Great Walks in Nice, France

If you’re in Nice, here’s some great walks you should consider. They are as simple as just walking the boardwalk in front of downtown central Nice, but most follow the sentier coastal paths that have existed for hundreds of years.

1. Promenade Anglais Walk: A no brainer and a great casual walk on the promenade that runs the length of Nice from the airport to Vieux Nice. You can catch a bus back or make the long walk back. It’s nearly a 5 km walk.
2. Nice to Villefranche Shoreline Walk: This walk begins in the port of Nice at the southerly end, where the ferries dock and leave from. You’ll see a sign for the Nice Yacht Club with a walkway next to it, take this up to Blvd. Franck Pillate. Walk south and you’ll pass the Chateau des Anglais (built back in 1856 by Englishman Robert Smith, this fairtale castle is now used for private apartments. You’ll come to a pathway on your right that leads down along the shore, just past the Hopital d’Anglais bus stop. Take this and enjoy a wonderful seaside promenade, although it is a little more challenging than the first half of the balade; more ups and downs. It was also under repair at the end of 2012, working on the railings and bridges. You can follow this now right into Villefranche along the water. Then you can walk the highway back, take the small bus #82 from the port to get you onto the highway and then #81 or #100, or take the train back.
3. Cap Ferrat Walk – Promenade des Fossettes: Take the #81 bus to Cap Ferrat and get off at the small town/port of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat. Follow Av. Jean Mermoz through town, past the port and past the restaurant La Voile d’Or, to where it intersects with Av. Claude Vignon. Across the street you’ll see a pathway the Promenade des Fossettes. Short but nice oceanside walk, that makes a circle around the point. On the way back you’ll find Paloma Beach, bring your bathing suit to cool off. For the longer walk, visit this link.
4. Mont Boron to Villefranche Walk: Best way to take this walk is to take the #14 bus from the port in Nice, up to the top of Mont Boron. It’s the last stop. You can walk over into Villefranche or down the front back down to the port of Nice. Both paths are quite nice with great viewpoints.
5. Mala to Monaco: Very pleasant walk along the coast, easy to do and some great views. There’s some places to have picnics as well along the way, with tables and benches.

Here’s a couple of links from a Cote d’Azur blog I recently discovered, with quite detailed descriptions of walks around Nice, and actually around French Riviera:

• Exploring Nice
• Around Old Town Nice

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