Between medieval ambience and nature: Eze and Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat

Looking for a great getaway on the Côte d’Azur? Discover our complete guide to visiting Èze village and Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat as a family. We’re sharing our itinerary with our 2 teenagers, Miss Voyageuse and Mini Voyageur, for a day between the sea and the mountains in the Alpes-Maritimes.

On the programme: an exploration of the medieval village of Èze perched at an altitude of 429 metres, followed by an accessible coastal walk on the Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat peninsula. This tour offers a perfect balance of historical heritage, panoramic trails and relaxation breaks, all without any difficult gradients – perfect for a family outing, e

Getting lost in the old town of Eze with the family

As soon as we arrived, we were charmed by the narrow streets of Èze, a medieval village perched on a secluded rock, offering superb views of the Mediterranean. Strolling through the narrow streets, admiring the stone houses and craft shops is a real pleasure, especially when you’re on your own. The children really enjoyed exploring every nook and cranny of the village. Mini Voyageur, our artistic teenager, took the time to admire the various works in the many art galleries scattered around the village.

Having arrived at 9.30am, we were able to enjoy the narrow streets without too many people. But as is often the case in these pretty villages, it’s not really an authentic village any more: most of the houses have been converted into hotels and shops… I find that these villages often lack a friendly atmosphere!

• Time taken: 40 minutes from the car park
• Price: underground car park 6€ for our 2 hours in the village – be careful in high season, parking is a real problem (see the Nietzche trail or the shuttles from the beach)

Our verdict: As mentioned above, I didn’t find the authenticity of a southern village. But the streets are picturesque and we had time to enjoy them without anyone else, which made me appreciate the visit all the more.

>> Just next door : Nice en famille

Visit to the Jardin Exotique d’Eze

We then visited the Eze’s Exotic Garden with our families, suspended above the sea and created by Jean Gastaud. This botanical garden is brimming with succulents and cacti, and the view is particularly unobstructed as it is situated at the top of the village. The teenagers found the place very photo-friendly, perfect for capturing a few memories.

Here too, you climb up, down and back again, admiring the cacti and exotic plants, getting lost and finding a few little treasures along the way. At the very top of the garden is the château esplanade, the ruins of a château destroyed under Louis XIV. From here, you can admire the incredible view over the cape of Saint Jean Cap Ferrat and the whole bay..

• Time taken: 40 minutes from the car park
• Price: €5 /adult €4 for 12/17 year olds and students – free under 12 (low season price!)
• With baby: it’s impossible to take a stroller because there are so many stairs – make sure to take a baby carrier!
• Official web site

Our verdict: very pretty garden, we love visiting gardens as a family, and this one was particularly exotic for us mountain dwellers. However, I didn’t photograph any plants as cacti are less photogenic than flowers. The landscapes are truly incredible!

Walk along the coastal path of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat

In the afternoon, after exploring Eze as a family, we headed for Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat for a walk along the coastal path. This well-marked path runs alongside the sea, offering uninterrupted views of creeks and cliffs.

We set off from the beach along the western path of Passable and the beach of the same name on the cape, returning via the east, which is more or less the opposite of the recommended itinerary. But, given the temperatures at the beginning of November, we wanted to be in the shade as much as possible so as not to suffer too much from the heat. Although we didn’t get any shade on the east coast of the cape, as it was still too early, the wind was blowing on that side, which helped to cool us down.

The west side is wilder and the path to the lighthouse is narrower and a little less developed. To the east of the cape, the path is flatter and much wider, with a very different backdrop of rocks and plateaux sculpted by the high peaks. We had a picnic on the rocks.

We then made a diversion to the Pointe de Saint Hospice, where we saw a gallery of old photos of the area. I love seeing how a place changes over time. Last stop on a gravel beach before cutting through the village, the port and its shopping streets.

Tips: Remember to bring good shoes, hats and water, especially if the sun is strong. The walk is accessible, but it can be

• Duration: 3h30 with picnic break, and many, many photo breaks, bearing in mind that we’re walking at a good pace!
• Difficulty: easy, the path is almost flat all the way along, and well laid out – With a baby, a pushchair can be used on the east side of the peninsula, but a baby carrier is compulsory on the west side of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat.
• Warning: do not take this path, especially along the Pointe Saint Hospice, in strong weather with big waves, or you could be swept out to sea!

Our verdict: I really enjoyed this trail, which is easy for those who enjoy walking. With young children, there aren’t many beaches to rest on! You have to scramble around in the rocks to get your feet wet. The same goes for the picnic on the west side, where we sat on rocks by the water.

>> You may also like: Weekend hiking on the Esterel

Other possible activities

The Nietzche Trail to Eze

We were very reluctant to go to the old village of Eze on the Nietsche trail, which starts at the water’s edge and climbs up to the old village. It’s about 400m up and 1h15 up and 1h down. The view is apparently very beautiful, but there is little shade. With our 2 teenagers, we decided not to go so as not to have to think about it and start the day more calmly!

Perfume museum and Fragonard workshop in Eze

The Côte d’Azur is synonymous with perfume! I want to take my teenagers to a workshop to discover how perfume is made. We’ll probably try it out in Grasse at another weekend, as there’s no time to do everything this time. In Eze, there’s a workshop where you can visit the distillery and then take part in a small workshop to make your own perfume.
>> More infos here

The Villa Rotschild in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat

Although we didn’t visit the villa this time, it is renowned for its architecture inspired by Italian palaces and its themed gardens. Created by Baroness Béatrice Ephrussi de Rothschild, the villa and its gardens are organised in different styles: French, Spanish, Japanese and many others. The interior of the villa houses an impressive collection of art, from antique furniture to precious porcelain.

• Duration: At reception, we were given a 2-hour tour, which our impatient teenagers didn’t want to try out.
• Price: €17 / adult
• Times: 2pm-6pm weekdays – 10am-6pm weekends
• The villa has audio guides to make the visit fun for families.
  >> Book herer

Diving in the clear waters of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat

During our family walk around the tip of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, we saw a lot of snorkellers and divers, with a boat offering first dives. The turquoise waters were transparent, and we could already see a few fish from the coastal path.
It could be a good idea to motivate teenagers for a family weekend!

Return to Nice via the Grande Corniche

An itinerary for admiring the landscape above Eze, which you can follow by car, taking it easy and enjoying the panoramic views over the villages.

Practical information for visiting Eze and Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat

How to get there?

From Nice, we set off by car. With 4 people, it’s the easiest way. A 20-minute drive via the A8 in the morning. Return via the Grande Corniche for a great view of the bay in the late afternoon.
By bus or train from Nice: from Nice city centre, take bus no. 82. You will then need to take the Nietzsche path up to Eze Village.

Where to stay?

We don’t have any particular addresses to recommend, but here are some family-friendly places in Eze that I’ve noticed. Beware that Eze and Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat are towns where accommodation is very expensive. As a family, you’re better off staying in Nice, just 5 km away.

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