Sports and outdoors in the Cote d'Azur, our guide of sports and outdoor activities for adults and families in the Cote d Azur. The Cote d’Azur has the unique advantage of Mediterranean coast and varied mountain ranges including the southern Alps.
Golf in the Cote d’Azur. There are numerous excellent golf courses all along the Cote d’Azur. From Marseilles to Monaco the French Riviera boasts some of the world’s best golf links, first class facilities and beautiful scenery.
Wind surfing in the Cote d’Azur. The Mediterranean Sea is generally peaceful and calm but every now and again the wind blows and when it blows it really blows. It’s a good place for beginners as the waves are small and when there is a Mistral it’s an experts playground although there are few really big waves.
Kite surfing in the Cote d’Azur. Kite surfing is growing in popularity and there are a number of designated kite surfing areas on the Cote d’Azur such as the Palm Beach area in Cannes.
Cooking lessons in the Cote d'Azur are becoming fashionable with our clients.
Body surfing and surf with paddle are popular on the French Riviera. Warm water, few strong currents and a number of areas with regular surf breaks attract enthusiasts and families alike. Sea canoeing is also popular with plenty of opportunity to hire kayaks.
Walking in the Cote d’Azur is brilliant with the proviso that you do need to adapt your itinerary according to the weather as it can get very warm by the sea and the storms can be severe in the high mountains. There are numerous very well marked walks and excellent guide books particularly in the Alpes Maritime.
Bird spotting in the Cote d’Azur is particularly good towards the Rhone delta and Hyeres. The Camargue salt flats are a great attraction for birdlife including pink flamingoes. In the high mountains eagles and vultures can often be seen soaring in the thermals.
Hunting in the Cote d’Azur is popular with the locals in the hinterland but is not found near the coast which is mainly urban. This is not an area particularly renowned for “tourism hunting”.
Fishing in Cote d'Azur is a popular partime, particulalry for small "rock fish" off the coastal cliffs. There are some notable rivers including the Seigne, the Var and the Argens as well as lakes such as Lac Saint Croix and Saint Cassiens. There are also opportunities to take a boat out to sea to catch something bigger.
Horse riding is popular in the hills and one of the great attractions in the area are horse treks in the Camargue where there are kilometre after kilometre of shallow salt flats where you will discover wild horses, bulls and flamingoes.
Rock climbing is very big in the Cote d’Azur as there are numerous limestone mountains, dramatic sea cliffs such as at Cassis and gorges such as the Gorge du Verdon which attract some of the world’s top climbers. There is something for all standards.
Tennis in the Cote d’Azur. We have a number of excellent villas with private pool and private tennis court in the Cote d’Azur ranging from three bedroom villas for six to an eight bedroom villas for 16, each with tennis court. There are many municipal courts and prestigious clubs such as the Tennis club de Cannes, located just behind the Martinez hotel where you can play.
Road cycling in the Cote d’Azur is very popular with the French but we are seeing more and more nationalities are enjoying cycling in the area, particularly along the coast road which is very enjoyable outside July and August and in the mountains where there are a number of legendary routes. The island of Porquerolles (near Hyeres) is very popular with families as you can hire bikes on arrival and explore the island and its beaches on traffic free roads and tracks.
Mountain biking in the Cote d’Azur. VTT as it is known in France is a highly popular sport and consequently there are a large number of excellent, well marked circuits for various grades in the area.
Canyonning in the Cote d’Azur. The Alpes Martitimes area of the French Riviera has more canyons than any other area of France. There are classics such as le Rianon which take around four hours and shorter versions for beginners such as the Gorge du Loup. There are numerous canyonning organizations and mountaineering shops offering equipment hire and guides.
Rope course and via ferrata in the Cote d’Azur. These are activities which are found throughout the area in particular in the southern Alps. Zip wires, ropes in the trees and pure climbing via ferrata are on offer.
Sailing in the Cote d’Azur. There are numerous sailing clubs along the coast as well as marinas with launch facilities. Here you will find the full range from dinghies to some of the biggest yachts in the world. In the Autumn there are a number of spectacular regattas which attract the cream of the worlds sailing fraternity.
Scuba diving in the Cote d’Azur is very accessible and the quality of marine life good. Not in the same league as Corsica it is all the same a good place to learn and experienced divers will get some satisfaction. Snorkling is very popular with families who can enjoy the small fish and even octopus in the rocks around the coast, the warm sea helps!
Jet skiing in the Cote d’Azur. There is lots of jet skiing all along the coast and the numerous islands located close to the mainland are great fun to explore on a jet. There are lots places offering jet ski hire.
Water skiing in the Cote d’Azur. The warm, generally calm waters of the Mediterranean are well suited to water skiing and there are plenty of sheltered bays where you can ski and enjoy fantastic scenery at the same time.
Parascending in the Cote d’Azur. For those who seek high adrenaline and slightly dangerous thrills there are numerous parascending possibilities in the Cote d’Azur. One of the favourites is near Monte Carlo.
The Cote d’Azur is a place most people go to in order to relax, enjoy almost guaranteed sunshine, eat out and enjoy the scenery. But for those you want to be active there is a massive range of very professionally organized activities which you can enjoy as a day out from your villa.
To reserve a holiday in the French Riviera view our superb selection of villas in Cote d’Azur and if you don't find what you want by the coast have a look at our Provence homes with pool. Once you have a shortlist that is the time to either send us an email with your requirements or call us directly using our freephone service, then we can help you tune in to somewhere that's right for you. You can rely on us to be honest and straightforward with you, furthermore our agency has been running for over twenty years so you can be sure your holiday money will be secure. For more assistance with any sporting or leisure activities in the PACA region of France we are there to assist you, please just ask.