Hikes in Nice - Côte d'Azur

Thanks to its protected location, Nice is one of the warmest places on the Côte d'Azur. Over the past centuries, many kings and artists have appreciated this and returned to Nice time and again. Russian tsars stayed here, as did the English Queen Victoria. The writer Alexandre Dumas was one of the regulars. The splendid B&B architecture of bygone days still bears witness to glorious, bygone times. Hikes are possible here in early spring and also in late autumn. Then you can experience Provence from its tranquil side and the port of Nice also becomes quieter.

Nice is characterised by its extreme diversity. The urban area is made up of 51 municipalities spread over three geographical areas: the coast, the midlands and the peaks of the highlands.The climate, with more than 300 days of sunshine a year, the rich heritage of the city, the high villages and the highest peak in the region, the Mercantour at 3143 m, make Nice a unique destination for outdoor activities such as hiking.

The metropolis of Nice on the Côte d'Azur offers you a variety of hiking tours with incredible panoramas of the sea and the mountains. On many hiking trails you will encounter historical treasures of the region. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced hiker, there's something for everyone here: whether it's a hike to the top of the Baou des Blancs, where you can immerse yourself in the history of the Baous, or a hike to the village of Utelle.

Excellently developed hiking trails along the coast and inland make unique hikes possible, for example to the film city of Cannes or to Antibes, one of the oldest cities on the blue coast of France, which was founded by the Greeks as Antipolos in 340 BC. From Nice you can hike through lavender fields to the Verdon Gorge or take a boat trip to Saint-Tropez. Excursions to Monaco and Monte Carlo are also possible.

Nice itself offers everything that people who love France appreciate. That's why you should devote a few hours to the city itself and enjoy its unique charm at night, including French wines and French cuisine. One of the most impressive hikes in the city is around Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat on the Rock Trail.

A visit to the Mercantour National Park (Parc national du Mercantour) is not to be missed during your holiday in Southern France. From Nice you can easily get to the Maritime Alps by bus. The route goes north towards St Martin and on to Roquebillière, then to the village of Belvédère and St Grat. Here you will find yourself in a wonderfully quiet alpine landscape, where the tranquillity is only interrupted by the Cascade du Ray waterfall. The circular hike to the Cascade du Piolart and the Plateau de Sestrière is also highly recommended and not difficult.

On a long-distance hiking trail you can even hike from Lake Geneva to Nice. Such hiking tours are something for experienced hikers, of which you are certainly one. The well-signposted GR5 long-distance hiking trail starts at Lake Geneva and leads through the magnificent Swiss mountains to Chamonix at the foot of Mont Blanc. You hike a total of six full days from the Valais through the craggy rock formations of the Limestone Alps to the highest mountain in the Alps.

If you have enough time, you can take extra tours in the Limestone Alps, such as a valley hike to Le Bout Monde, the end of the world. You will spend the night on the Alps in rustic huts. Every day a new view will take your breath away and you will hardly believe it when you finally stand on the beach of Nice.