Cycling holidays in winter: Cycling from Nice along the Côte d'Azur
Text: Kerstin Börß
Glorious light, empty cycle paths and plenty of stops with warm drinks: cycling in winter has many beautiful facets that are worth discovering. This applies to the routes on your own doorstep, which change with the seasons, as well as to cycle tours in other regions. To make sure your bike doesn't get stuck in the cellar this winter, we've put together a few cycling travel tips here to inspire you to plan your holiday or simply to daydream. How about the south of France on the Côte d'Azur, for example?
No matter where you are cycling this winter, you should of course check the weather and the condition of the paths and roads before setting off. Because even where mild temperatures usually prevail, there are sometimes more uncomfortable days in winter. Then, for once, the bike can be parked for a short time and the regional delicacies can be savoured. As many of the regions are close to the sea or mountains, a good rain jacket should always be in your bike bag. In the best case scenario, it will stay there untouched for the entire holiday.
Cycling holidays in winter: Always by the sea along the Côte d'Azur
Nice has the title "Winter holiday resort on the Riviera" and is therefore a UNESCO World Heritage Site. That may sound strange at first. After all, when you think of the Côte d'Azur, you think first and foremost of hot summer days by the sea. But in history, Nice was primarily known for being a glamorous refuge for Europe's nobility from the northern countries in search of a mild winter. Luxury hotels and palaces sprang up. The legacy of this aristocratic wave of tourism can still be recognised in the cityscape. Today you can follow in the footsteps of the crowned heads - but not in noble carriages, preferably on a bicycle. Because the aristocracy was right about one thing back then: the winter around Nice is fabulous.
Instead of wearing a down jacket and thick gloves, you can cycle along the coast with a waistcoat and the sun on your back. You can cycle along the water to Antibes, for example - another pretty town right on the Mediterranean. It's a good 40 kilometres there and back. In the hinterland of Nice, there are also some mountains waiting for those cyclists who fancy a large portion of altitude metres.
The mixture of pleasant temperatures and varied training terrain naturally also attracts many professionals to the region. Tour de France champion Tadej Pogačar and Olympic mountain bike champion Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, among others, live on the Côte d'Azur. If you prefer to stroll through Nice on holiday and only want to hop on a bike in between, you can make use of the numerous city rental bikes. These can be found all over the city, waiting for your next excursion.
Information about a cycling holiday on the Côte d'Azur
- General: explorenicecotedazur.com/en. If you are travelling to Nice by train, you can reserve a bike space on many express trains.
- Chic cycling gear and coffee at the Café du Cycliste right on the harbour in Nice.
- Tip: As a snack after the bike tour, be sure to try the local speciality socca.
