You can drive to the top in your car but for avid cyclists, cycling to the top of Mont Ventoux is quite an accomplishment. When planning a trip to the south of France, Provence is often the first region that comes to mindbut what exactly is Provence, anyway, other than an endless collection of photos of blooming lavender fields? Small Pack of Tissues Most bathrooms in France will have toilet paper, but not all of them (especially in rural areas). If you fly into Nice, consider completing this south of France itinerary in the opposite order that Ive written it. To read about our experience at the Cannes Film Festival, read Joining the Paparazzi during the Cannes Film Festivaland find out how you can visit the Cannes Film Festival for free. Merci! This is hilltop town perched on ochre red cliffs. ), Planning a Trip to Paris in 11 Easy Steps (+ First Time in Paris Tips! French Riviera & Provence Road Trip Itinerary Day 1: Arrive in Marseille Day 2: Aix-en-Provence, Roussillon, Gordes & Fontaine-de-Vaucluse Day 3: Plateau de Valensole and the Lavender Fields Day 4: Gorges du Verdon Day 5: Menton Day 6: Monaco Day 7: Eze, Villefranche-sur-Mer, Nice Day 8: Nice We will rent a car. Id like a few beach dates where I can swim in the ocean, sit under an umbrella (basically being catered too lol) and then go out to fun dinners, walk around, shop (love antique markets etc.) We also have guides to the towns on the Alsace Wine Route and how to spend one perfect day in Colmar. Provence & the French Riviera 8 days France Max 18 Passengers Overview Itinerary Inclusions URL Overview Glamour, picturesque villages and stunning mountain scenery: this tour through the French Riviera and Provence is sure to impress with its diversity and dramatic beauty! Short version: Provence is part of the French administrative region of Provence-Alpes-Cte dAzur, which is located in southeastern France. Leave Arles on day 2, driving 19km (12 miles) northeast to the tiny village of Les Baux-de-Provence in the southern Alpilles. End the hike with a relaxing walk on the beach or a dip in the water. Going back and forth to markets, preparing our own french al fresco spreads, and exploring different villages with a home to come back to truly made the trip a special one. From Saint-Remy, drive a half an hour north back to Avignon. The south of Francethe land of beautiful coastal cities, glitzy beaches, vineyards, lavender, and one of the worlds best cuisines. Take a bus north to Vence and St-Paul-de-Vence; stop for a stroll and visit the Fondation Maeght and/or Matisse's Chapel of the Rosary or link Vence with Grasse by bus, skipping St-Paul-de-Vence to save time (sleep in Vence, or back in Nice), Day 5: Isle-sur-la-Sorgue. Should I rent a car by myself or is that not recommended? South of France Itinerary: 7-Day Road Trip Through Provence & the French Riviera Whether you're cruising with the top down through the stunning wine country of Provence, or driving through the French Riviera along the sparkling coast (aka "The Cte d'Azur"), southern France is a region you'll want to absorb every last inch of. Were driving from Paris south, areas I want to specifically hit; Bordeaux, Nice/Cannes & Montpellier and then driving back to Paris. End your day with gelato from Fenocchio Glacier in Old Nice. stretch as far as the eyes can see, hillside towns and villages boast an uninterrupted charm, rocky beaches bring feelings of tranquility, and quaint farmhouses offer simple, yet stunning beauty. ), 55 Epic Road Trips in Europe (Itinerary Ideas + Tips! So relax and savor Avignon, Aix-en-Provence, St-Tropez, or Cannesamong other alluring destinationssaving the rest for another day. Provence, rather than trying to squeeze both destinations into your limited time. We set out to see and experience as much as we possibly could during our time in Provence. Now it is time to leave the French Riviera and enter Provence. are lovely. Moustiers-Sainte-Marie was another town that Thomas had found on the Les Plus Beaux Villages list and one of the towns we were most excited to visit. Stroll around the city and take in the old Baroque buildings and little cafes. If you are here on a Wednesday or Saturday, you can go shopping at the market, which is amazing. Click each highlight to pull up the name of the destination. Does this seem too rushed? How to choose? Though Ive noted you can see the major sites of the area in one day here, like in the Alpilles, photographers and/or outdoor enthusiasts will probably want to spend at least a couple of days here if at all possible. When you visit a beautiful coastal town, you may want to jump right in the water. Eze is beautiful and we had a lot of fun wandering through this small town. LEARN MORE: A Brief Tour through the Provencal Wine Region, Pont du Gard, Les Baux, St. Remy, and more. I am interested in going to the South of France