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Cours Saleya

A vibrant square at the centre of Nice's old quarter

featured in Sights & sites

This vibrant square sits in the centre of old Nice and hosts markets every day of the week.

From breakfast through until dinner there are stalls selling flowers, fruit & veg, local cheeses, honey, saucisson, olive oil, local crafts, artwork and more. On Mondays it turns into a busy antiques market where you can find anything from genuine collectibles to kitsch bric-a-brac.

The square is overlooked by grand old buildings with huge ornate facades in bright yellow and orange ochre - Henri Matisse lived in one of them during the 1930’s.

Restaurants surround the square and are open all day and late into the evening, it’s a great spot to dine if you enjoy being in the thick of it. If you haven’t tried the local dish yet, look out for the stall selling hot fresh socca straight from the pan. There are a few bars that stay open late and you are not far from the nightlife of the old town.

Cours Saleya is the pulse of old Nice; loud and lively, the stalls are brimming with lush colourful produce underneath stripy awnings; the restaurants all have tables outside, many in between the crowded market stalls; ice cream stalls and fresh fish counters display their wares and waiters dash about in and amongst the crowds. It’s chaos, but it’s fun!

A visit to Cours Saleya is a must, whether you buy anything or not.

Visitor comments

  • "Nestled between old town and the water this market has amazing produce, flowers, cheese, salami, sweets, etc. Great location to wander around and take in the atmosphere, as well as pick up something delicious. Must see if in Nice." - Trip Advisor
  • "I love wandering around the Cours Saleya market, which is open every morning selling fruit, vegetables, spices and flowers. The colours are brilliantly vibrant, and after an early morning swim a sun ripened peach at breakfast time is nothing short of heaven. All the fruit has much more flavour than we find at home in Australia. Also if you are staying in an apartment and would like to have a beautiful bunch of flowers on your table, the prices for flowers are very good." - Trip Advisor
  • "I highly recommend visiting the market, it's French culture at its finest, with all the meat and cheeses, fruits and vegetables, fresh seafood, arts and crafts, and of course the flowers. Great for people watching too. Café are all around as well." - Trip Advisor

Location

Map of the surrounding area