10 Best Places to Go Shopping in Nice

Vieux Nice, otherwise known as Nice’s Old Town, mixes historical streets and architecture with some of the best local makers and producers on the French Riviera. The small shops in this area specialise in products that are unique to Nice, from beauty items, clothing and accessories to perishable items you’ll likely consume before heading home, such as meats and cheeses. 

There’s even a flower quarter within Vieux Nice, where you can find beautiful bouquets for your room, or just stop and smell the roses before snapping a selfie. Vieux Nice is also where you’ll spot Nice's famous pedestrian market, which sets up in the Cours Saleya every day.

Nice Etoile is a high-end shopping mall in central Nice, offering a varied mix of international brands, as well as more local fixtures. You can find just about everything, from men’s and women’s fashion to food, accessories and appliances.

While the mall – with its futuristic and sleek exterior – can seem a bit highbrow, you can rest assured that its shops carry a good range of items for all budgets. Coffee shops, bakeries, restaurants and bars also occupy the 3-storey Nice Etoile. 

The Place Garibaldi antique market welcomes locals and visitors alike every 3rd Saturday of every month. This beautiful, tree-lined square is surrounded by cafés, restaurants and terraces, but the stones in the middle are overtaken by antique vendors looking to make a deal only 12 times a year.

Bargaining at the open-air market is expected, so don’t be shy, though do use your manners if you want to get the best price possible. For an even better price, arrive at the market whenever you like but don’t start haggling until it looks like a vendor is about to pack up and go home – that’s when they’ll be most likely to ease up on pricing.

The Place du Palais de Justice Market is the place to go if you want to spend hours browsing through vendor wares in the open air, overlooked by the beautiful old courthouse.

Every week, this market offers something new for you to rifle through. The 1st and 3rd Saturdays of the month are for books and antiques. The 2nd Saturday of the month is all about local arts and crafts, while the last Saturday of the month specialises in old postcards. What better way to commemorate your trip to Nice than with a vintage postcard chronicling a fellow traveller’s tale?

Marche de la Liberation fills the air around Place du General de Gaulle with the smells of local produce. Expect vegetables and fruits freshly plucked from the earth in the nearby countryside, along with cheeses crafted by local farmers.

Even if you’re not interested in purchasing any food items at the moment, Marche de la Liberation is well worth a visit for the beautiful sights, sounds and smells that await you. For the most activity and most abundant range of goods to pick through, visit the market on a Saturday or Sunday.

Marche aux Fleurs Cours Saleya shines as an officially recognised “special market” in France. Nearly 3 dozen vendors converge in Old Nice to offer passers-by an array of blooms, from local to exotic flowers, alongside non-flowering plants.

Many of the vendors, in addition to being gardeners, are florists or horticulturists with a fount of knowledge for the eager home or hobby gardener. Even if purchasing plants holds little appeal to you, the flowers and colourful awnings above make Marche aux Fleurs Cours Saley a welcoming spot for you to stop, breathe deeply and reflect on your holiday in Nice.

While Marche aux Poissons – the fish market at Place Saint-Francois – might not be a good shopping option for travellers without the means to cook their purchases, many still find the marketplace a prime spot for people-watching. 

Nearby cafés and bakeries provide outdoor seating from which you can enjoy a small bite and coffee. Market vendors are often hard at work, preparing and hawking their wares with fresh seafood. Be careful as you enjoy your snack as it can attract a fair number of seagulls and other interesting critters.

Enjoy some beautiful French Riviera night shopping under the stars with a visit to Marche Artisanal Nocturne. This night art market hosts talented Nice artists selling handcrafted items such as artwork, jewellery, accessories, clothes and souvenirs. Everything is unique and not what you might find in a souvenir shop dealing in mass-produced items, making Marche Artisanal Nocturne an excellent spot to find an unexpected gift for your favourite people back home (or just yourself, because why not?).

Marche Artisanal Nocturne takes place during the summer months on the Cours Saleya, conveniently in the heart of Old Nice.

The centrally-located Rue Catherine Segurane is worth exploring if you have a love of art, history or antiques. While you can find antiques of all kinds around the neighbourhood, the neighbourhood is especially known for its antique book shops. Art et Litterature is a top pick as one of the longstanding local institutions, opening in 1920 and selling not only vintage books but also posters and engravings.

Take your time roaming through Rue Catherine Segurane — the antiques aren’t going anywhere soon and the more carefully you hunt, the more likely you are to find a real treasure, as any successful antique-hunter will tell you.

Le Carré d’Or (Golden Square) has many luxury hotels and couture boutiques carrying some of the world's most well-known designers. Its name reflects the type of opulence you can expect to find in and around the fashionable seafront district.

A leisurely walk along Rue Paradis and Avenue de Verdun takes you to famous brands such as Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Cartier, Armani, and Hermès – these few barely scratch the surface of shopping opportunities available in this small district.