Culture & sights

A day in Nice Old Town: Cours Saleya and Castle Hill

This guide stays in central Nice: Vieux-Nice, Cours Saleya and Colline du Château. The Riviera is much larger and deserves a separate trip.

Hotels nearby

Nice Old Town — Fred Romero · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0 · Edited: cropped, resized and converted to WebP.

Keep the old town distinct from the Riviera

Vieux-Nice is the historic district of narrow streets, squares and Baroque buildings. Cours Saleya sits within it and is known for flower, food and seasonal markets; the tourist office says an antiques market takes place there on Mondays.

Castle Hill: stairs or lift

Colline du Château lies between the old town and the port. Walking routes climb via stairs from Vieux-Nice or the port; the tourist office also lists a free lift near Rue des Ponchettes.

The level option by the water

If you prefer to stay level, pair Cours Saleya with a flat stretch of the Promenade des Anglais by the sea. This is a different walk from the hilltop park: you get a coastal outlook, not the same view from above.

Before your trip

• Check current park access and the Castle Hill lift before you set out.
• On Mondays, the Cours Saleya market changes to antiques and second-hand goods, according to the tourist office.
• Choose between the hill’s stairs and viewpoint or a level stroll along the promenade.

Experiences are not necessarily child-free. The minimum age applies to each hotel.