In this guide
💡 The Short Version: Castle Hill is a free park, open every day, from 8:30 to 18:00 from 1 November and to 20:00 from 1 April. Walk up by the Lesage stairs, through the old town or from the port by Rue Ségurane; there is also a lift near Rue des Ponchettes. The belvédère is 92 metres above the bay. The Bellandarium in the Tour Bellanda is €5 and shut on Sunday and Monday. There is a waterfall, a 1,600 square metre playground and two snack bars. Prices are in euros. Or book a tour: the Old Town and Castle Hill walking tourad is from €26 and the informative guided walkad from €29 (GetYourGuide).
Tickets and prices
The park is free. The two ticketed things on the hill are the Bellandarium and, in the old town below it, the Tour Saint-François. Prices are the City’s, from its pages for the park and the Tour Bellanda.
| What | Price | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Castle Hill park | Free | 8:30 to 18:00 from 1 November to 31 March; 8:30 to 20:00 from 1 April to 31 October |
| Bellandarium, Tour Bellanda | €5; €3 reduced | Tuesday to Saturday 9:00 to 13:00 and 14:00 to 17:00; closed Sunday and Monday |
| Tour Saint-François (old town) | €5; €3 reduced; free under 18 | One weekend a month |
Buy Bellandarium tickets online at vah.nice.fr or on the spot at the Centre du Patrimoine, 14 rue Jules-Gilly, which is closed 2 to 6 November 2026 and reopens on 9 November. Show proof at the door for a reduced or free ticket.
The terrace of the Tour Bellanda, above the Baie des Anges. Photo: Alex, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.
Tours worth paying for
The hill is free to walk, so a tour buys the history of the old town and the hill together. Both cover the old town and Castle Hill. Prices are GetYourGuide’s lowest “from” prices, per person.
Old Town and Castle Hill: Guided Cultural Walking Tour
From €26 · 135 minutes · 4.8 stars from 1,035 reviews
Nice Old Town and Castle Hill: Guided Cultural Walking Tourad is sold by NiceFunTours and takes 135 minutes.
Old Town and Castle Hill: Informative Guided Walking Tour
From €29 · 2.5 hours · 4.9 stars from 379 reviews
Nice: Old Town & Castle Hill Informative Guided Walking Tourad is sold by Nice Ideal Tours and takes 2.5 hours. The old town page says what the walk passes.
What to see
Greek settlers from Marseille founded Nikaia on the hill in the 3rd century BC, and the citadel that grew there was razed on the orders of Louis XIV. The City made the hill a public walk in 1882. It sits between the port and the old town and is part of the 2021 World Heritage property.
- The way up. The Lesage stairs, the streets of the old town and, from the port, Rue Ségurane lead up. A lift runs up from near Rue des Ponchettes.
- The belvédère. At 92 metres above Nice, it gives the view over the Baie des Anges, the city, the hills and the Préalpes. It is the reason most visitors come, and the view is free.
- The waterfall. Shaded paths lead to it, and the park’s lawns and woods fill the rest of the 19.3 hectares.
- The Bellandarium. A walk through the hill’s history in the Tour Bellanda, with 52 costumed figures showing military dress from antiquity to today. Its terrace looks over the bay.
- The remains. The castle itself is gone, and archaeological remains mark where it stood.
- The playground. 1,600 square metres, with a wooden castle, a spider-web climbing structure for ages 6 and up and a play area for ages 2 to 6, laid out with inclusive equipment.
The waterfall on Castle Hill. Photo: Zairon, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
The order that works: go up in the morning by the Lesage stairs, see the belvédère and the waterfall, then come down into the old town. Allow 1.5 hours without the Bellandarium. What to skip: the Bellandarium on a Sunday or Monday, when it is shut; the park costs nothing, so the viewpoint is enough without it.
Port Lympia from Castle Hill. Photo: Zairon, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Practical information
- Getting there: the hill lies between the port and the old town. The tourist office gives the park’s addresses as Rue des Ponchettes, Rue de Foresta and Montée Montfort.
- Facilities: public toilets, a baby-changing table and two snack bars. Picnics and dogs are allowed, and the park is stroller-accessible.
- The one thing that ruins a visit: arriving after 18:00 from November, or planning on the Bellandarium on a Sunday or Monday.
The old town page and the Cours Saleya market are at the foot of the hill, and the old town walk climbs it from Place Garibaldi and ends at Port Lympia. The Promenade des Anglais runs along the bay below. Free things to do in Nice gathers the viewpoints, including the Tour Saint-François, and what to book in Nice has the hours of every sight. Nice with kids covers the playground, and things to do in Nice lists the rest. For a bed, see where to stay in Nice, and 3 days in Nice puts the hill on a morning.
Common questions
Is Castle Hill in Nice free?
Yes. The park costs nothing to enter. The Bellandarium in the Tour Bellanda is €5 (€3 reduced), open Tuesday to Saturday.
What are the opening hours of Castle Hill in Nice?
8:30 to 18:00 from 1 November to 31 March, and 8:30 to 20:00 from 1 April to 31 October. The park is open every day.
How do I get up Castle Hill?
On foot by the Lesage stairs, through the streets of the old town, or from the port by Rue Ségurane. There is also a lift near Rue des Ponchettes.
How high is Castle Hill?
The belvédère is 92 metres above Nice. The park covers 19.3 hectares between the port and the old town.
What is on Castle Hill?
A waterfall, shaded paths, lawns, a 1,600 square metre playground with a wooden castle, archaeological remains, two snack bars and the Tour Bellanda with its Bellandarium.
Can I take a dog or a pushchair on Castle Hill?
Dogs are allowed, and the park is stroller-accessible. Picnics are allowed.
