Summary
Accessible Pleasures of the Cours Saleya Market
One of Nice’s great pleasures is wandering the outdoor markets along the Cours Saleya. Blooms of every color and shape burst to life. Row after row of spices beckon, while grapes the size of golf balls and olives glimmer in the sun. Stalls provide shade even during the hottest summer days, immersing you in the charming streets of old Nice. The National Council for the Culinary Arts has even ranked the Cours Saleya as one of the country’s special markets.
Additionally, the sides are lined with vendors, shops, boutiques, and cafes. You can purchase hats and tableware, or perhaps indulge in a cafe au lait while relaxing on a pavement terrace.
The variety in markets offers something appealing for nearly every taste: an antique market, arts and crafts market, discount stores, a fish market, and even a used and antique book market along with an antique postcard market. Consequently, you can find a market to browse every single day during your visit to Nice.
Market Operating Hours
The most renowned market area is the Cours Saleya, located between Place Massena and Vieux Nice (Old Town), which should definitely be a part of your itinerary. Bustling any day of the week, this vibrant area cannot be missed. It serves as a flower and produce market every day except Mondays, when it transforms into an antique market. Additionally, in the summer months, there is an arts and crafts market during the evenings.
Here are the operating hours:
- Flower Market, Cours Saleya, runs 6 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday; 6 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday and Saturday; and 6 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Sundays and holidays.
- Fruit & Vegetable Market, Cours Saleya, runs 6 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. every day but Monday.
- Antiques Market, Cours Saleya, runs 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Mondays (unless they are holidays or the eve of holidays).
- Flea Market (Marche au Puces), Port, Tuesday to Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Arts & Crafts Market, Cours Saleya, runs from June 1 to Sept. 30, every day from 6 p.m. to midnight.
- Fish Market, Place Saint-Francois, 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. every day but Monday.
- Used & Antique Book Market, La Place du Palais de Justice, every Saturday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Arts & Crafts Market, Place de Palais, second Saturday of the month, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Antique Postcard Market, Place de Palais, fourth Saturday of the month, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Evening Artisan Market, Cours Saleya, during the high season from mid-May to mid-September, 6 p.m. to midnight.
If you seek an extensive experience of the market, then walking through the Cours Saleya is highly recommended. To enjoy it fully, however, starting early is essential!
Additional Markets in Nice
If you’re still looking to satisfy your desire for markets, here is a list of other markets that operate throughout Nice. Each market operates every day except Monday, from 6 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
- La Libération, haut Malausséna, near the Tramway
- Ray, place Fontaine du Temple
- Saint-Roch, boulevard Virgile Barel
- Ariane, place de l’Ariane
- Pasteur, avenue Antonia-Augusta
- Cimiez, place du Commandant Jérôme
- St Augustin, bd Paul Montel
- Caucade, place de Caucade
Happy market-browsing! Enjoy discovering many great finds!
Market Shopping Across France
Market shopping throughout France is a cherished daily routine for many locals. Particularly in towns, residents continue to rely on their local markets for daily needs, reserving visits to large supermarket complexes for once-a-week trips to stock up on everyday household items.
Wherever you find yourself, a market is bound to be nearby. Check with local tourist offices, which typically hold comprehensive lists of ongoing markets, as well as maps to guide you. If you’re in the south, you are particularly fortunate. The summer months see the countryside bursting with fresh fruit and vegetables. Additionally, don’t miss a visit to the daily covered market in Antibes. Over in the west, Dordogne boasts Sarlat-la-Caneda, which features one of the largest and best markets in that region.
