My wife and I would appreciate tips on visiting Eze from Villefranche-sur-Mer including best way to get there and return, lunch recommendations and what to see and do.
Posted by
Michigan
545 posts
We went to Eze le Village from Beaulieu-sur-Mer by bus, using the Lignes D'Azur card , which can be purchased from the bus driver or from a Tabac store. My husband and I shared the reloadable card (2 Euro) and just swiped it twice on the bus. In fact, we bought 2 cards at first from the driver in Beaulieu, and then went to load it for our return at the Tabac store in Eze le Village. He was so gracious and bought one back from us, saying we could save the money and share a card. Don't get off the bus at Eze sur Mer....stay on until Eze le Village.
When it was time to leave Eze, we were glad to have the card and be able to jump on a bus quickly to head back out of town. It seemed like a lot of the tourists waiting weren't sure how to navigate that part.
While in Eze, we decided to stop and have a snack at Chateau Eza because we could see there were a couple of tables available. We'd planned to do that after seeing the Jardin Exotique, but decided to be spontaneous and stop first. It was a good idea because there were no lunch reservations available, but we could stop then for the cocktail menu, and there was a wait later in the afternoon when we passed by again. So glad we decided to stop when we did!
Sitting there overlooking the sea and seeing part of the garden, the Moyenne Corniche, and other views was really lovely. We stayed for about an hour, soaking it all up, and then went on our way. We loved the Jardin Exotique and took tons of pictures - including viewing the same balcony terrace where we'd been seated earlier! We didn't have a real meal in the village, so I can't advise about that.
Everything you've read about getting there early is really good advice. We visited in April, and even then, were eager to leave around lunchtime, as the crowds were becoming dense. It's a lot more fun to wander medieval streets with your traveling partner than shuffling through in a wall of people...
Enjoy your trip!
Laurie