From La Turbie to Monaco in the shadow of the Tête de Chien

An unusual hike: you wouldn't think it possible to connect La Turbie to Monaco via trails and stairways, yet this pleasant route awaits you. After the urban area of Monaco, Marquet Beach and its coastal path, we will begin the ascent to La Turbie, via steep climbs, steps and rocky paths in the shadow of the Tête de Chien.

Details

89005260
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 11.14 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 45 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 556 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 561 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 491 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ City: La Turbie (06320)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 43.742105° / E 7.400271°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 3742OT
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the walk

Park a stone's throw from La Turbie cemetery, in the Chemin de la Turbie car park.

(S/E) From marker 600, walk along Avenue de la Pinède. The Trophée d'Auguste will come into view. Just before Saint-Michel Church, turn right onto Rue Capouane, passing under a small Gothic stone archway. Cross the village and exit through the medieval gate that protected the entrance to this fortified village. Continue straight ahead on Chemin de la Crémaillère, the start ofthe old rack railway line that connected Monaco to La Turbie during the Belle Époque.

Yellow markings.

(1) Turn right onto the Roman paved slanting street lined with rocks and vegetation. Continue on Chemin de Sotto Baou.

(2) Marker 617. Continue straight ahead at this crossroads towards Monaco.

(3) At this bend in the Chemin de la Turbie road, continue straight ahead for about 50 metres and take a wooded path downhill to the left. At the tarmac road, turn right. You are now in the Parc de Grima, a very pleasant pine forest. Follow the "Parcours sportif" path.

(4) Leave Parc de Grima and turn left onto Chemin des Revoires Supérieurs (follow this road to Monaco).

No markings

(5) Crossroads with a signpost without a number. Cross Avenue Prince Rainier III. First turn right then left, and after about 50 metres take the stairs called "Chemin des Salines - Chemin des Révoires". At the first crossroads, continue straight ahead up the stairs passing through the Botanical Centre. At Boulevard Exotique, turn left, then 100 metres further on, turn right just after the public garden and go down the stairs, still on the stairs called "Chemin des Révoires".

(6) Turn left onto Avenue Prince Pierre. At the next crossroads, take the stairs, walk past the post office and, via another set of stairs, arrive at Rue Grimaldi.

(7) Walk down Rue Grimaldi towards the roundabout.

(8) On the left, note the Sainte-Dévote parish church located in the Ravin de Sainte-Dévote neighbourhood. Take the underpass to cross this busy intersection and reach Port Hercule. Walk along Boulevard Albert1er.

(9) Leave the port, take the stairs, then turn left onto Rue Saige and take the first right onto Rue des Açores. At the end of this street, go under the Condamine Market, take the stairs to come out onto Place d'Armes.

(10) Walk along Boulevard Charles III. At Place du Canton (roundabout), turn left onto the esplanade and head towards Fontvieille. Cross Fontvieille and leave Monaco to enter the commune of Cap d'Ail. Walk along the Port of Cap d'Ail. Follow the promenade that runs alongside Marquet Beach. At the end of the beach, take the coastal path.

(11) Turn right onto Avenue Docteur Ominus, which continues onto Chemin du Golfe. From this crossroads, the climb up to La Turbie begins. You will pass over the old railway line that used to link Nice to Monaco.

(12) At the roundabout called Place de la Libération, cross and take the Chemin des Oliviers staircase.

(13) Turn left onto Avenue Prince Rainier III de Monaco. Cross at the traffic lights and turn right onto Chemin des Cyclamens towards the cemetery. Follow marker 610.

(14) Take the stairs on the left called Chemin du Bautugan. This is followed by a steep slope and a paved section. Turn right onto Chemin du Signal. You are now in the Signal estate.

Yellow markings.

(15) At the end of Chemin du Signal, the stairs are on the right of the Altissima Residence (and not on the left as indicated on the map). The path goes around the residence on the right and becomes a mountain path again until the end. The views of Monaco are magnificent.

(16) Marker 611. Continue straight ahead towards Chemin de Bautugan. At Marker 612, follow the direction of Tête de Chien.

