1. The coastal path from Cap de Nice to Villefranche-sur-Mer
This family-friendly walk, which is of moderate difficulty, offers stunning views of the sea and numerous coves perfect for a swim. It is a real treat for lovers of unspoilt nature, who can enjoy the scents and blooms that vary throughout the year.
Good to know: However, as this route involves climbing several flights of steps, it is best not to bring very young children.
This walk can be enjoyed in all seasons, except when the sea is rough. It starts at the port of Nice, where you’ll walk along the quays to reach the Félix Rainaud Garden. It is here that you’ll take the steps to join the coastal path, following it to Cap de Nice. The route then takes you back to Boulevard Maurice Maeterlinck, where you’ll walk for about 300 metres before rejoining the coastal path to the port of Villefranche-sur-Mer. The total distance is 5 km with an elevation gain of 202 m, and the estimated duration is approximately 2 hours.
2. The Mont Chauve d’Aspremont circuit
It is advisable to do this walk in winter or early spring. It starts in Aspremont, a town situated 12 km from Nice, which you can reach by car or by taking bus route 76, a 20-minute journey. The distance is 7.5 km with an elevation gain of +345 m and a loss of 346 m, and the estimated duration is around 3 hours.
This beautiful walk offers splendid views of Nice, the Baie des Anges and the Mediterranean, as well as the snow-capped peaks of the Alps and the Mercantour to the north.
This route, which combines rural charm with cultural interest, will also give you the chance to discover the Falicon Pyramid, one of the fifteen officially recognised pyramids in France. Today, it is a structure in a state of near-ruin, overlooking the enigmatic Ratapignata Cave (Bat Cave).
3. The Mont Boron Forest Park
Do take the opportunity to explore this forest park, which offers 11 km of perfectly signposted and well-maintained walking trails. With a pétanque court, a fitness trail and plenty of picnic tables, this walk is suitable for the whole family. Starting from Old Nice, you can walk all the way round Mont Boron (nearly 8 km) in around 2 hours 40 minutes, with an elevation gain of 177 m.
This walk will immerse you in a 57-hectare, typically Mediterranean forest, where you’ll be enchanted by Aleppo pines, stone pines, wild olive trees and carob trees. You’ll also be able to admire some rare species such as irises, wild orchids and the Nice snowbell, with its small, drooping white flowers – a species endemic to the Alpes-Maritimes region.
Finally, if you carry on to Fort du Mont Alban, which rises to an altitude of 223 metres north of Mont Boron, you’ll be treated to an incredible panoramic view stretching from Italy to the Estérel.
4. A nature walk from Saint-André-de-la-Roche to Abadie
This walk starts at Place Jules Musso in Saint-André-de-la-Roche, a village situated 4 km from Nice and nicknamed ‘Lou pais dei babi’ (the land of amphibians) because of their croaking, which fills the summer nights. Its territory stretches across the gentle hills of Rimiez and Abadie.
The 5.8 km route is of moderate difficulty, with an elevation gain and loss of 284 m. Due to a steep climb and a tricky section before reaching the hamlet of La Colle, it takes around 2 hours 30 minutes to walk.
Throughout this walk, you’ll be able to admire the village of Falicon from the hamlet of La Colle, followed by a lovely view of Mont Chauve. On the way back, you’ll follow a cobbled path from which you’ll enjoy a beautiful panoramic view of the Banquière Valley and the city of Nice.
5. Le Vinaigrier Park
A walk through this 31-hectare park offers the chance to admire a varied array of wildlife, including resident birds (great tits, Eurasian sparrowhawks, blackcaps, etc.), as well as migratory birds such as common swifts, black flycatchers and white-fronted redstarts.
The Vinaigrier Park loop trail is 2.4 km long with an elevation gain of 116 m. From its summit, you’ll enjoy an exceptional panoramic view stretching from the coastline of Villefranche Bay to the Estérel massif.