Depending on how fast you tend to go and how much each village captures your heart (okay, and how much French wine you indulge in at lunch), you can comfortably visit 2-3 villages a day. Europe - French Riviera & Provence itinerary - Hi, My husband and I in our early 30s will be visiting French Riviera & Provence next week! 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. If you get your timing right, you may be able to see the Monaco Grand Prix, Tour de France, or Cannes Film Festival. 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. I am happy that I stumbled across your site. Tote Bag Trust me: youll want a very sturdy reusable bag with you when you visit Provencal markets! We grabbed a basket from the house, filled it with cheeses, bread and wine, and found a scenic spot to watch the sunset. Discover the wines of the French Riviera, its countryside and its magnificent sights. drive), in a medieval village called Cagnes-sur-Mer. Provence in particular has spawned countless novels and memoirsif youre looking for an excellent starting point, Peter Mayles A Year in Provence is a classic. During this memorable tour, you will explore the culture and heritage of France in addition to discovering the centuries-old influences that . Provence is filled with incredible views and spectacular aesthetic. 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. Sjours & Affaires Aix-en-Provence Mirabeau This is where we stayed when visiting Aix-en-Provence, and we loved it! We also considered staying in Provence for a few days too. Last, how many days would you choose for France & how many for Sicily? Really not interested in the city (no doubt fun, but save for another time). Second question, it sounds like we may miss the lavender fields in bloom! We had heard many people rave about it, and the restaurant lived up to all the incredible reviews. There is a small beach and harbor here. Id recommend maybe one base in the Luberon and then one between Valensole/Verdon Gorge. . Take This Map With You! Have dinner back in Avignon (sleep in Avignon), Day 8: Vaison-la-Romaine. Stroll around the city and take in the old Baroque buildings and little cafes. Fresh fruits and vegetables, bread, honey, clothing, mattresses, and tires are just a few of the things that you can purchase here. Could things be 100% normal by then? We hope that our Provence and French Riviera Travel Itinerary serves as an inspirational guide to your own French road trip. ), 25+ Magical Things to Do in Montmartre, Paris (+ Map & Tips!). Getting Around During Your Trip to Southern France. Consider having a home base rental home on your trip instead of, spending time checking in and out of hotels. The buildings here are a reddish pink color. If youd like to see several of Provences most iconic villages without driving, its a fun way to do so! Depending on the length of your trip, and taking geographic proximity into account, here are our recommended priorities: Day 1: Fly into Nice. If you have significantly more time than the south of France itinerary outlined here suggests, we would recommend doing one of two things. Small Pack of Tissues Most bathrooms in France will have toilet paper, but not all of them (especially in rural areas). 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). In our opinion, St. Tropez does not live up to the hype. Also, wear closed-toed shoes when exploring hilltops. ), 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. Note that on Sundays, fewer trains run, and buses often disappear. See something you love? September is such a beautiful time to visit. The red hills of the Esterel alternate with the green olive trees and vineyards with glimpses of the blue Mediterranean in the distance. My husband and I are fully vaxed and cant wait to start travelling overseas again! Stay in the know. You are covering a lot of ground in two weeks, especially with Paris too. 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. Read all of our articles in our France Travel Guide. The view to Villefranche-sur-Mer is pretty spectacular, also! It looks like it would taste citrusy but it is nothing like that. 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 Hand Sanitizer Weve never been sorry to have this floating around in our day bag. We loved having a drink at Cafe de Paris Monte Carlo. Youll then be able to find it under the Maps tab of your Google Maps account! In theory, theres supposed to be more news from the EU on this front June 7, but well see! If you want to stay in only a handful of locations and have a more leisurely trip, though, you probably dont need a car. 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. Both are gorgeous small towns with excellent views. Your itinerary will leave you tired at the end, but its definitely realistic. Thanks and much Appreciated for your help! Take a bus to Vaison-la-Romaine or ride a morning train to Orange (frequent departures), then connect to a less frequent bus to Vaison-la-Romaine, then explore the town's upper medieval village and lower Roman city in the afternoon (sleep in Vaison-la-Romaine; market day is Tuesday, so a Monday arrival is ideal), Day 9: Ctes du Rhne Villages. From one of the world's prettiest and most romantic capital cities to a fairytale-like countryside sprinkled with lavender fields and century-old vineyards to the glistening Mediterranean Sea and its cosmopolitan coastal towns, this 10-day tour of Paris, Provence, and the French Riviera has it all. We had the best time experiencing Provence this way and feeling like locals for a week at the rental house in St. Saturnin Les Apt. Here are some quick pros and cons of completing this south of France itinerary in each season. Theres truly something for every interest hereand then someso be prepared to start plotting your return visit by the halfway point through your trip! Consider my guidebook's seaside walks in Cap Ferrat, or take the one-hour boat cruise from Nice's port. The gorgeous city of Aix-en-Provence is known for its beauty, its accessibilitythis is a great place to base yourself for part of your southern France tripand most importantly, its markets. First, small aperitifs were served outside in the garden with a view over the town. Please see our, 21 Epic Places to Visit in the South of France, 15 Best France Road Trip Itinerary Ideas (+ Driving Tips! and the itinerary was excellent. Any input or advice would be so appreciated. Would it make sense for us to stay between Luberon Valley, Valensole and Verdon Gorge so that we have a single base while visiting both of those areas before we head down to Nice? Parking is at the bottom of the village and a good 15 minute walk. 