Winter is very quiet in the south of France, and if you visit during this time, expect to find some businesses (including accommodation) closed. Really not interested in the city (no doubt fun, but save for another time). Arrive early to explore this medieval village and its evocative ruins, as large groups of tourists can soon overrun the place. Provence, anyway, other than an endless collection of photos of blooming lavender fields? That being said, we highly recommend basing yourselves at least once in a smaller village, too! Provence is filled with incredible views and spectacular aesthetic. Read about how to see and do it all in our French Riviera and Provence itinerary. Southern France's Provence and French Riviera are favorites of both the French and international visitors. If so, can you recommend a particular town or inn? In May 2016, I left my suburban life in the USA and became a full-time traveler. 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. Day 5: Beach day or additional sightseeing. Republishing this article and/or any of its contents (text, photography, etc. Read all of our articles in our. Located right along the Promenade des Anglais, a stay at the ever-popular and unique Hotel Negresco is not something youre likely to forget anytime soon. Take This Map With You! Though, I have to say, our favorite part of the experience was the cheese cart (that is rolled out right before dessert), which had just about every kind of cheese (over 30 varieties!) The hill towns about the Riviera are excellent for wandering around, restaurants, etc, but of course, youre missing the beach. Read all of our articles in our France Travel Guide. Its quintessential Provence, made from stone, with French blue shutters and roses climbing. We absolutely love exploring southern France and have enjoyed a handful of road trips, train trips, and more throughout the region. These studio apartments are within walking distance of central Aix-en-Provence and all its best markets, have access to affordable parking across the street, and are very clean and comfortable. If you do end up flying into Paris, definitely dont drive to Provence/the Riviera, but instead book the fast train from Paris (probably to Aix-en-Provence). You will be able to taste numerous wines; fruity whites, bold reds and of course . Travel Insurance We dont ever suggest traveling without insuranceanything can happen anywhere, and this is definitely a case of better safe than sorry. Last, how many days would you choose for France & how many for Sicily? Heres our post on it: https://www.ourescapeclause.com/things-to-do-in-annecy-france/. Thanks. Thank you again. Near the French Riviera, hilltop towns like Eze and Saint-Paul-de-Vence are well worth adding in to mix up beach towns if youre looking for great views. Check rates & book your stay at La Maison dAix! While in Provence, try a Pastis. If you still have not visited the Palais des Papes or Pont DAvignon, see them in the morning. Once the home of popes, Avignon is the perfect place to kick off your south of France itinerary. Required fields are marked *. Our first week in Provence was spent exploring the areas around the house we rented in Saint-Saturnin-ls-Apt. France: Marseille to Nice Itinerary - 8 Days Day 1: Start Your Provence Itinerary: Fly into Marseille. ), Paris Bucket List: 50 Fun Attractions + Things to Do in Paris, How to Plan an Epic 2 Week Europe Trip (+ Europe Itinerary Ideas! The Valensole Plateau is the worlds premier location for growing lavender. On Day 3, explore Villefranche-sur-Mer. Renting a car would be ideal because that would make it easier to get around. Alternatively, if you drive down, you could add a day in the Loire Valley (a bit out of the way but beautiful) or even a lesser-visited city like Dijon. We cover our tips for driving in France a lot more thoroughly in our broader France road trip guide, so be sure to check that out before taking off on your trip to southern France! was in Apt, the largest town in the Luberon region. Im sure they exist, though Im not personally familiar with any! 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! If you get a chance and are in the area (even if youre not staying at the hotel), head there for dinner or have lunch and set-up a wine tasting at their winery next door. The Pont du Gard is the highest of all Roman aqueducts and built without mortar. Hi! 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. My favorite was a thin crusted truffle pizza. We have rented a car from Denise airport and our hotel is in Monte Carlo. We have loaded up our backpack more than once on shopping extravaganzas here! Ventoux is a giant mountain that towers over this part of Provence. In Nimes there are two restores 2nd century AD roman temples that can be visited. You know those hotels that look nice online but really blow you away in person? I loved discovering your site! 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? After lunch, take another uber or taxi to Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild located on Cap Ferrat. Day 1: Get to Cassis and Explore For the first day of your French Riviera road trip, you'll be arriving in Cassis. Shop train tickets from Paris to the south of France today! Day 9-10: French Riviera . For a month, Id probably base yourselves for 2 weeks in one of the villages in the Luberon Valley (or Aix-in-Provence if you prefer more of a city feel), and half in one of the cities on the French Riviera! I am meeting my daughter in Paris and plan to travel via train to Nice and hit some of your highlighted spots in reverse. The following content may contain affiliate links. is a wonderful stop for a few hours. Travel Adaptors for France If youre coming from outside of Europe, youll definitely need adaptors for your electronics. We had previously made reservations at their gourmet restaurant. Scary driving is a matter of perspective of course, but for confident drivers, the Riviera isnt too bad! Larger yachts will be anchored farther out in the deeper waters.For a scenic stroll, walk along the Promenade Maurice Rouvier to Beaulieu-sur-Mer. 