If you are looking to explore beyond the city center and discover more of the natural beauty of the area, then this is the post for you! Nice is perfectly located along the French Riviera, surrounded by charming villages, a beautiful coastline, and other vibrant cities.
To reach the starting point of these coastal walks, you will need to take a train or bus from Nice. Each walk is beautiful in its own way, and none of them are too difficult. Some do include a lot of stairs or uphill hiking, while others feature pretty level paths the entire way.
1. Nice to Villefranche
First on the list is the walk from Nice to the picturesque city of Villefranche. For this adventure, you start at Port Lympia and head towards Le Plongeoir. Continue along until you reach Jardin Félix Rainaud, where the coastal trail officially begins. The entire hike takes about 1 hour and 43 minutes to complete.
During the summer, you will find plenty of coves and secluded beaches for a refreshing swim. This is also where many locals relax away from the busy beaches.
The first portion of the hike is fairly easy and level, which is why some people opt to only do half of it, enjoy a picnic, and then turn back. The next portion requires you to climb some fairly steep stairs; however, the views from the top make it worth it. If you decide to continue, you will pass old ruins and snorkeling spots before reaching Villefranche.
2. Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat
The next adventure is to Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, an easy 1 hour and 30 minute coastal walk. The fairly level paths the entire way make it a great excursion for everyone.
To start this journey, take the train from Nice-Ville and stop at Beaulieu-sur-Mer. From there, it’s a 10-minute walk toward the sea to reach the start of the path. Follow along the coast, passing impressive villas, secluded beaches, a lighthouse, and locals fishing.
Since many people live a short distance from this coastal path, it is frequented by locals out for their daily run or walking their dogs. The entire coastal path passes various side streets, meaning you don’t have to commit to the entire 1 hour and 30 minute adventure; you can stop halfway and not have to double back.
3. Roquebrune-Cap-Martin
For the next coastal walk, you will have a few options to choose from. If you are looking for a longer, more challenging hike of 2 hours and 30 minutes, you can take the train to Roquebrune-Cap-Martin and complete the Medieval Castle loop. This path takes you through the village to the castle and provides picturesque views before you descend and walk along the coast.
The second option is to take the train to Carnoles and follow the coast toward the Roquebrune-Cap-Martin train station to head back to Nice. This option takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes and is a fairly easy journey the whole way.
In both options, you have the opportunity to swim in the coastal waters while enjoying views of Monaco in the distance. Your hike finishes at Plage du Buse, which is a rocky beach; however, it is much quieter than the beaches along the Promenade des Anglais. Mainly visited by locals and fellow hikers, you are sure to find a place to relax after your adventure.
4. Cap d’Antibes
Cap d’Antibes is a more difficult trail to reach from Nice compared to the others on this list. If you have a car, there is a parking lot at the starting point of the path. However, if you are relying on public transit, it is a longer journey but not impossible. You would take the train to Antibes, and from there you can either catch the 02 bus or wander through the Old Town of Antibes until you reach the starting point.
The starting point is at Plage de la Garoupe, and the trail takes you past amazing villas, mansion ruins, and even a modern castle. This path is quite beautiful and different from the other coastal walks because the landscapes are rocky, which makes me feel like I’m walking on the moon.
The entire walk takes approximately 2 hours and includes quite a few stairs. For the majority of the path, you have unobstructed sea views, with no coastlines in sight—just boats and yachts passing by.
5. Mandelieu-la-Napoule
This next adventure requires you to take the train to Mandelieu-la-Napoule, which is basically the starting point of the trail. From Port Napoule, beside the train station, you will pass Château de la Napoule and beautiful sandy beaches.
The entire journey is a mix of sidewalks and coastal paths with very little elevation. If you are looking for a day of beach hopping, then this is the coastal walk for you. Along the way, you will pass beaches, beach bars, and restaurants. Compared to the other walks, this one offers plenty of opportunities to purchase a meal, as opposed to enjoying a picnic you brought.
When you reach the end of the walk, you can either take the same route back or take bus 22 or 19 back to the train station. The one-way journey takes about an hour, assuming you aren’t stopping to enjoy the beaches along the way.
6. Cap d’Ail
The last journey on this list is my personal favorite! You can either take the train to Cap d’Ail and follow along to Mala Beach, or you can take the train to Monaco and start from there. Both are great options; however, the first only takes 30 minutes, while the second option takes over an hour.
From Monaco, you will wander through the city toward the coast, passing beach clubs and impressive yachts until you walk across the French border. As you go along, you can enjoy sweeping sea views with Monaco in the distance. This very well-maintained path is frequented by locals for their daily runs and dog walks.
Though this is a fairly easy walk, there are quite a few stairs at the end as you reach Mala Beach, and then again from the beach to the Cap d’Ail train station. Mala Beach is a beautiful pebble beach located in a fairly secluded cove. There is a beach bar here as well, but it is only open during the summer season.
There you have it: the six best coastal walks from Nice! Each of these has very well-maintained paths and is well marked with signs to guide you along the way. None of these are overly difficult or very long, which makes them a great option if you are looking to get out of the city. Be sure to bring your swimsuit, pack a lunch, and bring plenty of water!