Eze and Monaco

Wander around the wonderful Eze and end the day with a dip in Monte Carlo

Eze

Getting there

From our hostel, we walked to Boyer bus station along Rue Barla to catch Bus 82. The ride took around 25 minutes to Eze Village (19 stops) and was €1.05.

Have your passport ready to be shown because during our bus ride, the bus got stopped by officers in uniform and randomly checked people and asked for passport and validated bus ticket.

When riding the bus: make sure that you validate your ticket! Otherwise you'll be fined.

 From the bus stop, it is just around 2-minute-uphill walk to the entrance to Eze Village.

Eze Village

Eze is a medieval French village sitting atop a cliff hanging over the Mediterranean. The small town is known for its narrow streets lined with artists' and craftsmen's studios and perfumeries, restaurants and shops, and a few accommodations and houses. Eze will give you a feeling of being transported back into time, or as if you're in a Disney/fairytale movie. Recommended length of stay: around 4 hours or half day

What to see

Exotic Garden

A. Exotic Garden/Jardin Exotique: located at the top of the village, this garden will make you feel like being under the sea but high above the sea level. There is an admission fee of €12 (kids under 12 years of age are free to enter). The garden boasts of a collection of Mediterranean plants adorned with different female statues with wonderful quotes from different known personalities.

Mountain side view from Exotic Garden

On top of the plants, adding the panoramic views of the Mediterranean below is probably the main reason why people come to the garden. It is definitely worth a visit.

Panoramic View from Exotic Garden

Recommended length of stay: around an hour

B. Notre Dame de l'Assomption church: an 18th century church with neoclassical ocre color, and a two-level square clock tower.

Notre Dame de l'Assomption church

C. The charming narrow streets: simply wander the winding narrow streets of the village and explore its nooks and crannies. You're bound to find some charming pieces of jewellery and or art from the shops/studios, and so much more, or just look around.

Charming streets of Eze Village

Eze Village

After exploring Eze Village, we grabbed a quick lunch in a restaurant in front of the Eze Village bus stop where we will take the bus 82 to get to Monaco.

Monaco

Getting there

From Eze Village bus stop, we took bus 82 to get to Monaco (€1.50). We opted to get off on the bus stop in front of the Exotic Garden of Monaco.

We just looked at the panoramic views of the ports (Hercule and Fontvieille) and the old town with the Prince's Palace in between the 2 ports which you can see from the garden without having to enter (as there is an admission fee of €7.20 for an adult), and then walked our way down to the old town.

Monaco Old Town

A. View of Port Hercule

Port Hercule

View of Port Hercule

B. Prince's Palace of Monaco: 13-century residence with lavish state apartments that are open to the public seasonally; we didn't enter and just opted to take a photo of the facade.

Prince's Palace of Monaco

Palace Square

C. Saint Nicholas Cathedral / Cathedral of Monaco: 19th-century Romanesque Catholic cathedral dedicated to Saint Nicholas. This Roman-Byzantine cathedral houses the burial places of past princes of Monaco. Free admission.

Saint Nicholas Cathedral 

Inside the Cathedral of Monaco

D. Saint Martin Gardens: the principality's first public garden with steep, winding paths hugging the side of the rock and offering walkers numerous spots in which to rest.

Saint Martin Gardens

Saint Martin Gardens

Swimming in Larvotto Beach

Larvotto Beach

We then walked from Monaco City to Larvotto beach where we had the beach all to ourselves.

Swimming in Larvotto Beach

After a quick dip in the beach, we headed back to Nice by bus again because we wanted to see the coast (€3). But it will be easier and quicker to use the train/TER from Gare de Monaco.

Expenses:

€1.05 bus to Eze

€12 Exotic Garden ticket

€2 candles

€19 bracelet

€13 lunch

€1.50 bus to Monaco

€11 magnet+sticker

€3 bus to Nice

€10 dinner

Total: €72.55

Hotel Ozz by HappCulture

HappyCulture Indeed

HappyCulture

Looking for a hip, trendy, fun and comfortable hostel? Hotel Ozz is the perfect one in Nice.

My friend and I stayed for 3 nights in a 4-bed female room with a shared bathroom.

View from the room

Common area/lounge

The building is relatively new and well kept, and there's a lift. The reception/main area is spacious with tables and chairs, TV, guitar, games, etc.

Reception desk is in front of the girl standing right at the back

There is a microwave in the dining area which you can use. We didn't avail the breakfast but it looked like standard French breakfast (croissant, spread, butter, and cereals, hot drinks and juice).

Dining area and kitchen at the back

Microwave

Dining area

There's a secured luggage room where you can leave your stuff before check-in/after check out, and an outside seating/smoking area.

Outdoor seating

Location

It is about 13 minute- (easy) walk to get to the Old Town from the hostel which is not too bad really, but it is very near the Gare de Nice-Ville train station (3 minute-walk), tram line and the bus stop for the airport (just past the train station), which is handy if you plan to do trips to neighbouring areas like Cannes and Monaco or to get to/from the airport. There are also loads of restaurants and supermarket/convenience stores within the vicinity as the hostel is just about 5 minutes from the high street.

