Recomendations for cycling out of Nice

So I've got go to a wedding on the Cote d'Azur this summer and I'm thinking it could be a really good excuse to go get a few days cycling out of Nice in before hand.

I'm thinking of getting a train up into the Alps or possibley towards the canyons to maximise the awesome scenery.

Could do hotels but would prefer to camp, will be out on the bike for three days and nights finishing back at the coast.

I've never cycled in this part of France and I wouldn't even really know which are the best climbs / campsites to aim for...

Any one got any good reccomendations?

Nice isn't that nice.
Nor is it particularly close to the 'alps'
I've heard the Col de la Madone is worth doing - especially if your an armstrong fan and you can fly through Monaco pretending your an F1 car.

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Nice-Monaco-Menton-Col-de-la-Madone-La-Turbie-Nice

Yeah, would seem a shame not to pass through Monte Carlo!

Head inland from Nice and you're quickly into some of the best riding in France. The Col d'Eze is a great way to get out of Nice quickly and you've also got famous climbs like the Madone, the Col de Turini, the Col de Vence etc easily reachable in half an hour's riding.

If you head further inland then you can do some famous Tour climbs like the Col de la Bonette, the Vars, the Iseran, Isola 2000, Cayoulle etc. Somewhere like Barcelonnette or Jausiers is accessible from Nice and on the doorstep of many of those climbs.

Be a bit careful about going anywhere in between these two options, i.e. coast or well inland. I rode from the village of Auron to Grasse about 15 years ago and there was huge swathes of countryside with virtually no sign of human habitation, which when it's 40 degrees and you're in desperate need of water can be a problem.

Here is climbing the Eze and the Madone.

http://www.strava.com/activities/12927742

There is a brilliant restaurant in Coursegoules.

http://www.strava.com/activities/12810287

Then you can ride the Bonette from Nice.

http://www.strava.com/activities/13015221

And the Lombardia on the way back. There is an ace sandwich van on the top.

http://www.strava.com/activities/13106326

Hotels in St.Etienne de Tinee are very reasonable.

Everything is absolutely brilliant.

Alice Cooper - No More Mr Nice Guy - YouTube

I have just spent a great hour or two checking out all of these suggestions and the cols all look amazing!! So many great climbs and vistas, seeing a few 16% is a bit scary but exciting too..

Eze and Madone seem like good choices close to Nice, and thanks for the tip on St Etienne, fussballclub. Could use it as a good base.

Andy P the turini looks an absolute must and col de vence a real good one two.

Now I've just got to work out a plan / route but you guys have really given me some great ammo to get started!

Riding out around Nice perfect - once you're away from the central area and highways. I did an ironman there in 2006 and the bike course covered some long, long climbs....and long, long descents! Have a great time.

I was in Barcelonette last year for work and would have loved to have had my bike out there. Beautiful scenery around there, though I don't know any riding specific destinations.

Left or right, start climbing.

I'd advise start by riding out along the coast to Ventimiglia in Italy. It's a bit main roady at times but some of the stuff along the coast is great plus you can pick up Monaco. From there head north up the east side of the river up the main road. You can ride through the residential bits to get past the motorway and then it isn't too bad. Just before the main road enters a tunnel, there's a turn off to the left. Take that and it'll be a back road up to Airole. Some of it will have slipped but should be nothing you can't push a bike over.

After Airole you can head back over the border to Sospel and head up around Lantosque and Levens before heading back to Nice.