Vigier Park
Located close to the city’s harbour, this park stretches over a surface of 1 hectare.
A short leisurely hike near Coco beach
One of the shorter & more accessible Sentier Littoral walks
This is the shortest and most easily accessible of the Sentier Littoral walks; making it easy to fit into a quiet afternoon when you want to escape the hustle and bustle of Nice town.
The Coco-Beach restaurant was founded in 1936 by Jean-Baptiste Coco. Around 1930, JB Coco was a sponge wholesaler which he imported untreated from Greece and Italy. He would was the sponges in his shack next to the sea where his restaurant lies today. The locals would come to watch him work and he started grilling fish for them, to be washed down with rose.
At the end of the Second World War, English sailors based in Nice and American Sailors based in Villefranche sur mer came to see Coco, who made them pan bagnat, and grilled the fish he had caught. This made Coco Beach very popular and became part of Nice history.
Jump to
What to bring
IGN map 3742OT is recommended for this walk
What to see
Sights in Nice
See all Sights in Nice-
-
Galerie Lympia Cultural Gallery
The former prison building and clock pavilion in the port of Nice have recently been renovated to include several exhibition spaces and galleries for the public to enjoy.
-
Musee de Paleontologie Humaine de Terra Amata
The museum of palaeontology is located on the excavation site of the Terra Amata where there is evidence of human inhabitation going back 400,000 years.
-
Parc du Mont Boron
Looming protectively over the exclusive Cap de Nice area, the Parc du Mont Boron is a hilltop forest with picnic areas, olive trees, exercise circuits, hiking trails, boules pitches and a 16th-century castle. Sitting on the crest of a hill just over 190m high, Parc du Mont Boron looks over Nice to one side and Villefranche-Sur-Mer to the other - if you hike up to Fort Alban you can enjoy sweeping panoramic views from the Cap Ferrat peninsula in the east all the way to the Esterel mountains in the west.
-
Colline du Chateau
Named Castle Hill in French, the ancient Greeks first chose to settle on this site several millennia ago.
-
Tour Bellanda
Guarding the Bay of Angels, this 19th-century tower is where composer Hector Berlioz created the opening of the famous King Lear overture in 1831, whilst staying here.
Where to lunch
Restaurants in Villefranche-sur-Mer
See all Restaurants in Villefranche-sur-Mer-
Maison Gusto Restaurant
Located between the Port and Place Garibaldi, Maison Gusto restaurant is a must for lovers of burger in Nice.
-
Salon de The de la Villa Ephrussy de Rotschild, St-Jean-Cap-Ferrat
Set in the room that Béatrice Ephrussi de Rothschild’s used as a dining room, the tea room/restaurant's terrace overlooks the Bay of Villefranche. All day, you can break for a delicious snack in this calm oasis with an unrestricted view of the bay.
-
Jan Restaurant
Modern French food with a touch of South African heritage. From childhood Jan used to spend most of his time in the garden and kitchen and has replaced this with the markets of France. With his new restaurant in the old Port of Nice he is not only out to set the trends but to combine local with a stylish and attentive atmosphere.
-
L'Aparte Restaurant
The restaurant is situated on the end of the Rue Obscure, a 13th century covered way.
-
Le Cosmo Restaurant & Cocktail Bar
In a relaxed family atmosphere, the restaurant Cosmo offers a variety of traditional, Mediterranean and French cuisine.
-
La Table du Royal Restaurant, St-Jean-Cap-Ferrat
Chef Bruno Le Bolch takes you on a journey of the senses that is a delight to the eye and the taste buds.
What to do
Things To Do in Villefranche-sur-Mer
See all Things To Do in Villefranche-sur-Mer-
-
Provençal Tasting Tour, from Nice
A taste of traditional Provencal Nissarde cuisine, wine, and olives.
-
Parasailing, Villefranche Sur Mer
Fly at 50 metres above the sea by yourself or with friends security attached, enjoy a spectacular view of the gorgeous Baie des Anges, mountains and surroundings.
-
Nice Diving School
Nice Diving unveils to its clients the underwater marvels of the Mediterranean ocean along the shores of the Cote d'Azur.
-
Club Nautique de Nice
Rowing, power boating and sailing. Whether you are a beginner or an expert, whether you prefer a leisure or competitive approach, the club offers its resources, its equipment, its fleet (except for power boating).
-
Bikram Yoga
Classes of bikram yoga's 26 postures take place in a heated classroom every day in the port area of Nice. English speaking Yoga instructors.
Directions
The route starts just after the Port at Jardin Felix Rainaud on Avenue Jean Lorraine; it’s not so much a garden as a small lookout point shaded by pine trees and popular with anglers.
You’ll immediately see the path heading off to the west, skirting round the rocky coves of Coco Beach. Look up to your left and you’ll see the blue canopy of the restaurant of the same name, opened by Jean-Baptiste Coco in 1936.
The path is easy to follow and it’s impossible to stray and get lost; there are small detours here and there that take you around mini-peninsulars but they all rejoin the main path.
Keep an eye out for dolphins, they can sometimes be spotted once you get a bit further away from the beaches! There are information boards along the route showing you which creatures and plants to look for in the area, they are in French but with pictures so you can figure it out.
The signpost at the start of the walk also references the Basse Corniche and Mont Boron; they are not signposted after this point though and you have to leave the coastal path via a long steep flight of stairs to get to them, so they can done as a separate hike if you don’t have time.
Shortly after this turn-off there is another staircase leading down to a rather ugly concrete bathing platform with ladders leading to the water. You can’t go any further than this point and as it is the least attractive part of the walk we recommend turning back once it comes into view. It also seems to be a unofficial nudist sunbathing spot, primarily frequented by leathery old men - which is why we haven’t included any photos of it!
