Is Eze worth visiting? In my opinion, yes, Eze is absolutely worth visiting! However, there are a couple of reasons why you shouldn’t visit Eze. Plus there are a few things you need to know before you go to make your trip to Eze as amazing as it can be. This post will help you decide whether a trip to Eze will be worth it for you!
4 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Visit Eze
There are not many reasons why Eze isn’t worth visiting, but you should be aware of them before your trip! With a little bit of planning, you can avoid these problems.
1. There are Other Less-Popular Villages in the Area to Visit
If you are an “off-the-beaten-path” type of traveler, Eze village might not be the right destination for you. It is one of the two most visited villages in the South of France: Eze & St. Paul de Vence.
So if you are short on time and you want to see some villages that most tourists won’t go to, then maybe skip Eze and head to one of these amazing hilltop villages near Nice!
Here are a few lesser-known villages that I would recommend:
2. Eze Can Get Quite Crowded
Depending on the season, you may be visiting Eze with quite a few other tourists. It can get quite crowded since the village isn’t that big!
This isn’t a reason to skip Eze if it is on your bucket list though, just try to visit Eze in the off-season. If you are still planning to visit during the high season, then plan to get to Eze very early in the morning to have it all to yourself!
We’ll go over when you should visit Eze later in the post, but generally, the high season is the whole summer in France!
3. It is Quite Hot & There are Some Steep Areas
You definitely need to plan for the heat in Eze Village. Bring plenty of water (it will be cheaper to bring your own water than to buy it there!) and definitely don’t forget to wear a sun hat and sunscreen.
To get up to the village from the bus stop or parking area, you have to hike up a steep hill.
It’s not too much of a walk, but if you aren’t worried about saving money, then in the high season you can pay someone to give you a ride up the hill.
4. It Can Be Expensive
Visiting Eze Village can be quite expensive. If you plan to stay in the village, the hotels are quite luxurious and definitely not budget-friendly.
The two most famous and expensive hotels in Eze are actually chateaux that were converted into hotels: Chateau Eza and Chevre d’Or.
To make Eze a bit cheaper, try basing yourself in Nice instead. You can day-trip to Eze and Monaco on an organized tour as well if you want to make things easy for yourself!
You can eat breakfast before you leave for Eze, then grab some baguettes and meat and cheese to make sandwiches for when you get hungry while visiting the village.
Not everything is expensive in Eze though, if you bring your own lunch, you can grab drinks or gelato from a local restaurant for pretty cheap.
5 Reasons Why You Should Visit Eze
1. If You Can Visit in the Off-Season: The Best Time to Visit Eze
Since Eze is in the South of France, technically, there is no bad time to visit Eze! The weather is great year-round.
However, if you are looking to avoid crowds then you should try visiting in September, October, November, or March.
December, January, and February may be too cold, but the visibility is great during that time of year.
April, May, and June are the busiest months to visit Eze and the hottest months are June, July, and August.
So when should you visit Eze? I would visit in the months just off the high season: March or September. The weather should still be nice, just fewer people!
Also, try getting to Eze earlier in the morning. The Exotic Garden (Jardin Exotique) which is known for its succulents and cacti, opens at 9 AM, so if you are getting to the village around 7 or 8 then you should have a lot of the village to yourself!
Then you can head to the Gardens as soon as they open.
I’ve visited Eze in the summer twice and I don’t recommend it, not only was it hot but it was also quite windy! But if that’s when your trip to the Côte d’Azur is, then it’s still worth a visit.
2. There are Tons of Unique Things to Do in Eze
Don’t miss a single thing while you’re in Eze by following this list of things to do. I’ve included things that I couldn’t find on any other itinerary or post that will make your trip to Eze super unique.
3. It’s a Real Medieval Village
The oldest building in Eze Village dates back to the 12th century (1308) and the area around Eze has been inhabited since 2000 BC.
The village of Eze was fought over by the French and Turkish and eventually became officially French in 1860.
So when you’re walking through Eze Village, the cobblestone streets and buildings are over 700 years old!
4. Eze Has Some of the Best Views on the French Riviera
You’ve definitely seen the views from Eze Village on Instagram, usually from the Exotic Garden at the very top of the village.
The views of the Cote d’Azur are absolutely stunning and show the peninsula of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat in the distance plus some amazing overhead views of Eze Village itself.
It costs 6 euros per person to enter and is definitely worth it, so don’t skip this part of Eze!
5. Visiting Eze Can Double as a Beach & Hiking Trip
If you are up for a hike, then visiting Eze can be a beach trip as well as a village trip! There is a hiking trail called the Nietzsche Path named after the philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche that leads down to Eze Beach (or Eze-sur-Mer).
Fun fact: Friedrich Nietzche actually stayed in Eze and used it as inspiration for his book “Thus Spoke Zarathustra” which is why this path is named after him.
Eze is 427 meters above sea level, so the hike down is quite steep. But you get to take a dip in the gorgeous Mediterranean Sea when you get to the bottom! Just watch out for jellyfish!
You can read more about how to do this hike in this post.
So is Eze Worth Visiting?
YES! But I do think that you should include a few lesser-known villages on your itinerary as well. If you plan well, you can really enjoy your trip to Eze instead of regretting the crowds and the heat!
Read More About France:
- 30+ Unmissable Things to Do in Nice
- How to Hike the Tete de Chien (Best View of Monaco)
- How to Take the Bus from Nice to Villefranche-sur-Mer
- Every Document You Need to Apply for the Long Stay France Visa
- The Best France Visa Insurance
Dayna Brockbank is a travel and language-learning blogger who has lived around the world but has now settled in Nice, France. She speaks 3 languages at varying levels of fluency: Spanish, Italian, and French, and graduated with a Bachelor’s in Spanish Education. She and her husband focus on making travel part of life by living cheaply and traveling on a budget.