Perched on a rocky hill in the South of France, situated between Nice and Monaco, is the picturesque village of Eze. Populated around 2000 BC, Eze experienced a turbulent history. It was occupied by many strongholds including the Romans, Moors & Turks until becoming part of France in 1860.
The medieval charm of Eze village is evident at every turn, from the winding cobblestone paths to the ancient château ruins. Plan to spend a couple of hours touring the village to take in all its history and beauty.
Local shop
Walk the narrow streets and browse the quaint shops and art galleries. However, keep in mind that while the shops are intriguing and the local artistry compelling, the prices are expensive. Many items caught Lulu’s eye, but the prices were all above her budget.
During your walk through the village, visit the cemetery, war memorial and lovely Baroque church (Eglise Notre Dame de l’Assomption). The church was undergoing renovations during our visit, but it’s still a charming place to reflect.
Do NOT skip Le Jardin d’Eze (the gardens) perched at the very top of the village. Not only are the exotic plants a sight to behold, but you will experience incredible 360 degree views of Eze and the Mediterranean. We were able to see all the way to the Nice airport!
We almost didn’t spend the 4€ per adult fee to gain access, but I’m so glad we did. Kids are free, so it was definitely worth the 8€ for the views. *The entrance fee is 6€ in peak seasons. See the remains of the château walls and gaze at the sparkling waters below. After taking pictures, we sat on the ruins to take in the view and snacked on oranges purchased at the Nice market.
Succulents and cacti line the twisting pathways of the garden. Blending in seamlessly with the landscape are statues, “The Goddesses” by Jean-Philippe Richard.
Don’t miss heading down to the Espaces Contemplatifs (Contemplative spaces) within the Jardin Méditerranéen. Here you will find over-sized wooden lounge chairs next to a small waterfall with a spectacular view of the Mediterranean Sea and Eze beach. We sat for 30 minutes, relaxing next to the tranquil sounds of the waterfall and feeling the heat of the sun on the chilly winter afternoon.
Pack a picnic to eat on one of the trails at the base of the village or dine in one of the many restaurants in Eze village. We visited during the winter, so most of the shops and restaurants were closed for the season.
Another popular destination in Eze is Fragonard or Perfume Factory. If you are traveling with girls, a tour of the perfume factory might be worth your time. I am sensitive to perfumes, so we opted not to take the tour in case my allergies couldn’t handle it.
With it’s stunning beauty and tranquil setting, it’s no wonder that Eze is a popular destination for honeymooners & tourist alike.
How to get there from Nice:
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- Village as we ascended the path
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- Views from the hike
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- Walking path
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- Can you see the train tracks we arrived at?
Train From Nice to Eze:
If you arrive by train, you will need to make a steep climb up the Nietzsche Path that will take approximately an hour. I don’t recommend this with young kids – some of the path is narrow, there are some steep steps and rocky trails. Older kids should be fine. While it won’t be easy with kids, mine would be able to make the hike. Ensure you have water and comfortable shoes.
We enjoyed the hike & plan to go again, hiking higher than the village. It was great exersice with lovely views of the hillside and sea. It took us about 1.5 hours as we stopped for breaks, to chat with our friends, and to to take pictures.
The cost of the train is 3.50€ each way. You can either hike back down to return by train or catch the bus at the base of the village to return to Nice.
Bus from Nice to Eze:
Bus #100 will drop you off near the train station, down by the water. Again, you will need to walk up the Nietzsche Path.
Bus #82 & #112 will drop you off at the base of the village. It is a bit of a climb up to the village from town but not overly strenuous. This is the closest you can get to the village of Eze by public transportation. This is also where the public car park is located. The cost is 1.50€ each way or 10€ for a 10 ticket pass which is valid for both buses and trams.
Please note that the buses do not run frequently. Take a picture of the schedule, so you know when to be back at the bus stop. Buses only run about every 2 hours.
