Medieval Eze & Nice Exploration

Experience the charms of the medieval village of Eze and then explore Nice’s extraordinary Old Town, an easy-to-walk neighborhood of boutiques and restaurants.

After departing from the pier, you will soon merge onto the Moyenne Corniche, a scenic coastal road whose height affords sweeping views of the French Riviera. More amazing vistas await you in Eze, an ancient village that perches atop a narrow rocky peak 1,400 feet above the Mediterranean.

After a delightful walking tour through the labyrinthine streets of medieval Eze, you will have some free time to enjoy the village on your own. You might shop for French perfumes and locally produced artwork or visit the ruins of the 12th-century castle that crowns Eze. The views are absolutely mesmerizing, as are the ones from the village’s hillside botanical garden.

Then it’s on to Nice, the exuberant capital of the French Riviera, which you will enter along the palm-lined Promenade des Anglais. The sights along the way will include the ornate Negresco Hotel, which has been deemed a National Historic Monument, and the multi-domed Cathedral of Saint Nicholas, a Russian Orthodox church built in 1912.

Upon reaching the Old Town, you will begin a walking tour perhaps along Cours Saleya, a promenade lined with pastel-colored architecture. Afterwards, you’ll have ample time to further explore on your own or perhaps just take the opportunity to observe a genuine slice of daily life as the locals browse the shops of Old Town for garden-fresh produce, fragrant spices and colorful flowers.

For those looking to purchase a memento of their visit, the shops here offer a variety of local goods such as honey, olive oils, fruits and handicrafts. Or perhaps you’d prefer finding a seat at a sidewalk café where you can do some people watching and sample the local cuisine. Be sure to leave room for dessert, especially if you love ice cream. The flavors often reflect locally grown herbs such as rosemary, thyme and lavender. Following your free time, you will rejoin your coach and travel back to the ship in Villefranche.