One of our favourite things to do en famille is head down to the seaside promenade at Cagnes sur Mer on the Côte d’Azur loaded up with bikes, rollerblades, go-karts, scooters and the PowerWing for a few hours of sea air and exercise. The pavement is wide, with a cycle lane between it and the road and it attracts all sorts of wheeled contraptions.
Families push prams and teach kids to ride their bikes, young couples rollerblade hand in hand, while others set up music and circuits to show off their prowess on wheels. Teenagers zip in and out on skateboards and waveboards, serious cyclists put their heads down and power along the cycle path, joggers jog and people of all ages mosey along.
The seafront is set up for this kind of activity from Villeneuve-Loubet to Nice, with cycle lanes and wide pedestrian paths all the way to the old town in Nice at the eastern end of the Promenade des Anglais (which by then has become the Quai des Etats Unis.)
This makes it possible to do a 15 km (one way) flat bike ride without using roads which makes it a great activity to do with children. Starting at the iconic block of flats “Marina Baie des Anges”, a controversial landmark that you either love or hate (I’m in the “love” gang), the first bit of the path is along a boardwalk next to the beach and nowhere near the road.
Continuing along here you come out at the Loup river and have to carry your bikes up the steps to the bridge. Now you’re in Cagnes sur Mer with the racetrack on your left and fabulous views of the medieval old town of Hauts de Cagnes and the mountains behind.
For the length of the beach at Cagnes the pedestrian path is wide with plenty of room for everyone and lined with cafés, snack bars, ice-cream places and restaurants for refreshments.
After passing the small fishing port at Cros de Cagnes on your right the cycle track follows close to the road for a short while in St Laurent du Var, crosses the wide Var river, passes the airport on your right and becomes wider and further from the traffic once again in Nice.
The enormous boulevard running the length of the Baie des Anges (the Bay of Angels) is the lifeline of the city of Nice, and its wide seafront pavement is where residents and visitors come out to play but it’s funny to think it wasn’t always this way. Nice was originally built facing north, the sea of little interest and the shoreline itself just a little track with the railway line running along the coast.
It was the English aristocracy who invented the art of promenading by the sea, taking the air, in the nineteenth century when they started spending winters on the Côte d’Azur, hence the name la Promenade des Anglais.
Cycling along the Prom you really appreciate the sense of space and vastness of this urban bay. The beach is an 8 kilometre stretch of pale grey pebbles and bright turquoise water. The colours are so intense it’s not hard to see why so many artists have been inspired here. I never tire of the Prom with its magnificent palm trees, white pergolas, blue metal chairs (for contemplating the beautiful azure sea) and luxurious palaces.
It all feels so exotic and somehow further away than southern France. I feel like I’m on holiday every time I go to Nice and yet I only live half an hour away. I’m inspired to take photos in every different light, I’m never without my camera, and wish I could paint to capture its magic. I know I’m lucky to live here!
But back to the bike ride, if 30 kms (there and back) is too far, not to worry, you can rent a bike one way using Lime or Pony hire-by-the-hour public bikes as there are stations to be found the length of this ride. Then just hop on the bus back to where you started.
There is a place to hire children’s bikes and pedal-karts for whole families in Cagnes sur Mer (on the corner of the seafront and Bld Kennedy).
Cycling or walking along the seafront is something that can be enjoyed by all ages in all seasons; on a sunny winter’s day you get views across to the snowy Alps and on a hot summer’s day you can cool off in the sea. Do you see now why it’s one of our favourite activities?
If you’re looking for more things to do in Nice and the Côte d’Azur I recommend these related articles:
Top 10 things to do with children on the Côte d’Azur
28 reason to holiday on the Côte d’Azur with toddlers
5 free things to do with kids in Nice
Why not PIN it for later!
Hi Phoebe
Great Blog. I and my wife often go there and we love Nice. We’re from the UK and we’re well travelled.
Cheers, Ian Robinson
How could you possibly hate Marina Baie des Anges! It’s a beautiful building and I’m a fan of the greenery as well. Looks like you and your family had a blast. #farawayfiles
What a fun activity to have right on your doorstep, Phoebe! Looks like a fantastic way of spending a couple of hours. Thanks for sharing on #FarawayFiles
SO beautiful! What a treat to live so close to that amazing coastline. Even in the winter it looks like a great place to be. #farawayfiles
They’re amazingly hard work to ride I find but then maybe it’s because my family of 4 is rather heavy now (Teen = 17 and not small!) When are you coming Katy?????
It might be grey but you have hygge!!!
Yes Sally, that is a powerwing and it’s great exercise for hips and waist as you wiggly your bum to move it!
Sign me up for this activity when we are there Phoebe. I love those surreys or four wheeler bikes. We rode them around Lucca and our kids thought they were hilarious sitting at the front while we rode them around. Cant wait to have a dip in those turquoise seas.. ahhh la France #farawayfiles
It is amazing how blue the water of the Cote d’Azure really is (and well named!), and the Prom in Nice is so picturesque. I like the look of those three wheel things – is that a powerwing? Obviously don’t know what either is. Excellent post!
Yummy. Love the idea of cycling by the water. That blue blue blue water. Gorgeous Phoebe! Definitely pining for this now! Cheers from much greyer Copenhagen, Erin
It is flat and easy, unlike the hills around our gîte!
There’s so much to do in this area Lolo, I hope you get here soon.
Ahhh the water is soooo blue! I’ve been dying to do to the Côte d’Azur and many of the other towns in this area! Maybe next year! Looks so fun! #FarawayFiles
So many different options for a fantastic day out in the fresh air, hiring bikes is a great idea for visitors and it looks like flat, easy cycling – my kind! Thanks for sharing with #FarawayFiles
The horse is at the entrance to the Côte d’Azur racetrack which is opposite the seafront in Cagnes sur Mer.
Brilliant photos as always phoebe but where is that horse?
The 30 km ride sounds like the perfect challenge for my family. I think all the kids would rise to the challenge knowing they could have a dip in the sea or an ice cream for energy – both more appealing than the bribes we try dolling out when on family bike rides in Yorkshire!
Yes, happy children = happy parents! Thanks for commenting Richard 🙂
A paradise for kids, and therefore even more so for their parents.
Thanks for all your lovely comments and compliments about my photos. I’m just so lucky to have such beautiful light here that really helps with photography.
Your pictures are great and give you a real sense of being on holiday by the seaside! Really interesting!
Wonderful family activity, Phoebe! Every summer our family participates in a family bike ride. It’s 10-15 km through a park. It’s a superb day to spend out in the beautiful weather and also so much worthwhile as all benefits go to charity. You reminded me of that with your post!
LOVE all your pictures! I can’t wait for Spring to get here so we can enjoy all the fun outdoor activities like biking and rollerblading!