We are thinking of doing a three or four week trip to the Côte d’Azur from about 10th January. We will be driving down from our house in the Italian Alps. We have chosen this area because we can get there by car and because Nice is the Unesco 'Winter Resort Town of the Riviera' so seemed like a good destination for the winter.
1. Is it? Anybody had any experience of visiting in January? I've looked at temperature on Weather Spark to compare with places I know. Hoping for some sun for walking along the Promenade and reasoning lots of museums and inside things to do if there's a rainy day?
The first thing I've realised that it's not a good idea to have a car in Nice. Parking looks to be about 140 euros per week if we stay near the centre (looking for self-catering). But if we stay far enough out to find free street parking it's a long walk into the centre .....Any tips? We'd prefer to avoid public transport if possible.
After Nice I was thinking about Arles (spent a brief night there years ago en route between Italy and Spain and have wanted to return ever since) to explore the area - but what about the Mistral??? Is it bad enough to ruin a week in Arles if it 'blows' that week?
Thinking of another stop before the Spanish border, any favourite places to spend a week on the coast? Nice will be the big city on this trip so I wouldn't go to Marseilles
To give you some context:
We like art, architecture, nature, walking along seafronts and the coast, markets where we can buy local produce, just wandering around, being outside to enjoy some winter sun or some art musuems if there's no sun.....
Any comments will be gratefully recieved.