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.

TOUR DE NICE | AN INSIDERS GUIDE TO THE HOME OF CAFÉ DU CYCLISTE

DINING OUT For good pizza, try Made in Sud. Like many of our recommendations, it’s in the buzzing old port area of the city, close to Café du Cyliste. Thanks to the city’s proximity to the Italy there are hundreds of pizzerias in Nice, but this one is run by a lovely Neapolitan family and makes some of the best dough and tomato sauce this side of the border. Chez Davia, meanwhile, is also close by and does high-class Niçois specialities and French bistro food. LUNCH AND LIGHT BITES Try Hely, housed in an old petrol station, and Panineria Ceresola, in the antiques quarter, for amazing paninis in fluffy home-made bread.

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!

COFFEE If you’re not near the Café du Cycliste and need a caffeine fix, head to Brume in the Old Town or Hug Café in the Jean Médecin main shopping district. If you’re out on your bike, we can recommend Nomads in Antibes, but really any cafe with a nice terrace is worth a stop – and the average coffee is 200% better once you cross the border into Italy!

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 !

Don’t forget that there are road and gravel bikes for hire at Café du Cycliste. Or just come in for a coffee and a chat and to watch all the racing action!