If you’re not feeling adventurous, I recommend taking bus #82 to Eze then walking down the Nietzsche Path after you have visited the village. This will allow you to explore the beach area before hopping on bus #100 for a ride back to Nice.
Best time to visit:
Winter is a wonderful time to visit Eze. The village won’t be overcrowded with tourists, and you will feel like you have the entire place to yourself. However, most shops, galleries and restaurants close for the season. If you are interested in shopping and eating in the village, you want to consider visiting another time of year. Spring or Fall would be perfect for shopping & the flowers will be in full bloom. Summer would also be lovely, it’s just the busy season.
Have you traveled to Eze, France? Share your Eze travel ideas.
If you have several days in Nice, you may want to consider a visit to Cimiez.
I don’t know if you are still accepting questions, but I will try. I am going to Nice the beginning of June and Eze has been on my list of places to go from day one. Your blog has been the most helpful of all. But there is something I have googled over and over again and I cannot find the answer.
I plan to take the bus from Nice, which I thought was going to drop me right at the village. After reading all your wonderful notes, I see that I am wrong. You state that the walk is a bit of a climb, but not overly strenuous. Is that walk on cobblestones and steep steps and if so, are there any rails along the side to hold onto if assistance is needed? And I will ask the same question with reference to the Exotic Gardens, which I really do not want to miss.
From the reading I had done I was under the impression that there is a bus from the village down to the train but after reading what you have stated, it appears that the only way down to the train is to walk that steep path all the way down to the base, which I know would be out of the question for me. That being the case, I will simply take the bus back rather than the train.
I thank you for any help that you might be able to give me.
Appreciatively,
Macky Miller (I am a woman; sometimes the name isn’t clear—-short for Maxine)
Wilmington, NC
Great you liked it! We also felt that this village Llcated between Nice and Monaco, eveyrone really will enjoy an authentic and typical architecture of medieval times while visiting small artisan shops in the village. The freshness of the stone and the perfect preservation of this place make it a fabulous place=)
It’s one place we always take our guests. Every seems to enjoy it. I agree, it is perfectly preserved.
I have to laugh out loud. As I was reading your post I’m looking at the beautiful pictures and thinking how lovely. I’m also thinking how familiar. I actually visited there years ago on a excursion off a cruise ship that stopped in Monaco. I still remember how beautiful is was. Thanks for taking me on a trip down memory lane.
Glad I could bring back memories of your trip! Monaco is also a nice place to visit. We went recently and loved the Old Town. It must be a popular spot for cruise ships. My Mom is taking a cruise in 2016 and one of the ports they visit is Monaco.
WOW- those photos are out of this world! Have never been there but definitely adding it to the list! Confession – I’ve actually never heard of this area before!
Hi, wow that Eze sounds very good:) So far I have only visited Paris but I plan to see a bit more of France. I think I might stop there on my way to some nice beaches in the south. By the way – you pictures are stunning.
Eze looks like a fantastic part of France – the view from The Goddesses Statues is absolutely stunning. Too bad we didn’t make it here while in Nice – will be sure to remember to visit though when we do get back eventually. Thanks for the feature!
That’s one of my favorite pictures from the trip.
We didn’t have a chance to see any other parts of the South of France during our first trip to Nice. There is so much to do and see in the area.
Your pictures are gorgeous! I’ve only been to Paris, and I’m dying to get out and explore some of the French countryside on our next trip that way. Eze looks like just the place to spend an afternoon wandering around and eating yummy food at little cafes! 🙂
Stunning photos! This makes me remember the road trip we did back in 2013, we ended up to the far west and far east of France. I have yet to discover the south so hopefully, I get to see Eze too. It really looks lovely!
There is so much to see! We are hoping to travel the Western part of France soon.
Not sure when I plan on going back to France, but Eze was just added to my list
We have yet to visit the south of France and look forward to it. Eze sounds like a must see!
Oh my godness, how beautiful! Just renews my desire to get to Europe as soon as possible. It is easy to see how you could quickly fall in love with that area.