1. The coastal path from Cap de Nice to Villefranche-sur-Mer
Of moderate difficulty, this family hike offers sumptuous views of the sea and numerous coves that are perfect for swimming. It's a real treat for wilderness enthusiasts, who can enjoy scents and blooms that vary throughout the year.
Good to know: However, as this tour involves several sets of stairs, it's best not to take very young children with you.
This outing can be enjoyed in all seasons, except when the sea is rough. It starts at the port of Nice, where you walk along the quays to reach the Jardin Félix Rainaud. From here, take the stairs to join the coastal path to Cap de Nice. The route then takes you back to boulevard Maurice Maeterlinck, where you have to walk about 300 m before you can rejoin the coastal path to the port of Villefranche-sur-Mer. The total distance is 5 km, with a positive difference in altitude of 202 m, and the estimated duration is around 2 h.
2. Tour of Mont Chauve d'Aspremont
This hike is best done in winter or early spring. It starts in Aspremont, 12 km from Nice, which you can reach by car or by taking the 76 bus line after a 20-minute journey. The distance is 7.5 km, with a difference in altitude of + 345 m/- 346 m, and the estimated duration is around 3 hours.
This beautiful hike 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 tour, which is both rural and cultural, also includes a visit to the Falicon Pyramid, one of France's fifteen officially recognized pyramids. Today, this almost ruined edifice overlooks the enigmatic Ratapignata cave.
3. Mont Boron forest park
Don't hesitate to explore this forest park, which offers 11 km of perfectly signposted hiking trails. With a pétanque court, a sports course and plenty of picnic tables, this hike is suitable for the whole family. Starting from Vieux-Nice, you can walk around the Mont Boron hill (approx. 8 km) in around 2 hrs 40 min, with a positive difference in altitude of 177 m.
This hike takes you through 57 hectares of typically Mediterranean forest, where you'll be amazed by Aleppo pines, umbrella pines, wild olive trees and carob trees. You'll also be able to admire rare species such as irises, wild orchids and the Nice peppermint with its small, drooping white flowers, a species endemic only to the Alpes Maritimes.
Finally, if you push on to the Fort du Mont Alban, 223 m above sea level to the north of Mont Boron, you'll enjoy an incredible panorama from Italy to the Estérel.
4. Nature escape from Saint-André-de-la-Roche to Abadie
The hike starts from Place Jules Musso in Saint-André-de-la-Roche, a commune located 4 km from Nice and nicknamed "Lou pais dei babi" (the land of amphibians) because of the song they sing on summer nights. Its territory extends over the rolling hills of Rimiez and Abadie.
The 5.8 km route is of medium difficulty, with a positive and negative altitude difference of 284 m. With a steep climb and a tricky section before reaching the hamlet of La Colle, it takes around 2.5 hours to complete.
Along the way, you can admire the village of Falicon from the hamlet of La Colle, then enjoy a lovely view of Mont Chauve. On the way back, you'll take a cobbled path from which you'll enjoy beautiful panoramic views over the Banquière valley and the city of Nice.
5. Le parc du Vinaigrier
A walk in this 31-hectare park is an opportunity toadmire a varied fauna made up of sedentary birds (great tits, European sparrowhawks, melanocephalus warblers...), as well as migratory birds such as black swifts, black flycatchers and white-fronted redstarts.
The Parc du Vinaigrier loop is 2.4 km long, with a 116 m vertical drop. From its summit, you'll enjoy an exceptional panorama of the coastline from the Bay of Villefranche to the Estérel massif.