Colline du Château rises 92 metres above the seafront at the eastern end of the old town and offers the best panoramic view in Nice — the full sweep of the Baie des Anges, the red rooftops of Vieux Nice, and the mountains inland. A lift cut into the cliff face carries you up from the Quai des États-Unis (free), or you can climb the 300 steps from the old town side.
The hill was Nice's original settlement, occupied since ancient times and fortified with a medieval castle until French forces demolished it in 1706. What remains is a park with a cemetery, a waterfall, a children's playground, and excavated ruins of the old citadel. The views are best in the late afternoon, when the light turns golden over the sea. On warm evenings, locals bring wine and picnics to the park's terraces.