Coastal Beauty
- 5 days
Turquoise waters, Mediterranean vegetation, local specialities, seaside footpaths… An invitation to take full advantage of the charms of the coastline and to awaken all your senses, with the sea as a backdrop!
You will particularly appreciate in this itinerary :
• The coastal footpaths
• Beaches with turquoise waters
• Typical and preserved scenery
• Authentic local cuisine
• The Mediterranean art of living
You will discover the towns of Nice, Villefranche-sur-Mer, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, Cap d’Ail, Beaulieu, Vence, Cagnes-sur-Mer, Eze
Day 1 – Nice
Spend your day discovering Nice, capital of the French Riviera !
Fall under the spell of the authentic streets of Vieux-Nice and the Cours Saleya, one of the liveliest areas in Nice. 6 days a week, one of the 10 most beautiful markets in France takes place there: local and seasonal fruit, vegetables and flowers from local production compete in shape, scent and colour.
Take the opportunity to taste “socca”, a speciality of Nice to be eaten hot, on the go. Then go up to the Castle Hill.
You will appreciate this veritable labyrinth of greenery for the freshness of its undergrowth and its surprising waterfall, especially as this site benefits from a remarkable view of the Baie des Anges, the old town and the port, from dawn to dusk.
Paris has its Champs Élysées and Nice its Promenade des Anglais! Running along the Baie des Anges for 7 kilometres, this internationally renowned avenue is a must for all visitors, as well as for the people of Nice. You will soon understand why… The extraordinary colour of the water and its ideal temperature will invite you to take a swim, without leaving the city!
Just a few meters from Place Masséna, the heart of Nice, stroll along the Promenade du Paillon. With its 2,800m2 water mirror equipped with 128 jets, its mist tray, its play areas for children, its central lawn and its themed botanical areas, this 12-hectare green lung has literally changed the heart of the city. Reflections, sparkles, water droplets, refreshing sprays, local and exotic plants will delight you and, of course, your children!
@OTM NCA / H.Lagarde
@OTM NCA / H.Lagarde
@OTM NCA / J.Kelagopian
@OTM NCA / E.Belin
@OTM NCA / A.Issock
Where can you taste authentic Nice cuisine ?
A successful trip includes the discovery of the local gastronomy.
Valued and protected by the label “Cuisine Nissarde, le respect de la tradition”, Nice’s cuisine is part of the French intangible cultural heritage and is the subject of an application for inclusion in UNESCO’s Inventory of Intangible Heritage of Humanity. It is therefore, certainly, an experience to be lived during your stay in Nice !
Where can you stay ?
Visit the free reservation platform of Nice Côte d’Azur Metropolitan Convention and Visitors Bureau to find the cozy little nest that will correspond with your expectations, your budget and your stay time.
Day 2 – Villefranche-sur-Mer et Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat
Villefranche-sur-Mer
Our itinerary “Coastal Beauty” obviously goes through Villefranche-sur-Mer!
Because of the majestic curve of its shoreline (some would say that it is the most beautiful harbour in the world!), its picturesque alleys, its “rue obscure“, its two ports, its sunny and colourful facades, its citadel, its free museums and its numerous beaches with crystal clear waters, this town close to Nice (8 km) is a must see!
Definitely a favourite!
(Banner photo from: @OTM NCA / J.Kelagopian)
Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat
Then direction Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat !
From the beach of Passable, take on the left the superb footpath of the Tour du Cap Ferrat. It runs along the coast and winds its way through the limestone rocks torn apart by the waves. The west side of the peninsula becomes wilder, you will also see small creeks with crystal clear waters that will surely make you want to dive into them …
Rendez-vous ensuite à Paloma Beach, sur la presqu’île de Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, l’une des plages aVisit Paloma Beach, on the Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat peninsula, one of the most established beaches on the Côte d’Azur. Transparent water, wild scenery, a landscape ranging from the perched village of Eze to the port of Beaulieu… We won’t tell you more…
Jour 3 – Cap d’Ail and Beaulieu-sur-Mer
Our itinerary “Coastal Beauty” continues in Cap d’Ail, still located on the East side
Take your beach gear and head for La Mala. Considered as one of the most beautiful beaches of the French Riviera, the beach of La Mala in Cap d’Ail looks like a cove, with its huts and turquoise water.
