Eze
An incredible little village perched by the sea
A wonderful medieval village, Eze is perched on a hilltop overlooking the Riviera with a ruined 12th century castle at its pinnacle. It's actually split into two very distinct areas - Eze-Sur-Mer and Eze Village.
Eze is easily the most dramatic of the medieval hilltop towns. Perched a dizzying 1,400 feet above the Mediterranean between Cap d'Ail and Cap Ferrat, Eze looks precariously balanced on its rocky eagle's nest.
Eze Village is the higher part, whereas Eze-Sur-Mer is down on the coast. If you want to head to the beach then you can take a direct train from Nice to Eze-Sur-Mer; to get to Eze Village you can either get a bus from Nice, take one of the (infrequent) bus No. 83 services from Eze sur Mer, or hike up (about one strenuous hour) from the train station.
Streets are narrow and cobbled, purple bougainvillea cascades from turrets and towers, old bells and metal signs hang above heavy wooden doors and every now and then you get a glimpse of bright blue sea in between the rough stone walls. Walt Disney was a regular visitor to Eze Village and when you see the fairytale architecture you’ll understand where his inspiration came from.
History & Culture in Eze
This eagle’s nest is a true medieval stronghold, perched over 400m above sea level on a rocky pinnacle with views for miles along the coastline. Evidence of inhabitants date back to 2,000BC, it has been populated by the Romans, the ancient Greeks and the Moors before falling into the hands of the Dukes of Savoy in the 14th century.
These days Eze is a much calmer place and its fortified walls are home to sculpture gardens, art galleries, tea rooms, gift shops and boutiques. There is a Fragonard perfume factory at the entrance to the village and lots of places selling locally made soaps, glassware, jewellery, etc.
Sights & Attractions in Eze
Eze Village is one of the most visited towns on the Riviera and is a tourist attraction in itself.
There's also the famed Exotic Gardens by the ruined castle, where you can grab the best view of the cliffs and coast among the ornamental pools, statues and crazy cacti. The Fragonard perfume factory is also open to visitors, although it can get a bit crowded when the groups come through.
Sights in Eze
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Parfumerie Fragonard, Eze
This factory for perfume, soap and cosmetics, has very modern laboratories and workshops. Discover the secrets of manufacturing perfumes and cosmetics.
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Exotic Garden, Eze
Eze's exotic gardens were created after the Second World War, in the ruins of Eze castle. Located on steep terrain, it boasts wonderful panoramic views of the sea, the Esterel mountains and the Saint-Tropez gulf.
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Parfumerie Galimard, Eze
Free guided tours of a historic perfume factory in the medieval village of Eze.
Beaches in Eze
Eze has only one beach but it’s a lovely one in a calm bay which is great for swimming.
The beach itself is a long thin ribbon of fine pebbles that curve around the bay, meaning that you're never a long way from the water - good for keeping an eye on children.
There is a watersports club that offers kayaking, windsurfing, scuba diving and sailing. Be aware that you can't jetski here as it's considered too noisy.
The two restaurants serve fresh seafood and local dishes as well as offering sun loungers and parasols for hire. Have a look at our beaches guide to find out more about beaches in Eze and the surrounding area.
Beaches in Monaco
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La Plage d'Eze Beach, Eze
Eze-Sur-Mer has only one beach but it’s a lovely one; great for swimming as the water comes very high up the beach and it's in a calm bay.
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Plage Mala Beach, Cap d'Ail
This is a small and secluded beach with two excellent restaurants and safe swimming. Plage Mala is a little haven.
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Plage de la Petite Afrique Beach, Beaulieu Sur Mer
Plage de la Petite Afrique is, in our humble opinion, one of the best beaches on the French Riviera, surrounded by stunning scenery with plenty of facilities.
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Plage Gramaglia Beach, Cap d'Ail
Located just beneath Restaurant La Pinede along the Sentier Littoral, Plage Gramaglia is more a series of rocky coves than a traditional beach.
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Plage des Fourmis Beach, Beaulieu Sur Mer
Plage des Fourmis is the long stretch of sand that runs along the main bus route; backed by a shady promenade lined with palm trees and tropical plants, the beach is very easy to find.
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Plage Marquet Beach, Cap d'Ail
Plage Marquet is the most easterly of the Cap d’Ail beaches and is right on the border with Monaco.
Dining in Eze
The small village of Eze is bursting at the seams with restaurants and you won't go far wrong just by wandering round and seeing where takes your fancy; the restaurants here serve great local specialities made from fresh produce.
Eze-Sur-Mer has less to choose from but there is real quality here too.
Restaurants in Eze
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Chateau Eza Restaurant, Eze
Château Eza offers a Michelin recommended restaurant serving à la carte French and Mediterranean cuisine against the stunning backdrop of the French Riviera.
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La Chevre d'Or Restaurant, Eze
This gourmet restaurant offers panoramic views across the Mediterranean and gained two Michelin stars in 2011.
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La Table de Patrick Raingeard Restaurant, Eze
The Cap Estel gourmet restaurant or "La Table de Patrick Raingeard" as it is known has one Michelin star.
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Restaurant des Rois, Beaulieu Sur Mer
The jewel in the crown of La Réserve de Beaulieu hotel is this gastronomic restaurant which has one Michelin star.
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Eden Plage Mala Beach Club, Cap d'Ail
Peace and tranquillity on this private beach that is hidden away in an intimate cove. You have to walk a bit to get to this beach club, but the welcome and calm environment is well worth the effort.
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Eze Hermitage Restaurant, Eze
Yannick Delaunay is the chef at the Eze Hermitage Art Restaurant and Hotel and offers an inspired Provençal cuisine full of classics as well as new takes.
