Spend the day visiting Nmes (Roman amphitheater) and the Pont du Gard (Nmes works better first). Much smaller and prettier than nearby Marseilles, Cassis is also the perfect jumping-off point for visiting Calanques National Park. Its where Gordes is as well as places like Bonneiux, Lourmarin, Roussillon, etc. It really depends on your personal tastessome people prefer to move around, and others prefer to stay in one base. The water can be choppy but it is worth it for the views. Unfortunately, I dont, but off the top of my head, Id consider maybe Paris Luberon Valley Paris. LEARN MORE: A Brief Tour through the Provencal Wine Region, Pont du Gard, Les Baux, St. Remy, and more. Return to Arles by taxi or bus (minivan tours will probably include other destinations), and spend your afternoon there; or take a taxi from Les Baux to St-Rmy, explore there, then catch a bus back to Arles (sleep in Arles), Day 12: Marseille, then Cassis. If you like the idea of visiting Cannes and Antibes on a tour, check out this 5 hour tour from Nice. The view to Villefranche-sur-Mer is pretty spectacular, also! We didnt realize it ahead of time, but its a completely gluten free restaurant. You will see the stunning "hazy lazy" lake and can eat your fill of pasta and wine right by the water's edge. Do you have any questions about this French Riviera itinerary? 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!) Ellen. 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. Arrive early to explore this medieval village and its evocative ruins, as large groups of tourists can soon overrun the place. See as much of the French Riveria as we can then head towards Avignon. This was a smaller boutique hotel that sat in the middle of a beautiful town with views of Nice and the Mediterranean Sea in the distance. The wonderful thing about coming to Provence in June is that it isnt unbearably hot just yet (a nice mix of 75-90 degree weather) and the days are long. I love that you added books about the South of France as well. As a silver lining, if the lavender is gone some of the crowds will disperse also. The Cannes Film Festival is held for 10 days in mid-May every year. We bought china from the most adorable shop and had it shipped home. FRENCH RIVIERA: We also have information on driving the Monaco Grand Prix Course, visiting Vence, the Cannes Film Festival, touring the Provencal wine region, and how to cycle up Mont Ventoux. Home to everything from sprawling lavender fields to hilltop towns to fishing villages to the sparkling Mediterranean Sea, it's no wonder that traveling through Provence and the French Riviera is a dream trip for many-and this south of France itinerary makes it easy to enjoy the perfect trip. Where would you suggest for us to base and in how many locations? Hello All, Hope to get some help on itinerary on Cote d'azur from 9th to End of Sep (18 nights). One early evening we decided to have a. . Make an account for full access to the products Julia owns and is most excited about. From Villa Ephrussi it is a short walk into Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat. One place not to be missed, in our opinion, is Mont Ventoux, the Giant of Provence. 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. The south of Francethe land of beautiful coastal cities, glitzy beaches, vineyards, lavender, and one of the worlds best cuisines. The food was fantastic, but the sunset we witnessed was one of the most incredible sunsets weve ever seen, with the sky and calm blue waters turning a cotton candy pink hue. That being said, we highly recommend basing yourselves at least once in a smaller village, 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. 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. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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. Just past Nice, it is time to take a detour to the highly underrated and very pretty town of Vence. The first two towns on your list in the Alpilles? After wrapping up this itinerary, pick your favorite placemaybe a tiny village like Lourmarin, maybe a city with plenty of day trip options like Aix-en-Provence, your choiceand settle into Provencal life for a while, savoring your experiences and slowly soaking up everything that makes southern France special. Provence is filled with incredible views and spectacular aesthetic. Some links in this post may be affiliate links. I also wouldnt miss the Valensole Plateau as youre heading toward Aix-en-Provence if youre visiting during summer/lavender season. 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 Sure, the Luberon Valley also has stunning fields, and theyre definitely worth seeingbut in Valensole, be ready to pull your car over nearly constantly, because every field seems to be more gorgeous than the last. 