One Day in Èze – A Medieval Village Day Trip from Nice

Èze is a beautiful medieval hilltop city located on the Côte d’Azur, along the French Riviera. A day trip here is a must if you are visiting the region, only around 30 minutes from the nearby town of Nice, as well as other bigger towns such as Menton, Antibes, and Monaco.

Eze has a definite charm to it – walking around the walls of the old town very much feels like you have been transported back in time, or straight into a Disney film such as Beauty and the Beast. In this guide to visiting Èze village, you will find how to get there, the best things to do, and a little dive into the history behind this wonderful hilltop city.

The view from the exotic garden in Eze looking over the village and the côte d'azur

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Spending more time on the French Riviera? Make sure to check out these guides:

We spent one week on the French Riviera last October and managed to fit in quite a few different day trips, all while traveling at quite a slow and relaxed pace. In places like Èze, you don’t need a full day to see everything. We combined our day trip to Èze with a stop in Menton, but you could just as easily spend the afternoon in Villefranche-sur-mer or Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat.

So, with that, let’s get started!

About Èze Medieval Hilltop Village

What is known about Eze village dates to around 200BC when the first villagers supposedly settled on this protected hillside. The fortress in the centre of the village, where the exotic garden is today, was built in the 12^th century and in use for around 500 years before being destroyed in the 1700s. You can find more information about Eze’s history on this page.

You might like: Get the France Travel Map for all the best spots marked in the French Riviera and beyond.

How to get to Èze from Nice

Getting to Èze is simple – but due to the popularity of this small village as a day trip from Nice, it can be quite a frustrating experience. There are two ways to get to Èze. The first is by taking the number 82 bus from Nice which takes around 30 minutes and comes every 2 hours. Unfortunately, there is not space on the bus for everyone who wants to visit Èze, so I recommend trying to catch the earlier bus (around 08:30) as this way you’re more likely to fit on board.

The other way to get to Èze is by taking the TER train from Nice Ville to Èze station and then hiking up the Nietzsche Path to the hilltop village. While this route is doable, the hiking path is quite steep and difficult and even when visiting the French riviera in October it was quite warm. It took up 45 minutes to walk down the Nietzsche Path so I assume it would take 1 hour to 1h 30 minutes to walk up.

What to do in Èze

Jardin Exotique (The Exotic Gardens)

The Exotic Garden of Èze is a beautiful cactus garden which has been built in the ruins of the medieval Eze Castle. From the gardens, there is an amazing view out over the village and the surrounding coastline, looking towards Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat and Nice. Here you will find hundreds of different cacti, all dotted around the unique rocky landscape. If you are into photography, this is one of the most picturesque places in the city!

The exotic gardens are open every day of the year; 9:00 to 16:30 from November to March, 9:00 to 19:30 from July to September, and 9:00 to 18:30 in April, May, June and October. Entry costs €7 for adults, €4 for bigger groups and students, and is free for children under 12 years. Find more information about the gardens and a map of the area on this page.

Explore the Old Town

Here’s what you come to Èze for – to spend a few hours wandering in and out of narrow alleyways and just taking in the beauty of this medieval village. By the entrance to the old town, at the end of Avenue du Jardin Exotique, you will find a good map with all the different streets outlined. It’s worth taking a photo so you can make sure you have seen it all afterwards.

Lunch with a view

If you want to eat out during your day trip to Èze, there are some beautiful restaurants to choose from. We were on a budget so chose to eat sandwiches in the Exotic Garden, however, one restaurant we were recommended was Le Café du Jardin, a restaurant on the edge of the town with a terrace overlooking the whole coastline.

Browse the shops and galleries

The small buildings inside the old town have been converted into small boutiques and galleries, with unique products from local artists and designers. You can spend at least an hour exploring all these different shops that are dotted in and around the main street.

Visit Église Notre-Dame-de-l’Assomption (Church)

Èglise Notre-Dame-de-l’Assomption is the church that sits within the walls of Eze village. From the outside, it is impressive. With its great stone exterior overlooking the square and the views of the hillside behind, you can tell it was once of great significance. The original 12^th century church foundations remain, however, the current church was built in the 18^th century

Walk the Nietzsche Path

After exploring Èze Village, you can take the Nietzsche Path down to Èze-sur-mer, the seaside village where the train station is located. As I mentioned before, the path is quite steep and rocky, and you should be prepared for this – I would say moderate to hard level difficulty. It is recommended you wear good walking shoes, but I would say that a good pair of trainers is enough.

The Nietzsche Path is around 5km long with an elevation gain of 280m. It took us just over 45 minutes to walk down but would take around double this to walk up. The views along the path are incredibly beautiful, with Èze on the hillside above, and the bright blue water below.

Swim at Plage d’Èze

Theres no day trip from Nice that’s complete without a dip in the ocean, and while Èze village is a hilltop town, there is a beautiful beach below called Plage d’Èze. To get here, you will need to watch the Nietzsche Path down to the station, and then cross the road to the beach. Visiting in October, there was hardly anyone here, but I can imagine it is much busier in peak season.

Tours and Activities

Other Tips for a Day Trip to Èze

As a small, touristy village, eating out can be expensive here. If you are travelling on a budget, I recommend either bringing lunch with you (we bought baguettes and cheese from the grocery store on many day trips) or eating in one of the cafes closer to the bus stop.
Be prepared with a backup plan if you do miss the bus. The bus was too full for us on two occasions, so instead of wasting the day we went to Monaco, and Villefranche-sur-Mer instead!
Èze is quite a touristy place so be prepared for that. If you want to visit somewhere a little more authentic, I will instead recommend Saint Paul de Vence. This is another medieval hilltop city which is now known for its art and culture thanks to the number of famous French painters that have lived there over the years.

A Day Trip to Èze Hilltop Village: An Overview

Eze is a beautiful hilltop village that makes for the perfect day trip from Nice. Spend a few hours wandering around the medieval stone streets, exploring the exotic cacti in the old castle ruin, eat lunch with a view, or take the difficult hiking path down to the beach.