We grabbed a basket from the house, filled it with cheeses, bread and wine, and found a scenic spot to watch the sunset. Check rates & book your stay at Boutique Htel Neptune Nice! Arrive early to explore this medieval village and its evocative ruins, as large groups of tourists can soon overrun the place. 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. La Maison dAix This converted townhome makes the perfect luxury boutique hotel in Aix-en-Provence! Day 4: Scenic drive from Cannes to St.-Tropez. The two biggest airports in the Provence-Alpes-Cte dAzur region are Marseille and Nice, and you can easily fly into either to start your trip to southern France. See as much of the French Riveria as we can then head towards Avignon. Sjours & Affaires Aix-en-Provence Mirabeau This is where we stayed when visiting Aix-en-Provence, and we loved it! 25 different ways to spend one week in Europe. Right now I am thinking around 10 days but could extend a little if necessary. To the north of Avignon are the towns of Gigondas and Chateauneuf-du-Pape, great places to go wine tasting. Thanks , That sounds lovely, and congratulations on your marriage! Cycling Mont Ventoux, the Giant of Provence, Vence, Our Favorite Town in the French Riviera, Driving the Monaco Grand Prix Race Course. The seemingly endless sea of blue and white umbrellas was quite a sight to see. Read all of our articles in our. There, the beach is long but narrow, so we tried to get there before 10am. For small towns Id recommend the Luberon Valleytruly gorgeous and very typically Provencal. very similar to the one of Nimes. Weve stayed in Saint-Rmy-de-Provence and Lourmarin and absolutely loved our experiences in both. Dont care. . Wed recommend only changing lodging every 2-3 days at the absolute maximum, and structuring your trip to the south of France as a series of day trips taken from various bases instead of actually sleeping in each location. It sits on 23 acres of vineyards, with everything from olive trees to lavender to rose gardens. On day 2 you could drive and visit the towns in between Nice and Monaco (Villefranche, Saint John Cap Ferrat, and Eze). 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Earth Trekkers is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn advertising fees by advertising & linking to Amazon.com. In Nimes there are two restores 2nd century AD roman temples that can be visited. And, whether you want to go for a hike or simply take a boat tour past the beautiful calanques, visiting this stunning part of the French coastline is a must! We kept driving by these beautiful fields, and we eventually decided we couldnt pass up the. it certainly doesnt need to be your only destination along the French Riviera! 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! I know Aix-en-Provence and Avignon are supposed to have lovely ones, and Im sure the smaller cities and towns will have plenty too. After touring Arles, drive a half an hour to Les-Baux-de-Provence. Why go to Arles? Day 3: Village-hopping road trip. We just dont want to do a river cruise or a tour group really. We explored the most stunning villages, tasted the recipes of some of the finest restaurants, including ones topping the Michelin star list, perused the local markets for goods to bring back home, and took countless pictures of the brightly colored surroundings that inspired us. Winter definitely isnt an ideal time to be experiencing this south of France itinerary, but if cold weather and closed businesses are a worthy trade for rock-bottom prices and a lack of crowds, winter might be an option for your trip! Is Spring (June) a good time or Summer is a better season? Hello Kate, Thank you for such a helpful article! 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. To help you get started, we've listed our top picks for where to go in Provence and the French Riviera, and our plan for your best two-week trip. I will be part of a group of 8 women, arriving in Paris in October for one week. thank you for the wonderful blog! Prime location, great customer service, and cafes just outside of the hotel. First, small aperitifs were served outside in the garden with a view over the town. From late June to late July, when the lavender blooms, the drive to Vaison-la-Romaine via Sault is a must (sleep in or near Vaison-la-Romaine; Monday arrival is ideal because market day is Tuesday), Day 7: Ctes du Rhne Villages. at a pretty leisurely pace and enjoy some beach time! Some will be about food, and others will be French flea markets/brocantes that focus on textiles, clothing, or antiques. 2023 Rick Steves' Europe, Inc. | The Luberon Valley is a stunning place, and I personally think its absolutely worth visiting with or without lavender! I do have a question for you. 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. Here is our Provence and French Riviera Itinerary from a couple of summers ago when we went on a road trip in Southern France. Depending on the length of your trip, and taking geographic proximity into account, here are our recommended priorities: Day 1: Fly into Nice. Were talking about yachts that are large enough that staff needs to be employed to take care of them. Joining the Paparazzi during the Cannes Film Festival, A Brief Tour through the Provencal Wine Region. We were exhausted when we arrived, but it was 9am and we were not about to go to bed. 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. All I can say is truffle risotto! Amazing! Stand on the medieval walls of the town, and youll be smitten with the views of the countryside and sea. If youd like to see several of Provences most iconic villages without driving, its a fun way to do so! However, we do recognize that the views from Les Baux-de-Provence themselves are top-notch! 