Free self-guided walk · Nice

Old Nice, Castle Hill and the port

A free self-guided walk from Place Masséna through Vieux Nice and the Cours Saleya market, up Castle Hill and down to the port.

Distance
2.7 km
Walking time
35 min
Allow
About 2 hours with stops
Stops
5

Open the route in Google MapsNice city guide

About this walk

Nice's old town is a tight grid of tall coloured houses squeezed between the sea and Castle Hill. This walk crosses it, climbs the hill for the view over the Baie des Anges, then drops down to the harbour on the other side.

There is a free lift up Castle Hill from the seafront end if you'd rather not climb.

  • Terrain: Flat in the old town; steps and steep paths up Castle Hill.
  • Best time: Morning, when the Cours Saleya market is on (not Mondays for flowers and food).

Route map

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Route and stop positions © OpenStreetMap contributors. North is up.

The stops

  1. Place Masséna

    Start in the red-and-ochre main square, with its checkerboard paving.

  2. Cours Saleya

    The market street of the old town: flowers and produce most mornings, antiques on Mondays.

  3. Place Rossetti

    A small square in front of the cathedral of Sainte-Réparate.

  4. Castle Hill

    Climb to the park on top, where the castle once stood, for the view over the bay.

  5. Port Lympia

    Finish at the old port, with its ochre buildings and yachts.

Tips

  • Tram line 1 stops at Place Masséna.
  • The lift up Castle Hill is by the Tour Bellanda on the seafront.
  • The Promenade des Anglais runs west from the old town for a longer walk.

Prefer a guide?

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Sources and review date

This walk was last reviewed on 2026-10-28. Distance and walking time come from OpenStreetMap's walking router and don't include time at stops. Opening hours and access change; please check before you go.