We’re kicking off the French leg of our European summer tour with a stop in Saint-Paul-de-Vence in the French Riviera. This medieval, hilltop town is famous for its fairytale architecture dating back to the 1500’s and its reputation as an artists’ haven frequented by Picasso, Chegall, and Miro.

Our Visit

St. Paul-de-Vence is only a 25 minute taxi ride from Nice airport. Upon arrival, we checked into the charming Hotel Le St. Paul. This Relais & Chateaux is located in the heart of the town and was the perfect base for our explorations. Although St. Paul can easily be explored as a day trip from Nice and other areas of the Cote d’azur, we enjoyed spending a night in St. Paul itself. This allowed us to explore the town at morning and in the evening without the crowds of day-trippers.

We spent the afternoon eating ice cream and walking along the town’s famous ramparts. Beautiful views of the surrounding French Riviera could be seen from every turn. We enjoyed getting lost in the town’s winding alleys and cobblestone streets while stopping in artist galleries and boutiques.

Dinner was served on the terrace of the hotel’s fine dining restaurant. It was the perfect ending to a relaxing day of sightseeing.

St. Paul de Vence v. Eze

Last summer, we spent 3 nights at la Chevre d’Or in Eze, France. Eze is another medieval hilltop town located only 45 minutes east of St. Paul de Vence. Naturally, we couldn’t help comparing the two. So which is better? Ideally, there’s room on your itinerary for both; however, since most people do not have endless South of France vacation days, we’ve put together a little comparison chart to help you choose:

St. Paul-de-Vence

• Landscape views
• Several hotels at different price points
• Art galleries
• 20 minutes from Nice Airport
• Day-trip from Cannes, Antibes, Nice

Eze

• Sea views
• Dominated by 2, 5* hotels – Chevre d’Or & Chateau Eze
• Limited shopping
• 30 minutes from Nice Airport
• Day-trip from Monaco, Cap Ferrat, Villefranche, Nice

Bottom line? Both are pretty wonderful. To me, St. Paul de Vence felt a little bigger and more commercial due to its numerous boutiques and art galleries. If you’re in the market for art, this is definitely a town you won’t want to miss. Conversely, Eze is quieter with a more remote feel. A large portion of Eze is actually owned by la Chevre d’Or so its guest rooms are spread out throughout the village rather than contained to a single building. This makes the entire town feel like a five star resort with a cohesive aesthetic – which to me is a major plus! Consider staying in Eze a few nights if you’re looking for a more luxurious and relaxing experience.

Final Recommendations

We would recommend a day trip or one night stay in St. Paul de Vence to any French Riviera activity. The medieval town is absolutely beautiful and reminiscent of beauty and the beast. While we greatly enjoyed our time there, I believe 1 day is sufficient to experience it due to it’s small size and walkability.

For more on our favorite places to visit in the South of France, check out 10 Days in Provence & Cote d’Azur.

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