Staff

Staff members are no doubt very friendly, accommodating and helpful.

Room/facilities

The room door and lockers on the right

The room was spacious and the bunk beds were very comfortable to sleep in. There is air-conditioning in each room. Each bunk bed has a personal light, sockets and a curtain for privacy. There is also a locker allocated per person, but you need to have your own padlock or buy one from the reception. The bathroom was clean and comfortable to use. You need to bring your own towel but you can rent from the reception. You can also borrow a hair dryer.

Our bunk beds

Roommates' bunk beds

Overall Rating

Excellent: it was a great and comfortable stay for a very affordable price. I highly recommend this hostel!

Nice to Meet You

Nice Free Walking Tour

A day of walking around the old town, to taking a cold dip on the pebbled beach, and ending with a crazy pubcrawl.

Apollo's Statue

Place Massena

Nice Free Walking Tour

Nice Free Walking Tour Group

The only walking tour I could find for Nice is hosted by the Riviera Bar Crawl and Tours. They do it on Saturdays for January, Febuary, October - December, and on Tuesdays to Saturdays for March to September. The tour is roughly around 2.5 hours, starts at Massena Square Fountain, walks about the Opera House, the Cours Saleya Market, Palais de la Prefecture, Palace of Justice Square, Rosetti Square, Cathedral St. Reparate, Promenade des Anglais, Belanda's Tower, Port Lympia, and ends in the Castle Hill.

Massena Square

Meeting time is at 1055 in front of the Apollo Statue in Massena Square Fountain. The guide will be wearing a red T-shirt and holding a big red umbrella. I recommend that you book your slots on their website in advance especially during peak season. Find out more here.

There is a gelato stop at Gelati Azzurro. Don't worry if you don't have spare change for gelato because they offer free taste. There is another more famous gelato shop, Fennochio, just within the vicinity and it's known for a whole variety of eccentrically flavoured gelato - perfect for those with an adventurous sweet tooth.

Gelato stop at Gelati Azzuro

Fenocchio

The walking tour is a good way to familiarise yourself with the layout of the old town, on top of  learning about important points of interest, and potentially meeting people/making friends. Having said that, we didn't go inside all of the landmarks, but the idea is that you get to know what to see and where they are.

Opéra de Nice Côte d'Azur - look for the Statue of Liberty

Maison Auer - the oldest chocolate/candy shop in Nice

There is an antique market that is open during the day in Palais du Justice Square. You can find antique/old and new books and other vintage pieces here.

Palais de Justice Square

Cathédral Sàinte-Réparate looks noble from the outside but its majestically adorned interiors make it worth a visit.

Cathédral Sàinte-Réparate

After walking around town, the group will pass by the Promenade des Anglais and then climb up to Castle Hill. There is a lift for those unable to do the stairs.

Steps up to Castle Hill

Half-way point up the steps to Castle Hill

View of the Promenade at Belanda's Tower

Belanda's Tower

View of the port from Castle Hill

Promenade des Anglais beach

Promenade des Anglais

Since we came for the beach, we opted to go swimming in 16 degree sea temperature along the Promenade des Anglais. There are plenty of open spaces along the beach where one can lay and lounge free of charge. But if you would like to have a bench, umbrella, etc, there are numerous restaurants that offer such for certain fees. A lounge chair and umbrella rental typically ranges from €14 to 20 per person for either half a day or the whole day.

Promenade des Anglais beach

Some restaurants would not charge but you would have to dine in so to access their amenities.

Walking around Old Town

Promenade Côtière

For a quick view of Promenade des Anglais with the NICE letters.

Promenade Côtière

 Walking to Chez Pipo for lunch

Walking to Chez Pipo

If you fancy trying out the famous socca, which is a pancake made from chickpea flour, Chez Pipo is one good place to go to. They also serve pissaladière, Pan Bagnat, Pistou soup, and sweet chard pie.

Pissaladière (left rear plate) and persillade pizza

The famous socca

Port Olympia

After having lunch at Chez Pipo, we walked towards Port Olympia to check out the yachts.

Port Olympia Yachts

Exploring Nice - Other points of interest

Jardin Albert I

Porte Favsse: A passage to enter the old town from Boulevard Jean Jaurès

Quick socca stop at Lou Pilha Leva

Socca

Plassa San-Frances

Candy shop

Old town streets in the early morning

Basilica of Our Lady of Assumption

A vast net-gothic church built in 1864, this basilica that resembles the Notre Dame lights up beautifully at night so be sure to check it out after dark.

Basilica of Our Lady of Assumption

 Place Massena

Massena Square also lights up at night and is a good place to people-watch.

Place Massena at night

Cap it off with a fun Pub Crawl

We joined the Riviera Bar Crawl for €15 per person. Just like every other bar crawl, it starts off in a bar with happy hour rates for drinks for about an hour. Then we headed to Massena Square where a game was played before we proceeded to bar hopping. It was a fun and good way to explore the nightlife of the city and meet other people. Check out their website to learn more.

4 bars and 1 club; free shot per bar