kwren

I've been reading older posts to research this question, but they talk about temporary tram/train stations. Since those posts were a few years old, I think the answers might be different now.

We will be staying near the Place Massena and would like to go to Eze one day. I did read that the train would end in a long walk up the hill to Eze Village, but that busses might be the way to go directly there. Can anyone give me some up-to-date information on the best way to get there and back which would not involve a lengthy hike up? If bus, what number and where do we catch the appropriate one?

And since I am writing a post, is there anything you would recommend doing while there or is it best going to the gardens for a great view and walking around the streets?

Thanks!

PalenQ

Buses go regularly to Eze - just to verify that - if you want to walk down the 'Philosophers' Walk' - named after Neitzske who regularly hiked up from the seaside (where the Eze-sur-Mer train station is) - it is a sweet walk with the sea and cost in front of you the whole way - but it is steep and going down a steep path can be tiring as well.

I was underwhelmed by Eze - completely swamped with tourists in high season but the gardenv iews are stupendous.

Buses should leave from Nice's Place Messina main bus terminal but also stop at other places en route to Eze - the ride is great as it takes one of the famous Corniche roads high up in the hills.

Christina

I don't think they leave from place Messina, not all buses do. It is bus 82 (Sunday is not a good time, limited schedule) which goes to Eze village. This is the website for the company, you can find the schedule on there http://www.lignesdazur.com/presentat...=37&thm_id=310

That place even talks about going to Eze. It leaves from Nice Vauban bus station, I think this is the schedule http://www.lignesdazur.com/horaires_...6&lign_id=1063

or this http://www.lignesdazur.com/ftp/ligne...015)%20web.pdf

This is where that bus station is, it's north of the port https://foursquare.com/v/gare-routi%...b609fc0921a658

You should be able to figure out from a general transportation plan of Nice how to get tehre. I think you can get to it on tram line 1 from Massena.

thursdaysd

For bus info, including maps and travel planner, go here:

http://www.lignesdazur.com

Agree, Eze is tourist central, very disappointing.

MaineGG

The 82 bus takes the Moyenne Corniche road between Nice and Eze. The views from this road are spectacular. More about this route here:

http://www.lignesdazur.com/presentat...=37&thm_id=310

A lot of information on this blog about buses in and around Nice:

http://www.bestofniceblog.com/transp...buses-in-nice/

Up high in Eze village is the Château de la Chèvre d'Or, a cliffside hotel with stunning views. Although I am a very thrifty traveler, I might well consider a light lunch on the garden café terrace here.

http://www.chevredor.com/uk/chateau-...atmosphere.php

PalenQ

http://easyhiker.co.uk/eze-hiker-in-french-riviera/

Consider the walk down to Eze-sur-Mer - seaside Eze where you can catch trains up and down the coast.

kwren

The information I got was helpful, and now that I have been to Eze, it's time to add some of my own.

You can take either the 82 or 112 bus to Eze. Be sure you go to Eze Village and not Col d'Eze which is farther away. Both busses leave from Vauban in Nice, which can be reached by the T1 tram. There is also a bus terminal there which provides bus maps and bus schedules. We took the 112 because the destination on the front of the bus was followed by "via Eze Village". This makes me think that not all 112 buses stop there so you can confirm inside at the information desk if the bus does not specify and if the driver is not there (which he wasn't for us). Don't wait to get on the bus because it filled up quickly, even at 9:40 when we were there.

As recommended, sit on the right side for the views of the water. The views are beautiful although not so great for taking pictures because of so many fences and trees.

We got off the bus a half an hour later along with about 8 other people. When you start up the long hill there is a tourist office on the right where you can get a map.

Eze was definitely not overrun mid morning so we had an uncrowded stroll up to the Exotic Garden, which is mostly a cactus garden with many serene statues which I loved. The views were definitely worth the trip and there were only about half a dozen other people up there with us, although amazingly, on their cell phones! Seriously people?!

When we left, the first tour group had just arrived in the gardens so our timing was perfect, both for time of day and time of year. We knew we wanted to have a drink somewhere with a view, so we found a place with a 'Terasse Panoramique' that was part of the Small Luxury Hotel group. We were the only ones out on their Terrasse and ordered non-alcoholic drinks at 7€ a pop. Of course we were paying for the views and for our place at this chateau table, but the drinks also were delivered with 2 tiny bowls of nuts, one of dried fruit and some cookies. The menu was rather exclusive in the 2500-7600€ range for some bottles of Cognac and also a 6000€ bottle of champagne. The latter was displayed by the check-in desk in its own carrying case. They last sold one of those bottles of champagne in August! When the waiter came for our order, I jokingly ordered the 3600€ Cognac and he almost fell over! He laughed when I changed my order to a chocolate chaud!

kwren

PalenQ! We took your advice and did walk down to Eze sur Mer. We really enjoyed it and yes, it was tiring, but definitely worth it. We thought no big deal as we started down the regular level steps at the top, but that was short-lived as those turned into uneven rocks and loose gravel. The views were good and it felt good too come down from above the huge rock cliff faces to get down below them. We took the train 2 stops and had dinner abut 3 feet from the water in Villefranche. ..our reward.

iris1745

We loved Eze and stayed at the chateau for 2 nights.

Have been back twice.

Happy you enjoyed.

Fodorite018

I also loved Eze! DH had meetings that day, so I took off by myself and thoroughly loved it! It is such a great place to just wander and have no agenda. I did stop at Fragonard and took the short tour there, which was very good, and of course made some purchases. I really enjoyed reading what you did as it made me smile to remember my own trip

nukesafe

WE were there last May and enjoyed it immensely. I had not been to Eze for over 50 years, and my wanted my dear Wife to experience it. It had changed, of course. The simple restaurant where you could spend the afternoon with a glass of wine had morphed to the high end place where Kwren did not drink a €6,000 bottle of Champagne, but the charm of the place was only a bit dimmed by the changes. The biggest difference was that folks actually lived in those houses, which are now all shops.

I should mention the bus down the hill. We caught the bus (forget the number) that runs from Eze down to Beaulieu-sur-Mer, and had the most exciting ride of our lives. The driver seemed to have no brakes, as he zipped around every bend and curve with complete abandon. We seriously felt we were on an Olympic toboggan run!

We arrived at the bottom safely, of course, and wandered around the town looking for "Le Petit Auberge", where I had stayed so many years before. I could not find it, and assume it was engulfed in the development that had devoured the tiny and quaint village I remembered.

Sigh ----

kwren

Nukesafe, why are bus drivers so crazy here? I was on a city bus yesterday in Nice and that guy must have been a taxi driver before his current job. He continually changed lanes, in and out of the bus lane, zipping around obstacles, speeding up when he could. It was like the Grand Prix. The 3 hairpin curves were interesting...