How to Spend a Day in Éze, France

Nice, France, is a fantastic city with many things to do, see, and eat. It is also a great home base for visiting other towns along the Cote d’Azur. My sister and I took many fantastic day trips from Nice during our stay, but the most memorable was our day in Éze.

Éze, France, is a medieval village that crowns a seaside mountain. The town boasts some of the best views of the French Riviera. Its shaded stone streets, narrow footpaths, buzzing terraces, and mild scent of flowers make it a quintessential place to spend a day exploring.

My sister and I arrived to Éze by Uber, although a bus route is available. Taking a train to Éze is technically also an option, but the train will drop you off at the bottom of the mountain with a rugged hike to reach the top. The Uber ride from Nice to Éze was worth it because it saved time and prevented us from having to trouble ourselves with tight schedules. You could also consider visiting Éze with a tour group.

On our day spent in Éze, we indulged our olfactory senses with floral perfumes, dined on raspberries drizzled with lavender-infused oil, shopped for unique trinkets, marveled at the dazzling French coastline from a botanical garden, and got lost in a maze of stone streets laced with greenery.

Of course, there are many ways to spend the day in Éze, but these are the highlights from my day trip and what I recommend to anyone planning to take this day trip from Nice.

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Indulge Your Senses at Fragonard

We started the morning with a perfume-making workshop and factory tour at Fragonard Perfumes, a perfumery that has been in business for almost a century. They produce fragrances, soaps, and cosmetics heavily inspired by floral and botanical scents. They offer a free factory tour that ends in their showroom, or you can pay a little extra and include the custom perfume-making workshop like we did.

I am a fragrance enthusiast, so I thought the tour was a great way to learn how their fragrances are made and see the small factory in action. The workshop was also fun but a little less than I had expected. I thought we would be able to customize our fragrance using a large variety of scents, but we were only able to mix three notes of their limited-edition fragrance. While I enjoyed this, it might be skippable to those less interested in perfume.

Of course, the tour ended in their showroom, where we had the opportunity to purchase their products. They give a quick sales pitch at the end of the tour, but the quality of the fragrances speaks for themselves. I bought several perfumes and can vouch for their sillage and longevity. Since this area of France is known for its scents, Fragonard is a must-see and a great way to begin your day in Éze.

Have Lunch at Deli’

There are many great restaurants in Éze, but we chose to have lunch at Deli’. This café is located at the top of the town, but the walk up through the winding maze of streets was scenic and intriguing. On the day we visited, the narrow street in front of the café was uncomfortably crowded, but with kindness and a little patience, we were fortunate enough to score a table under the café’s shaded pergola.

My sister and I ordered a baguette sandwich with gooey ricotta cheese, prosciutto, arugula, and olive oil. Olive oil is a big part of Deli’s appeal. They have many infused olive oils you can taste and take home. I couldn’t resist having raspberries drizzled in lavender-infused olive oil for dessert. I loved it so much that I purchased a bottle.

Visit The Exotic Garden of Éze

Deli’ is conveniently located next to the popular Exotic Garden of Éze, so you can pop over after lunch to soak in the iconic views of the coast. Éze is known for its more delicate florals like the ones used at Fragonard, but the Exotic Garden is home to plant species that thrive in dry climates. There was a plethora of cacti and succulents that were bright and well cared for. Even if botany isn’t your thing, the garden crowns the town, giving dramatic coastline views and a pristine backdrop for memorable photos. Tickets were available for €7 at the counter by the entrance.

Wander the Streets and Shop

Sometimes, smaller towns have limited shopping, which can be an eye-roll of tacky trinkets and outdated clothing. While Éze does have a few overstuffed souvenir shops, I was impressed at the number of quality art, jewelry, clothing, and home décor boutiques we found while wandering through the breezy medieval streets. Many of the shops carried unique and handmade items. My wallet took a beating in Éze, but you won’t find any buyer’s remorse from me. I still look at my hand-quilted tote bag, placemats, porcelain tea cup, and jewelry with tenderness.

Want to Make Your Trip to Éze Easy? Consider a Tour!

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