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. When you make a purchase using one of these affiliate links, we get paid a small commission at no extra cost to you. Planning a trip to France? Instead of sleeping when we arrived (which is what our bodies wanted to do since it was the middle of the night back home), we kept ourselves awake until that evening. Ive outlined some popular, well-reviewed, and well-located options in two of the most popular bases visited during this south of France itinerary: Aix-en-Provence and Nice. Another tip we wish we were aware of before traveling, is to bring along swimsuits, cover ups, and towels in your travel bag. Inside you'll find: Flexible itineraries including 1-2 days in Nice, 2 days in Monaco, and 2 days in Cannes; Strategic advice for art lovers, outdoor enthusiasts, film fans, sports car aficionados, and more After our week along the French Riviera, we ended our France trip with a peaceful two days at. It features first-class accommodations and small-group tours. Is this possible to do? After dinner in Monte Carlo, take the train back to Nice. 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. Aix and Nice are both pretty bignot Paris big, but definitely small towns. This time I want to go to the south of France but not sure the best way to do that if I am traveling solo. at the best online prices at eBay! In theory, theres supposed to be more news from the EU on this front June 7, but well see! In a pinch, you can certainly complete this itinerary with a combination of buses, trains, and booked tours, but that would be far less efficient than a road trip! Republishing this article and/or any of its contents (text, photography, etc. If you are really curious about what St. Tropez is like, go check it out. Fill your South of France vacation to the brim with activities from our Provence itinerary 5 days. 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. Summer in Italy: How to Plan Your Sun-Soaked Dream Trip. The information is easily discoverable. Theres no better place to close out your south of France itinerary than soaking up the sun along the French Riviera. This was something that Tim and I did not think would be exciting to visit, but we were amazed by the Pont de Gard. Second question, it sounds like we may miss the lavender fields in bloom! Make sure your outfit is suitable for walking around towns for hours this means comfortable shoes, such as. Day 1 to 4: 3 days and 3 nights in Nice. ), and Lourmarin for its idyllic beauty. 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. 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. We have about 2 weeks. 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. If you still have time, drive by Pont Saint-Benezet (Pont DAvignon), the remains of the bridge that collapsed when the Rhone River flooded centuries ago. . Provence is filled with incredible views and spectacular aesthetic. Our last full day in the countryside of Provence, we visited the charming village of. My husband & I just relocated to Amsterdam and we are planning a trip here for early July. We were looking at an Airbnb in La Ciotat. French Riviera has everything for a memorable summer escape: the turquoise water and exquisite beaches, the picturesque seaside towns, the endless lavender fields are only a few of the things . Could things be 100% normal by then? Splitting 2 weeks up between Provence and Barcelona (a little of each) thx. Shop train tickets from Paris to the south of France today! Create an account to heart and save your favorite products and looks from the story. Id recommend booking things with as flexible as cancellation policies as possible. Some links in this post may be affiliate links. 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 the pastels of St. Tropez and bougainvillea of Grimaud, to the blue shades of Nice and the rainbow town of Villefrance-sur-Mer, theres something around every corner waiting to be discovered. Thank you!! In Monaco, stroll along the harbor, as this is the place to go yacht spotting. Planned to then drive to southern France & fly out of Nice to Sicily. Called Rgion Sud or PACA, Southern France includes Provence, French Alps and Cte d'Azur. time to visit the south of France if youre hoping for a classic trip. 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. Stay in the know. While in Provence, try a Pastis. We typically find and save on the map way more than we can possibly visit in a single trip. 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. Well, is one of those places. 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. Stroll around the city and take in the old Baroque buildings and little cafes. On a personal note, were planning to visit Europe this summer but stick to one country for ease/to limit the risks of things going wrong at least thats the plan as of today! Ventoux is a giant mountain that towers over this part of Provence. Cannes is famous for its luxury hotels and of course, the Cannes Film Festival. are lovely. Discover the wines of the French Riviera, its countryside and its magnificent sights. Except for perhaps in the very early fall during a hot year, though, you likely wont want to swim during this time of year, and of course, there wont be any lavender around. So glad we could help a couple of years ago. Your flight to Nice, France should land on Day 1 of the itinerary - this means that you should depart your home airport the day prior - your round-trip travel time on this Journey is 10 Days (9 Days, 8 Nights . If youre looking for a small group tour, Id look for day trips to the Luberon Valley area, probably leaving from Aix-en-Provence or perhaps Avignon. Of course, if all you want to do with the final days of your south of France vacation is lay on Nices famous beach, we certainly cant blame you for that! Today is more of a leisurely day. Spend the day exploring the town, hitting up the impressive Papal Palace, the Pont dAvignon, and the Les Halles Market in between wandering the streets and marveling that youre finally in southern France! For those who join me in striving for a thoughtful, beautiful life. Here on Our Escape Clause, we are dedicated to helping travelers plan their adventures. Perched high above the Mediterranean Sea along the Cote dAzur, Saint-Paul-de-Vence is one of those destinations that we expected to enjoy but quickly move on from, but in actuality knocked us off our feet and charmed us completely. 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