Rick Steves, for example, has a tour that touches on Provence but it doesnt really focus on it. By continuing to browse this website you are agreeing to our use of cookies. (For travelers who happen to be visiting in the offseason, look up Mentons February lemon festival!). There are an abundance of poppy fields in Provence. Once the home of popes, Avignon is the perfect place to kick off your south of France itinerary. Id also only recommend booking one country right nowwhichever is your priorityand then giving it another couple of months to see how easy it will be to travel between the two (will you need to test or isolate, etc). Love your travels. Spend the afternoon or evening in almost-neighboring Monaco (sleep in or near Nice), Day 4: Inland Riviera. South of France Itinerary: 7-Day Road Trip Through Provence & the French Riviera Whether you're cruising with the top down through the stunning wine country of Provence, or driving through the French Riviera along the sparkling coast (aka "The Cte d'Azur"), southern France is a region you'll want to absorb every last inch of. Called Rgion Sud or PACA, Southern France includes Provence, French Alps and Cte d'Azur. Aix and Nice are both pretty bignot Paris big, but definitely small towns. I will be part of a group of 8 women, arriving in Paris in October for one week. For COVID-19 Travel and RS Tours information, 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! Have dinner back in Avignon (sleep in Avignon), Day 8: Vaison-la-Romaine. Consider my guidebook's seaside walks in Cap Ferrat, or take the one-hour boat cruise from Nice's port, then spend the afternoon or evening in almost-neighboring Monaco (sleep in or near Nice), Day 4: Inland Villages. ), Planning a Trip to Paris in 11 Easy Steps (+ First Time in Paris Tips! drive), in a medieval village called Cagnes-sur-Mer. , a wonderful Michelin star restaurant located near Lourmarin. Provence & the French Riviera 8 days France Max 18 Passengers Overview Itinerary Inclusions URL Overview Glamour, picturesque villages and stunning mountain scenery: this tour through the French Riviera and Provence is sure to impress with its diversity and dramatic beauty! Steve Smith is the co-author of the Rick Steves Provence & the French Riviera guidebook. Europe - French Riviera & Provence itinerary - Hi, My husband and I in our early 30s will be visiting French Riviera & Provence next week! We can get another Airbnb or a hotel. 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. PARIS: For the top experiences in the city, read our article Best Things to Do in Paris. WE are novice travelers to France and are really seeking guidance on our first journey. We have reimagined our brand and blog for a better future. Happy Birthday and Anniversary! Make an Account. Hello Kate, Thank you for such a helpful article! In the days leading up to this event, you can drive the race course. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for PROVENCE & THE FRENCH RIVIERA FOR TRAVELERS. Can you help me narrow it down if I am there for one week? 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. If the weather's good, bring your swimsuit and float on your back for views of the 2,000-year-old aqueduct. Nice is fantasticwe highly recommend visiting Eze and Vence when in the area as well. Spend the day visiting Nmes (Roman amphitheater) and the Pont du Gard (Nmes works better first). Here are some quick pros and cons of completing this south of France itinerary in each season. Tote Bag Trust me: youll want a very sturdy reusable bag with you when you visit Provencal markets! Read more: Driving the Monaco Grand Prix Race Course. The best weather is between April and October. Your email address will not be published. The second site not to be missed is the Palais des Papes. were so happy to have a home base during our time in Provence. 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. 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. I wish we knew! 25 different ways to spend one week in Europe. My husband & I just relocated to Amsterdam and we are planning a trip here for early July. Make sure your outfit is suitable for walking around towns for hours this means comfortable shoes, such as. You can tour the arena and if you are really lucky you may even get to see a bull fight. 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. Sounds like we would like to be sure to see Aix-en-Provence, Gorge, Eze & Vence. Also, before heading home, we stopped in Gordes for drinks at. 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. I think youll definitely be able to find what youre looking for. My husband and I are looking at going to southern France for a week or two in July 2023. Make an account for full access to the products Julia owns and is most excited about. 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. This is one of the most famous luxury hotels in France and has built up quite the storied history (and held a number of famous guests) since it opened in 1913and its also a whimsical and wonderful place to stay today. Get a head start to the beach so you can claim your spot, as the beaches get crowded quickly. 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. 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. see our FAQ. Now it is time to leave the French Riviera and enter Provence. South of France Itinerary Note: Pay Attention to Market Days! Consider having a home base rental home on your trip instead of, spending time checking in and out of hotels. The Pont du Gard is a Roman aqueduct that was built to supply water from Uzes to Nimes. Scratch last year, ugh, Question.. How do you think things are looking for an August 2021 visit to the south of France and Barcelona? What is a good itinerary so we get the best out of this trip? 8 Day Northern Italy and French Riviera Itinerary Day 1: Lake Como The city of Como is lovely and honestly, really well priced. Youll want one base there, and the one base on the coast. Villages like Gordes, Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, Roussillon, etc, are an absolute delight, and the fun of the region is driving between them and visiting several in one stay. Parking is at the bottom of the village and a good 15 minute walk. , a small bed and breakfast in the Alpes-Maritimes. Your first stop is Aix-en-Provence, the gateway into Provence, just a half an hour away by car. La Maison dAix This converted townhome makes the perfect luxury boutique hotel in Aix-en-Provence! Your help would be awesome. , I love and admire your site and insights. Much smaller and prettier than nearby Marseilles, Cassis is also the perfect jumping-off point for visiting Calanques National Park. Shop rental cars for your trip to the south of France, Sjours & Affaires Aix-en-Provence Mirabeau. 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. Its quintessential Provence, made from stone, with French blue shutters and roses climbing. If you are really curious about what St. Tropez is like, go check it out. Would really only care to see Eiffel Tower at night, if that, on this trip. Hope you guys have a fantastic trip! 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? A few tips on driving in southern France: budget generously for gas and tolls, book your lodging each night with the parking situation in mind, and rent the smallest car you possibly can. Getting Around During Your Trip to Southern France. Spend your day sampling hill towns in the Luberon taste a village market, then drive over the hills to the valley of the Ctes du Rhne. 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 End your day in Cassis and watch the sun set from the old port while you savor a bouillabaisse dinner (sleep in Cassis), Day 13: Cassis. This is what we did and had a terrible time. I know it is not the best time of year, but excited to go anyway. 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! Explore, shop and save your most loved outfits, daily looks and inspiration from the blog. Highlights like Saint-Tropez, Cannes, and Antibes would be a great place to start, but there are endless gorgeous small towns and rural beaches to choose from in the region. 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. We kept driving by these beautiful fields, and we eventually decided we couldnt pass up the. 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. 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. In the French Riviera, all of the towns and roads are built on cliffs and peninsulas, so if you are driving somewhere its rarely a quick trip. Im wearing a dress I bought at one of the lovely boutiques there. Take the train or bus to nearby Villefranche-sur-Mer, explore, and have lunch. Cycling Mont Ventoux, the Giant of Provence, Vence, Our Favorite Town in the French Riviera, Driving the Monaco Grand Prix Race Course. 2023 Rick Steves' Europe, Inc. | The day starts with a half an hour drive west from Avignon to the Pont du Gard. For those who join me in striving for a thoughtful, beautiful life. Something to consider when negotiating prices is that summertime is the height of tourist season, therefore it is the most expensive time to buy antiques in places like LIsle-sur-la-Sorgue. 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