Why this road
Down on the coast road you see walls and traffic. Up here the whole Riviera lies below you: Cap Ferrat, Monaco's harbour and towers, the coast running on into Italy. The road follows the line of an old Roman route, and at La Turbie a Roman monument still stands above Monaco. The short detour down to Èze, a stone village on a rock above the sea, is worth every hairpin.
The route
- ANice
Leave Nice to the east and follow signs for the Grande Corniche (D2564). The road climbs quickly past the observatory.
- 1Col d'Èze
The pass at about 500 m, with a park and walking trails. From here a small road winds down to Èze village.
- 2Èze
Park below the village and walk up through the lanes to the garden at the top, with the sea far below.
- 3La Turbie
A small road climbs back up from Èze to La Turbie. The Roman Trophy of Augustus stands above the village, and the view over Monaco is right next to it.
- 4Roquebrune-Cap-Martin
The road passes above the old village with its castle and drops towards the coast.
- BMenton
The last town before Italy, with an old town climbing up from the harbour and lemon trees in the gardens.
Stops worth it
Plan an hour: the lanes, the exotic garden on the summit (entry fee) and the view along the coast.
The Trophy of Augustus and the terraces above Monaco. Late in the day, Monaco's harbour lies in warm light below you.
Light and the best time
You drive east, so in the afternoon the sun is behind you and lights Monaco, Cap Martin and the coast ahead of you. That is why a start around 4 pm works so well: you reach the views above Monaco and La Turbie in the golden hour. In the morning you look straight into the sun over the sea, and the coast towards Italy is backlit and hazy.
April to June and September to October are best, with clearer air and fewer people in Èze. The road is open all year and winter can bring crisp, very clear days. In summer, Èze and the coast are crowded and the air is often hazy.
By vehicle
This is the road from the films: wide views, sweeping bends and the sea below. Lovely with the roof down in the late afternoon.
Good tarmac and flowing curves on the main road. The detour to Èze is tight and slow.
Very doable and the easiest way to park in Èze and La Turbie. The climb out of Nice is steep, a 125 is more comfortable than a 50.
Easy driving on the main road. The lanes to Èze and La Turbie are narrow, take your time.
Good to know
No toll on this route; only the A8 motorway, which the route avoids, is tolled. Parking in Èze is in paid car parks below the village and fills up by late morning. The road is popular with cyclists, especially at Col d'Èze, give them room. Fuel is easy to find in Nice and Menton, there is little up on the corniche.
Route checked against OpenStreetMap on 2 November 2026. Roads, closures and rules change: always check before you go and follow local signs.
Questions
What is the difference between the three corniches?
The Basse Corniche runs along the shore, the Moyenne Corniche in the middle via Èze, and the Grande Corniche is the highest, via Col d'Èze and La Turbie, with the widest views.
How long does the Grande Corniche from Nice to Menton take?
About 1 hour of driving including the detour to Èze, roughly half an hour more than the fastest route. With stops in Èze and La Turbie, plan half a day.
Is the Grande Corniche a toll road?
No. Only the A8 motorway between Nice and Menton is tolled.
Where is the best view of Monaco?
From La Turbie, on the terraces near the Trophy of Augustus, high above the harbour.