, the lifestyle or the thought of living la vie française – Nice is a beautiful place, full of history, culture and breathtaking scenery. You could do far worse than start your new life in one of the most beautiful cities in Europe.