White and red markings

(17) Marker 602. Continue towards La Turbie on the rocky trail. Walk along the water reservoir and continue on the carriage road, which is also a fitness trail. Atmarker 601, turn left to return to marker 600 and the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 487 m - Car park, Chemin de la Pinède
  2. 1 : km 0.88 - alt. 412 m - Trail junction - tarmac road
  3. 2 : km 1.51 - alt. 301 m - Crossroads
  4. 3 : km 2.06 - alt. 214 m - Crossroads - carriageway
  5. 4 : km 2.56 - alt. 204 m - Trail junction
  6. 5 : km 2.98 - alt. 164 m - Crossroads
  7. 6 : km 3.71 - alt. 38 m - Exotic garden
  8. 7 : km 4 - alt. 15 m - Rue Grimaldi
  9. 8 : km 4.5 - alt. 7 m - Sainte-Dévote Church
  10. 9 : km 4.93 - alt. 4 m - Port
  11. 10 : km 5.23 - alt. 20 m - La Condamine market
  12. 11 : km 7.66 - alt. 13 m - Trail junction - staircase
  13. 12 : km 7.98 - alt. 64 m - Stairs
  14. 13 : km 8.46 - alt. 142 m - Crossroads
  15. 14 : km 8.7 - alt. 158 m - Stairs
  16. 15 : km 9.16 - alt. 269 m - End of the tarmac road
  17. 16 : km 9.33 - alt. 290 m - Trail junction
  18. 17 : km 10.02 - alt. 448 m - Trail junction
  19. S/E : km 11.14 - alt. 487 m - Car park, Chemin de la Pinède

Notes

Take care when crossing roads.

Hiking boots and walking sticks are recommended for rocky areas.

Toilets and water points are available along the coastal path.

Bring a swimsuit and towel for swimming at Marquet beach.

Worth a visit

The site of the Trophy of Augustus in La Turbie, dating back two millennia, can be visited free of charge on the first Sunday of every month between November and March.

The rest of the year, admission is €7 for adults.

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 1 review

Reliability of the description
5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4 / 5
Route interest
5 / 5
bernard bb
bernard bb

Hello Jean-Louis Grillo,

Thank you for your review
Best regards, b.

Machine-translated

Grillo jean-Louis
Grillo jean-Louis

Hello Bernard,
Thanks for sharing. I wanted to do the hike yesterday, but I chose to start from Cap d’Ail, as I prefer the climb on the way there rather than on the way back. But I was surprised at point 16: the path is blocked by a barrier, with a prefectural order in place, I think due to the risk of rockfalls beneath the Tête de Chien.

So I went back down a bit and took a stretch of road leading to La Turbie, and from the car park used by climbers, I picked up a path on the other side of the Tête de Chien, where there are several climbing routes.

Beautiful views on both sides, and the view of Monaco is impressive.

Have a good day

Best regards

Jean-Louis

Thanks for the feedback and the info
Have a nice day

Machine-translated

bernard bb
bernard bb

Hello Jean-Louis Grillo,

Thank you for your feedback
Indeed, this barrier has been put up.
The new path starts to the right of the barrier and goes all the way round the fence of the house, rejoining the original path above the house
Nothing but beautiful views on this hike
Best wishes for your hike, B.

Machine-translated

Grillo jean-Louis
Grillo jean-Louis

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 20, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Hello Bernard,
Thanks for sharing. I wanted to do the hike yesterday, but I chose to start from Cap d’Ail, as I prefer the climb on the way there rather than on the way back. But I was surprised at point 16: the path is blocked by a barrier, with a prefectural order in place, I think due to the risk of rockfalls beneath the Tête de Chien.

So I went back down a bit and took a stretch of road leading to La Turbie, and from the car park used by climbers, I picked up a path on the other side of the Tête de Chien, where there are several climbing routes.

Beautiful views on both sides, and the view of Monaco is impressive.

Have a good day

Best regards

Jean-Louis

Machine-translated

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