12 Things to Do in Eze, France (From a France Expert)
Looking for the best things to do in Eze? I’ve got some great recommendations for you – read on for details!
The word ‘charming’ doesn’t even come close to doing Eze justice.
As someone who has traveled extensively in France and has spent 3 trips dedicated solely to the French Riviera and Provence, I can tell you that Eze is special.
This gem of a town is perched high on a hilltop in Southern France, not far from Nice. Narrow, cobblestone streets wind their way between ancient stone buildings. Vivid bursts of flowers spill from balconies, and potted plants and crawling ivy add a splash of color against the warm, earthy tones of the old walls.
Thanks to its high, hilltop position, the village offers a breathtaking view of the Mediterranean Sea, and is known for having been an artists’ haven. Today, artists still dominate the village, with ateliers and workshops filling the village and spilling out to the streets.
In short, this pristine, adorable town feels like stepping into a fairytale, and is absolutely worth visiting when you’re in the French Riviera.
Pro Tip: Eze is pronounced “eh-zz”
INSERT SOME KIND OF CALLOUT BOX HERE ABOUT A DAY TOUR TO EZE
12 Unforgettable Things to Do in Eze
In this post, I’m sharing all the can’t-miss things to see and do in Eze. At the end of the post, I’m also discussing some helpful tips and practical info for visiting Eze!
1. Wander the Town
The main thing to do in Eze is just walk around and soak up the ambiance. Eze is a quaint, incredibly preserved medieval town – every street and every corner is just picture-perfect. It’s one of those places where every street is a masterpiece, and you want to take a picture every 10 seconds.
As my mom and I walked around the town, eventually we would almost start laughing as we turned a corner and another insanely cute street would be in front of us.
The streets are all cobblestoned, with the buildings and walls bordering the street also made of stone. Everywhere you look, vines and ivy were climbing up the wall or draped across a surface, and potted plants and small bushes were situated up and down the narrow streets.
Black, wrought iron lamposts hung against the wall, and black wrought iron signs were hung advertising the many art galleries throughout town.
The old town is completely pedestrian, so the streets are narrow and winding, and there are no large squares or boulevards anywhere. Sometimes the streets were actually staircases, winding up and down the hills of the village.
The narrow streets were very intentionally designed to provide some welcome shade during the hot summer months.
The village is in pristine condition and was incredibly clean, with almost nothing in ruins and seriously nothing out of place.
2. Visit the Art Galleries and Boutiques
Eze has a rich history as being a haven for artists, and that tradition continues today, as the village has an impressive number of art galleries and boutiques from talented artists, painters, and sculptors.
There are a great number of art galleries and workshops in Eze, and several shops have free entrances to see the works of art displayed in a gallery-like area. Some studios have paintings out on the street, and there are many little boutiques to duck into as you wander the village.
I loved this because it felt so unique and special, tying a part of Eze’s past into something you can not only observe, but participate in today. And I love that real art, not just souvenir tchotchkes, is on display and for sale in the town. It’s very special!
3. Jardin Exotique d’Eze
The number one main attraction in Eze is the beautiful Jardin Exotique d’Eze, an absolutely stunning garden that’s planted around the ruins of a castle at the very top of the city.
You can look down over the village and to the sea from the garden, which certainly illustrates why Eze has the nickname of “The Eagle’s Nest.”
“Exotic” means that there are mostly cacti and desert-type plants in the garden, though the back section of the garden features more Provencal-style plants. Fourteen different statues representing the earth goddesses are interspersed with the plants, which fits perfectly with the culture of Eze.
Make sure you explore all the crisscrossing paths that take you to different levels and terraces in the garden. If you make your way down the stairs at the backside of the hill, you’ll find some soothing waterfalls and water features.
The whole area is really lovely. I loved this garden more than I was expecting!
- Hours: 9am-7:30pm
- Entrance Fee: 7 euro
4. Notre Dame de l’Assomption Church
Notre Dame de l’Assomption is the main church in Eze, and has a beautiful golden yellow exterior with an impressively ornate interior. The inside has beautiful green and tan marble pillars, gold embellishments and decorative elements, and murals on the ceiling of the dome. The effect is lovely.
I’m always impressed when these tiny villages have such beautiful and highly decorated churches, and Eze is certainly no exception.
5. The Cemetery
The Eze cemetery is just adjacent to the church, right off of the same, small square. The more historic part of the cemetery appears to be closed, but the more modern cemetery is open from 8am-7pm.
It’s possible the historic cemetery was just closed the day we were there, but I wouldn’t say the modern cemetery is even worth visiting (very small, and not much to see).
However, make sure you notice the monument on the square just outside the cemetery to the men from Eze who died in World War 1.
Interestingly, almost every town I’ve visited on the Cote d’Azur has a monument to the fallen men in WW1. That war was (unsurprisingly) a major sacrifice for the country, and so many towns created significant memorials for their soldiers.
I’m always a little taken back by how long the list of names of the fallen is. This is a small town with not many inhabitants, and yet the list feels so long.
6. Chapelle de la Sainte-Croix (des Penitents Blancs)
This very small chapel, The Chapel of the Holy Cross, is really just a room off of one of the streets in town, but it has a rich history.
