Port Lympia (the Old Port of Nice) is an alluring slice of the French Riviera. A charming port that makes you want to stay longer than planned. Set between Mont Boron and Castle Hill Park, the port area has an aura of calmness. Beyond the boats and yachts, the view of the Bay of Angels south of the port pulls your gaze and holds it. It is a part of the city that doesn't get the credit it deserves.
Port Lympia lies east of Nice's Old Town, between Castle Hill and Mont Boron. The map shows the harbor, nearby hotels and Nice Côte d'Azur Airport. The Port Lympia tram stop is at the northern end of the basin; ferry boarding points are farther around the quays.
Getting to Port Lympia
Just east of Promenade des Anglais, the port is small compared to other French Riviera ports. Still, the charm is as good as any other. The below-ground tram in Nice surfaces at the station at the northern end of the port. Line 2 links Port Lympia with Jean Médecin in the city center and airport Terminals 1 and 2. Line 3 also serves the port. If you like trains or trams, this is the best way to get here.
If you're walking from the Old Town, follow the seafront around Rauba-Capeù or approach through Place Garibaldi and Rue Cassini.
If you're driving, the port's parking lot has 382 spaces. Cars enter from Quai Lunel, the road along the west side of the harbor. The pedestrian entrance is on Esplanade de la Douane, the waterfront square above the parking lot. Current rates are listed in the port's parking information.
The harbor and its history
Alongside the yachts, the small fishing boats known as pointus give the port much of its character. Look for their colorful hulls on the east side of the basin. It's a great spot to stop and relax as you explore the city. Also notable are the bright mango yellow, pink, and light red houses around the port.
Port Lympia has been a part of Nice since the mid-18th century. Charles Emmanuel III, King of Sardinia, chose the site in 1749. Excavation began in 1750, and the port opened in 1752. The port saw further upgrades after France annexed Nice in 1860. Today, it remains a working harbor for fishing boats, yachts and ferries. The port also appears in a few scenes in both Killers and The Transporter Refueled.
Jardin Place Guynemer is a small park on Rue de Foresta on the west side of the port. It has a statue of Charles-Félix de Savoie (the last male-line member of the House of Savoy). The quiet spot is not a place you'll hear much about, but you can spend hours enjoying the peace of the port here. The park is so small that you could miss it while you walk by, so be sure to look out for it.
Things to see around Port Lympia
Beyond the views of the Bay of Angels, places of interest around the port include Les Puces de Nice. It has antique shops filled with art, small furniture, and custom jewelry. It is a good place to shop for souvenirs, and you should find a thing or two to take home with you.
Espace Lympia adds an art stop to a walk around the harbor. This former prison and its clock pavilion now host changing art exhibitions, including paintings, photography and ceramics. The old stone galleries offer a glimpse of the port's past. Check the exhibition program and visitor access before going.
Other places worth looking out for include Église Notre-Dame du Port de Nice. It is a 19th-century church with large Corinthian columns in front. Just north of the port (on Place Île-de-Beauté), after the tram station, it is flanked by two neo-classical buildings you can't miss.
Place Île-de-Beauté is a great place to relax as you watch the trams. Walking three blocks north, you'll find Rue Bonaparte, where Napoleon lived in the late 18th century. Now, it's better known as a great place to have lunch.
South of the port, you have a breakwater with the Phare de Nice lighthouse at the end of it. Forgive me, but I couldn't stop staring at the bay and the lighthouse. It's hard to describe how beautiful it is, but perhaps I'm just drunk with Côte d'Azur love.
For a short ride on the water, Lou Passagin is a free three-minute electric shuttle between the east and west sides of the port. It is a seasonal service, so check the operating dates if you plan to use it during your walk.
Restaurants near the port
If you're seeking some of the best places to eat in Nice, you'll find a couple of these just east of the port. Here you'll find La Réserve de Nice and Le Plongeoir. The latter is a unique place to dine as it is perched on a rocky outcrop above the bay. It has no windows, so you can enjoy clear views of the bay. Trust me when I say the views here are so good you'll want to take them home with you.
Rauba-Capeù and Castle Hill
The 32-meter Monument aux Morts de Rauba-Capeù stands across the street on the west side of the port. It was built to remember the citizens of Nice who lost their lives in World War I. I found it odd that no one was at the memorial while we were there. There's a good chance that's because it was early spring.
Around the corner west of the monument, you'll find the east end of Promenade des Anglais. Before you leave the port area, visit Castle Hill Park at the top of the hill, where a huge treat awaits you.
You don't have to walk up the steep hill. There's an elevator to take you to the top for some of the best views of Promenade des Anglais. The ideal spot for this is Point de vue Colline du Château, just west of the park's lawn. You're not likely to find a better place to enjoy a sunset in Nice.
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