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Historic neighborhood · Nice, Provença-Alpes-Costa Azul
Vieux Nice
Nice's old town, with narrow streets, baroque churches and the Cours Saleya flower market.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Vieux Nice
Vieux Nice is the old town, squeezed between the Colline du Château and the sea. The streets are narrow, the buildings have ochre and yellow facades, and clothes hang to dry at the windows like in an Italian town, a reminder of the centuries when Nice belonged to the House of Savoy.
The heart of the neighborhood is the Cours Saleya, a wide street parallel to the sea. There you find the marché, the French word for market or fair: in the morning there are stalls of flowers, fruit, vegetables and regional products. On Mondays, the space usually hosts an antiques and second-hand market; check before you go.
In the maze of alleys are the Cathédrale Sainte-Réparate, on the Place Rossetti, the Baroque chapel of the Miséricorde on the Cours Saleya itself, and the Palais Lascaris, a 17th-century aristocratic residence. Shops sell olive oil, soaps and fresh pasta.
It’s also where you can taste Nice cuisine: socca, a thin chickpea pancake baked in a wood-fired oven; pissaladière, with onion and anchovy; and salade niçoise.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
Two to three hours to walk at a leisurely pace and visit the market.
Best time
In the morning, to see the flower and food market set up. At night the neighborhood is lively with restaurants and bars.
How to get there
It is a few minutes' walk from the Place Masséna and the Promenade des Anglais. The tram has stops on the edge of the neighborhood (Cathédrale-Vieille Ville and Opéra-Vieille Ville).
Tip
Restaurants typically serve lunch around 12:00–14:00 and dinner from about 19:30; outside those times, socca from the counters is a good option. Watch your belongings in crowded places.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Vieux Nice
What is the marché of the Cours Saleya?
Marché means market or fair. On the Cours Saleya, in the morning there are flower stalls and fresh food vendors; on Mondays the street usually hosts an antiques fair.
What to eat in Vieux Nice?
The socca, a chickpea pancake sold hot; the pissaladière, an onion tart with anchovy; and the salade niçoise.
How much time to allocate for the old town?
Two to three hours allow you to go through the market, the Cathédrale Sainte-Réparate and the narrow streets; add time for a meal.