About Cycling in Nice and the Cote d'Azur
For information on individual itineraries see our cycling routes.
Cycling is France’s most beloved pastime with 3.5 million of the population watching Le Tour de France each year. The Cote d’Azur is an excellent area for cycling; the terrain varies from flat and coastal to steep and mountainous, road surfaces are usually good and many towns have dedicated cycle lanes. There are a few recognised itineraries that are marked out with road signs - however, we’ve yet to find a decent guidebook for them, so until we manage to ride and document them all you would be best asking locally for your nearest routes.
Getting high up amongst the mountain passes is one of the best ways to explore the area - Nice is about far more than lazing on beaches and drinking rosé (although we do a fair bit of that too, just for balance). As you pedal your way through the mountains, gorges and medieval villages you’ll come across local produce such as olives, grapes, figs and lemons - some on farmland, much of it growing wild. You’ll smell the fragrant scents of lavender, eucalyptus and pine on the breeze. And, if you fall off, you’ll discover that many varieties of cactus thrive in this hot humid climate!
Most French people have at some point donned a pair of lycra shorts and mounted a bike with curly handlebars - so you’ll usually find most motorists to be courteous towards cyclists. You’ll often get a merry wave from passers-by and, particularly in this region, you’ll see many others astride the iron horse ready with a nod of camaraderie as you pass on the opposite side of the road.
Read Our Guide