Basse, Moyenne or Grande Corniche: Which One to Ride by Scooter?

Between Nice and Monaco, three roads are stacked up the mountainside like the tiers of a theatre facing the sea. Locals simply call them the three corniches. At the bottom, the sea within reach. In the middle, the hilltop villages. At the very top, the ridge road and its dizzying panoramas. Whether you want to ride the Grande Corniche by scooter, cruise the Basse at water level or reach Èze by the Moyenne, here is how to choose, and on which scooter.

The three corniches at a glance

All three roads link Nice to Menton, passing above Monaco. If you plan to ride into the Principality, remember that it is possible only with MatMonScoot's prior written authorisation: ask for it when you book.

The Basse Corniche: the sea within reach

This is the road for swimmers and dawdlers. Starting from Port Lympia, it skirts Mont Boron, drops down to the bay of Villefranche, runs through Beaulieu and its wind-sheltered "Petite Afrique", then heads on to Èze-sur-Mer and Cap-d'Ail. You stop every three kilometres, take a swim, have a coffee on a terrace.

Its downside: traffic, heavy in summer and at rush hour. Its strength: it is ideal for a 50cc, since the speed limit is mostly 50 km/h. The full stop-by-stop details are in our route from Nice to Monaco by scooter along the Basse Corniche.

The Moyenne Corniche: Èze and sea-view balconies

Built later than its two sisters, in the early 20th century, to relieve the coast road, the Moyenne Corniche is carved into the rock halfway up the slope. It leaves Nice via the Col de Villefranche, offers plunging views over the bay and Cap Ferrat, then leads straight to Èze village.

Perched at around 430 m on its rocky peak, Èze is one of the most spectacular villages on the Riviera. The historic centre is pedestrian only: leave your scooter in the two-wheeler bays at the foot of the village, then climb the lanes to the Jardin Exotique, created in 1949 on the ruins of the old castle. On a clear day the view stretches all the way to the Saint-Tropez peninsula.

The road is wide but fast, with stretches where cars travel well above the pace of a 50cc. A 125cc feels far more relaxed here, especially with a passenger.

The Grande Corniche by scooter: the ridge road

Commissioned by Napoleon I and partly following the line of an ancient Roman road, the Grande Corniche runs along the heights, more than 400 m above the sea. Fewer villas, more sky: this is the road of panoramas, the one you choose for the sheer pleasure of riding.

The Col d'Èze

At around 507 m, the Col d'Èze is a legendary spot for cyclists and a regular feature of the Paris-Nice race. It gives access to the Parc départemental de la Grande Corniche, with its pine woods, trails and picnic areas.

The Fort de la Revère

Standing at 696 m, this fort, built after the defeat of 1870 as part of the Séré de Rivières defensive system, offers one of the finest viewpoints on the coast: Èze village at your feet, Cap Ferrat, and on a clear day a view stretching from Italy to the Esterel. The interior is closed to visitors, but the surroundings are freely accessible, with waymarked discovery trails.

La Turbie and the Trophy of Augustus

A few kilometres further on, the village of La Turbie overlooks Monaco from around 500 m. Its Trophy of Augustus, raised around 6 BC to celebrate the conquest of the Alpine tribes, is a Roman monument unlike any other. Its restored remains still stand about 35 m tall, and the site is managed by the Centre des monuments nationaux. From the terrace, the Principality looks like a scale model set on the sea.

50cc or 125cc: our recommendation

Let us be honest: a 50cc limited to 45 km/h can technically climb the corniches, but long gradients, fast traffic and the weight of a passenger make it hard work. Our advice:

• Basse Corniche: a 50cc such as the black and white Riviera 50, from 35 euros a day, does the job perfectly.
• Moyenne and Grande Corniche, Èze village, La Turbie: the Milano 125 is the obvious choice. It keeps its pull on the climbs, overtakes a bus safely and stays stable two-up through the hairpins.

For the 125cc, you generally need an A1, A2 or A motorcycle licence, or a car licence held for at least two years plus France's 7-hour training course. Special cases for UK, US and EU riders are covered in our guide Do you need a licence to rent a scooter in France?, and feel free to ask us before you book.

Our ideal three corniches loop

To sample all three levels in half a day, here is a loop of about 40 to 45 km from Nice, best done on a 125cc.

1. Nice, up the Grande Corniche km 0

   Leave Nice to the east, following signs for the Grande Corniche. The road climbs quickly above the city, passes close to the Observatoire de la Côte d'Azur and gives you your first views over the Baie des Anges.

2. Col d'Èze and Fort de la Revère approx. 12 km, 25 min

   Stop at the pass, then detour through the park to the Revère viewpoint. Best time: the morning, when the haze lifts off the sea.

3. La Turbie approx. 17 km, 35 min

   Visit the Trophy of Augustus and take in the view straight down onto Monaco. Then turn back towards the Col d'Èze.

4. Èze village via the Moyenne Corniche approx. 25 km, 50 min

   From the pass, a small winding road drops down to Èze village. Park at the foot of the village, walk up to the Jardin Exotique and take your time over lunch with a view.

5. Back along the Basse Corniche approx. 40 to 45 km in total

   Ride down to Èze-sur-Mer, then return to Nice along the sea through Beaulieu and Villefranche. The afternoon sun makes the bay sparkle: time for one last photo stop.

Prefer a slower day by the water? Our Cap Ferrat and Èze day trip mixes the Basse and Moyenne Corniche with beaches and gardens.

A few tips before you head for the heights

• Fill up in Nice: petrol stations are few and far between on the Grande Corniche.
• On hairpin bends, brake before the turn, never in it, and watch out for cyclists coming downhill.
• Even in summer, a light jacket is welcome on the ridges at the end of the day.
• Avoid weekends with major events in Monaco, when traffic becomes very heavy all the way up the corniches.

For more background, see the presentation of the three corniches by the Nice Côte d'Azur tourist office.