Visiting Èze and Monaco from Nice with Tour Azur

The French Riviera is truly a dream destination, and one that was on my bucket list for years! There is no shortage of spectacular views, charming seaside towns, and glamor to explore. Two destinations that were at the top of my list were Monaco and the town of Èze. They are easy to pair into one day, and are both well worthy of your time. Pairing the glitz of Monte Carlo with the old midevil town of Èze makes for such a well-rounded day. Here is my experience visiting Èze and Monaco from Nice with Tour Azur!

Pick Up & Starting the Tour

The evening before your tour, you’ll receive a text from Tour Azur with a pickup time directly at your hotel. I was having issues with my phone connectivity on this trip so unfortunately mine never came through. Thankfully, Tour Azur has a 24/7 help line so I was able to get in touch with them and they confirmed the pick-up details right away!

Right on time at 8:45 am, my guide Rolf met me right outside the Westminster Hotel where I was staying. I boarded into the front seat of the Mercedes van and we got on the road right away! I loved how comfortable and luxurious the van was. Leather seats and crisp AC – even for a day in late March, it was much needed!

The Scenic Drive to Monaco

Monaco is only about a thirty minute drive from Nice, but we made the absolute most of it by taking the coastal route and stopping at various scenic overlooks! Our first stop was here, in the Parc du Mont Boron. We took in the stunning views of the Bay of Villefranche-sur-Mer and Saint-Jean Cap-Ferrat. It was such a quiet, serene stop and we were surrounded by locals. Some were taking their dogs for walks or going for bike rides along the road. It really felt like a hidden gem to tourists!

Our next stop was here, which was on the main road and well-known to tourists who were also stopping for photos. This viewpoint was stunning! We could see the entire bay and town of Villefranche-sur-Mer. I loved gawking at the different shades of bright blue in the water and admiring at the yachts docked in the bay. If you’re looking to visit each of these viewpoints, our guide mentioned that mornings are the best. You get clear views while the sun is shining but the afternoon haze has yet to set in. On a clear day, you can even see the island of Corsica in the distance!

The rest of the drive to Monaco was just as scenic, as we hugged the Med the entire drive. Rolf showed us points of interest such as famous hotels, landmarks, and celebrity’s houses – including Bono’s, who notably has a place right in Èze-sur-Mer!

Monaco’s Old Town

Our first stop was in Monaco’s Old Town, which is perched high on a cliff. Here, you will get views looking over the port, Monte Carlo, and the rest of the country. Looking back, I’m so thankful to have been with a tour visiting Monaco. Rolf was able to drive us right into the Old Town and park in a parking garage right in the center of the action. The garage was clean and had elevators and escalators to bring us out right in front of the centrally located Oceanography Museum. It was so convenient, and I loved avoiding hiking up the steep cliffs from the train or bus stops!

Exploring the Old Town

When we first arrived, Rolf guided us on a quick walk over to the Prince’s Palace. Here, he gave us some tips and tricks for exploring the Old Town and showed us one of the best scenic viewpoints. We then had over 2 and a half hours of free time to explore on our own! I immediately set off and started wandering through the narrow streets lined with colorful buildings and houses. The Old Town isn’t huge, and is easy to cover on foot in a short amount of time. My first stop was to the post office (La Poste Monaco) to get myself a souvenir postage stamp! I’m not a stamp collector at all, but while planning my trip I read that this is often a souvenir snagged by visitors. It was small, cheap, and super unique, so I’m glad I grabbed one!

Right across from the post office is Monaco’s Town Hall (Mairie de Monaco). What makes this place special, is that it’s the only place in the country where they will stamp your passport! The building itself is stunningly beautiful, and there was even a wedding happening at the time when I visited! Simply walk in and go straight back to the desk in the main room. Show your passport and ask for a stamp, and they will do so free of charge. What a fun keepsake!

The Changing of the Guard

Keep an eye on the time, as you won’t want to miss this! Every day at 11:55 am (weather permitting), the changing of the guard ceremony takes place back at the palace grounds. If you want a good viewing spot, I’d recommend arriving early! Even though there were not many tourists in town on the day that I visited (in late-March, technically Monaco’s “low season”), the crowds were dense when I arrived at about 11:40 am. You will want to be in your spot no later than about 11:45 am. A few minutes before, they start to close down roads to pedestrian traffic and you cannot cross!

The ceremony started right on time, with a procession of guards parading down this street and up the walkway to the palace. Unfortunately I didn’t arrive early enough and I was only able to get a spot towards the back. Therefore I wasn’t able to see the actual ceremony. However, it only lasted about 15 minutes and then the streets opened back up to go back and explore the rest of the town.

Afterward, make your way back through the town and out to the point of the peninsula. Here, you can stroll through a beautiful garden, stop at the iconic frame photo point, and even take in some more scenic views over the city and port.

Monte Carlo

Next up, Monte Carlo! The glitz, the glamor… there is no place on earth quite like it. Monte Carlo is one of the six districts of Monaco, and arguably the most famous! This is what most people think of when they think of Monaco.

Rolf drove us from the Old Town right into the heart of Monte Carlo. Along the way, we got to drive on part of the famous F1 race course! When I visited in late-March, they were even setting up for the big race! We got to drive right over the starting line which is right in front of the Automobile Club of Monaco. Even two months before the actual race, they were already setting up! We got to see the assembled audience stands and the pit being constructed. Really cool to experience!

The Famous Monte Carlo Casino

Once we arrived in Monte Carlo, we went straight into the Opera House, which is attached to the famous Monte Carlo Casino! The lobby area of the opera house was open to visitors, and was so beautiful and fun to explore. Rolf gave us a quick tour and facts about both iconic buildings before giving us about an hour to explore Monte Carlo on our own.

