Investors are back in the market: If recent sales at the totally group are any indication, property investors are back in the market. There has been a quick and steady growth over the last 2 months in the purchase of smaller one and two bedroom apartments by investors who wish to rent their properties out for both short and long term. Click here to see many of the new properties we have selected specifically for the investment market.

The FT says Nice is an investor hotspot: The Financial Times says that Nice has become one of the hottest spots to invest in on the Mediterranean, after a four year beautification programme that has transformed this vibrant, exciting city.

Shops and markets

Best areas

Nice cours Saleya flower marketNice's Zone Pietonne, or pedestrianised zone, on Rue Massenna is just of the Place Massena central square. High-end chain stores, one-off shoe shops, a glitzy restaurant or two and several boutiques cover the 500m long road. Rue Paradis, just off this street, is home to the most chic stores in town. Among them are Sonia Rykiel, Giorgio Armani and Louis Vuitton.

Avenue Jean Medecin is high street shopping heaven. Branches of Zara, H&M and Habitat sell goods at significantly lower prices than their British counterparts. Midway along is the toile shopping mall with its inexpensive shoe shops and high quality tailors.

Their three-storey branch of FNAC sells CDs, English-language books and also acts as a booking office for most of Nice's music and sport events. The Virgin Megastore over the road acts in exactly the same way. Galeries Lafayette at Place Massena end of Avenue Jean Medecin is a department store par excellence. The finest names in fashion, luggage and perfume are matched only by the sheer quality of their twice-yearly sales.

Aside from the many markets, Nice old town is home to numerous boutiques and art stores. Branches of Gaultier and Agnes B can be found close to the Cours Saleya pedestrianised hub. Modern art, classic painting and period furnishing can best be seen in the streets around Rue Droite, Rue Rossetti and Rue Saint Reparate. Spend an hour walking around the winding streets and you will come across home-made pasta, olive oil products, fresh bread, wine and stalls full of local produce.

Those with the time and an eye for a bargain can head to the Cap 3000 complex at St Laurent du Var, just west of Nice airport. Buses 10 and 11 run there from Place Massena, or take the train to St Laurent du Var from Nice-Ville rail station. Here you will find out-of-town shopping to die for including huge sports shops and thousands of square metres of clothes and shoes. Cap 3000 makes a great stop if you have a few hours to kill before a flight.
Markets

The Cours Saleya area in Nice old town hosts the best market in town. Some of the most colourful fresh produce on earth is on offer at the food market (Tue-Sun 06h00-12h30) making it a photographer's paradise. Oils, organic goods and herbs can also be brought. A huge antiques market fills the area up on the food market's day off (Mon 7h30-17h30). The flower market (Tue-Sat 06h00-17h30, Sun 06h00-12h30) in the same locale has posies from around the globe. Several stalls selling ready to eat food and fruit line the Rue de Marche and Rue de la Boucherie as you head into the old town. The fish market at the end of these streets at Place St-Francois (Tue-Sun 6h00-12h00) contains crabs, langoustine, prawns and shellfish of all description.

Second-hand magazines, postcards, paintings and books, including some in English, are sold in the Place du Palais near to the Cours Saleya every Saturday (08h00-18h00). Three other great antiques markets are the Collector's Exchange Market in Square Durandy (Sun 08h00-12h30), the Place Robilante flea market (Tue-Sat 10h00-18h00) and the antiques fair on Rues Gaultier, Foresta and Philibert (Tue-Sat 10h00-12h30, 15h00-18h00).