Bonjour! Welcome to Eze, one of the most beautiful and well-preserved medieval villages near Nice. It’s an enchanting place where you’ll find narrow, winding streets filled with typical medieval architecture, tall stone houses, and stunning views. Thanks to all of that, many consider Eze to be one of the most beautiful villages on Cote d’Azur! Chances are high that it will seduce you with its charm from the first steps. Sounds interesting? Let us show you great things to do in Eze medieval village.
Travel tip. You can easily visit Eze and nearby La Turbie during the same-day trip. You can also try to combine it with Monaco, but we think that this destination deserves a full-day visit.
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Eze, France FAQ
Eze village is located in the Provence-Alpes-Cote d’Azur region in the Alpes-Maritimes department in Southeastern France. It sits on a hill at an altitude of 427m a.s.l. Eze is just a short drive from popular nearby places like Nice, Monaco, Menton, or Antibes.
Of course! Eze is a captivating medieval village that offers a fascinating insight into how life might have looked like hundreds of years ago. While there may not be dozens of things to do in Eze, the village’s charm and setting make it a must-visit destination near Nice. It’s not without reason that Eze became one of the most popular destinations on Cote d’Azur!
Eze is best known for being one of the prettiest, charming, and well-preserved medieval villages on the French Riviera. And it offers breathtaking views over the coast from its Exotic Garden!
Eze is a perfect destination for a day trip. In just a few hours you’ll be able to visit all the places in the village, walk around it a few times, eat dinner, and even take a tour of the perfume factory. But if you want to soak into the medieval vibe for a little longer, you can stay in one of the luxury hotels in Eze.
Things to do in Eze medieval village near Nice
Eze village streets
The area surrounding Eze was first populated around 200 BC but the village was fortified only after 1388 when it fell under the jurisdiction of the House of Savoy.
The village of Eze is tiny, and you don’t need a map to explore it. Let yourself be carried away by the beauty of the maze of cobblestone winding streets adorned with colorful flowers, and soon you’ll discover every corner. Stone houses tightly built together, cozy squares, vaulted passageways, fountains, and of course, stunning views await you.
Oh, and there are no cars or even scooters inside! Strolling around village streets is definitely one of the best things to do in Eze, one you won’t easily forget about!
Among Eze village streets, you’ll find points of interest like the Exotic Garden with ruins of the castle, Church Notre Dame de l’Assomption, and Chapel Sainte-Croix. There, you’ll also find two famous hotels – La Chèvre d’Or and Château Eza, some restaurants, cafes, art galleries, and small craft shops. Just outside the village, there are also two perfumeries – Fragonard and Galimard.
Eze Tourist Office is located on Avenue du Jardin Exotique, right next to the parking lot and at the foot of the village. It’s a great place to pick up maps and get helpful sightseeing tips.
Travel tip. Don’t forget to wear comfortable shoes, they will make exploring Eze village so much easier!
Exotic Garden
Exotic Garden (fr. Le Jardin Exotique) is located at the highest point of Eze village, on the site of a former castle. It’s home to a huge collection of different succulents and cactuses from all over the world. From the gardens, you can also admire magnificent panoramic views over the French Riviera coast and the village itself. Without a doubt, visiting the Exotic Garden is one of the most spectacular things to do in Eze, France. It’s also a perfect place for a short and picturesque break from sightseeing!
Entrance to Eze Exotic Garden costs €10 for a normal ticket, €6 for children 12-17, and is free for children under 12 (September 2026). You can buy tickets in the ticket office at the entrance, in one of two ticket machines in the village, or online. For current prices, opening hours, and online tickets, visit the jardinexotique-eze.fr website.
Church of Our Lady of the Assumption
Church of Our Lady of the Assumption was built in the 18th century to replace a previous temple that fell into ruin. The bell tower was added in the 19th century and was struck by lightning several times which caused the disappearance of the original dome.
The church facade is Neoclassical and might look simple, but its Baroque interior is richly decorated. The Church of Our Lady of the Assumption was listed as a Historic Monument. Entrance to the church is free. Also, there is a small village cemetery at the other end of the square. For a nice views over the church, head to Exotic Garden and its waterfalls/caves section.
Note. The church is closed to the public until October 2026 for restoration work.
Sainte Croix Chapel
Sainte Croix Chapel is the oldest building in Eze village dating back to 1306. It’s easy to overlook as it’s small and well-hidden among village streets and it looks like an ordinary building (don’t worry, we’ll leave a pin on the map).
In the past, it was a gathering place for White Penitents Brotherhood. If you’ll be lucky and its doors will be open don’t hesitate to take a look inside.
Perfume factories – Fragonard & Galimard
If you’re looking for one of the most unique things to do in Eze medieval village, be sure to visit the Fragonard or Galimard factory. Both of them are renowned French perfume brands.
Inside, during a free guided tour, you’ll learn about the secrets of perfume and soap-making. Later you can stop by the shop to buy nice-smelling souvenirs. If you wish, you can even take part in workshops! We took part in such a tour of the Fragonard factory in Grasse and can definitely recommend it – it’s very interesting!