At first, I was really hoping to go into the casino and just take it all in (it’s iconic, after all!), but it’s actually quite difficult to get into. First, there is a €18 cover charge just to enter. This is something I was not used to, as I’ve never been charged to enter a casino in the states! Second, there is a pretty strict dress code to enter, and I was definitely not up to standard. Third, Rolf let me know that there are no photos or videos allowed inside to protect the identity of the gamblers. For all of these reasons, I decided to move along and explore other parts of Monte Carlo with my free time!

Exploring the Waterfront

Instead, I decided to explore the beautiful plaza in front of the casino. I loved the reflective structure that sat right in the middle. It made for a prime selfie spot with the casino in the background! Adjacent to the plaza is the famous Hotel de Paris and Cafe de Paris. Both were amazing to gawk at from the outside, but I definitely didn’t feel rich enough to even get close to entering either of them. Make sure you also make your way around Av. de Monte-Carlo for spectacular views of the port and all the yachts that are docked. Also along this road, you’ll find high end shopping such as Gucci, Hermes, and Valentino.

Fragonard Perfumery Tour in Èze

Next up, Èze! We loaded up the van and made the quick 15-minute scenic mountain drive into Èze. We first stopped at the Fragonard Perfumery, just outside of Èze Village. The perfumery offers free tours, and is open every day. However, it can get quite busy and packed! Thankfully, Rolf was able to call ahead of time and let them know when we would be arriving. We got to walk in and join the tour right away! Such a W!

The tour itself was so interesting, and lasted about 30 minutes. We got to go behind the scenes to see their actual factory and the process that goes into making their scents. My favorite part was at the start, where we were tested to identify scents sourced from all over the world. Even though I got them all wrong, it was a lot of fun to try and match them up and interesting to see how far and wide they source materials for their scents.

At the end, we were given about 5 final perfumes to test out and enjoy. My personal favorite was Île d’Amour (translates to “Island of Love”). This perfume had notes of rose, jasmine, lilac, and lily of the valley and smelled so dreamy. The tour ends in their gift shop where you can snag a souvenir to take home.

Exploring Èze Village

We then had about an hour and a half to explore the enchanting medieval town of Èze and wow, was I blown away. At first, I was leery that an hour and a half wasn’t going to be enough time, but the town is pretty small and it ended up being a perfect amount of time!

To get to the village, Rolf drove us to a parking lot at the base of the hill (the farthest cars are allowed). From there, it is about a 10-minute walk up a steep hill. However, if you need to stop and rest along the way (like I did!), there are plenty of places to do so. I loved stopping around here for panoramic views of the valley and Med in the distance, and here, to get a snap of the beautiful gate that gives entry to the famous Hôtel Château de La Chèvre d’Or.

Exotic Gardens & Exploring

The town is not large, but around every turn there is new magic to experience. I truly felt like I was plopped right in the middle of a Disney fairytale! The town has winding streets that go up and down throughout the cliff. At first, I tried to keep my bearings but just kept getting turned around! My advice? Embrace getting lost. You will never be truly “lost” , but just lean in to getting turned around throughout the streets. Each street is more magical than the last and you’ll find hidden gems to explore. Take some time to pop into the small shops (there are a lot of artist galleries) or sit at one of the restaurants and enjoy a glass of wine.

For the true, 360 degree views of the sea and town, you will need to enter through Le Jardin Exotique. You’ll see signs for the exotic gardens as soon as you enter the town, as well as throughout guiding you to the entrance. I didn’t realize that the panoramic views were only accessible from here, and after over an hour exploring the town, I didn’t have enough time to go in. If you want to explore the gardens, definitely buy your tickets in advance so you can skip the line. It costs anywhere from €5 to €8 depending on the time of year, and can be bought at machines before entering the town. I would have liked to get the famous panoramic views, but personally, I was totally satisfied exploring the village and didn’t feel like I missed out on too much.

Tip: Be aware of the difference between Èze Village and Èze-sur-Mer! Èze-sur-Mer is the name of the train station closest to the town, but be advised that it is down on the coast and a very steep, difficult walk up to the Village. I’d recommend visiting Èze Village with a tour group like Tour Azur, so they bring you directly to the town!

Back to Nice!

After a packed day visiting Èze and Monaco from Nice, it was time to make our way back. It was about a 20-minute drive back to Nice from Èze. We took a different route back into town, so Rolf was able to identify new points of interest for us, so we really felt like we got a full view of the city! Rolf dropped me back right in front of the hotel at around 5:00 pm and it was so nice to have that convenient drop off. After a packed day, it was so wonderful to be right at the hotel so I could go up to the room and take a well-deserved rest (and scroll through all my pictures!).

How to Book with Tour Azur

Visiting Èze and Monaco from Nice could not have been easier with Tour Azur. I would highly recommend booking them during your trip in the French Riviera! The exact tour I went on was called Monaco Monte Carlo & Èze, and you can book yourself by clicking here! They also offer a wide variety of other tours such as their Countryside Tour (to charming towns like Grasse and St. Paul de Vence), Italy & Markets Tour (to explore the Italian Riviera), and the Panorama Tour (which gives you the best of the entire French Riviera in only one day).

If you’re visiting on a cruise ship and have limited time, they offer tours that will work with the times your ship is at port. Or, if you’re looking for a completely custom itinerary, consider booking their private chauffeur service. Ask for Rolf as your guide if you can, he was fantastic!

Thank you to Tour Azur for hosting me on this tour. As always, the content & opinions expressed here are entirely my own.