This is believed to be the earliest structure in the village (dating back to the early 1300’s), and the chapel was used by members of the Order of the White Penitents. These people dressed in white robes and hoods and helped the poor and sick during the time of the plague in Europe (14th century).
7. The Perfumeries of Eze
While the town of Grasse remains the perfume capital of France (and of the world!), Eze is another, smaller hub for some of the major perfumeries in France. Just outside of the old town are a few different perfume locations you can visit.
While I’d still recommend visiting Grasse and getting the full and complete tours of the most historical factories and the birthplace of perfume in France, as well as doing a perfume-creating workshop (a top experience in southern France), this is a good stand-in experience and one I would still recommend doing in Eze.
8. Galimard Museum + Boutique
The Galimard Museum and Boutique are two interesting spots to visit, located in the same building. You can take a short, guided tour through the museum and learn about the history of perfume, the history of the Galimard brand, the basic construction of perfume, and the process of creating perfumes.
You’ll end in the boutique, where the employee/guide will walk you through a mini “perfume smelling,” where she will spray perfume on sample strips for you to smell and enjoy.
Generally, about 5 different perfume fragrances are introduced, but you can always test out any of the perfumes they have in the shop. My mom and I were absolutely delighted with this – neither of us are huge perfume wearers, but we found the information interesting and the process of testing out different perfumes fascinating and a really fun activity.
The museum and tour and boutique testings are all free, you just show up and ask to visit. There’s zero pressure to buy and the workers are very happy to let you peruse and sample the perfumes.
9. Fragonard Usine and Boutique
Fragonard is another top French perfume brand, and also has a factory (usine) where you can take a short, free tour. There is also the Fragonard boutique you can visit for shopping and perfume testing.
Unlike the Galimard Museum and Boutique, which were located in the same building, the Fragonard usine + boutique are a couple of blocks away from each other, and you can visit one or both.
10. Chemin Frederic Nietzsche
The Chemin Frederic Nietzche path takes you from the village of Eze and down the mountain to the sea, the beach, and the coastal town of Eze-sur-Mer (Eze by the Sea).
The path is so-named because renowned German philosopher, Frederic Nietzsche, hoping to improve his health, spent some time living in Eze in the 1880’s. He hiked this trail up from the sea to the hilltop village daily, and was where he took inspiration for his third philosophical novel, Thus Spoke Zarathustra.
If you are starting the trail in Eze, you can find the trailhead just outside the village walls, just to the left of the Le Château de la Chèvre d’Or hotel entrance (you can’t miss it!)
The path is rugged and steep, and it’s definitely more of an intense hike than a leisurely stroll – I’d recommend good shoes as the path is rocky and uneven in many spots.
If you plan to hike from the bottom up, be prepared for an intense workout. We were quite happy that we chose to go top-down. It’s a great hike though – the views of the sea, particularly on the last ¼ of the hike, are phenomenal.
11. Viewpoint on the Nietzsche Path
Just a few minutes from the top of the path is a little offshoot that takes you to a viewpoint of Eze village. You’ll only get a partial view of the village, but it’s not bad and about as good of a view as you’re going to get of this village. I think it’s worth the couple of minutes it takes to stop off here.
12. Plage d’Eze (Eze Beach)
When you get to the bottom of the Nietzsche Trail, you’ll want to cross the pedestrian bridge right in front of you and walk the few minutes through some residential streets to reach the beach.
The beach is rocky, but extends far along the coastline. We didn’t get in and swim, but there is a little pier that we sat on and put our feet in the water for a while, which felt amazing after hiking down the trail in the warm weather.
Practical Information
How to Get to Eze
There are a few different ways to get to the village. You can arrive via bus for just a few euros. You can take the train to Eze-sur-Mer, and then hike the Chemin Frederic Nietzsche up to Eze Village. You can drive yourself, or take an Uber or taxi. Finally, visiting as part of a guided tour of the French Riviera is also a great option.
For more information, read my detailed guide on how to get to Eze.
Guided Tour to Eze
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How Long Do You Need in Eze
Eze is small and very compact – you can easily explore the entire village and walk down the sea with a half-day in the city.
Eze is a popular destination, and it does get busy during the middle of the day. We arrived at 8am and had the village basically to ourselves for an hour. Other visitors started arriving around 9am, when the Exotic Garden opened. By 10:30am, the village was bustling with people.
How to Fit Eze Into Your French Riviera Itinerary
Eze works really well as a day trip from Nice, Monaco, Cannes, or Antibes (some of the nearest bigger cities on the Mediterranean), or if you’re staying in a smaller town nearby.
While most people choose to day trip to Eze, there are a few charming hotels in the village if you want to enjoy the quaint atmosphere in the mornings and evenings, when the village is quiet and serene.
If that interests you, these are a couple of great options for where to stay in Eze:
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Southern France Travel Essentials
Is Eze Worth Visiting – The Wrap Up
I think it’s clear from my gushing in this article that I loved Eze. And while it’s a popular destination (and can get busy during the daytime), I still think it’s an absolutely lovely village full of fairytale charm and pretty corners. Eze is definitely worth a visit when you travel through southern France!
