TOUR DE NICE | AN INSIDERS GUIDE TO THE HOME OF CAFÉ DU CYCLISTE
The Tour de France is coming to town in the summer of 2024, and we’ll be showing the race every day on our big projector screen. The Étape du Tour is being held in Nice too, but in truth cyclists are always coming here – for the Nice Ironman, a cycling boot camp or simply a weekend’s riding. For the best cycling out of town, you can find our riding guide to the Alpes-Maritimes here, and our gravel guide here, but here’s a few other things to do in town and further afield.
TOURIST SIGHTS A stroll along the Promenade des Anglais is always a treat, and the colline du château (castle hill) in between the port and the old town has great views. The Cours Saleya flower market can be charming, but for a real working market with great fruit and vegetables head to the marché de la Libération at the Libération tram stop every morning from Tuesday to Saturday. And if you want a dip, head away from the main beach and swim with the locals off the rocks and in little coves just around the corner at the Plage de la Réserve.
ICE CREAM Showing the Italian influence, most of the good ice cream in town is gelato. Fennochio in the Old Town is a favourite, and has a vast range of flavours. Arlequin, near the main train station in the Libération area, is perhaps even better, and it has the best chocolate ice cream in the world.
DRINKS There are a thousand terraces to sit on in Nice, but for classy wine there’s Les Oeillets bar à vin. And the Brasserie de Castillon has a good selection of local craft beer from the passionate owner of a local brewery. It does very good food too!
BOULANGERIES France wouldn’t be France without a world-class baguette, and our favourites include Les Petits Marchands in the port and Bakery Jean Marc Bordonnat nearby. If you’re out riding, try Saines Sauveurs in La Turbie, Boulangerie Alexis in Levens and Pan d’Aqui in L’Escarène for a sugary tart or a savoury snack.
HIKING Take the bus up into the Mercantour National Park from the Grand Arénas stop for a wide range of hiking routes. Saint–Étienne–de–Tinée, Isola 2000 and Roquebilière (for a shuttle up to the Gordolasque valley) are good starting places, and the bus only costs €1.70 for a single ticket (find the timetables here). Alternatively, the sentier littoral (coastal path) leads eastwards from Nice to Monaco and beyond – pick it up at the plage de la Réserve. Or the Sentier Nietzsche (Nietszche path) takes you straight up from Èze-sur-Mer (where there’s a train station) to the picturesque Èze village high up on the cliffs. It’s also good for trail running !
