Getting to Eze from Nice

There's service to Eze Village (the hill town) from the Vauban Bus Station in Nice on Lignes d'Azur Bus 82; the travel time is 27 minutes. It appears there are over a dozen buses per day.

You can also take the train to Eze-sur-Mer and then get Bus 83 up to Eze Village; the bus segment on that route takes 15 minutes. Bus 83 runs a bit less frequently than bus 82.

This website has the details about getting to Eze Village: https://www.explorenicecotedazur.com/en/eze/getting-to-eze/

The Lignes d'Azur bus schedules can be found here: https://www.lignesdazur.com/en

Your experience illustrates why I'm reluctant to take bus tours; the clients have no control over how much time is spent at each stop, and the tour companies have apparently found that people are more likely to book tours that go to a bunch of places.

if you take the Eze sur Mer bus 83 up the (very steep) hill you may find that the 5 of you nearly fill it. It has to be a small bus because the road is narrow and bumpy - the little bus is a perfect fit.

Similar experience going down the hill.

I took the bus. It was very easy to figure out and it allowed me to have the entire day there and not be on any timetable. You will be so happy to have more than 50 minutes there:)

To get to the Vauban Bus Station, take the T1 tram to Vauban. Walk back to the next block, you'll see a small food shop on the opposite corner called "Korner's". That street, Rue Jules et Aline Avigdor, at the other end of the street you'll see a small sign marked "Gare Routiere" and a pedestrian underpass of the railroad tracks. The other side and you are in the Vauban Bus Station, which is open air. The 82 bus goes from the first island platform as you exit the underpass.

The 82 bus makes a few stops in town before heading up the road to Eze, but I felt more comfortable getting it at the start point, and it was crowded even in January, so if you board in town after the bus station, you may have to stand. And sometimes the bus will be marked "602" to Monaco. Same bus, just get on board.

Bus is best, but two alternatives: You can also at times find an Uber XL (and taxi) that will take the five of you to Eze. Getting back can be a challenge as the choices will generally be taxis, at a higher cost. WIth a fit group and proper walking shoes, there is a path down from Eze le Village to Eze sur Mer, where there is a train stop.

Thanks everyone! Sounds like the bus is the way to go. Where should I catch it before it gets too crowded. We are staying a block from the Negresco Hotel on the promenade.

You could take the 8+ bus on the Promenade to the Palais des Expositions and walk about 250 meters to the Vauban Bus station.