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. Les Baux-de-Provence, often considered one of the most beautiful villages in France, and Saint-Rmy-de-Provence, the former home of Van Gogh and a bit of an artistic enclave. Create an account to heart and save your favorite products and looks from the story. While youll experience a bit more rain than in the summer, fall can be a lovely time to visit the south of France if youre looking for reduced crowds and prices while still experiencing quite a bit of sunshine and some lovely markets. Since '82, we've spent well over 150 weeks vacationing in France. Really not interested in the city (no doubt fun, but save for another time). Some links throughout this site are affiliate links. The French Riviera is another beautiful and special place to experience as well. To save this map to Your Places on Google Maps, click the star to the right of the title. I love that you added books about the South of France as well. By Rick Steves and Steve Smith So much to see, so little time. There are an abundance of poppy fields in Provence. Day 1: Get to Cassis and Explore For the first day of your French Riviera road trip, you'll be arriving in Cassis. By Rick Steves and Steves Smith We typically focus on travel in the USA and Europe (especially in our beloved Italy), but feature destinations across the world! , and after working up an appetite walking through all the shops, we went to, for lunch. With 18 days you have some flexibility. September is such a beautiful time to visit. Of all the suggested stops on this south of France itinerary, this one is probably the most anticipated for many summer visitors. We hope that our Provence and French Riviera Travel Itinerary serves as an inspirational guide to your own French road trip. This summer we went on an incredible three-week-long trip to Provence and the French Riviera. Check into your hotel and have dinner at one of Avignons many fantastic restaurants. Spend your first day in Nice and then drive to Monaco to your hotel. Just food for thought! That being said, it certainly doesnt need to be your only destination along the French Riviera! , theres something around every corner waiting to be discovered. Day 2: Villefranche-sur-Mer and Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, Day 6: Marseille, Aix-en-Provence, Avignon, Day 9: Drive to Nice via the Luberon Valley, Day 10: Fly home (or extend your travels). A bit long-winded, I know, and will likely be dated advice within a week, but thats the best I can offer now! However, book tickets in advance as prices for high speed trains increase as the date of travel gets closer. 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. Hello Kate, Thank you for such a helpful article! Tote Bag Trust me: youll want a very sturdy reusable bag with you when you visit Provencal markets! 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. This French Riviera and Provence Itinerary is good for: 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 Day 10: Fly home (or extend your travels). The Middle Corniche is the bestjust high enough for amazing views of the rocky coastline and the towns below. To the north of Avignon are the towns of Gigondas and Chateauneuf-du-Pape, great places to go wine tasting. You know those hotels that look nice online but really blow you away in person? We kept driving by these beautiful fields, and we eventually decided we couldnt pass up the. For a more classic Provence feel with small farming villages, lavender fields (July is a great time to catch the blooms! Ventoux is a giant mountain that towers over this part of Provence. at the best online prices at eBay! Just past Nice, it is time to take a detour to the highly underrated and very pretty town of Vence. Is there somewhere you would suggest. Spring brings increased sunshine and temperatures, and businesses start to wake back up after the long winter. The absolute best lavender fields are over at the Valensole Plateau, which is a bit of a drive but worth it if you want to see the biggest fields. Your adventure begins with a walk along the famous Promenade des Anglais, a 2.5-mile waterside boardwalk that offers stunning views over the Mediterranean, beaches, and the ornate facades of iconic buildings such as the Hotel Negresco. 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. France or Italy: Which Destination is Right for You? Right now I am thinking around 10 days but could extend a little if necessary. one of the most famous luxury hotels on the French Riviera. Our last full day in the countryside of Provence, we visited the charming village of. Im sure they exist, though Im not personally familiar with any! Avignon is a beautiful town and I think this would be a great home base for exploring Provence. How to choose? Check rates & book your stay at La Maison dAix! Each season brings with it a reason to visit the south of France! 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. Please see our, 21 Epic Places to Visit in the South of France, 15 Best France Road Trip Itinerary Ideas (+ Driving Tips! We were thinking of flying in to Paris (assuming cheapest, easiest), only staying1-2 night there. End the day with dinner and drinks in Marseille. Luckily, many of the vendors have shippers ready on-hand to give a quote based on size and weight. The best months to travel here are April and May and September and October. to places like Eze, St-Paul-de-Vence, Monaco, etc, might suit you perfectly. ), in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited. . Long before we even mapped out where we would be staying, I had this on my list of, While not as popular as nearby St. Tropez or Port Grimaud, the town of. Check rates & book your stay at Hotel Negresco! 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. I am thinking, is it possible to arrange a multi-day round trip in Province, to avoid renting a car? Sit down for a fantastic French meal on a stunning terrace, and youll immediately feel all the glitz and glamour of the Cote dAzur. Great info! Along the way, you have the option to make a detour to St. Tropez, if you so desire. Plus, as a bonus, Provencal Christmas traditions (and markets!) French Side travel exceeded my expectations and I look forward to . Stroll through the tiny cobblestone streets of the village, and youll feel like youre back in the Luberon Valley. 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. 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! It was built 2000 years ago. If you have less time, we also have an article that lists 25 different ways to spend one week in Europe. It just arrived and its even more beautiful than we remember, a special collection that we can cherish and reflect back on. Lavender fields 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. I did mean that. You can drive to the top in your car but for avid cyclists, cycling to the top of Mont Ventoux is quite an accomplishment. From Eze, take highway A8 west. 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!) If youre only planning on visiting the city of Bordeaux, you may want to consider taking the fast train from Paris to Bordeaux and then from Bordeaux to Montpellier to speed things up, and then only rent a car in the southeast. Its been awhile since weve been to this part of Europe (this was our second trip to Europe over 10 years ago). All hilltop villages and rolling countryside filled with lavender fields, the Luberon Valley is absolutely stunning and a must-visit on any Provence itinerary. 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. Day 2: Bellagio and Varenna A short drive or ferry ride from Como will take you to Bellagio. If you want to stay in only a handful of locations and have a more leisurely trip, though, you probably dont need a car. ), 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. We are planning a trip to southern France (flying into Nice) in mid-July for our long-awaited honeymoon! Ohand definitely grab a cup of coffee at the cafe just outside the town walls. 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. Boasting impeccable reviewsespecially for the breakfast, cleanliness, and customer service at the hotelluxury travelers will love both the creature comforts and central location of La Maison dAix. 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. Day 9-10: French Riviera . For that reason alone, I cant resist adding a day here to this suggested itinerary for the south of France! Thank you so much. Would you just skip Paris & fly into another city, or not that big of a deal to start there & drive, or take a train from Paris to the south & then get car? ), you will likely need a car to get between them. Read all of our articles in our. If you make a purchase through one of these links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We had heard many people rave about it, and the restaurant lived up to all the incredible reviews. The south of Francethe land of beautiful coastal cities, glitzy beaches, vineyards, lavender, and one of the worlds best cuisines. Scary driving is a matter of perspective of course, but for confident drivers, the Riviera isnt too bad! Be prepared to give yourself a few hours here its a wonderful experience. Tickets in advance as prices for high speed trains increase as the date of travel closer... ( July is a giant mountain that towers over this part of Provence, went! Cherish and reflect back on forward to Riviera isnt too bad as the of... France itinerary, this one is probably the most famous luxury hotels on the French is. For confident drivers, the Riviera isnt too bad books about the south of itinerary. Very pretty town of Vence months to travel here are April and May September. Itinerary serves as an inspirational guide to your places on Google Maps, click star. 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