It is accessed either by a path, by the sea or by a flight of stairs that you will have to climb up (sic!).
@OTM NCA / J.Kelagopian
Then take the magnificent coastal path of Cap d’Ail (sentier du littoral de Cap d’Ail) for a particularly pleasant walk in the heart of a preserved Mediterranean flora. You will appreciate, in particular, its scents and shades of blue and green.
Beaulieu-sur-Mer
Nearby, Beaulieu-sur-Mer fully expresses the spirit of the Côte d’Azur. You can enjoy water sports, luxury shopping…or play at the Casino!
Ideal to end the day… Take the time to discover its elegant seaside and in particular its Ant Beach and its small fishing port. Don’t miss the visit of The Villa Kérylos, a magnificent reproduction of an ancient Greek palace. Inside, you will see wonderful frescoes, furniture and decorative objects.
@OTM NCA
@OTM NCA / JM
@OTM NCA / JM
Jour 4 – Vence and Cagnes-sur-Mer
Nice Côte d’Azur West Coast
Vence
Above Vence (22 km de Nice), discover the Parc Départemental du Plan des Noves, an 800-hectare plateau classified Natura 2000 in the heart of the Baous area. You can walk there between majestic oak groves and thickets of blackthorn and rosehips, a paradise for birds.
Then go down to Vence to enjoy a well-deserved rest. Numerous restaurants have terraces on the pretty squares of the Vieux Vence. It’s time for a break…
Cagnes-sur-Mer
After visiting this pretty town of arts and its historic center, direction Cagnes-sur-Mer for a nice walk on its Promenade de la Plage.
You will be amazed by the old-fashioned charm of the small fishing port of Cros-de-Cagnes (Cros-de-Cagnes).
Will you resist the urge to throw yourself in the water and spread your towel on one of the many beaches in Cagnes?
Then go to the Nice Côte d’Azur Racecourse (Hippodrome Nice Côte d’Azur )!
You will find horse races, of course, but also catering facilities. A good way to finish the day !
Jour 5 – Èze village and Èze seaside
Today, for our last day dedicated to the beauties of the Nice Côte d’Azur coastline, our itinerary takes you to Èze! This very pretty village perched on a rocky promontory of the Moyenne Corniche is, indeed, one of the most beautiful sites on the Côte d’Azur!
Visit it at your own pace, as well as its craft shops, hotels and starred restaurants. At the top, don’t miss the exotic garden in the ruins of a medieval fortress. The panorama takes you as far as Saint-Tropez. Breathtaking!
Then go down to the seaside by the Chemin de Nietzsche. This path (named after the German philosopher who would have found inspiration for part of his book “Thus spoke Zarathustra”) links the village to the sea. It starts at the bottom of the village, next to the entrance of the Golden Goat Castle Hotel and descends 400 m in height over two kilometres. The view is breathtaking all the way to the beach! Here you can refresh yourself in crystal clear waters, in a pretty wild setting and enjoy a picnic on the beach.
If you are not afraid of physical effort, go back up to the village to start a hike on the Mont-Bastide trail. This mountain culminates at around 570m of altitude.
On a small forest path, after a climb that will get you warmed up, you will discover the village of Eze from another angle with a breathtaking view of the Grande Bleue. It takes about thirty minutes to get to Mont-Bastide where you will enjoy an exceptional panorama of the surroundings: the Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat peninsula, La Turbie, Nice… On a clear day, you can even see Cannes!
This is my suggestion for an itinerary that will allow you to see the beauties of the Nice Côte d’Azur coastline in 5 days! Don’t hesitate to consult our other suggestions for a thematic itinerary in and around Nice!
