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1 coastal walk on the Mediterranean & 1 between 2 towns in the hills of the Côte d’Azur:

The French Riviera or the Côte d’Azur – as it is also called – is the Mediterranean coastline in France’s southeast corner. This “Azure Coast” has been one of the country’s most popular travel destinations, and this since the late 1800s. The stretch of land extending from Saint-Tropez in the west to the France-Italy border in the east is known as the playground for the rich and famous. While you usually come here for the beaches, it is also possible to do walks in the area. While there are also such ones on the French Riviera coast, there are more options in the hilly hinterland. You can even combine walking and exploring as there are lots of picturesque towns in the Côte d’Azur hills. Here are two top walks in the French Riviera that are worth doing – and quite easy at the same time.

Before diving into this subject, a few more lines about the French Riviera and the exact area that I checked out as to walking opportunities.

About the French Riviera resp. Côte d’Azur

I already mentioned that the area between Saint-Tropez and the France-Italy border is called French Riviera resp. Côte d’Azur. But you have to know that there is no official boundary on the west side. Some say it is Saint-Tropez, others claim that it goes further west to Le Lavandou or even to Toulon. Be it as it may, it is for sure a beautiful coast.

Tourism started early here. Britons came here already at the end of the 18th century. Not much time later, the Russians joined them. Then, in the first half of the 1900s, the French Riviera developed to a magnet for artists and writers. And finally, since the second half of the 20th century, it has become a popular seaside destination attracting French people from the north yet also tourists from all over the world. With its popularity, prices for staying and dining have climbed to dizzying heights, especially during summer. And getting around in this time has become a nightmare.

Notwithstanding the above facts, it is still a worthwhile destination to go, but avoid traveling here in July and August. The area is much too busy in summer time. And go inland every now and then. It is worth this effort. If you like walking, all the better. This allows you to avoid the crowds.

Now to the exact part where you find these two top walks in the French Riviera my husband and I did. On our recent north Italy/south France trip, we stayed two days in the region, and this in Vence near Nice resp. Antibes. Therefore, we picked out one walk in Vence

and one on the nearby Cap d’Antibes, on the water’s edge.

About Vence, near Nice & Antibes, & surroundings

Vence is a historic town in the French Riviera hills and belongs to the Métropole Nice Côte d’Azur. You reach this pretty medieval walled commune in half an hour by car from either Nice or Antibes. Alternatively, you get here by train and bus from these two cities, changing in Cagnes-sur-Mer.

As to Cap d’Antibes, you probably find more millionaires here than elsewhere on the French Riviera. It really is a wonderful spot and at the same time relatively close to Nice and Cannes. There are lots of beautiful properties on site, most of them behind fences. In terms of beaches, you are not spoilt for choice, due to the rocky coast.

Two top walks around Vence and Antibes

While the first walk starts in Vence itself, the other is near Antibes, the oldest town on the Côte d’Azur. The tour in Vence brings you to the area’s tourist hotspot, the small village of Saint-Paul-de-Vence.

The other trail involves a ten-minute drive from Antibes. Precisely, you have to head to Cap d’Antibes, to Plage de la Garoupe.

1. Vence to Saint-Paul-de Vence (easy to medium walk)

Vence – Saint-Paul-de-Vence – Vence

Duration: 2 hours / Ascent: 201 m/660 ft. / Lenght: 5.8 km/3.6 mi, inspired by Outdooractive

This tour is a great way to explore two lovely towns, Vence

on the one hand and Saint-Paul-de-Vence on the other hand. Both of them go back to the Middle Ages and still have their fortress walls. While the former is a pleasant small town, not especially geared to travelers, the latter is a popular tourist destination. The village of Saint-Paul-de-Vence

is smaller than Vence and seems to consist almost only of galleries, souvenir shops and restaurants.

Before you start your walk, have a look around the medieval walled center of Vence. Afterwards, head to the Place du Maréchal Juin to access to the trailhead. It leads first through inhabited area, before you come to a forest. After crossing Le Malvan creek, go straight ahead. Take the first turn to the left and walk until you reach a paved road. Turn into it and follow it to the next crossing. Turn left and just afterwards take the path on your right side that leads parallel to the paved route to Saint-Paul-de-Vence.

Either go on until you reach this popular village or make a short detour to the Fondation Maeght

first. This is a private museum of modern art. A visit is well worth for lovers of 20th-century arts

and modern architecture (building). The path going to Saint-Paul-de-Vence ends at the Chapelle Sainte-Claire.

From here, you are steps away from the stunning yet somewhat over-touristed village.

After having a look around, go back the same way to Vence or take an alternative route as my husband and I did. When returning, pass the Chapelle Sainte-Claire and walk along the Route de Vence until a path turns right. After some time, it leads along the Malvan creek. At this point, you have two possibilities. Either go the path all the way along the creek until you turn into the trail described before (to Saint-Paul-de-Vence). Alternatively, turn right, crossing a bridge,

as we did. This brings you to the Ancien Chemin de Saint-Paul. Make your way back to Vence’s town center (Chemin de la Pouiraque – Route de Cagnes – Chemin du Camp – Avenue du Colonel Meyere).

2. Le Sentier du Littoral on the Cap d’Antibes (easy walk)

Plage de la Garoupe (Cap d’Antibes) – Bay of Antibes Billionaires – Plage de la Garoupe (Cap d’Antibes)

Duration: 1 ½ hours / Ascent: 61 m/200 ft. / Length: 4.7 km/2.9 mi, inspired by Outdooractive

The starting point is Plage de la Garoupe, one of the few beaches in the area. There is a large parking lot where you can leave your car. When reaching the water front, turn right. Pass the beach club and turn left into the Sentier du Littoral Tirepoil.

From here, you always walk along the rugged coast, which is beautiful with great views of the Mediterranean. But be prepared, you will be not on you own as the path is popular.

Follow the trail to its very end, where you find the splendide Bay of Antibes Billionaires.

If you have some time left, visit Villa Eilen Roc – we sadly had to give it a pass. To return to the start, walk along Avenue Mrs Beaumont. When you reach Avenue de la Tour Gandolphe to your right, take it and walk until the next crossing. Here turn into Anvenue André Sella to reach Plage de la Garoupe again. From the point where you leave the trail you cross a very rich neighborhood, although most of it is befind fences. Therefore, there is not much to see. If you do the trail on a not so busy time (the path is narrow), I would consider returning along the coast again.

Looking back and forward

On our 11-day trip through northern Italy and south of France we had two stays in Piedmont, one in this region’s north near Switzerland (hotel/activities) and one near Alba in the Langhe wine area (hotel/activities). After that, we headed to Liguria on the Italian Riviera (hotel/activities) before crossing the border to France. Here we had two stops, one in the French Riviera hills (hotel/2 walks) and the other in the Provence. On our way back to Switzerland we made one more halt south of Lyon. Wherever we went, we wanted to stay and dine in style. That means we chose luxury hotels and Michelin fine dining as long as they offered value for money.

Next on my blog, you will learn about a premium hotel in the Provence (in Paradou) and a walk my husband and I did from here to Les Baux-de-Provence, one of the most visited villages in the area.