Day trip
September 2026 · From Antibes
The French Riviera is known for its beautiful coastline, historic villages and glamorous seaside destinations. During our stay in Antibes, we decided to combine two very different places into one day trip: the medieval hilltop village of Èze and the neighbouring Principality of Monaco.
Our plan was to explore the narrow stone streets of Èze in the morning before continuing to Monaco for an afternoon of historic architecture, spectacular harbour views and a visit to the famous Monte Carlo Casino.
Although the two destinations are relatively close to each other, they offer completely different experiences. Èze feels like a small village where time has stood still, while Monaco combines historic streets with modern architecture, luxury yachts and the unmistakable atmosphere of Monte Carlo.
We visited in September 2026, travelling by car from our base in Antibes. Here is how we organised the day, what we discovered along the way and what we would do differently next time.
We left Antibes at approximately 7:45 am, hoping to avoid the morning traffic and arrive in Èze before the village became too busy.
Our original intention was to avoid the motorway and enjoy a more scenic drive along the coast. However, after checking the journey time, we realised that taking the slower route would add around 45 minutes to our journey.
As much as we wanted to enjoy the coastal scenery, arriving early in Èze was more important to us, particularly as we were hoping to visit the Exotic Garden before the larger tourist groups arrived.
We decided to take the motorway instead, which turned out to be a sensible choice. We reached the car park in Èze just a few minutes before 9 am, with plenty of parking spaces still available.
If you are planning a similar day trip from Antibes, I would recommend checking the traffic and comparing the routes before setting off. The coastal drive may be more scenic, but if you intend to visit both Èze and Monaco in one day, the additional travelling time can make a difference.
We parked at Parking Èze – EFFIA, located below the medieval village, near Place du Général de Gaulle.
There were still plenty of spaces when we arrived shortly before 9 am. Public toilets are also available near the car park, which is useful before heading up into the village.
From the parking area, we began the climb towards the historic centre.
One thing worth knowing before visiting Èze is that the walk up to the village is steep, and the streets within the village continue to climb as you explore. The narrow stone lanes, uneven surfaces and numerous steps are part of its charm, but comfortable footwear is definitely advisable.
Despite arriving early, we noticed that tourist coaches were already beginning to arrive at around 9 am. Some of the groups were quite large, so we decided to head directly towards the Exotic Garden, hoping to be among the first visitors when it opened.
Unfortunately, our plans were about to change.
When we reached the entrance to the Jardin Exotique d'Èze, we were informed that the garden would not be opening that day because a tree had fallen the previous day.
This was disappointing, as the garden had been one of the main reasons we wanted to arrive early. We had particularly been looking forward to the panoramic views over the Mediterranean.
We had not come across any live information about the closure before arriving. An easily accessible, regularly updated notice would have been useful, particularly for visitors travelling specifically to see the garden.
As we were unable to enter, I cannot comment on the garden itself or whether it is worth the admission fee.
If visiting the Exotic Garden is an important part of your plans, I would suggest checking its current opening status before travelling, particularly if you are making a special journey to Èze.
With the garden closed, we suddenly had some extra time on our hands.
Rather than rushing through the village alongside the large groups arriving by coach, we decided to stop for breakfast and allow some of the crowds to move ahead of us.
It was a pleasant opportunity to enjoy the atmosphere of Èze before continuing our walk.
After breakfast, we made our way through the village's winding streets, passing small art galleries, traditional stone houses and narrow passages that seem to lead in every direction.
The village was still fairly busy, but there was plenty to discover as we wandered through its network of medieval lanes.
Èze is undoubtedly a beautiful village. Its stone buildings, narrow streets and elevated position above the Mediterranean give it a character quite different from the coastal towns below.
However, there are two things I would keep in mind when planning a visit: the crowds and the lighting.
Even though we arrived before 9 am, the village was already attracting large groups of visitors. Some of the narrowest passages became quite crowded, making it difficult to stop and take photographs without other people walking into the frame.
If photography is one of your main reasons for visiting, I would allow extra time rather than expecting to capture every street exactly as you imagined it.
The other consideration is the position of the sun.
We visited in September and were fortunate to have beautiful weather. However, with the sun sitting lower in the sky than during the height of summer, many of the narrow lanes and spaces between the tall stone houses remained in shadow during our morning visit.
For this reason, I would not necessarily recommend visiting too early if your main intention is to photograph the village's architecture in natural light.
An early arrival may help with parking and avoiding some of the crowds, but it does not guarantee ideal lighting conditions.
Of course, the best time will depend on the particular streets and views you want to photograph.
Despite the steep climb, the busy streets and the unexpected garden closure, we thoroughly enjoyed exploring Èze. It is a beautiful place and certainly worth including in a French Riviera itinerary.
After finishing our walk around Èze, we returned to the car park and set off towards Monaco.
The two destinations are close enough to combine comfortably into one day trip, although I would still allow plenty of time for Monaco itself.
Our plan was to begin in Monaco-Ville, the historic old town, before travelling across to Monte Carlo and exploring the area around Casino Square.
We parked near the Oceanographic Museum, which provided a convenient starting point for our walk through the old town.
