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ALPES-MARITIMES
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Recommend an establishmentAlpes-Maritimes might just be the most rewarding department in France for a motorcyclist. Within less than an hour you can go from the Promenade des Anglais to the hairpins of Col de Turini, from the azure coastline to the wild alpine meadows of the Mercantour. The terrain is extraordinary: the coast strings together panoramic corniches, and as soon as you head up into the valleys of the Vésubie, Tinée or Roya, the roads empty out and start twisting in every direction. The Col de la Bonette, one of the highest roads in Europe, the savage beauty of the Gorges du Cians carved through red schist, the perched villages of the Nice hinterland: all of this in a single department. The riding season runs from April to November at altitude, and almost year-round on the coast. Always layer up: between Nice and the Col de la Cayolle, the temperature gap can exceed twenty degrees. An extraordinary playground, as long as you keep your bike safe at night.
Landscapes
Mediterranean → Mercantour
Iconic passes
Bonette, Turini, Cayolle
Riding season
Apr. – Nov. (passes)
Alpes-Maritimes overflows with contrasts. On the coast, Nice impresses with its baroque old town, the Cours Saleya market and its iconic Promenade des Anglais. Cannes shines year-round between its Croisette boulevard, the Lérins Islands and its world-famous festivals. Antibes houses the largest Picasso museum in France inside a medieval seafront castle. Just a few kilometres inland, everything changes: Èze, an eagle's-nest village perched 400 metres above the Mediterranean, delivers breathtaking panoramic views. Saint-Paul-de-Vence draws contemporary art lovers with the Fondation Maeght, while Vence guards the Chapelle du Rosaire decorated entirely by Matisse. Deep in the valleys, the village of Saorge defies gravity on its clifftop rocks, and Tende opens the door to the Vallée des Merveilles with its Neolithic rock engravings. Grasse, the world capital of perfume, deserves an olfactory detour. In terms of nature, the Mercantour National Park teems with wolves, chamois and ibex, high-altitude lakes and pristine wilderness. And then there's Monaco, the tiny principality wedged between France and the sea, with its oceanographic museum and legendary Grand Prix.
Baroque district of colourful alleyways, a vibrant daily market and Italo-Provençal architecture typical of the old County of Nice.
Legendary seafront boulevard stretching for several kilometres along the Mediterranean, the defining symbol of the French Riviera.
Medieval hilltop village 400 m above the sea, with an exotic garden and a sweeping panoramic view over the entire Riviera coastline.
Cannes' iconic boulevard, home to the world-famous film festival, lined with grand hotels, private beaches and luxury boutiques.
Île Saint-Honorat and Sainte-Marguerite, reachable by boat from Cannes, famous for their Cistercian abbey and the Fort Royal.
16th-century medieval castle housing a remarkable collection of Picasso works created in Antibes during the summer of 1946.
Leading modern and contemporary art museum set among pine forests, with landmark sculptures by Giacometti and Miró in its gardens.
Matisse's late masterpiece, decorated entirely by the artist in 1951, a jewel of modern religious architecture.
Vast alpine park home to wolves, chamois and ibex, with high-altitude lakes and the legendary Vallée des Merveilles rock engravings.
Exceptional site with over 36,000 Bronze Age rock engravings, ranked among the most significant prehistoric sites in Europe.
Spectacular medieval village clinging to the cliff above the Roya valley, nicknamed the 'Tibetan Nice' for its vertiginous appearance.
Global perfume capital since the 17th century, with the famous Fragonard, Galimard and Molinard perfumeries open for guided tours.
Spectacular gorges carved through red schist, among the narrowest and most colourful in France, crossed by the D28 road.
Micro-principality with royal palace and mythical casino, plus an oceanographic museum founded by Prince Albert I, a must-visit landmark.
Ochre and red rock faces in a near-desert landscape evoking the American Colorado, traversed by the D902 in dramatic fashion.
Charming medieval village in the Bévéra valley with its old toll bridge and baroque cathedral, a popular stop-off point for motorcyclists.
Vauban-fortified town overlooking the Var river, with a clifftop citadel and a small motorcycle museum worth a stop.
Medieval hilltop village adorned with sundials created by renowned artists, featuring an unmatched panoramic terrace café.
Exclusive peninsula with the Villa Ephrussi and its nine themed gardens, an architectural gem of the Riviera set directly above the sea.
Roman monument from the 1st century BC overlooking Monaco and the Riviera, marking the ancient boundary between Italy and Gaul.
Few departments in France offer such a density of exceptional roads. The natural base is Nice, from which everything radiates outward. Along the coast, the three corniches (Low, Middle and Grande) link Nice to Menton with direct sea views, the Grande Corniche is the most scenic, with light traffic and corners that open onto breathtaking panoramas. Heading inland, the valleys diverge quickly: the N202 follows the Var river deep into the hinterland, then the D28 plunges into the Gorges du Cians (red schist, narrow tunnels, world-class scenery) before climbing to Valberg. The Gorges de Daluis on the D902 extend the adventure with their striking ochre rock faces. To the east, the Col de Turini road (D2566) is legendary. This 1,607 m pass hosts the Monte Carlo Rally each winter and its countless hairpins never disappoint. Higher still, the Col de la Bonette (D64) tops out above 2,800 m and stands as one of the highest roads in Europe. The Col de la Cayolle (D902) connects the Var valley to Alpes-de-Haute-Provence through spectacular Mercantour scenery. To the west, the Corniche de l'Estérel between Cannes and Théoule delivers an unforgettable contrast of turquoise sea against red volcanic rock.
Panoramic ridge road above the coast, lightly trafficked, with spectacular Mediterranean views at every bend. Pass through La Turbie and the Trophy of Augustus.
The mythical Monte Carlo Rally stage at 1,607 m. Tight hairpins through a fir forest that feels worlds away from the warm coast just below.
Gorges carved through red schist, among the narrowest in France, climbing to Valberg at 1,671 m. Spectacular scenery with minimal traffic outside weekends.
Ochre and red rock walls in a near-desert setting. A short but visually stunning section, best combined back-to-back with the Gorges du Cians.
Climb from Saint-Étienne-de-Tinée to 2,802 m, one of the highest roads in Europe. Lunar summit landscape, open June to October only.
2,326 m pass linking the Var valley to Barcelonnette. Forests, waterfalls, sweeping alpine views and generally well-maintained tarmac throughout.
Ride up toward Saint-Martin-Vésubie then over the Col de la Colmiane at 1,503 m. Easy connection to the Tinée valley via Valdeblore for a full-day loop.
Coastal road at the foot of the red Estérel massif facing turquoise waters. Panoramic bends and pure Mediterranean atmosphere, best ridden outside July and August.