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Old Town of Nice

5 Rue de l'Hôtel de ville, Nice, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur

Description

Le Vieux-Nice (the Nice Old Town) is the oldest part of town, being inhabited since the Middle Ages. It is a bustling area that marries traditional commerce with tourist-oriented stores. Technically, it is bordered by the beach (Quai des États-Unis) on the south side, the colline du château (castle hill) on the eastern side, Place Garibaldi to the north, and the Paillon Promenade on the western side. The main highlights include all the narrow streets, the Opera, the Sainte-Réparate Cathedral, the Masséna square, the Paillon water mirror, the National Theatre, the Fountain of the Sun, and the Marché Aux Fleurs Cours Saleya (fresh food market).

Access & Transport

The 'Opéra - Vieille Ville' and 'Cathédrale - Vieille Ville' tram stops (Line 1) provide best access from the western side and the Garibaldi / Le Château stop (L2) from the North. The old town is also walking distance from the more modern part of the city around Notre-Dame de l’Assomption Basilica and the train station. By car, Quai des États-Unis and Bd Jean Jaurès are the most effective access roads.

Instructions & Recommendations

We suggest visiting the Cathedral and the Marché Aux Fleurs Cours Saleya whilst exploring the neighbourhood.

Meta review

The old town neighbourhood is widely considered one of the main attractions of Nice and is regularly featured in travel blogs and magazines, and ranked at the top of the list of things to see in travel guidebooks. Online reviews back this up with travellers enjoying the bustling atmosphere, historical buildings, winding streets, friendly shopkeepers, and countless restaurants.

Environmental & Social

Environmentally neutral. Preserves the architectural heritage of the city and, socially, the benefits of tourism balance out the drawbacks of over-commercialisation

Conclusion

Le Vieux-Nice is probably the first area of the city a first-time traveller to Nice should visit. It is still very authentic, colourful and a fantastic place to spend a couple of hours including a lunch or coffee break.

Key positive

Compact area and centrally located

Lively atmosphere with plenty to see

Key negative

None

Suitability

The neighbourhood is accessible for visitors with reduced mobility but some cobbled streets may be a little challenging to navigate

About this Rating

TYPE

Desktop

RESEARCHED IN

June 2024

PROVIDER

Koreval

Included Items
None
Timing
Duration of visit

av. transport time:0h 20m

est. visit time:1h 30m

Sunlight based

Sunrise / early morningOk

MorningOk

Lunch timeOk

AfternoonOk

Sunset / eveningOk

Night – bef. midnightOk

Night – aft. midnightNo

Pricing
Free

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