To learn more about factories, tours, and opening hours, visit the Fragonard and Galimard official websites.
Viewpoints over Eze
Medieval village of Eze isn’t only beautiful inside its walls. It also looks stunning from afar! There are probably many spots to admire, but here are our favorite places.Firstly, you can admire Eze from various spots along road M6007 leading to the village. We recommend a spot near a bus station called ‘Les Flots Bleus’.
Your second option is to drive (or hike) to Fort de la Revère and admire Eze and Cote d’Azur coast from above, from 696m a.s.l. It’s also an amazing and peaceful place for a picnic and watching sunsets.
Whichever viewpoint you choose, admiring the village from afar is without a doubt one of the best things to do in Eze and an experience you shouldn’t miss.
Nietzsche Path to Eze-sur-Mer
After exploring Eze medieval village, you can go on an approximately 1-hour hike along Nietzsche Path, down to Eze-sur-Mer. In the end, a beautiful beach and azure sea water are waiting for you. This hike is neither too difficult nor too long, but don’t forget good walking shoes and water. If you want to learn more about it, visit the alltrails.com website. If you love hiking, don’t miss it this one of the most scenic things to do in Eze, France.
Path is named after the famous German philosopher, Friedrich Nietzsche, who supposedly hiked this trail daily while living in Eze at the end of the 19th century. When his mental health started to get worse, in search of a cure he started to visit warmer destinations. Eze’s surroundings seemed to boost Nietzsche’s health most, as he later wrote: “I slept well, I laughed a lot, and I found a marvelous vigor and patience”.
How to get to Eze, France?
Eze is located about 15km from Nice, 10km from Villefranche-sur-Mer or Monaco, 20km from Menton, and 50km from Cannes. The most convenient way to get to the village is by car, bus or train.
Where to park in Eze?
You have a few options here. Parking lot closest to the village entrance is located next to the Eze Tourist Office. You can also leave your car on spots along road M6007 on Avenue de Verdun or in this spacious underground car park along the main road, just after the bridge from Nice. And for a bit cheaper option, you can choose this parking lot located about 15min on foot from the village with a shuttle bus available. All mentioned parking lots are paid.
To Eze by bus
You can quite easily reach Eze by bus. For example, a trip from Nice will take about 30 minutes, 15 minutes from Monaco, and 55 minutes from Menton. To learn more about bus connections that might interest you, visit zou.maregionsud.fr or rome2rio.com website.
To Eze by train
Your next option is to get to Eze sur Mer by train and from there reach the medieval village by hiking via Nietzsche Path or taking bus 83. It’s possible from many nearby places like Nice, Cannes, Menton, or Villefranche-sur-Mer. To learn more about train connections that interest you, visit sncf-connect.com or rome2rio.com website.
To Eze by taxi
The most expensive option but also available from almost every place you might be on Cote d’Azur. For example, a trip from Menton will take about 25 minutes (€55-65) and 15 minutes from Nice (€35-45). To learn more about taxi connections that interest you, visit rome2rio.com website.
Camping Eze
If you’re traveling by camper, places like Camping de La Laune or Camping La Ferme Riola might interest you. They are located close to Eze.
To Eze with an organized tour
If you don’t want to put too much effort into planning, you can always take advantage of the guided tours and let someone else take care of all the details of your visit to Eze medieval village.
For example, you can take part this popular and well-rated Full-Day Eze, Monaco & Monte-Carlo Tour From Nice. If you only have a half day available, take a look at this Eze, Monaco, & Monte-Carlo Half-Day Trip from Nice.
Explore local attractions
Things to do in Eze medieval village – Summing up
Now you know what Eze is all about and why many consider it one of the most beautiful medieval villages on Cote d’Azur. It’s amazing that until today it retained its medieval appearance almost untouched. But thanks to that, we have an amazing opportunity to step back in time for a little while and see how life might have been hundreds of years ago.
No matter if you’ll stay only for a few hours or if you’re planning on staying a bit longer and discovering the area more thoroughly, we are sure that Eze village will enchant you! Enjoy your visit!
Our travel video from Eze
Our opinion about Eze
For us, a visit to Eze was a day trip, combined with a visit to nearby La Turbie, from nearby Cannes where we lived for a few weeks. We visited the village two times – the first time in October and the second in January. In October the village was busy with tourists. But in January we were two of just a handful of other people around and exploring it Eze was a totally different experience. Sure, almost everything was closed but it wasn’t something we really cared for – we preferred to experience a real medieval vibe.
Overall we really enjoyed our time in medieval village of Eze and we think it’s a lovely place with breathtaking views of the surroundings.
Travel tip. If you’d like to experience a medieval village without any touristy things, we recommend visiting nearby Peillon or Sainte-Agnes.
Restaurants, accommodations, and map
Check out various recommended places below.
Where to eat in Eze?
Here are your best, high-rated options in Eze:
