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.
Jump to
- History & Culture in Eze
- Sights & Attractions in Eze
- Beaches in Eze
- Dining in Eze
- Events in Eze
- Things to do in Eze
- Cycling in Eze
- Hiking in Eze
- Yachts & Sailing in Eze
- Watersports in Eze
- Families in Eze
- Villas in Eze
- Holidays Rentals in Eze
- Hotels in Eze
- Campsites in Eze
- How to get to Eze
- Property For Sale in Eze
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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Parfumerie Galimard, Eze
Free guided tours of a historic perfume factory in the medieval village of Eze.
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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.
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 Nice
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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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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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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 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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Anjuna Plage Beach Club, Eze
Being situated in the small and picturesque village of Eze, the Anjuna Plage is a fashionable restaurant that should not be missed during the summer holidays.
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La Reserve de la Mala Beach Club, Cap d'Ail
La Réserve has a private beach, cocktail bar and a lovely restaurant with an international menu.
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 Boat Trip
Enjoy a wonderful, peaceful and fume-free journey along the French Riviera on a solar powered motor boat with a professional skipper.
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Solar Powered Boat Trip
Enjoy a wonderful, peaceful and fume-free journey along the French Riviera on a solar powered motor boat with a professional skipper.
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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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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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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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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.
Cycling in Eze
Cycling Routes in Nice
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La Grande Corniche Cycle Route
La Grande Corniche is one of the classic cycle routes of the Riviera and this ride takes you from the heart of Nice all the way to Menton on the Italian border and back.
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Mont Lauze Cycle Route
This intense little loop packs quite a lot into a short ride, taking you up to the serenity of the high mountains and back down to the hustle of the seafront in just 30km.
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Aspremont Tourette Falicon Cycle Route
This half-day ride takes you on a panoramic tour via four of the region’s famous sixteen “perched villages” - ancient towns built high amongst the mountains of the Alpes-Maritime. There is a fair bit of climbing involved in this ride, 1500m over just under 60km, but there are also plenty of long flowing descents where you can drink in the magnificent views of mountains in one direction and sea in the other. The biggest climb is the first one up to Aspremont, so once you’ve nailed that you can relax and take the rest nice and easy.
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Col de la Madone de Gorbio Cycle Route
When Lance Armstrong describes a training route as “mythical” you know it’s not going to be easy…
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Col de Vence Cycle Route
A challenging ride up a steep mountain pass to a summit of 963m, the Col de Vence is a classic cycling route of the Cote d’Azur. Starting from Nice along the Promenade des Anglais, follow the cycle path past the airport to Cagnes-Sur-Mer; you’ll know you’ve reached Cagnes-Sur-Mer when you come to a long stretch of seafront and a dangling rhinoceros (you’ll understand when you see it), turn right up Avenue General Leclerc - it’s the second road after the church.
Hiking in Eze
Walking Routes in Nice
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Hike from Nice along the Plateau St Michel
This is a fairly easy but rewarding hike starting from Eze-sur-Mer and finishing in Beaulieu-Sur-Mer, both villages are on the train and bus line.
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Sentier Littoral : Tour du Cap Ferrat
This easily accessible promenade starts at the Port of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat and finishes at Plage de Passable, taking you right around the peninsula of this beautiful coastline.
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Villefranche Sur Mer to Cap de Nice
This rugged coastal footpath runs from Villefranche-Sur-Mer all the way to Nice, providing excellent views of the harbour and lots of opportunities for secluded swimming and sunbathing along the way.
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Circuit de la Rade
Leave the old town of Villefranche-sur-mer and escape into the wooded hills as far down as Cap Ferrat. Take a tour of the old city via Rue Obscure, a shady path the winds its way through vaulted cellars from the old harbor.
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A short leisurely hike near Coco beach
This is the shortest and most easily accessible of the Sentier Littoral walks; making it easy to fit into a quiet afternoon when you want to escape the hustle and bustle of Nice town.
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Promenade du Paillon Walk in Nice
Nice’s flagship urban park covers 12 hectares in the heart of the city, just a few minutes walk from Promenade des Anglais. Promenade du Paillon used to be a very congested and rather ugly thoroughfare where the old bus station and multi storey car park were situated. It was demolished in 2011 and a 3 year development project took place to turn it into the oasis of green open space, safe play areas and impressive water features that we enjoy today.
Yachts & Sailing in Eze
Watersports in Eze
Watersports in Nice
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Parasailing, Villefranche Sur Mer
Fly at 50 metres above the sea by yourself or with friends security attached, enjoy a spectacular view of the gorgeous Baie des Anges, mountains and surroundings.
