What would a first time do in Eze?
 

We are going to Monaco and then Eze for a full day. We are interested in good shopping and restaturants. What does one recommend?

This one would think you'd have better restos and shopping in
Nice unless you want overpriced bling in Monaco and typical
tourist tat in Eze. JMHO, of course.

I never thought of Eze as a shopping destination. Monaco neither. I had a 15 Euro glass of Orange Juice in Eze - 30 years ago (obviously before the Euro - Francs then).

Stu Dudley

I recommend you take several credit cards with high limits. In Monaco the shopping is mostly very high end. You can have a great time if this is your type of shopping. In Eze I don't remember a lot of shops. Most are of art interest or jewelry or souvenir type shops.

There's a perfume outlet in Eze. And the seriously expensive La Chevre d'Or. But if you only have a day I wouldn't waste it in Eze or Monaco, so many other things to do and see in and around NIce!

If you want parfums, head up to Grasse, the capital of the fragrances, or at least their plants. It's not far from the areas you wish to visit.

Agreed about the sky high prices in Monaco.

Make sure your avoid the Grand Prix week. Impossible to get in or out of the town, or shop, or....

shopping in Nice. Eze is a tourist destination.

Where is Grasse?

Grasse is on every map of France.

I don't think of either Eze or Monaco as a shopping destination, Eze because it's just a tourist stop with trinket shops until you get beyond the main parts of it and Monaco because you'd have to be a millionaire to shop there. If you are, go for it. When I shop in Provence, it is at local markets mainly, plus some favorite stores of mine in the Bouches-du-Rhône.

I am beginning to see the pictures, in Provence and the Bouches du rhone what kinds of items are typical to find there?

Pottery and fabric......bed covers...clothing.....antiques....food products (olive oils & tapenades)
soaps......lavender....table cloths & placemats & napkins...wine....I'm sure others can list more !

What to do in Eze? If you go there & still need to ask, nobody can tell you.

shedridt, what help was your comment?

I have to admit I did like the little Fragonard shop close to the carpark below Eze.

thank you Nottingham and tarquin, what is the little fragonard shop?

Perfume, probably soap also.

Stu Dudley

Nicely wrapped soaps and scents, linen and ceramics, "gifties." I bought an umbrella with scenes of Paris and the Riviera, I don't know what came over me.

Hi euromom, my hub and I took a van tour to Eze and Monaco (I was ill and walking a problem). In Eze, I bought a sweet necklace from an artist whose shop was at one of the lower steps. Hub went to the top and said there were several cute little shops and a lovely view at the top.

In Monaco, our tour left us at the area around the Casino and then the area around the Palace. There appeared to be more around the Palace for shopping. But do look into the big hotel. You need a passport for the Casino.

Mind you, this is from one day's experience so it might not be the same for you. As tourists, hub and I had no reservations about visiting touristic places first. Our more in-depth visits came with subsequent trips.

>>Perfume, probably soap also<<

>>Nicely wrapped soaps and scents, linen and ceramics, "gifties." I bought an umbrella with scenes of Paris and the Riviera,<<

Stuff that you can purchase at hundreds & hundreds of "cute little shops" throughout Provence & the rest of France. Lots of tour buses stop to let their "cargo" get out & see a little of France & load up on stuff from these touristy shops (but I have to admit - I think my wife purchased something there many moons ago).

Stu Dudley

If you want to get some idea of the area you will be going to
and the places and things there a guidebook would be very
helpful. However, if you do not want to purchase a book you
can stay on this website and click on destinations. You will
find a section on Provence with an overview of the area - even
restaurants.

Fragonard is a company that makes scents - perfumes, soaps,
etc. They have shops around Grasse.

Something I've enjoyed purchasing (and using) when in Provence has been table cloths in "traditional" Provencial patterns. I like the treated ones (feel like oil cloth, but I really don't think that is used anymore) that I can use on our round wrought iron dining table on our porch. You can also get coordinating napkins. You'll see them everywhere, but if you see one you particularly like that is slightly different, get it then as luck would have it you won't see it again.

I've got one from a market in Uzes, another from Ceret, and we plumb wore out the one we got in Arles on our first swing through Provence in 2002.