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. Ventoux is a giant mountain that towers over this part of Provence. Make your way from the seaside in Provence to the rolling hills of Tuscany, taking in some of France and Italy's most striking vistas as you go. What we like to do when we first arrive to a new destination is get acclimated to the new time zone right away. 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. How to choose? Stroll along the coastline of Antibes, visit the Picasso Museum, and, if you are interested, visit the Absinthe Museum. I am meeting my daughter in Paris and plan to travel via train to Nice and hit some of your highlighted spots in reverse. From Vence, it is a two hour drive along highway A8 to Marseille. 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. Absolutely love it! Thats a beautiful time to be in southern Franceitll definitely be busy, but not quite the peak summer crowds of July and August yet! 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. French Riviera A hundred years ago, celebrities from London to Moscow flocked to the French Riviera to socialize, gamble, and escape the dreary weather at home. Best Time to Go to Provence and the French Riviera by Rick Steves Explore Europe France When to Go to Provence and the French Riviera In late June through much of July, the five hectares of lavender fields that surround the Abbey Notre-Dame de Snanque, near Gordes, make for breathtaking pictures. Yes, that would absolutely be possible, and in fact is a great way to see the area. Id also recommend looking into a boat trip around the Calanques! Villefranche-Sur-Mer panoramic view. Check rates & book your stay at Boutique Htel Neptune Nice! To the north of Avignon are the towns of Gigondas and Chateauneuf-du-Pape, great places to go wine tasting. We were exhausted when we arrived, but it was 9am and we were not about to go to bed. Personally, if I were renting a villa Id look somewhere in the Luberon Valley, so near villages like Gordes or Bonnieux. Hello, What a great source of information-so very helpful in planning our trip which begins in Avignon on July 31. Once in the city, it was almost impossible to get around by car. EUROPE TRAVEL INSPIRATION: Get more travel ideas in our article 10 Days in Europe itinerary, which has 10 itineraries for your next trip to Europe. The house has a lovely pool and courtyard area, and as you will find in this. Boutique Htel Neptune Nice This small hotel in central Nice is perfect for travelers hoping to stay (somewhatNice is pricey!) Youll be so glad you brought a Swiss Army Knife along for your south of France vacation! We also have guides to the towns on the Alsace Wine Route and how to spend one perfect day in Colmar. Hello, My friends and I are doing three days in the French Riviera. It really depends on your personal tastessome people prefer to move around, and others prefer to stay in one base. Id give Sicily a week minimumwith that timeline, you can cover the east coast (Taormina, Siracusa, etc.) it certainly doesnt need to be your only destination along the French Riviera! in Valensole. After lunch, take another uber or taxi to Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild located on Cap Ferrat. You can tour the arena and if you are really lucky you may even get to see a bull fight. The Aix en Provence Area has one of the largest concentration ancient roman monuments in Europe. Here is our Provence and French Riviera Itinerary from a couple of summers ago when we went on a road trip in Southern France. Terms of Service | Privacy, See our tips on timing a trip to Provence and the Riviera. Now, there are a few ways to get here. 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. . SLEEP IN: Aix-en-Provence Pick up your rental car and drive to Aix-en-Provence. 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? That way when planning out our day, we can take a slightly modified route to add an extra spot we wouldnt normally have seen. 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. Hello Kate, Thank you for such a helpful article! Portable USB Charger Dont stress about your phone dying while youre spending long days driving from village to village: add a portable charger to your south of France packing list. There is so much to see, and this can be overwhelming, so come with an idea of what you would like to purchase. 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!) I will be part of a group of 8 women, arriving in Paris in October for one week. I am thinking, is it possible to arrange a multi-day round trip in Province, to avoid renting a car? Having these saved me more than once during our last trip to France! Click each highlight to pull up the name of the destination. From here you can uber back to Nice. La Maison dAix This converted townhome makes the perfect luxury boutique hotel in Aix-en-Provence! 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