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Cap Ferrat Diving School
Whichever excursion you choose, you will be closer to discovering the many secrets of the underwater world.
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Nice Diving School
Nice Diving unveils to its clients the underwater marvels of the Mediterranean ocean along the shores of the Cote d'Azur.
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Club Nautique de Nice
Rowing, power boating and sailing. Whether you are a beginner or an expert, whether you prefer a leisure or competitive approach, the club offers its resources, its equipment, its fleet (except for power boating).
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Le Poseidon Diving School
Located in the harbour of Nice this diving school enables beginners, intermediates and confirmed divers to explore 25 diving sites.
Families in Eze
Villas in Eze
Villas in Eze
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Chemin du Mont des Mignons Villa
On the heights of Nice, beautiful stone house of around 500m² with swimming pool benefiting from a beautiful hills view.
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Les Deux Fleurons Villa, Eze
Enjoy the lovely landscaped gardens with a heated outdoor pool and views over the Mediterranean coast at this great villa. The private villa sleeps up to six people in three bedrooms and has a spacious living area which is full equipped and a barbeque out on the terrace. Dinner can be provided as an optional extra.
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Belle Aurore Villa
Set on the hillside of Nice, overhanging the Méditerranean sea and located into the most beautiful residential quarter of the town, this 400m2 villa is planted in a 3000 m2 enclosed garden and surrounded by a natural parc.
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Nice Mont Boron Villa
For rent in Nice Mont-Boron, on the heights, a villa of about 200 m², benefiting from a nice sea view with terraces and garden.
Holidays Rentals in Eze
Holiday Rentals in Eze
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Villefranche-sur-Mer duplex Apartment
Villefranche-sur-mer, for rent, nice 2 bedroom duplex apartment of 85 m² floor space located on the heights of Villefranche with panoramic sea view.
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Les Deux Fleurons Villa, Eze
Enjoy the lovely landscaped gardens with a heated outdoor pool and views over the Mediterranean coast at this great villa. The private villa sleeps up to six people in three bedrooms and has a spacious living area which is full equipped and a barbeque out on the terrace. Dinner can be provided as an optional extra.
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Belle Aurore Villa
Set on the hillside of Nice, overhanging the Méditerranean sea and located into the most beautiful residential quarter of the town, this 400m2 villa is planted in a 3000 m2 enclosed garden and surrounded by a natural parc.
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Cap de Nice Apartment, Nice Area
In a prestigious residence with swimming pool and park beautiful duplex apartment of about 140m2 profiting from terraces and from a little private garden.
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Villefranche-sur-Mer Apartment
Beautiful and bright 40m² apartment with a modern decor close to shops , beach and restaurants.
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Chemin du Mont des Mignons Villa
On the heights of Nice, beautiful stone house of around 500m² with swimming pool benefiting from a beautiful hills view.
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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Exedra Hotel, Nice Centre
The 5-star Luxury Boscolo Exedra Nice is located in the centre of Nice, a few minutes from the old town, the boutiques of Place Masséna, the famous Promenade Des Anglais and the Conference Center.
Price: €3,992
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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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La Reserve de Beaulieu Hotel
Classic French opulence with Mediterranean charm, all nestled between the mountains and the blue waters of the Riviera.
Price: €10,063
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Le Palais de la Mediterranee Hotel
Located on the famous Promenade des Anglais, this contemporary hotel features a casino, an indoor & outdoor pool and spa facilities.
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Le Chateau de la Chevre d'Or Hotel, Eze
Boasting remarkable sea views of St-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, this luxurious hotel is listed among the 500 World's Best Hotels.
Price: €10,640
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Royal Riviera Hotel, Beaulieu sur Mer
This hotel has been entirely renovated, combining the historical ambience of its past, plus the modern conveniences of an international luxury hotel.
Campsites in Eze
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 Nice
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Private airport transfers
From the airport to the city centre, they handle the rest. The Côte d’Azur's most trusted private transfers.
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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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Chabe Airport Transfers
Chabe Transfers are a renowned luxury transfer and taxi service operating in the French Riviera.
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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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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.
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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.
Property For Sale in Eze
Property for Sale in Eze
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Apartment for Sale
Located in the sought-after area of Beaulieu-sur-Mer, discover this beautiful 47 sq m apartment, ideally positioned on the first floor of a well-maintained small building, without an elevator. Enjoy a bright and peaceful living environment thanks to its cross-layout.
Price: €439,000