Touring from Nice
Visit Nice by bike!
When it comes to discovering the Nice area by bike, most people think of cycling by road bikes in the mountains in the backcountry. If you are more of a leisure cyclist and look for some hours on a bike we have stunning routes to offer.
Visitors cycling from Nice on a touring bike to the nearby villages and bays call it the absolutely best way to see the sights of the area! You can get beautiful experiences riding through scenes you would not see otherwise.
Nice - Antibes
The coast between Nice and Antibes is an easy ride for every cyclist. Follow the cycling path that is separate from the road all to the way along the Promenade des Anglais, through Cagnes-sur-Mer, Villeneuve-Loubet and to Antibes. It is the flattest route you will find in this area!
The cycling path is two-sided and invites people to move by two wheels in many ways – you see cyclists in all ages, roller-bladers, tourists on seg-ways and commuters on electric scooters. So do pay attention to fellow people out on a roll! (Plus people, dogs and kids walking in odd directions).
You can stop on your way and discover for instance the fishing harbor in Cros-de-Cagnes, have lunch at the popular Le Petit Nicois Bio that serves local dishes from organic products (99 Promenade de la Plage) or a coffee in the Port Marina Baie des Anges in Villeneuve-Loubet with its iconic white houses that are shaped like local mountain tops.
On the last stretch to Antibes you will find a pure flat road along the turquoise coloured sea. Antibes is worth the ride – a beautiful medieval town housing among others a castle with a Picasso museum and beautiful sand beaches that stretch out to Cap d’Antibes. Take a tour around the Cap and return to Nice – or just spend an hour in the town of one of the biggest harbors for yachts in Europe
Villefranche-sur-Mer – Cap Ferrat
If you are up for climbing a few smaller hills we highly recommend cycling along the coast to the Eastern side of Nice. Follow the cycling path of the Promenade to Nice harbor. From here you can either challenge yourself by passing La Réserve and climb the road surrounded by big villas to Mont Boron – or you can follow the main road that is a more mellow climb.
From Mont Boron follow the road to Villefranche-sur-Mer, which is a former fishing village that is now a buzzing hub in the summer season. Visitors travel from all over the world to frequent the restaurants at the seafront, stroll the charming tiny streets and swim in the very beautiful natural bay.
Continue a bit further down the main road to find your way to Cap Ferrat. This inland has the most hours of sun in Europe and some of the most luxurious real estate in the world. Surprisingly tranquil it is and trees in the massive gardens offer shades and habitats for singing birds.
The Var river – bike path through the valley
A few kilometers out of Nice the Var river meets the Mediterranean Sea. The Var river flows through Les Alpes-Maritimes. You can discover the river delta and the beautiful mountains in the Var valley by cycling to and through Saint-Laurent-du-Var – and find the cycling path that follows the river or about 20 km to Lac du Broc, an artificial lake.
You will see local farms, look up at villages in the mountains and be surrounded by tops of the Alps. The first part of the track follows the high way, so there is a bit of traffic noise. You soon forget as you take in the beauty of the surroundings though. Happy cycling!
More information/ Map (Fr)
Brochure Les Alpes Maritimes à Vélo - au fil de l'eau
