Fly out of Marseille or, if leaving from Nice, take a train back to Nice and savor a last night on the Promenade des Anglais (sleep in Nice). Free shipping for many products! Its much faster! You have several options for this day: either tour the Rhone wine regions on a tour or self-drive the Rhone wine region on your own. From Rousillon it is a three hour drive back to Nice. Day 3: Village-hopping road trip. The Pont du Gard is the highest of all Roman aqueducts and built without mortar. Low Unpublished Prices on Tauck - French Escapade: Paris to the Riviera - Northbound by Tauck Tours with 874 Reviews - Tour Id: 185095 Visiting hilltop towns in the Luberon area is something not to be missed. I also wouldnt miss the Valensole Plateau as youre heading toward Aix-en-Provence if youre visiting during summer/lavender season. Thats merely the tip of the iceberg, of course: Snanque Abbey and Isle sur Sorgue are just a couple of the other spots that might hold your attention during this section of your south of France itinerary. You can use one base in a pinch, but thatll mean a lot of driving each day. 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). This 10-day French vacation takes you to Paris, Aix-en-Provence, and Nice to sample French food and wine and enjoy its cultural delights. I wish we knew! South of France Itinerary: 10 Days in the French Riviera & Provence South of France Itinerary: 10 Days in the French Riviera & Provence By: Woodrow Matthews Last updated: February 15, 2023 France As much as I love to travel around France and see the rest of Europe, there is nothing quite like coming back to my home on the French Riviera. Most markets are open 1-3 days/week and different markets focus on different things. 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. 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. 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 We loved exploring markets on market days. Here are some quick pros and cons of completing this south of France itinerary in each season. 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. Unfortunately, I dont, but off the top of my head, Id consider maybe Paris Luberon Valley Paris. 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. Hope you guys have a wonderful trip! In: Europe, Featured Summer, France, Travel. Small Pack of Tissues Most bathrooms in France will have toilet paper, but not all of them (especially in rural areas). Day 3: Coastal Route to Monaco. Day 5: Beach day or additional sightseeing. 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. With just one more day to fill our French Riviera holidays, it's Monaco that does the honour, just 30 minutes by train outside of Nice. Oh, Im thinking early/mid September. So glad we could help a couple of years ago. Day 1: Antibes and Cap d'Antibes. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for PROVENCE & THE FRENCH RIVIERA FOR TRAVELERS. Check rates & book your stay at La Maison dAix! 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. 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! The sun-drenched regions are blessed with charming towns, diverse natural beauty, vibrant markets, and endless Mediterranean coastline. Hi, We are American citizens visiting Portugal and plan on flying to Nice (early July) to see French Rivera from there. 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). Day 2: Les Baux-de-Provence & St-Rmy-de-Provence. You will be visiting a variety of wineries, each with their individual wine-making style. 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. 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 2023 Rick Steves' Europe, Inc. | On day 2 you could drive and visit the towns in between Nice and Monaco (Villefranche, Saint John Cap Ferrat, and Eze). Hand Sanitizer Weve never been sorry to have this floating around in our day bag. Drive the Middle Corniche (Moyen Corniche) towards Monaco, stopping along the way at the very pretty town of Eze. With 18 days you have some flexibility. Towns will host markets on different days, so if you know you want to go to a market or a particular town, make sure to do some research first. Is Spring (June) a good time or Summer is a better season? Right now I am thinking around 10 days but could extend a little if necessary. Your email address will not be published. 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. Since '82, we've spent well over 150 weeks vacationing in France. I love your site. For that reason alone, I cant resist adding a day here to this suggested itinerary for the south of France! Based in Nice for 4 nights and Luberon for 5night. 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. The house is gorgeous but what most people come here to see are the gardens. So helpful! Today you will return to Nice, completing your circuit of the French Riviera and Provence. You can tour the arena and if you are really lucky you may even get to see a bull fight. Consider having a home base rental home on your trip instead of, spending time checking in and out of hotels. , I love and admire your site and insights. While we enjoyed our room, hotel and town, access to the hotel was difficult as only very compact cars can drive all the way to the hotel. From Les Baux it is a very short and very scenic drive north to Saint-Remy-de-Provence. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Planning a trip to France? Hoping to visit southern France and find yourself overwhelmed with village names and potential places to visit? Terms of Service | Privacy, See our tips on timing a trip to Provence and the Riviera. The coffee is merely average (by impeccable French standards, anyway), and I wouldnt take chances on the touristy food, but its worth sitting down just to see if the adorable corgi who passes through regularly happens to come by! 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. Should I rent a car by myself or is that not recommended? Take a boat trip or hike to the calanques, then watch the ptanque balls fly (sleep in Cassis), Day 14: Fly Away. Sounds like we would like to be sure to see Aix-en-Provence, Gorge, Eze & Vence. You have now given me a starting point in planning my trip! Id also recommend looking into a boat trip around the Calanques! Between Nice and Monaco are the three corniches, winding roads along the mountainous coastline. Splitting 2 weeks up between Provence and Barcelona (a little of each) thx. Day 2: Nice, Eze and Monaco. That being said, we have visited the Valensole Plateau outside of lavender season as well, and while its certainly not as magical as it is when the lavender is at its peak, its still a striking and beautiful part of Provence. I assume you mean Nice Airport and Monaco. Im not sure if youre planning inland at all, but the Verdon Gorge is incredible and is a couple of hours from Cannes. Hi Dominique! I did mean that. : Compared to the countryside of Provence where we spent most of our time on country roads, there are numerous toll roads along the French Riviera, and they are pretty much unavoidable; therefore, make sure you have plenty of Euro coins in your car. ), in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited. If you are here on a Wednesday or Saturday, you can go shopping at the market, which is amazing. tand on the medieval walls of the town, and youll be smitten with the views of the countryside and sea. Do you have a one week recommendation that begins and ends in Paris, in October? The destinations mentioned toward the end of the trip like Nice, Cannes, and Saint-Paul-de-Vence are located along the Cte dAzuraka the French Rivierain the eastern part of the region. If you come during spring, though, pack for varying temperatures, and definitely bring plenty of layers to guard against the viciously cold mistral winds that whip through the region during this time of year. Stroll down picturesque, tree-lined boulevards in Aix before heading to the coast, where the Mediterranean traces your route from Cassis to Cinque Terre. I will be in Paris then want to go to the South. If you also want to see Nice and the immediate surrounding area, youd want to move into different lodging for that. From the. Our longest beach day was in. Let us know in the comment section below! 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! We are planning a trip to southern France (flying into Nice) in mid-July for our long-awaited honeymoon! See as much of the French Riveria as we can then head towards Avignon. drive), in a medieval village called Cagnes-sur-Mer. 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. 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. 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. Take the train from Nice to Antibes, a journey that takes about 20 minutes (visit the Trainline Europe website). Roam the old city streets, explore the castle ruins, and go shopping here. Mainly wanted to see cute small towns & pretty scenery, not into the big cities for this trip. Could to suggest some of the villages to visit? It wasnt hard *in the beginning* because we were so excited to be there! We learned this on our way to Villa Ephrussi during our time in. My favorite was a thin crusted truffle pizza. Explore Vaison-la-Romaine's upper medieval village and lower Roman city, then set sail along the Ctes du Rhne wine road and visit a winery or wine cooperative. We had heard many people rave about it, and the restaurant lived up to all the incredible reviews. While in Provence, try a Pastis. This afternoon, join your Tour Director on a walk through the outdoor markets in Nice. Cheers, Julie. 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. Having these saved me more than once during our last trip to France! 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