Perched high above the Mediterranean Sea, Eze is a splendid and historic hilltop village in the South of France. It is renowned for its stunning panoramic views of the bright azure sea, medieval architecture, and picturesque cobblestone streets. While walking the heavy stone steps of the village, you will feel as if you stepped back in history.
The village’s elevated position on the cliffs provides unparalleled views, making it a popular spot for photographers and travelers seeking stunning landscapes. Personally, I think Eze is one of the best places to visit in South of France. It was definitely one of the highlights of my South of France itinerary!
If you’re curious about this romantic and quiet getaway, I’m here to explain everything you need to know about Eze.
Eze Village: Day Trip or Overnight?
Eze is a small town and can be easily covered on foot. Because of its size, it’s a popular day trip in the Côte d’Azur from the larger city of Nice. And if you’re just interested in exploring Eze village, you definitely can spend just a few hours here and see it all. For example, I only had a few hours in Eze on my South of France trip and left fairly satisfied.
However, because Eze also boasts a lot of rugged natural terrain and hiking trails, it’s not uncommon for visitors to want to stay in the area for a few days. It also takes a little bit of effort to get to Eze, so you want to make the trip worth your while.
And if you’re seeking a romantic and slow vibe, Eze has the perfect medieval charm of the village and ocean. There are also a few exemplary hotels and restaurants in Eze that cater to luxury experiences, so this would also make a great place to unwind on holiday!
In the end, you can either do Eze as a day trip or stay overnight for a few nights. Depending on what you are seeking from this quaint historic town, Eze will charm you either way.
How to Get to Eze Village
As I mentioned, it takes a bit of effort to get to Eze Village. Here are all the ways that you can get to this clifftop getaway.
Rental Car
The most convenient way, of course, is by rental car. Despite what most people believe, it is unnecessary to have a rental car to explore the Côte d’Azur because the region is so well-connected by train.
However, Eze is located at the top of a cliff, and therefore unreachable by the train network. With a rental car, you can simply just drive up to the village, park, and explore on foot. However, I found it unnecessary to book a rental car just for the purpose of visiting Eze Village.
Train + Bus
The least convenient but cheapest way to reach Eze is by train and bus. The train line that runs through Côte d’Azur serves a stop called Eze-sur-Mer. It’s important to know that Eze-sur-Mer is NOT the same thing as Eze Village. If you get off at Eze-sur-Mer and expect to be at Eze Village, you’ll be an extremely steep and rocky one-hour upward hike away.
From Eze-sur-Mer, you can take the Line 83 bus which will take you directly to Eze Village. The bus ride takes about 20 minutes but runs somewhat irregularly—every 4 hours during the week and only once a day on Sundays. The bus also only takes either exact change or the Côte d’Azur transit pass. It’s inconvenient but doable if you’re on a tight budget.
Train + Uber
We ended up reaching Eze Village with a combination of the train and Uber/taxi. We took the train to Eze-sur-Mer and then noticed that the bus was not due to come for another 2 hours, so we called an Uber and were at Eze Village in just 10 minutes.
This method is a bit more expensive—the Uber cost us about 17 euros one-way—but for us, it was well worth the convenience.
Day Tour
If you don’t want to deal with the hassle of getting to and from Eze yourself, you can always book a tour. Many of these tours include multiple villages and make touring the South of France a breeze!
What to See in Eze
The village of Eze retains much of its medieval character, with narrow alleys, stone houses adorned with colorful flowers, and ancient cobblestone streets. I was instantly charmed by the thick slabs of stone and the greenery climbing over every surface. In this regard, Eze is totally visually different from the other villages on this list. It’s no wonder that it’s one of my favorite spots in South of France!
Explore Eze Village on Foot
You can easily get lost wandering around the narrow streets, especially because everything is surrounded by high stone walls. It’s quite fun to walk around and around and realize you have no idea where you’re going! There are also lots of small artisan shops that you’ll encounter along the way.
🌊 Like the vibe of Eze Village? There’s more where that came from—the French Riviera is full of small towns like these! Read my 3-Day South of France Guide here.
Jardin Exotique
One of Eze’s highlights is the Jardin Exotique, a botanical garden perched on the cliffs overlooking the sea. This garden features a large collection of cacti, succulents, and exotic plants from around the world. You can also wander up and down the winding pathways through lush greenery, enjoying the panoramic views of the coastline and deep blue waters. Make sure you check the opening hours, however, because they close rather early (around 4 PM).
Château Eza
For those seeking an intimate and luxurious experience, Château Eza is a historic castle-turned-hotel located in the heart of Eze that you simply can’t miss. The castle is perched on the cliffside overlooking the Mediterranean and has some of the best views in all of Eze Village. The hotel’s Michelin-starred restaurant, with its terrace overlooking the sea, is an elegant setting for fine dining and enjoying the sunset.
Click here to book a stay at Chateau Eza.
Eze Parfumerie Fragonard
Did you know that Eze is renowned for its perfume-making heritage? Eze Village has several perfume workshops and boutiques in town, plus a huge natural perfume factory. These establishments offer guided tours and workshops where visitors can learn about the art of perfume-making and create their own custom fragrances. And of course, the smell is divine!
Conclusion
Overall, Eze Village is one of the most unique places I have had the pleasure to explore, and certainly one of the best places to visit in South of France! The historic charm and beauty of the old town are the stuff of storybooks, making me fall in love with this hidden clifftop oasis more and more every day.
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