# A day in Nice: the Cours Saleya, Castle Hill, socca at Chez Pipo and a boat to Villefranche

The flower market first thing, the view from Castle Hill, socca by the harbour, an hour's boat trip to Villefranche and dinner on a rock in the sea.

Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/france/provence-alpes-cote-dazur/nice/itineraries/market-castle-hill-socca-and-boat-in-nice · Revisado: 2026-11-12

## El día
-  · Salida: 30 min by tram (tram 2 to the centre and a night at the hotel)
- 09:00 · Cours Saleya Flower Market, in Vieux Nice (Tuesday to Sunday mornings · free)
  - 15 min on foot
- 10:30 · Nice Castle Hill: Park, Waterfall and Viewpoint over the Bay (by the steps or the free lift · opens at 8:30)
  - 15 min on foot
- 12:30 · Chez Pipo, Socca by the Port (no booking · Wednesday to Sunday from 11:30) · Chez Pipo, Socca by the Port, €
  - 8 min on foot
- 14:40 · Boat Trip from Nice Port to Villefranche Bay (leaves at 15:00 from the quai Lunel · €24 · booking compulsory) · Trans Côte d'Azur, From €24 adult
  - 15 min on foot
- 19:30 · Le Plongeoir, the Restaurant on a Rock at the Harbour Mouth (book a terrace table for the sunset) · Le Plongeoir, the Restaurant on a Rock at the Harbour Mouth, €€€€
- 22:30 · Vuelta: 30 min by tram (tram 2 from Port Lympia to the centre)

A first day in Nice without a car and without rushing: you start with the flowers of the Cours Saleya, climb the hill to see the whole bay, eat socca at the city's oldest house, see the coast from a boat and dine on a rock in the sea. Everything is on foot between the Vieux Nice and the harbour, on either side of Castle Hill.

## How to get there

By air. There are direct flights to Nice Côte d'Azur (NCE) from Madrid and Barcelona, and the airport is by the sea, west of the city. Arrive the day before: tram 2 leaves from both terminals and drops you in the centre. Sleep near the Vieux Nice or place Masséna and the day starts on foot.

## The day, hour by hour

9:00 · Cours Saleya market. From Tuesday to Sunday morning, the flower, fruit and vegetable stalls fill the promenade. Take a full turn before buying and have breakfast on a terrace.

10:30 · Castle Hill. At the end of the Cours Saleya the stairs begin; if you prefer, take the free lift on quai des États-Unis, which does not run in the rain. At the top, the view of the Baie des Anges, the 1885 waterfall and the harbour on the other side.

12:30 · Socca at Chez Pipo. Go down on the harbour side to rue Bavastro. The house has made socca since 1933 in a wood-fired oven; it does not take bookings, so arrive early. Order socca, a pissaladière and the sweet Swiss chard tart.

14:40 · Boat to the bay of Villefranche. Pick up tickets at quai Lunel. The Trans Côte d'Azur trip leaves at 15:00, lasts an hour and passes in front of Cap de Nice to the bay of Villefranche-sur-Mer. It costs €24 for adults and €20 for ages 4 to 10.

19:30 · Dinner at Le Plongeoir. Skirting the harbour towards the cape, on a rock six metres above the water. It is an expensive dinner: allow €87 to €103 per person without drinks. Ask for a table at sunset.

22:30 · Return. Tram 2 leaves from Port Lympia for the centre.

## With children or in the rain

With children the plan works as it is: the hill has a play area and the boat costs €20 for ages 4 to 10 and nothing for under-4s. Swap the dinner for another socca or for Le Safari, which is open all day. In the rain, the hill lift does not run and the boat may not sail: replace the afternoon with the Chagall Museum.

## Cómo llegar

### Without a car
It is the only reasonable way. From the airport to the centre, tram 2; the rest, on foot. To return at night, tram 2 from Port Lympia.

## Consejos

### Book the boat and dinner before you go
The boat requires compulsory booking and Le Plongeoir fills at sunset.

### Do not do it on a Monday or Tuesday
Chez Pipo is closed those two days and on Monday there is neither a boat nor a flower market.

### Climb the hill in the morning
The light falls on the bay; in the afternoon the photo comes out backlit.

## Preguntas frecuentes

### How much does the day cost?
Between €35 and €45 per person with the boat and lunch at Chez Pipo; with dinner at Le Plongeoir, between €120 and €150, without drinks.

### Can it be done in winter?
Without the boat, which does not sail from November to early March. Swap the afternoon for the Chagall or Matisse Museum.

### Do I need a car?
No. Everything is on foot between the Vieux Nice and the harbour.

### How do I get there from Spain?
By direct flight to Nice from Madrid or Barcelona, and by tram 2 to the centre.