but would like to stay in a house or villa that we would use as home base, but do day trips to various areas. If you have less time, we also have an article that lists 25 different ways to spend one week in Europe. French Riviera & Provence Itinerary Day 1: Arrive in Nice Day 2: Villefranche-sur-Mer and Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat Day 3: Monaco Day 4: Antibes and Cannes Day 5: Drive to Marseille Day 6: Marseille, Aix-en-Provence, Avignon Day 7: Mont Ventoux, Rhone wine region Day 8: Explore Provence Day 9: Drive to Nice via the Luberon Valley If you make a purchase through one of these links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Arrive early to explore this medieval village and its evocative ruins, as large groups of tourists can soon overrun the place. My favorite was a thin crusted truffle pizza. Using Aix as a home base while in France. Day 1 to 4: 3 days and 3 nights in Nice. On Day 3, explore Villefranche-sur-Mer. I loved reading this! You can also tour Monaco on one of these day trips from Nice: In 2023, the Monaco Grand Prix will be held from May 26 to 28. not everything in your itinerary can be done has day trips from these 2 bases alone), and you also seem to have suggested 2 days in Luberon valley. If you have the energy, climb Castle Hill for a birds eye view over Nice. on a budget while still keeping themselves within walking distance of Nices best highlights. , was near Nice (about a 30 min. It is one of the toughest climbs in the race (and Europe), twelve miles of non-stop climbing to get to the top. Create an account to heart and save your favorite products and looks from the story. Before we left the States, we did a lot of research to find small towns to visit during our stay, which we added to our Google Maps. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I am thinking, is it possible to arrange a multi-day round trip in Province, to avoid renting a car? After you get your fill of snapping photos, head to the Verdon Gorge, home to cascading cliffs, turquoise water, the nearby Lake of Sainte-Croix, some incredible hiking, andagain for summer visitors specificallyexcellent kayaking and rafting. As the largest city in the region and home to a good airport, glamorous Nice is the obvious final stop for your south of France trip. . Perusing the open-air markets of the villages of Provence is an iconic part of any trip to the regionso make sure to structure your South of France itinerary so you dont miss the best ones! You can lounge on the beach, sip fancy drinks inside the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, or dine on one of several restaurants on docks perched over the ocean. To the north of Avignon are the towns of Gigondas and Chateauneuf-du-Pape, great places to go wine tasting. There are several great restaurants that sit along the waters edge, a great place for lunch. Provence & French Riviera Itinerary Just a short drive from famous hot spots of Nice and Cannes, the dramatic Gorges du Verdon offer a scenic escape from coastal crowds. Hi We are thinking of spending 1 week in Lyon and 1 week in Porto to relax and at the same time visit the sights in and around in Sept/Oct 22. French Side travel exceeded my expectations and I look forward to . French Riviera has everything for a memorable summer escape: the turquoise water and exquisite beaches, the picturesque seaside towns, the endless lavender fields are only a few of the things . Paris in Winter: 31 Reasons to Visit (+ Tips! I am definitely going to Provence this spring/summer and already imagining sounds, colours and vibes of the beautiful villages and small towns that you described. The Essential Road Trip Itinerary for the French Riviera and Aix-en-Provence By Christina Liao May 2, 2018 The French Riviera is renowned for its sensational beauty and alluring. Youll have a much better end to the day by arriving early in Nice and going out for a nice dinner and night on the town rather than visiting the headache that is St. Tropez. I wish I could offer some 2020 specific advice, but everything has been developing and changing so quickly that its hard to predict from one day to the next! Saint-Remy is the birthplace of Nostradamus and the site of the institution where Van Gogh chopped off his ear. We stayed at Hotel dEurope, one of the best hotels in Avignon. The old town and marina of Saint-Tropez You will be served a glass that is half full with Pastis and you top it off with the desired amount of water. I wish I knew exactly what the situation was going to look like in Augustit seems likely that some travel will be open by then (both France and Spain have mentioned a desire to open to vaccinated tourists this summer), but as for what that will look like, no clue. Take a minivan tour or a taxi (or, in summer, a bus) to Les Baux and have breakfast with a view. If youd like