Travelling France: Road bike tours on the Côte d'Azur - dream tours from Nice to the foothills of the Maritime Alps
Joscha Weber
· 16.03.2022
The Côte d'Azur in south-east France is one of the most beautiful stretches of the Mediterranean. It borders Marseille to the west and the Italian Riviera to the east and is part of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region. It owes its name to the poet Stéphen Liégeard, who published the book "La Côte d'Azur" in 1887 and enthused about the azure waters off the coast. Today, it is France's tourism hotspot alongside Paris. Before the pandemic, 13 million tourists came to the favourite holiday region of many French people every year. But the region offers far more than just sand and beaches. The Maritime Alps in the north make the region a challenging cycling area. To incorporate as many highlights as possible into our tours, we have chosen two locations: Tourrettes-sur-Loup in the hinterland and Nice on the coast. Both have their charm: tranquil mountain village or vibrant Mediterranean metropolis? The choice is yours.
Anyone travelling to the Côte d'Azur to cycle usually has three things on their mind: sun, sea and mountains. In this respect, it is advisable to pack not only sun cream but also a bit of shape and the right gear ratio. Our tours, some of which start right by the sea, are all challenging and lead over hills and mountains. The roads around Nice are very busy, but we have included some less frequented routes. Beyond Nice it gets quiet, sometimes really lonely - soothing compared to the hustle and bustle on the coast. Many roads are newly tarmaced, partly because the Tour de France was here. Only some of the less frequented sections in the hinterland are a little bumpier.
Tip: If you need a rest day after a strenuous day in the mountains, you can cycle along the coast and do some sightseeing: It's a flat 55 kilometres from the port of Nice to Cap d'Antibes and back - the bonus track is available with our four tours for the free download.
Best time to travel
The Côte d'Azur is a year-round destination for cyclists. However, as it can get very cold in the mountains of the hinterland in winter, we recommend travelling from March to October. Exception: July and August are usually very hot and the popular holiday destination for the French is always very crowded.
Info
French National Tourist Board
Côte d'Azur France Tourism Board (French, English)
In addition, the pages of the Tourist Board of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Region and the Nice Tourist Office Information and tips for cyclists.