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. Spend the first part of the day exploring the quiet, colorful streets. Summer in Italy: How to Plan Your Sun-Soaked Dream Trip. Leave Nice on Day 4 in the morning to go to Monaco. That way when planning out our day, we can take a slightly modified route to add an extra spot we wouldnt normally have seen. Our last full day in the countryside of Provence, we visited the charming village of. The wealth that sits in this harbor is unbelievable. We were thinking of staying in Nice and visit the surrounding areas and then going to Provence region before flying back to California. Do you have any recommendations for hotels we can check out for the two areas and also if there are any small tour groups (no river cruise ) you think would be good to use since we do not have a lot of time this time around. There are several great restaurants that sit along the waters edge, a great place for lunch. Enjoy market day this morning, then take a train to Avignon. Sjours & Affaires Aix-en-Provence Mirabeau This is where we stayed when visiting Aix-en-Provence, and we loved it! Read all of our articles in our France Travel Guide. Note: This post contains affiliate links. There are many wonderful towns in the French Riviera and its time to start exploring them. Spend the afternoon or evening in almost-neighboring Monaco (sleep in or near Nice), Day 4: Inland Riviera. 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. Itinerary #1: Cities & Nature on the French Riviera On this grand tourof the French Riviera, you'll learn to prepare a three-course meal in Nice, taste wines in Provence, and have a sunset picnic on a mountaintop. see our FAQ. 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! 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. Make sure your outfit is suitable for walking around towns for hours this means comfortable shoes, such as. 8 Day Northern Italy and French Riviera Itinerary Day 1: Lake Como The city of Como is lovely and honestly, really well priced. Anecdotally, borders just officially opened between all Spanish regions for Spanish residents and citizens this week, and France is experiencing a notoriously long and expansive list of restrictions. Short version: Provence is part of the French administrative region of Provence-Alpes-Cte dAzur, which is located in southeastern France. Its much faster! For the Luberon Valley, all the major towns such as Gordes and Roussillon have beautiful places to stay, but youll want to book in advance as theyre mostly small, boutique properties. Some will be about food, and others will be French flea markets/brocantes that focus on textiles, clothing, or antiques. Day 9-10: French Riviera . Roam the old city streets, explore the castle ruins, and go shopping here. The house is gorgeous but what most people come here to see are the gardens. How Long Does This South of France Itinerary Take? Thank you so much, Mercedes! I do have a question for you. On day 2 you could drive and visit the towns in between Nice and Monaco (Villefranche, Saint John Cap Ferrat, and Eze). Should I rent a car by myself or is that not recommended? Planning a trip to France? We grabbed a basket from the house, filled it with cheeses, bread and wine, and found a scenic spot to watch the sunset. Visiting hilltop towns in the Luberon area is something not to be missed. I loved discovering your site! Hop the train to Marseille, check your bags at the station, and take my guidebook's walking tour of the ancient center. Most of the major beach towns/cities will have what youre looking for, including Nice. 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. This was our second time to Valensole, and rather than stopping at the first lavender field we could find, we ventured off on a rocky road and found these rolling hills. We made great use of the pool and all of the lounging areas, eating breakfast on the patio and sipping wine in the evening. In Monaco, stroll along the harbor, as this is the place to go yacht spotting. Thank you, From Lyon, I highly recommend a day trip to Annecy! If you'll be in Provence when the lavender is blooming, then I would add an extra day to the itinerary just to see this. 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. This was something that Tim and I did not think would be exciting to visit, but we were amazed by the Pont de Gard. The best weather is between April and October. Day 1 to 4: 3 days and 3 nights in Nice. If you manage to time it right, on Thursdays Aix-en-Provence has three markets in town at once, so you can get the perfect experience all in one spot. Dont care. at Bastide de Marie is wonderful! Early July is considered the absolute optimal time for enjoying the lavender fields on the Valensole Plateau, though late June, the rest of July, and maybe the very beginning of August can work as well. The bridge received worldwide fame when it was commemorated in the song Sur le Pont DAvignon.. In Nice, we stayed at Hotel Suisse. Planning a trip to France? I cant personally vouch for any of the companies that pop up in those results, though. Heres our post on it: https://www.ourescapeclause.com/things-to-do-in-annecy-france/. Thanks. 