If you only do one day trip from Nice on your French Riviera trip, please, (please!) make it this one. I almost missed it. I only added Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat to my itinerary because I saw Caleb T. Hill’s TikTok the day before, and it ended up being the single best day of my entire trip. I’m paying it forward right here.
This is the post I wish I’d had before I went: how to get there, where to start, what the hike is actually like, where to end up with a cocktail in your hand, and how to make it back to Nice in time for dinner.
Where is Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat?
Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat is a small and gorgeous peninsula that juts into the Mediterranean just east of Nice. Itโs about a 20-minute drive or a quick bus/train/Uber & short walk from the city. It’s the kind of place where every other gate hides a villa with its own helipad, but the coastline itself is completely public, free, and walkable.
That’s the magic. You only need a swimsuit, a water bottle, and a little sense of adventure.
How to Get to Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat from Nice
The easiest options:
- Bus: The 15 line from Nice runs straight onto the peninsula. Cheapest and easiest if you’re not driving.
- Car/ Taxi / Uber: About 20 minutes from central Nice along the Basse Corniche. Parking near Paloma Beach is limited in summer, so go early.
- Bike or e-scooter: Doable for confident riders, but the road is winding.
Start at Paloma Beach
Begin your day at Paloma Beach (Plage de Paloma) on the eastern edge of the peninsula. The iconic beach club, unfortunately, just permanently closed due to constant cliff reinforcement, but you can still swim in the water. Even if you don’t plan to swim here, walk down for the view. Right away, youโll see turquoise water, a tidy little pebble beach, and sailboats parked just offshore. It’s a postcard.
The Coastal Walk (Sentier du Littoral)
This is the part nobody warned me about, and the part I can’t stop thinking about.
The Sentier du Littoral is a paved-and-pebbled path that wraps the entire peninsula. The full loop is about 6.5 km (4 miles) and takes roughly 2 to 2.5 hours at a relaxed pace, longer if you stop every 30 seconds to take a photo (you will). We did this walk on a very hot day, so it was tough for us to do the whole thing (re: halfway decision below).
You’ll see locals power-walking in real workout gear, but you can absolutely do this in flip-flops and a sundress as you walk from beach to beach, like I did. There are no scrambles, no real elevation, just a flat-ish coastal path with the Mediterranean an arm’s length to your left.
The Halfway Decision: Keep Hiking, or Cut to a Beach Club?
About halfway around the loop, you’ll come to a natural break point near Plage de la Fosse (below).
This is the spot to sit down, eat the snack you smartly packed, and make a choice:
Option A: The full loop. Keep going. The whole thing is breathtaking. You’ll wrap the southern tip and come back up the other side with views of Villefranche-sur-Mer that will live in your camera roll forever.
Option B: Cut through town to a beach club (what we did). Walk up into the village of Saint-Jean (it’s tiny, adorable, and has a few cafรฉs if you need an espresso), then head to Plage de Passable on the western side of the peninsula. This is where I ended up, and zero regrets.
End at the Beach Club
Whichever route you choose, the goal is the same: drop into a lounger, order a drink, and reward yourself.
I rented a beach chair, ordered something cold and pink, and went chair-to-water-to-chair-to-water until the sun went down. I lost count of the swims. The water in this part of the Riviera is so clear that it almost feels rude to take a photo of it.
Plage de Passable is such a perfect place to end the day. Iโd recommend this beach club to absolutely anyone and canโt wait to go back one day.
Make It Back to Nice for Dinner
Here’s the best part: the whole day is over by sunset, and you can still be back in Nice in time for dinner in the Old Town. The bus runs late and Ubers are very easy to call.
What to Pack for the Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat Coastal Walk
A quick checklist so you don’t have to think about it:
- Swimsuit (under your clothes. It saves time)
- Flip-flops or comfy sandals
- Sunscreen, hat, and sunglasses
- A reusable water bottle !!!
- A small towel
- Beach bag
- Cash + card for the beach club
- Phone (for the photos, but also: pace yourself, you’ll fill your camera roll fast)
FAQ: Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat Coastal Walk
If you do this trail, tag me! I want to see your photos. And if you found this post helpful, save it to your French Riviera Pinterest board so future you doesn’t forget.
