One of the most beautiful hillside village in French Riviera, Èze Village is a charming little perched hilltop village that you absolutely do not want to miss when traveling down to southern France. While there is no shortage of glamorous beach towns and villages along the Mediterranean coast in French Riviera, this small village on the cliff is a gem and stands out like no others.

MEDIVAL VILLAGE HISTORY

Èze Village has a long history of establishment. It was first populated around 2000 BC. Over the course time, it was occupied by the Romans and then the Moors, became a possession of House of Savoy, and finally was annexed into France in the 1800’s.

It is often referred to as an “Eagle Nest” because how it is situated over 427 meters above the sea level over a cliff hovering the Mediterranean Sea which provides it a great vantage point.

Today, Èze Village remains its medieval appearance. The narrow streets with cobbled stones, terra-cotta houses, fortified walls and the panoramic view of the perched hilltop village overlooking the Mediterranean Sea and nearby small islands will immediately transform you back in time.

TAKE A STROLL AROUND THE VILLAGE

As soon as you set your foot at the village, the fairytale like ancient facade draws you back to the medieval time. The cast iron street lamp post, stained glass window, rosy balcony, green vine hanging down along the wall, and yellow pastel limestone architecture that lined up meticulously along the narrow streets are all seemingly surreal.

The main street of the village is filled with cobble stone steps and red brick tiles that look like a never ending red carpet that lead you right into the enchanted world of Èze. The sound of bird chirping and water flowing from the nearby fountain reminds me that I am not in Kansas anymore. The village is not big and you can easily finish from one end to the other in an half an hour. Walking through the stony tunnel arch after arch, you will see many lovely small shops, boutiques and art galleries hidden within the alleyways along the hidden path. If you are not in hurry, you can leisurely stroll around the village at your own pace. Go inside the shops and check them out. Do not afraid to get lost in the village as the magical steps will aways bring you back to the center. 😀

JARDIN EXOTIQUE D’EZE

Jardin Exotique D’Eze (The Exotic Garden of Èze) is a place that should definitely not to be missed when visiting Èze Village. Not so much for the well-kept exotic succulents, citrus trees, cacti and other tropical plants, but it can certainly be if you are into botany, as it is surely a nice exotic botanic garden in and of itself.

But what is so special about the Exotic Garden of Èze is its stunning view of the Mediterranean Sea. Located at the top of the village, the exotic garden offers the best scenic panoramic view of the coastline. Then the wide varieties of succulents and cacti accompanied by the terra-cotta sculptures along the spiral passages inside the garden with the backdrop of the Mediterranean Sea simply induces a sense of serenity and joy.

We were the first batch of visitors to the Exotic Garden that morning and were able to enjoy the sanctuary as if it was our own garden for some time and snapped a few great pictures. The place can get crowded easily later of the day, so I would definitely recommend you to get there early.

Ticket Admission:
Adult – €7
Student – €4
Children – Free

Hours:
January-March, November-December: 9am – 4:30pm
April-June, October: 9am – 6:30pm
July-September: 9am – 7:30pm

EGLISE NOTRE-DAME-DE L’ASSOMPTION D’EZE

Every town, city, village in the French Riviera is structured around a church and Èze Village is no exception. At one of the street in the village, you will find the Church Our Lady of the Assumption (Eglise Notre-Dame-De L’assomption D’Eze), a baroque-style church standing tall as one of the landmarks of Èze Village. You can see the church and its clock tower from the Jardin Exotique D’Eze.

MICHELIN RESTAURANTS

You would be surprised in a small place such as Èze Village, there are good eating options. There are restaurants around the village and not one but two are even Michelin star restaurants!.

Located in the 5-star Château de la Chèvre d’Or Hotel, La Chèvre d’Or is a Michelin star restaurant that offers high quality cuisine with breathtaking view. The other Michelin star restaurant is Château Eza which also has very high rating among visitors.

For seeking restaurants that do not break the bank, non-Michelin restaurants like Le Nid d’Aigle and La Taverne d’Antan à Eze are very good options as well.

ÈZE-SUR-MER

Èze-Sur-Mer is a secluded beach that is perfect for those who crave for blue waters and sandy beach away from the crowd. This is a bit of a hike from the Èze Village but if you are staying around Èze longer then a day, it is nice to check it out.

NIETZSCHE’S TRAIL

The mountain trail is named after the German philosopher. It connects Èze-sur-mer beach to the
Èze Village and offers nice view of the coastline and the mountainous landscape during the hike. Just to place a friendly warning, this is not an easy breezy hike and will take about 1-1.5 hours to climb up the steep slope.

HOW TO GET TO EZE VILLAGE

By Bus

Eze Village is technically closer to Monaco than Nice by distance (but not by much). It is popular among tourists to take a day trip or half day trip to Eze Village from Nice before heading to Monaco.

Distance from Eze Village
8.5 km (5.2 mi) to the northeast of Nice
4.5 km (2.7 mi) to the west of Monaco

Because Eze Village is situated on top of the hill, the best way to get to Eze Village is by bus. Get on Bus #82 – Plateau de la Justice or Bus #602 – Monaco from Vauban bus station will take you right in front of Eze Village. (There used to be Bus #112 that goes to Monaco via Eze Village, but I do not see that anymore.) The direct bus route takes about 30 minutes with some of the nicest sceneries of the Mediterranean Sea.

Both Nice’s tram and bus systems are run by Ligne d’Azur, a bus operator that provides services throughout the French Riviera. Make sure to check the bus line and timetable before your departure. (https://www.lignesdazur.com/en). This is more so if you want to visit Eze Village, because the bus does not run frequently, especially during off-peak season.

By Train

The TER train technically does not take you to Eze Village, but Eze-Sur-Mer, the beach area at the foot of the hill. You can then either hike up for an hour or get on #83 bus that will take you to Eze Village.

By Private Shuttle

For those who are looking for a more private transportation, you can hire a private shuttle. The price will not be cheap but it offers you flexibility and privacy that public transportation does not. You can inquire from this type of transportation service from the hotel or hostel that you are staying with. Also, even though there is Uber tax servicing in and around Nice, it is not common to get Uber in and out of Eze Village just given its location and the fare will be hefty.

By Car

If you rent out a car to explore French Riviera, driving by yourself can be the most convenient way to get to Èze Village by driving through the winding mountain road of Moyenne Corniche. You can rent a car from either the Nice airport or inside Nice. Just remember to make rental booking ahead of time, because rental companies do not always have automatic cars. If you can drive manual, then it should be a lot easier. However, it can be tricky to find a parking spot around Eze Village.

By Group Tour

For those who are looking for a more informative experience or a taste of small villages and towns in French Rivera including Èze Village, it is worth to check out these group tour or small group options which can be pretty fun as well.

SUMMARY

Èze Village is a perfect day trip from Nice. This small medieval village with its beauty and charm will surely win your heart!