Eze vs Saint-Paul-de-Vence: Which Town Should You Visit?
Planning a trip to southern France and trying to decide whether to visit Eze vs Saint-Paul-de-Vence? I’ve got you covered – read on for my recommendation!
Eze and Saint-Paul-de-Vence are two absolutely adorable villages in southern France, in the region known as the French Riviera. This region is a subsection of Provence in the very southeastern corner of France and borders the Mediterranean Sea.
Saint-Paul-de-Vence and Eze are both considered perched villages – meaning they sit on the very top of the rolling hills that this part of southern France is known for. These locations, chosen long ago for their strategic military importance in defending against invaders, now create a picturesque backdrop for the quaint towns.
In many respects, these towns are very similar – both have charming cobblestoned streets and stone buildings, both are perched villages, and both have a long tradition of artistry.
However, there are some distinct differences between the two villages, so if you only have time in your French Riviera itinerary for one, this post is for you!
In the following sections, I’m sharing the differences between the two villages and which one was my favorite (because there definitely was a clear winner).
Things That Are Similar in Saint-Paul-de-Vence and Eze
Both Eze and Saint-Paul-de-Vence are absolutely adorable, picture-perfect villages, with tiny cobblestoned streets and alleyways, stone buildings, vines, greenery, and potted plants growing everywhere, and the most charming little tucked away corners.
Both villages are perched villages, meaning they sit on the tops of hills (making them much more easily defensible). They are both pedestrian-only, and are both surrounded by a city wall.
Both villages are known for being a haven for artists, both historically and still to this day. You can find art galleries and workshops all over the city, with many free galleries to stop in to admire paintings and sculptures. Jewelry boutiques are also common in the villages.
Finally, Eze and Saint-Paul-de-Vence are popular spots to visit on the French Riviera, and you’ll likely be exploring with many other tourists, especially if you visit during the middle of the day during high season.
Eze vs. Saint Paul de Vence: Unique Features of Each Village
Eze
While there are a lot of fun and interesting things to do in Eze – here are the top unique features of the village.
Jardin Exotique: One of Eze’s biggest attractions is the Jardin Exotique, or the Exotic Garden. This beautiful garden is on the highest point in Eze, and overlooks the village and the sea. Winding paths take you past a large variety of desert plants in the Exotic Garden section and more leafy plants in the Provencal Garden section.
Statues are interspersed between the plants, there are adorable stone staircases, and even a couple of small waterfalls. It’s seriously the most delightful little greenspace.
Galimard and Fragonard Museums and Boutiques: While perfume in southern France is most commonly associated with Grasse, the perfume houses of both Galimard and Fragonard have boutiques and workshop museums to visit just outside of the walled city in Eze.
Both brands have beautiful and engaging set-ups, and will guide you through a free perfume “try-on”, giving you 5 different perfumes to smell (no strings attached).
Frederic Nietzsche Path: This path is really more of a hike – it takes you down the hilltop from Eze to the coastline and the sea. It’s a beautiful hike through the forest, which opens up to gorgeous sea views, but is pretty steep!
While visitors can climb up the trail to Eze, as famous philosopher Frederic Nietzsche did daily when he lived in Provence, we opted to hike down from Eze which was a much less intense experience.
Sea Views: Eze is located right by the sea, so you can enjoy sea views from many spots in and around the village.
Saint-Paul-de-Vence
There are also a lot of interesting things to do in Saint-Paul-de-Vence. Here are the top unique features of the village:
Sculptures on the Street: While both villages had a plethora of art galleries, Saint-Paul-de-Vence had several unique art sculptures out on the streets, creating a really cool aesthetic.
Walking the Ramparts: Both villages are walled cities, but in Saint-Paul-de-Vence, you can actually get up and walk along the ramparts, and was a favorite part of visiting the city.
Cemetery Where Marc Chagall was Buried: Marc Chagall was a famous French artist who spent a lot of his life in southern France, especially in Vence and Saint-Paul-de-Vence. He made great contributions to the modern art movement, and he has an entire museum dedicated to his works in Nice (which is one of Nice’s many hidden gems).
Chagall is buried in the Saint-Paul-de-Vence cemetery, a lovely place where you can easily find his grave. Because Chagall was Jewish, many small stones are placed on his grave (a gesture of respect in Jewish culture).
Viewpoint Back at the City: You can easily find great viewpoints looking back at the perched village of Saint-Paul-de-Vence from just outside the city walls. In Eze, there aren’t any good spots within walking distance.
Valley Views: Because Saint-Paul-de-Vence is much farther inland than Eze, there aren’t any sea views from the village, but the views to the surrounding valley are still beautiful.
Ease of Getting to Each Village
Both villages are a little tricky to get to, mostly because they are not on the main train line that runs along the coastline of southern France.
You’ll either need to drive yourself, take an uber or taxi, or do a combination of train+bus, bus, or train+hiking, depending on where you are coming from.
Because there are several options, I have more information about how to get to the villages in these posts: How to get to Eze from Nice, and how to get to Saint-Paul-de-Vence from Nice. Although both of these are written with Nice as the starting point in mind, it would be approximately the same process if you are coming from Monaco, Cannes, Antibes, etc.
(Psst – if you’re thinking about renting a car and driving yourself around Provence, make your car reservation ASAP! Search current prices and availability on RentalCars.com or DiscoverCars.com – these are the sites I always use because they have the best prices and availability).
Where Are You Coming From?
Both villages are about the same distance from Nice – 20-30 minutes by car, about an hour by public transit, although Eze is slightly closer to Nice. However, if you’re staying in Monaco, Eze is the closer village, and if you’re staying in Cannes, Saint-Paul-de-Vence is closer.
Tours that Visit Each Village
If you’re short on time in the French Riviera and/or just want to see as many things as possible, going on one of these top-rated guided day tours is a great option!
Option 1: Eze, Monaco, La Turbie. This is a great tour to admire the charming village of Eze, explore the glitzy, glammy country of Monaco, and stop by La Turbie for an impressive Roman monument and views over Monaco.
Option 2: Saint-Paul-de-Vence, Grasse, Cannes, Gourdon. On this tour, you’ll enjoy time in the lively city of Cannes, visit perfumeries in Grasse (known as being the perfume capital of France), see another hilltop village in Gourdon, and of course, explore Saint-Paul-de-Vence.
Option 3: Eze, Saint-Paul-de-Vence, Antibes, Cannes, Monaco, Villefranche. This “Best of the Riviera” tour makes it so you don’t have to choose! You’ll visit many villages and cities all over the Riviera.
Of course, this means that you’re getting more of an overview instead of a deep dive into each location, but it’s a great way to get a taste of many different cities and villages in just one day.
Saint-Paul-de-Vence vs Eze: My Recommendation
I visited both of these villages with my mom and we were in agreement: Eze was our favorite of the two villages.
While both villages on the surface seemed very similar, we loved the vibe and look of Eze just a little bit more. We also thought the other things to do around Eze (the garden, the perfumeries, the hiking path) were fantastic and in particular we loved the Jardin Exotique.
That being said – you really can’t go wrong with either village, and if Saint-Paul-de-Vence works out better for your schedule, it’s going to be a great experience for you.
But all other things being equal, I’d choose Eze over Saint-Paul de Vence.
