Shopping at Nice’s outdoor market at Cours Saleya

Part of the pleasure – and there  are many – of travelling in France is a visit to the local outdoor markets.

This colourful market square sits at the edge of Nice’s vieille ville (old town) and definitely merits a visit during your visit to this lovely city on the French Riviera.

The market at the Cours Saleya runs every day but Monday, 6 am – 1:30 pm. The flower market runs for longer hours most days. On Mondays, the square is taken over by an antiques market.

Stop by to enjoy the lively atmosphere, admire the pretty architecture of the buildings alongside the square and to wander the stalls and soak in the atmosphere. The artist Paul Matisse once lived on Cours Saleya, in the large yellow building at the end of the square.

Visitors can find a wide array of fruits and vegetables, bread, cheeses meat, fish and spices.

There are also local specialties from the region, including bags of the provençale herbs (a mixture of dried rosemary, thyme, basil and fennel), olive oil, tapenades (olive spreads) and flavoured salts for cooking provençale specialties.

Other local items, such as lavender sachets and Marseille soaps are for sale in the market and make nice small gifts, easy to pack.

So on your next visit to Nice, be sure to stop by to explore the market on Cours Saleya and to leave some space in your suitcase in order to bring the tastes of southern France back home with you.

I’ve already written about another of my favorite French markets – in Annecy .

10 Comments

  1. Catherine on October 16, 2012 at 8:08 am

    I used to love the markets when I lived in Paris. Water running over cobbles, the mess afterwards, smells from every stand and the bustle. The best thing can be sitting in a nearby cafe and just watching. I wish I were in France this morning!!

  2. kimberlysullivan on October 16, 2012 at 5:21 pm

    I agree, Catherine! I love people-watching when I’m in France and there’s no better place than a great cafe with a view to a daily market.

  3. Julia on October 17, 2012 at 8:00 pm

    I’ve never been there, but these pictures make me feel closer to that place. Thanks for sharing them. I enjoy all your trips!

    • kimberlysullivan on October 18, 2012 at 7:41 am

      I agree, Julia. I love seeing photos and reading travel pieces because they allow me to travel vicariously… and, obviously, to start planning my next trip! When you get to Nice, I guarantee you’ll love it. : )

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  5. […] looking for other Nice tips, enjoy past tips to visit the market at the Cours Saleya, eat at the Café de Turin and take a day trip to stunning […]

  6. […] some of my favorite markets in France – in the stunning mountain town of Annecy and the Cours Saleya market  of the Riviera coastal city of […]

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  9. […] The old quarter used to have  a reputation for being dangerous, but today it’s a beautiful area to wander and enjoy the views into the past. I’ve already written about Place Saleya and its impressive outdoor market. […]

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