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). If that is a highlight of those areas and there is so much to see elsewhere too, should we skip Luberon Valley since we are already squeezing quite a lot in? Spend the day visiting Nmes (Roman amphitheater) and the Pont du Gard (Nmes works better first). Hotel Negresco If youve seen photos of the French Riviera, theres a good chance youve seen photos of the iconic Hotel Negresco, with its tiled dome and bright white facade. If you get your timing right, you may be able to see the Monaco Grand Prix, Tour de France, or Cannes Film Festival. Would really only care to see Eiffel Tower at night, if that, on this trip. Provence, rather than trying to squeeze both destinations into your limited time. Day 1 to 4: 3 days and 3 nights in Nice. 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. Take a train to Isle-sur-la-Sorgue via Marseille or Nice (best to arrive on a Saturday or Wednesday, and awaken the next morning for market day); wander and explore the town, and consider a canoe ride down the crystal-clear Sorgue River (sleep in Isle-sur-la-Sorgue), Day 6: Isle-sur-la-Sorgue and Avignon. For hours of operation, visit the Palais des Papes website. We typically find and save on the map way more than we can possibly visit in a single trip. Day 4: Scenic drive from Cannes to St.-Tropez. Thank you, From Lyon, I highly recommend a day trip to Annecy! 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. 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. Julie Last updated: February 5, 2023 France, Itinerary 30 Comments. Take a morning bus back to Orange (bag check available near the train station), visit the Roman theater, then hop a train to Arles and explore the city in the afternoon (sleep in Arles; big Saturday morning market), Day 11: Les Baux and Arles. Visiting hilltop towns in the Luberon area is something not to be missed. We highly suggest making reservations ahead of time, as this is a popular destination. We loved having a drink at Cafe de Paris Monte Carlo. Everyone else also thinks this is the best time to visit the south of France, so prices will be high and crowds will be large. If your group is comfortable with it, Id look into potentially taking a train from Paris to Aix-en-Provence or Avignon and then hiring a driver for the Provence portion. The dates for the Cannes Film Festival in 2023 are May 16 to May 27. In the access road to Aix , there is a triumph arch and a cenotaph from the 1s century BC. In Avignon, we stayed at Hotel dEurope. Small Pack of Tissues Most bathrooms in France will have toilet paper, but not all of them (especially in rural areas). We would like to end in aix-en-Provence and possibly Avignon. It looks like it could easily stand for another 2000 years. We had heard many people rave about it, and the restaurant lived up to all the incredible reviews. Other cool things to do are to go gambling at the Monte Carlo Casino, visit the private collection of cars of Prince Rainier III, or walk through the Japanese Gardens. It features first-class accommodations and small-group tours. The first two towns on your list in the Alpilles? , theres something around every corner waiting to be discovered. As a silver lining, if the lavender is gone some of the crowds will disperse also. Villages like Gordes, Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, Roussillon, etc, are an absolute delight, and the fun of the region is driving between them and visiting several in one stay. This summer we went on an incredible three-week-long trip to Provence and the French Riviera. ), The Perfect 3 Days in Paris Itinerary for First-Timers, This south of France itinerary is for you, When planning a trip to the south of France, Provence is often the first region that comes to mindbut what exactly. Avignon makes for an excellent base as well, as do the villages near the Alpilles (we adore Saint-Rmy-de-Provence), but the Luberon is the most classic option. Provence is filled with incredible views and spectacular aesthetic. If you fly into Nice, consider completing this south of France itinerary in the opposite order that Ive written it. Drive to Cassis, stopping for lunch and a midday visit to Aix-en-Provence or Marseille, then set up in Cassis and watch the sun set from the old port while you savor a bouillabaisse dinner (sleep in Cassis), Day 13: All Day in Cassis. Can you help me narrow it down if I am there for one week? In other words, when you pull into town at 7:00 PM, that doesnt count as a day in the destination on this suggested route. All hilltop villages and rolling countryside filled with lavender fields, the Luberon Valley is absolutely stunning and a must-visit on any Provence itinerary. The Cannes Film Festival is held for 10 days in mid-May every year. There are lots of half-day or full day trips, but some round one lasting for few days would be perfect, like we did in Scotland. The house is gorgeous but what most people come here to see are the gardens. ), How to Take the Perfect Day Trip to Cascais From Lisbon (+ Tips for Visiting! 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. Have dinner back in Avignon (sleep in Avignon), Day 8: Vaison-la-Romaine. But for details on what to do in each place, either get Rick Steves guide (thats what we used and it was awesome) or do more online searching. Unlike in the past when we just flew to Paris, flying from Charleston to Marseille was an all day affair. The bulk of this recommended south of France itinerary takes place in what is colloquially known as Provence (the southern and western part of the region). , was near Nice (about a 30 min. With 18 days you have some flexibility. There are many tours that leave from Avignon. I will be in touch as I plan! 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. Driving in Provence is fairly simpleGPS directions work well, and you park outside the historic centers so you dont have to worry about driving on tiny roads.
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