to get out of town for a bit in the afternoon, the 2,000-year-old Pont du Gard aqueduct is incredibly impressive and only a 30-minute drive from Avignon. Are freely accessible. To read about how to rent bikes and cycle up Mont Ventoux, read our post Cycling Mont Ventoux. The view to Villefranche-sur-Mer is pretty spectacular, also! Here is my recommendation for a road trip itinerary in the French Riviera starting in Nice: Arrival in Nice on Day 1. Spring brings increased sunshine and temperatures, and businesses start to wake back up after the long winter. Thank you again. Theyre not particularly charming, and the vibe is very could be a modern hotel anywhere in the world, but they absolutely get the job done for a budget or even mid-range traveler visiting Aix-en-Provence. Dont care. So much to see, so little time. Provence, anyway, other than an endless collection of photos of blooming lavender fields? Hello, My friends and I are doing three days in the French Riviera. Splitting 2 weeks up between Provence and Barcelona (a little of each) thx. Check into your hotel and have dinner at one of Avignons many fantastic restaurants. I love your site. Sadly I dont have a printable version of our itineraries yet, but I hope to create them in the future! Day 1: Arrive in Nice Day 2: Villefranche-sur-Mer and Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat Day 3: Monaco Day 4: Antibes and Cannes Day 5: Drive to Marseille Day 6: Marseille, Aix-en-Provence, Avignon Day 7: Mont Ventoux, Rhone wine region Day 8: Explore Provence As much as I love visiting a city, its the countryside where I feel most at home and at ease with life. Take a joyride through the Camargue (but if it's summer, when flamingos are scarce and mosquitoes aren't, skip it and visit Les Baux instead). Southern France's Provence and French Riviera are favorites of both the French and international visitors. Highlights like Saint-Tropez, Cannes, and Antibes would be a great place to start, but there are endless gorgeous small towns and rural beaches to choose from in the region. The hotel is known for its impeccable location, and you cant go wrong staying here on your south of France trip! (For travelers who happen to be visiting in the offseason, look up Mentons February lemon festival!). First, small aperitifs were served outside in the garden with a view over the town. In Chateauneuf-de-Pape, we recommend La Cave du Verger des Papes, a great, old wine cellar that offers tastings everyday.Honestly, just driving the area around Malaucene, Vaison-la-Romaine, and Orange is spectacular. Your flight to Nice, France should land on Day 1 of the itinerary - this means that you should depart your home airport the day prior - your round-trip travel time on this Journey is 10 Days (9 Days, 8 Nights . We had heard many people rave about it, and the restaurant lived up to all the incredible reviews. Its where Gordes is as well as places like Bonneiux, Lourmarin, Roussillon, etc. I cant personally vouch for any of the companies that pop up in those results, though. If you have time, also consider ducking into one of the other beautiful art museums in the city. Could things be 100% normal by then? My husband and I are fully vaxed and cant wait to start travelling overseas again! Aix and Nice are both pretty bignot Paris big, but definitely small towns. I loved discovering your site! . Even as European road trip veterans of sorts, we still got too excited when planning our most recent trip to France and booked ourselves into an itinerary that moved around too muchand we paid for it in exhaustion. Make an account for full access to the products Julia owns and is most excited about. Some will be about food, and others will be French flea markets/brocantes that focus on textiles, clothing, or antiques. Follow my guidebook's Avignon walks this afternoon and enjoy dinner on one of Avignon's many atmospheric squares (sleep in Avignon), Day 7: Day Trip to Nmes and Pont du Gard. We enjoyed Saint-Rmy-de-Provence so much the first time around that when we later returned to southeast France, we based ourselves there for almost a week! Take the train or bus to nearby Villefranche-sur-Mer, explore, and have lunch. Les Baux is a medieval town on a hillside overlooking Provence. Definitely stroll down Cours Mirabeau. Is Spring (June) a good time or Summer is a better season? Les Quatre Dauphins Located in the heart of Aix-en-Provence, Les Quatre Dauphins boasts light and bright decorthis is the kind of hotel that you dream of when booking a trip to the south of France! If the weather's good, bring your swimsuit and float on your back for views of the 2,000-year-old aqueduct (sleep in Avignon), Day 10: The Camargue. Enjoy views of the Mediterranean Sea from the cliffs of the French Riviera. Fill your South of France vacation to the brim with activities from our Provence itinerary 