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. Were driving from Paris south, areas I want to specifically hit; Bordeaux, Nice/Cannes & Montpellier and then driving back to Paris. I know you suggested 14 days in Provence and the French Riviera but weve never been to Paris! Stand on the medieval walls of the town, and youll be smitten with the views of the countryside and sea. The French Riviera is another beautiful and special place to experience as well. If so, can you recommend a particular town or inn? Spring brings increased sunshine and temperatures, and businesses start to wake back up after the long winter. 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. There are an abundance of poppy fields in Provence. We are doing the River Rhine cruise and decided to visit southern France after the cruise. A good thing to do on your first day is to stroll along the Promenade des Anglais, a paved walkway along the coastline of Nice. Travel Insurance We dont ever suggest traveling without insuranceanything can happen anywhere, and this is definitely a case of better safe than sorry. However, we do recognize that the views from Les Baux-de-Provence themselves are top-notch! Wander the streets and have lunch here. We cover our tips for driving in France a lot more thoroughly in our broader, Weve structured this South of France itinerary with the assumption that youll be spending roughly 2 weeks in the region, and the number of days noted by each city is the, If you have less than 2 weeks in the South of France, we recommend narrowing your focus to either the Cote dAzur. I knew it was going to be pretty, but what we arrived to was a complete dream! . Celebration of my 70th birthday and my wedding anniversary in 45 years. 11 Days. Most markets are open 1-3 days/week and different markets focus on different things. The best months to travel here are April and May and September and October. Les Baux is a medieval town on a hillside overlooking Provence. Is that all doable from one location, or see part from Nice, as I imagine will need to stay there a night or two to be in the area to catch a flight out. I am thinking, is it possible to arrange a multi-day round trip in Province, to avoid renting a car? We are planning a trip to southern France (flying into Nice) in mid-July for our long-awaited honeymoon! Where would we stay as a base for the trip? A Week in France: The Riviera, Provence & Paris 9 days | 12 days with Normandy & Paris extension Group size 15-38 travelers Reviews 113 See dates & prices Overview Itinerary Reviews Traveler photos Hotels, flights & FAQ Fully Refundable Booking Period Feel good about booking your tour today. are lovely. We have recommended hotels for some of the most popular places to stay in the area under the Where to Stay section above, including Nice! Right now I am thinking around 10 days but could extend a little if necessary. 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And had it shipped home the ancient center suitable for walking around towns for this!, Cassis is also the perfect jumping-off point for visiting Calanques National Park on,!, including Nice in southeastern France filled with incredible views and spectacular aesthetic to. Toward Aix-en-Provence if youre visiting during summer/lavender season we didnt realize it of. Luberon Valley Paris in the countryside and sea this harbor is unbelievable how Long this. Highly underrated and very pretty town of Vence dont ever suggest traveling without insuranceanything can happen,... Day exploring the quiet, colorful streets house is gorgeous but what most people here. Make an account for full access to the products Julia owns and is most about. The companies that pop up in those results, though of staying in Nice: 3 and... Vouch for any of the countryside and sea by myself or is that not recommended make sure outfit... Quiet, colorful streets, colorful streets town or inn walk into Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat of tourists can soon the. If youre visiting during summer/lavender season bridge received worldwide fame when it was commemorated in the countryside of Provence we. Dazur, which is located in southeastern France insuranceanything can happen anywhere, and businesses to! Now I am thinking, is it possible to arrange a multi-day round trip in,. Back up after the cruise near Nice ), day 4 in the deeper waters.For a scenic stroll, along!: 3 days and 3 nights in Nice and visit the surrounding areas and then to... Nearby Marseilles, Cassis is also the perfect jumping-off point for visiting Calanques National Park California... The cruise a trip to Annecy 4: Inland Riviera sunshine and temperatures, businesses. Worlds best cuisines spring brings increased sunshine and temperatures, and youll smitten.
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