Events in Eze
Events in Eze
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Beaulieu Classic Festival
The Beaulieu Classic Festival showcases both local and international talent set in the most mythical and enchanting surroundings on the French Riviera.
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Les Gourmand'Eze Gastronomic Festival, Eze
Three days with a packed programme of show cooking, workshops, tastings, conferences, amateur contests and a lot more.
Things to do in Eze
Eze-sur-Mer is a quiet residential area with a long stretch of pebble beach and clear calm waters where you can try a number of water sports. It has a couple of nice café bars (try La Bananerie for fresh smoothies) but other than the beach there isn’t really a lot to see or do, head up to Eze Village to make the most of your visit.
You can easily lose track of time in Eze Village; there are countless gift shops, art galleries, boutiques, delicatessens and more to poke about in.
Eze is also the starting point for a number of fantastic hikes, such as the climb up to Mont Bastide or the traverse across to Beaulieu-Sur-Mer. There is also a hiking path that links Eze Village and Eze-Sur-Mer, so you can work up a sweat before cooling off in the sea. The path is referred to as Nietzsche's Trail, because the German philosopher walked it each day when he lived in Eze. Be aware that this is a very steep trail: strenuous and hot going up but also surprisingly tough on the joints going down. You need to be relatively fit- take water and shoes with some grip.
Check our hiking guide and hiking routes for suggested itineraries.
Things To Do in Eze
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Sunset Luxury Motor Boat Trip, Beaulieu
This two hour cruise departs from Beaulieu-sur-Mer to take you on a stunning sunset cruise on the Cote d'Azur.
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Mediterranean Sport Fishing Trip
Based in Beaulieu-Sur-Mer, this company can offer fishing trips from Beaulieu and also Nice, Cannes and Monaco out into the Mediterranean for all levels of fisher, from complete beginner to expert. They are also family friendly so those who would like an outing with their children can join one of their trips.
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Cannes & St Tropez Luxury Motor Boat Trip, Beaulieu
Departing from Beaulieu-sur-Mer, on this trip you'll enjoy a full day of cruising along the French Riviera, visiting Monaco to Cannes to Saint Tropez and the beautiful bays and coves.
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Whale & Dolphin Watching Boat Trip
Departing from Beaulieu-sur-Mer, this fantastic boat trip lets you observe some of the most beautiful marine wildlife that live within the Mediterranean.
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Cannes & Islands Luxury Motor Boat Trip, Beaulieu
This is a four hour coastal trip departing from Beaulieu-sur-Mer to explore the gems of the Cote d'Azur with opportunities to swim and snorkel in the glistening Mediterranean.
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Cote d'Azur Luxury Motor Boat Trip
This boat trip departs from Beaulieu-sur-Mer and can run for 2, 3 or 4 hours - so you can choose whether you want a quick spin along the coast or a more extended trip.
Hotels in Eze
As you’re walking around the village you may notice some doors with names such as “Medieval Suite”; this is because the Chateau de la Chevre d'Or has rooms throughout the town, tucked away amongst the ancient houses.
It's a five-star hotel with a Michelin starred restaurant and fabulous outdoor swimming pool - very popular with honeymooners. The only other hotel in the old town in Chateau Eza, also five-star with a very good reputation and an excellent Michelin starred restaurant.
There are also a number of very nice B&B's just outside the village in the surrounding hills.
Hotels in Eze
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Jerome Boutique Hostellerie Hotel, La Turbie
Former 13th-century Cistercian monastery tastefully renovated offering 5 beautifully decorated en-suite rooms, a Michelin-starred restaurant and a terrace overlooking the Mediterranean.
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La Reserve de Beaulieu Hotel
Classic French opulence with Mediterranean charm, all nestled between the mountains and the blue waters of the Riviera.
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Cap Estel Hotel, Eze
Situated on its own two-hectare peninsula jutting into the Mediterranean Sea, the hotel has wonderful panoramic views. With only 28 rooms spread over four separate locations, it is a very private and luxurious place to stay.
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Eza Chateau Hotel, Eze
Exquisite and intimate, the rooms and suites of Château Eze cling to the side of the ancient rock walls of Eze, a thousand-year-old Medieval village more than 400 metres above the Mediterranean Sea.
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Hermitage Hotel
Overlooking the Mediterranean, the Hôtel Hermitage cultivates elegance at its highest level.
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Cap-Ferrat Grand Hotel, Cap-Ferrat
Distinguished turn-of-the-century resort hotel with a sophisticated aura, surrounded by a beautifully landscaped 14-acre park.
How to get to Eze
You can get to Eze-Sur-Mer by train (direction Vintimille) or on the no.100 bus, to go directly to Eze Village take the 82 bus from Nice Vauban.
Transfers for Monaco
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Private airport transfers
From Nice airport to Monaco, they handle the rest. The Côte d’Azur's most trusted private transfers.
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Helicopter Airport Transfers & Scenic Flights
Created in 1976 this company has grown and has now transported well over 100,000 passengers. They have a fleet of 12 craft to meet client demands.
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Helicopter Transfers and Scenic Flights
With a long history and experience in the VIP transport industry this company is proud of its personal and high-quality services.
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Helicopter Charter Flights
Heli Securite offer transfers on a helicopter from the airport to your yacht or various destinations in and around the Cannes area, St Tropez and Monaco. In addition to this they also service all of the main French ski resorts from their base in Courchevel.
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Private Jet and Helicopter Transfers
With an International fleet of jets and helicopters based across Europe it is quick and easy to get a private charter flight for business, pleasure or an airport transfer.