5 days. So glad we could help a couple of years ago. . I knew it was going to be pretty, but what we arrived to was a complete dream! Winter definitely isnt an ideal time to be experiencing this south of France itinerary, but if cold weather and closed businesses are a worthy trade for rock-bottom prices and a lack of crowds, winter might be an option for your trip! Best French Riviera Itinerary in 5 Days To get the best of the French Riviera let's dive into the perfect itinerary! Check into your hotel, take a quick nap if necessary, and then spend the late afternoon and early evening exploring Nice. Villefranche-sur-Mer and Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat. Is there somewhere you would suggest. Im not exaggerating when I say that the markets in Aix-en-Provence, which sell everything from flowers to fruits to fedoras, are some of the best that weve ever seen. Summer in Italy: How to Plan Your Sun-Soaked Dream Trip. Take the train from Nice to Antibes, a journey that takes about 20 minutes (visit the Trainline Europe website). It sits on 23 acres of vineyards, with everything from olive trees to lavender to rose gardens. Unlike many other places, though, traveling during the high (read: summer) season here comes with enough advantages that unless youre entirely allergic to crowds and high prices, Id recommend planning your trip then. Hi Dominique! We should be arriving in Nice on the 26th of June. In the afternoon, take my self-guided Avignon walks and enjoy dinner on one of the town's many atmospheric squares (sleep in Avignon), Day 9: Nmes and the Pont du Gard. Tour little Crestet and take a walk above Gigondas (sleep in or near Vaison-la-Romaine), Day 8: Orange and Chteauneuf-du-Pape. As an Amazon Associate, Our Escape Clause earns from qualifying purchases. Today, along with my husband Jeremy and dog Ranger, Im working toward my eventual goal of splitting my life between Europe and the USA. Its a beautiful, conveniently located place that makes an excellent addition to any France trip. Start your day touring the Roman theater in Orange and consider a quick stop in Chteauneuf-du-Pape. Just past Nice, it is time to take a detour to the highly underrated and very pretty town of Vence. Most of the major beach towns/cities will have what youre looking for, including Nice. Outdoor dining and activities will definitely be your best bets, but luckily, thats generally where youll find the best of southern France anyway! After dinner in Monte Carlo, take the train back to Nice. Check rates & book your stay at Hotel Negresco! Home to everything from sprawling lavender fields to hilltop towns to fishing villages to the sparkling Mediterranean Sea, its no wonder that traveling through Provence and the French Riviera is a dream trip for manyand this south of France itinerary makes it easy to enjoy the perfect trip. Most of the time when we take day trips while traveling, well decide on our final destination and then fill our day with things that are along the way. Be sure to visit the town of Bonnieux for some of the best views over the valley, Gordes for its impressive location built into a hilltop, Fontaine-de-Vaucluse for its lovely spring and river, Roussillon for its majestic red cliff, and Goult for its understated and quiet beauty. Come here for a delightful combination of all the things that makes the south of France so charming, from the delicious food to the winding stone streets to the sublime views. Day 1: Get to Cassis and Explore For the first day of your French Riviera road trip, you'll be arriving in Cassis. In theory, theres supposed to be more news from the EU on this front June 7, but well see! June is a wonderful time to visit Provence, but Id aim for the end of the month and into July if you want to catch the lavender fields at their best. Though Aix-en-Provence does have daily markets, to see the markets at their biggest and best, plan to spend a day here on either a Thursday! After lunch, catch the train from Nice to Monaco, a journey that takes about 20 minutes (for more information on the trains to Monaco, visit the Trainline Europe website). Alternatively, check the prices of flights to Geneva (on one of our trips to France, we flew into Geneva, spent a few days in the delightful city of Annecy, and then drove to Avignon to start exploring Provence-Alpes-Cte dAzur). Our first time visiting Provence we made t, his mistake, staying only one or two nights at four different hotels. While you can whip through these highlights in a day if needed, outdoor enthusiastsespecially hikers and bikersmight prefer to set up shop in the Alpilles a bit longer. From the. Spend most of your day in Arles, then drive to Les Baux for late afternoon sightseeing and dinner (sleep in Arles), Day 12: Aix-en-Provence or Marseille. So helpful! 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