Guides & articles
Resources
Practical guides, how-tos, and explainers for expats and second-home owners on the Côte d'Azur.
How to Get a French Phone Number Without a French Bank Account
Get a French number in your first days on the Riviera with only a passport and a card: a prepaid eSIM first, then a French bank account,…
Setting Up Home Internet on the French Riviera: Fiber, Prices and Paperwork
Fiber reaches almost every home in Nice. How to check your apartment, which provider is easiest to sign up with as a newcomer, what…
How to Keep Your US Phone Number After Moving to France
Keep your US number for bank codes and family, get a cheap French plan for daily life, and run both on one iPhone. What each option costs,…
Useful and Emergency Numbers on the French Riviera
The numbers worth saving before you need them: French emergency services, the out-of-hours doctor line, sea rescue, the SNCF alert number,…
Free Public Transport for Over-65s on the Côte d'Azur: Who Qualifies Where
Lignes d'Azur is free for Métropole residents aged 65 and over since 1 September 2026. What you pay anyway, the documents you need, and how…
Do You Need a Car on the Côte d'Azur? Getting Around the French Riviera
Whether you need a car on the French Riviera depends on where you live, not the region. How trains, buses, taxis, drivers and car ownership…
Public Transport on the French Riviera: Trains, Buses and Passes
How trains and buses work on the Côte d'Azur: the coastal railway, the city networks from Cannes to Menton, what a Carte Azur costs, and…
Where to Live in Nice: A Neighborhood Guide
Where to live in Nice, area by area: what each quartier costs and who it suits, from Vieux-Nice and the Carré d'Or to Cimiez, Riquier and…
Cost of Living on the French Riviera
Monthly cost of living on the Côte d'Azur: rent in Nice, Cannes, Antibes and Menton, plus utilities, transport, food, childcare and three…
How to Hire a Private Driver (VTC) on the French Riviera
What a VTC is, how private-driver pricing works without a meter, and when to hire one on the Côte d'Azur: transfers, day tours, business…
Taxi Fares on the French Riviera: What a Ride Actually Costs
How Côte d'Azur taxi fares work: the meter's four tariff rates, roughly what rides between Nice, Cannes and Monaco cost, and when a taxi…
Nice Airport Transport Guide: Tram, Taxi, Uber, Bus & Transfers
How to get from Nice Airport to Nice, Cannes, Antibes, and Monaco: taxi fixed rates, Uber and Bolt, the tram, express buses, private…
Avoid Rental Scams on the French Riviera: An Expat's Guide
How to tell a fake rental listing from a real one before you pay anything or hand over documents, with extra steps for anyone searching…
Public Schools with English Sections on the Côte d'Azur
How French state schools run selective English-language sections internationales, a low-cost alternative to private schools, from primary…
Bilingual and English-Friendly Childcare on the Côte d'Azur
A guide to bilingual crèches, Montessori nurseries, and early-years programmes in Nice, Antibes, and Sophia Antipolis for English-speaking…
International and Private English Schools in Nice and the French Riviera
International, private and bilingual schools in Nice and the Côte d'Azur for expat families: curricula, fees, how to visit, and how…
Learn French in Nice: Language Schools, Classes and Courses Compared
Where to learn French in Nice: every language school compared on price, format and exam preparation, from €550 evening classes to full-time…
How to Get a Bank Account in France Without a French Address
The catch-22 of French banking explained, with four options that work before you have a permanent address: Nickel, Revolut, N26, and Wise.
What Does It Cost to Relocate to the French Riviera?
Realistic cost estimates for moving to Nice, Cannes, or Antibes: removals, rental deposits, visa fees, car registration, and health…
English-Language Cinema on the Côte d'Azur: VO, VOST and VOSTFR Guide
Where to find English-language movie screenings in Nice, Antibes, Cannes, Monaco, and nearby Riviera towns, plus what VO, VOST, and VF mean…
Finding English-Speaking Work on the Côte d'Azur
English-language roles on the French Riviera do exist, but they're concentrated in specific places. Here's where to look and what to expect.
Buying Property in France When You're Not Based There
You don't need to be in France for every step of a property purchase. How remote buying works, what needs your physical presence, and what…
What Does a Notaire Do When You Buy Property in France?
The notaire is central to every French property purchase, but they don't work for you. Here's what they actually do and what that means for…
Renting Out Your Property in Nice: What to Know Before You Start
Short-term rental rules in Nice have changed significantly. Here's what the 2024 law means for owners considering Airbnb, seasonal lets, or…
Exchanging Your Driving Licence in France
How to exchange a foreign driving licence for a French one, which licences are eligible, and what to do if yours isn't covered by a…
Bringing Your Pet to France
What you need to bring a dog, cat, or ferret to France: microchipping, rabies vaccination, and the official health certificate explained.
Getting Your Titre de Séjour on the Côte d'Azur
A practical guide to applying for a French residence permit as a non-EU national, including which permit you need, where to apply, and what…
Healthcare on the Côte d'Azur: A Guide for Expats
How the French health system works for expats: registering with Sécurité Sociale, finding a GP, what's covered, and when to use private…
Buying Property on the Côte d'Azur: What Expats Need to Know
A practical overview of the French property buying process for international buyers, from finding an agent to signing at the notaire.