Nice to Toulon
This trip goes along the coast with magnificent viewpoints to the open blue sea. In the summer season, a lot of tourists visit Cote d’Azur, and there is a lot of traffic. Our bike tours have therefore been from October to April. Many hotels are closed in winter, but the climate is pleasant, and good accomodations and restaurants are still quite easy to find. We have hired bicycles from Holiday bikes.
Day 1. Nice to Miramar (49 km, map link)
Let us start on Promenade d’Anglais near the world famous Hotel Negresco (which offers a less expensive half board price in winter).
There is a nice cycling path along Promenade de Anglais, continuing along the main road through Cagnes-sur-Mer to Antibes. The speed limit for cyclists on the promenade of Cagnes-sur-mer is only10 km/hour.
From Antibes to Golfe-Juan, roads are shared with cars. After Golfe-Juan, a nice cycling path takes you to Cannes, where beautiful paths for walking and cycling are found along the sea. For example Le Bistrot Gourmand may be chosen for lunch.
Out of Cannes towards Mandelieu, Theole-sur-Mer and Miramar there is a narrow cycling path along the main road, or the road is shared with cars. Hotel Tiara Yaktsa or Hotel Tiara Miramar can be recommended for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 2. Miramar to Beauvallon (50 km, map link)
Continuing from Miramar, we go along the famous Corniche d’Or road to the red cliffs of Esterel, where the view is fantastic and stops must be made.
The road along the coast continues to Bay d’Agay, Saint-Raphaël and Port Frejus. A nice bike path can then be followed to Hotel Van der Valk in Saint-Aygulf, which is conveniently placed for a lunch stop.
From the parking of Hotel Van der Valk, a bike path named ‘Avenue du Train des Pignes’ goes south parallel to the main road (D559). Continue on Boulevard Lucien Boeuf and Avenue Alexis Carrel down to the cycling path along D559, which leads to Allée Ancien Train des Pignes continuing to Les Issambres.
From Les Issambres to Sainte-Maxime, cyclists have to share the main road with cars, utilizing sidewalks when suitable. From Sainte-Maxime, take the cycling path on the seaside of the road to Plage Les Gabians. Hotel Villa Les Rosiers, can be recommended for overnight stay.
To use more days in this area can be recommended. Saint-Tropez, as well as the old villages Ramatuelle, Gassin and Grimaud and the beaches near by, are worth visiting.
3. Beauvallon to Rayol-Canadel-sur-Mer (40 km, map link)
Take the cycling path at the seaside of the main road (D559), which turns left towards Saint-Tropez on smaller roads and continues along the left side of the main road. In Saint-Tropez, you may continue along the sea and then turn south along Rue Sibille, Rue Gambetta, Chemin de Sainte-Anne and Route des Plages (D93). A detour to the sea (along Boulevard Patch), to make a lunch stop at Le Club 55, may be a good idea.
Contuing southwest on D93, turn left along Route de Collebasse over the hill (still D93) and turn south along Boulevard de Sylvabelle to Boulevard du Littoral. Then continue southwest on D559, to find a bicycle path on the seaside (Ancienne Voie du Chemin de Fer de Provence) ending in Cavalaire-sur-Mer.
After passing west through Cavalaire-sur-Mer, turn left from D559 on Chemin Pierre Foncin, which goes through an old railway tunnel and continues as a bike path (marked ‘Toulon-Ste.Maxime’ on Strava). Go on to Rayol-Canadel, where Hotel Bailli de Suffren or Hotel Terrasses du Bailli can be recommended for overnight stay.
Day 4. Rayol-Canadel-sur-Mer to Toulon (57 km, map link)
On the western side of Rayol Canadel, the Toulon-Ste.Maxime bike path continues to Le Lavandou, parallel to and crossing D559.
Towards west from Le Lavandou, ‘Chemin du train des Pignes’ reappears on the right side of D559 after a roundabout, continuing along D98 and D559A to La Londe des Maures, where for example Le Cigale de la Londe may be chosen for a lunch stop.
Continue west past Les Salins de Hyères, take D12 to the left and find a new bicycle path parallel to the sea going to Le Port de Hyères. Continue west across the peninsula, and leave Hyères on the cycling path along the main road (again D559).
From Hyères to Toulon, there are several ‘Pistes cycleables’ marked with entrance and exit portals close to the main road. The last piste into Toulon passes through the forest, and ends up in a street with a marked bicycle path going towards the centre of Toulon.
There are many options for accomodation in Toulon (OKKO Hotel Toulon Centre might be a good choice). Among several other cycling and sightseeing options at the present part of the coast, the islands south of Hyéres may be mentioned.
We would recommend to go back to Nice the same route. It is also possible to go back by train.