Sentier Littoral walk near the Monaco Border
Hiking around the coast with a multitude of variations available
One of the most varied of the Sentier Littoral routes, this starts at Plage Marquet right on the Monaco border and heads west to finish at Plage Mala going via volcanic rocks, blooming Mediterranean flowers, Belle Epoque villas and three fantastic beaches.
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What to bring
IGN map 3742OT is recommended for this walk
What to see
Sights in Monaco
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Le Jardin Exotique de Monaco
Monaco's exotic garden was opened to the public in 1933. In its prestigious, open-air setting, it brings together a wide variety of succulent plants.
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Museum of Prehistoric Anthropology
The area around the Cote d'Azur is rich in prehistoric artefacts, many of which can be found in this fascinating museum.
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Fontvieille Park & Princess Grace Rose Garden
These well-manicured gardens contain a variety of beautiful plants, trees and flowers as well as being home to the wonderful Princess Grace rose garden.
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Collection des Voitures Anciennes (Vintage Cars Collection)
Prince Rainier III was a huge car enthusiast and amassed a vast collection of vintage cars.
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Museum of Stamps and Coins, Fontvielle
There are rare philatelic specimens from the postal history of the Principality, as well as related documents used in the stamp-printing process dating back to Monaco's Prince Charles III in 1885.
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Parc Princesse-Antoinette
Created in 1917 when Prince Albert I saved the area from industrialisation and created the park to protect the olive groves.
Where to lunch
Restaurants in Monaco
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Louis XV Restaurant
Considered by many to be the finest restaurant on the Riviera, this Alain Ducasse delight has an opulent and dazzling setting in the heart of the Hôtel de Paris and holds three Michelin stars.
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Hostellerie Jerome Restaurant, La Turbie
Chef Bruno Cirino prepares Mediterranean dishes that carefully showcase the flavours of local produce. A light and creative cuisine that you can enjoy in their elegant dining room with vaulted ceilings and frescoes or their shaded terrace overlooking the sea.
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Horizon Rooftop Restaurant & Champagne Bar
Views over the Principality's legendary Opera House, Prince's Palace, and Casino - against a backdrop the azure splendour of the Mediterranean.
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Metropole Monte-Carlo Restaurant
Located in Hotel Metropole, this restaurant is lead by Executive Chef Christophe Cussac. It holds two Michelin stars.
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Le Vistamar Restaurant
Orchestrated by Chef Joël Garault, this chic restaurant offers delightful gourmet seafood.
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La Maree Restaurant
'Fish chic' restaurant in Port Hercule that is located on the sixth floor of the Port Palace Hotel, overlooking the marina.
What to do
Things To Do in Monaco
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One Week Yacht Charter Itineraries
Experience the French Riviera your way with 212 yachts, using one of their sample itineraries or with a specialised itinerary created just for you, based on what you like and don't like, as well as their own expertise.
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Cote d'Azur Luxury Motor Boat Trip
This boat trip departs from Monaco and can run for 2, 3 or 4 hours - so you can choose whether you want a quick spin along the coast or a more extended trip.
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A Day in Monaco Tour
Sit back and relax on this guided tour of the French Riviera.
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Cannes & St Tropez Luxury Motor Boat Trip
Departing from Monaco, on this trip you'll enjoy a full day of cruising along the French Riviera, visiting Monaco to Cannes to Saint Tropez and the beautiful bays and coves.
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Monaco & Monte Carlo by Night, from Monaco
Witness the glitz and glamour of Monte Carlo after dark.
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Cannes & Islands Luxury Motor Boat Trip
This is a coastal trip departing from Monaco to explore the gems of the Cote d'Azur with opportunities to swim and snorkel in the glistening Mediterranean.
Directions
Leaving Plage Marquet from its most westerly point, head to the car park nearest the Cercle Nautique. As you continue round the headland you’ll come to a signpost marked “Sentier Littoral” and indicating places such as Cap Rognoso and Plage Mala.
As you leave the beach behind you’ll find yourself on a well-kept even footpath that hugs the coastline, high walls with plants creeping up them to your right and waves crashing against rocks on your left.
After about an hour you’ll go slightly inland behind a few very ritzy villas before heading left down a staircase and back onto the seafront at La Pinede, a rugged rocky headland with dramatic scenery. You can actually swim here in the little coves in between the rocks and there are either ladders or steps in some places leading down to the water - but be careful of the conditions as it can be very choppy.
There is a good restaurant here by the same name with a fabulous terrace overlooking the sea. It’s not cheap, a simple moules frites will set you back 24€, but the fish is as fresh as it gets and the views are magnificent.
If you prefer to bring a picnic there is a great shaded area with tables and benches, free to use and very picturesque. Toilets are nearby too.
You can improve your local knowledge on this walk, as there are lots of handy little information boards about flora, fauna and geology. For example, did you know that the rocks along the waterfront are formed by chunks of the cliffs that fell during a mudslide way back in the Jurassic period and contain loads of fossils…? No? Neither did we until recently.
This section of the Sentier is a very smooth well-maintained path that could easily be done with little ones and maybe even with a pushchair (too narrow in sections for a pram though). Splendid villas line the way, including The Rock which was a favourite hideaway of the famously-reclusive actress Greta Garbo.
Continue west and when the path meets a locked gate follow the blue hiking signs up the staircase and on to the road above. Keep a keen eye out for the slightly overgrown path after 100m or so on the left that drops down to another staircase leading to Plage Mala. This is one of the Cote d’Azur’s best kept secrets and I’m loathe to share it… Small and secluded with gentle waters and two excellent restaurants, Plage Mala is a little haven tucked away beneath the Pissarelles cliffs.
After a dip and maybe a bite to eat at Plage Mala, there is the small matter of 100-or-so steps to climb to get back up to the main road where you can pick up the 100 bus back to Nice from Edmond’s.
You can do the Sentier Littoral in its entirety in about an hour and a half, or you can do it in sections. Cap d’Ail train station is just a couple of minutes walk from La Pinede, so you could use that as your start or end point and just do the Plage Mala or Plage Marquet section.
We recommend you do both at some point though, as it is a truly beautiful walk from beginning to end!