From the parking area, visitors can use the lift or take the stairs up towards Monaco-Ville.
We chose the stairs.
The climb was steep, particularly after spending the morning walking around Èze, but the views along the way made it worthwhile.
As we climbed towards the old town, we were rewarded with impressive views over the coastline and harbour.
Monaco-Ville offers a very different atmosphere from the modern buildings and luxury hotels often associated with Monaco.
The historic streets, traditional architecture and elevated position above the harbour make it an interesting place to explore on foot.
We followed our planned walking route through the old town, visiting the cathedral and the area around the Prince's Palace, while enjoying the panoramic views over Port Hercule.
One of the things I particularly enjoyed about Monaco was the contrast between its historic centre and the modern city below.
From the narrow streets of Monaco-Ville, you can look down over the harbour, the densely packed buildings and the luxury yachts that have become such a recognisable part of the principality.
After completing this part of our walk, we decided to continue towards Monte Carlo.
Rather than walking the entire distance, we took the local bus.
We took bus line 1 towards Monte Carlo and Casino Square.
This turned out to be a particularly enjoyable part of the day, as the bus followed sections of the famous Monaco Formula One street circuit.
Having watched Formula One races in Monaco, it was interesting to see parts of the circuit from an entirely different perspective.
The route also gave us an opportunity to see more of the city without having to walk the entire distance between Monaco-Ville and Monte Carlo.
After spending the morning climbing through Èze and exploring Monaco's old town, the bus journey was a welcome break for our legs.
Our next stop was the famous Monte Carlo Casino.
Even if you are not particularly interested in gambling, the building itself is worth seeing for its architecture and atmosphere.
For anyone who has never visited a casino before, it can be an interesting experience.
During our visit, access to the gambling areas required an admission fee of €20 per person. This included €10 in vouchers that could be used on the slot machines.
We decided to go inside and have a look around.
The interior was impressive, and visiting the casino added another dimension to our day in Monaco. It was quite a contrast to the medieval streets of Èze that we had explored only a few hours earlier.
If you are planning to visit, I would recommend checking the current admission prices, opening times and entry requirements beforehand, as these may change.
After visiting the casino, we continued along our walking route through Monte Carlo.
Along the way, we stopped at the official Formula One store to browse the merchandise and pick up a few gifts.
For Formula One fans, Monaco has a particular appeal because the racing circuit runs through the city itself.
Seeing the familiar streets and corners outside the context of a race weekend was an interesting experience, and something I particularly enjoyed about our visit.
We continued exploring the city before making our way back towards the harbour.
One of the things we had been looking forward to was walking along the harbour and seeing the superyachts moored in Port Hercule.
Unfortunately, Monaco was preparing for the upcoming Monaco Yacht Show during our visit.
Parts of the harbour were occupied by temporary structures and exhibition preparations, which restricted some of the views and access along the waterfront.
We were still able to enjoy the harbour and see a number of impressive yachts, but the preparations made it more difficult to explore the area as freely as we had hoped.
If you are planning to visit Monaco primarily to see the harbour and its superyachts, I would recommend checking whether any major events are taking place around your intended travel dates.
The Monaco Yacht Show is a major annual event, and preparations can affect access and visibility around Port Hercule even before the exhibition officially begins.
After a full day of exploring Èze and Monaco, we returned to our car and headed back towards Antibes.
As we had already spent most of the day walking, we decided to take the motorway again rather than following the slower coastal route.
This helped us reduce the travelling time and return to our accommodation without adding another lengthy journey to an already busy day.
Although we had originally hoped to enjoy more of the scenic coastal drive, choosing the faster route in both directions allowed us to spend more time exploring the destinations themselves.
For this particular itinerary, I think that was the right decision.
Having completed the trip, I would certainly recommend considering Èze and Monaco together if you are staying in Antibes or elsewhere along the French Riviera.
The two destinations offer very different experiences, which is what made the day particularly enjoyable.
Èze is a beautiful medieval village with narrow stone streets, historic buildings and a wonderful atmosphere. Monaco, on the other hand, combines its historic old town with the luxury and glamour of Monte Carlo, the famous casino and the impressive harbour.
Visiting both in one day gave us the opportunity to experience two contrasting sides of the French Riviera without having to change accommodation or organise separate excursions.
However, it is worth remembering that this is a full-day trip.
Both Èze and Monaco involve a considerable amount of walking, including steep streets and steps. I would avoid adding another destination to the itinerary unless you are happy to rush through some of the places you visit.
We had originally hoped to visit the Exotic Garden in Èze, but its unexpected closure meant we had more time available for breakfast and exploring the village. Had the garden been open, our morning would have taken longer.
If I were planning the same trip again, I would still leave Antibes early, check the garden's opening status before setting off and allow plenty of time to explore both destinations without feeling rushed.
For anyone interested in photography, I would also consider the lighting conditions in Èze rather than automatically assuming that the earliest possible arrival will provide the best photographs.
Ultimately, this was one of the most varied days of our French Riviera trip. From the quiet corners of a medieval hilltop village to the busy streets and luxury yachts of Monaco, we experienced two very different destinations in a single day.
And despite the unexpected changes to our plans, it was a day we thoroughly enjoyed.
