Things to do in the Mercantour and the Nice hinterland

The Mercantour National Park, the Vésubie and Roya valleys, and the Vallée des Merveilles sit about 1 h 30 to 2 h of driving from Nice, so this is a full day out, not an afternoon add-on to Èze or Monaco.

Storm Alex tore through the Vésubie and Roya valleys in October 2020, and roads and trails have been rebuilt in stages since, so check current access before setting out rather than assuming a route is open. The Vallée des Merveilles holds Bronze Age rock engravings reached on foot, with some zones open only with a licensed guide.

The Train des Merveilles climbs the Roya valley from Nice, and ski resorts such as Isola 2000 and Auron sit at a similar distance, proof the mountains are as close as the coast.