Thanks and much Appreciated for your help! Villefranche-sur-Mer sits on the coast just east of Nice. We designed this south of France itinerary for first-time visitors to the region who want a little taste of everything that Provence-Alpes-Cte dAzur has to offer, from the cobblestone streets of the Luberon Valley to the glamour of Nices promenade. However, book tickets in advance as prices for high speed trains increase as the date of travel gets closer. I did mean that. Fill your South of France vacation to the brim with activities from our Provence itinerary 5 days. From Saint-Remy, drive a half an hour north back to Avignon. Once in the city, it was almost impossible to get around by car. Here is my recommendation for a road trip itinerary in the French Riviera starting in Nice: Arrival in Nice on Day 1. PARIS: For the top experiences in the city, read our article Best Things to Do in Paris. 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. Read about how to see and do it all in our French Riviera and Provence itinerary. During this memorable tour, you will explore the culture and heritage of France in addition to discovering the centuries-old influences that . very similar to the one of Nimes. Sample some of France's best-known wine appellations at Chteauneuf-du-Pape. If you still have not visited the Palais des Papes or Pont DAvignon, see them in the morning. Since then, I have visited 50+ countries on 5 continents and lived in Portugal, developing a special love of traveling in Europe (especially Italy) along the way. ), in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited. We typically focus on travel in the USA and Europe (especially in our beloved Italy), but feature destinations across the world! There are an abundance of poppy fields in Provence. Absolutely love it! It looks like it would taste citrusy but it is nothing like that. Take a boat trip or hike to the calanques, watch the ptanque balls fly, and end your day with a drive up Cap Canaille (sleep in Cassis), Day 14: Fly Away. Click each highlight to pull up the name of the destination. one of the most famous luxury hotels on the French Riviera. The Valensole Plateau is the worlds premier location for growing lavender. We were thinking of staying in Nice and visit the surrounding areas and then going to Provence region before flying back to California. Both of us ordered the fish for our main dish and loved every bite. 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. Best French Riviera Itinerary in 5 Days To get the best of the French Riviera let's dive into the perfect itinerary! France or Italy: Which Destination is Right for You? For some spectacular scenery, visit the Parc National des Calanques. See as much of the French Riveria as we can then head towards Avignon. ), Paris Bucket List: 50 Fun Attractions + Things to Do in Paris, How to Plan an Epic 2 Week Europe Trip (+ Europe Itinerary Ideas! Also, before heading home, we stopped in Gordes for drinks at. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Outdoor dining and activities will definitely be your best bets, but luckily, thats generally where youll find the best of southern France anyway! Hello, My friends and I are doing three days in the French Riviera. Prefer to dive into the slower pace of village life for a few days? We personally explored the Luberon from a base of Aix-en-Provence. We have reimagined our brand and blog for a better future. From Le Dortoir, youll be able to reach all of Nices highlights on foot, and its fabulous customer service ratings mean that youll be able to ask for advice on just about anywhere you want to go! Thank you so much. 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. What would a 3 day tour of Provence look like? . While youre in and around Cassis, be sure to also check out to picture-perfect Port de Cassis, visit the (extremely accessible) Calanque de Port Miou, and admire the views from the Cap Canaille. 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. Visit Nmes (Roman amphitheater) in the morning and the Pont du Gard in the afternoon. There are several great restaurants that sit along the waters edge, a great place for lunch. . You can easily take a train from Paris to Nice, Marseille, Avignon, or Aix-en-Provence, but be sure to account for that cost and travel time when planning your southern France itinerary! 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. Camargue, Provence, and French Riviera Itinerary: an introduction Day 1 | Get Lost in Nice Day 2 | An Escapade to Monte Carlo + Beautiful Villages and Sunsets 9 AM: Visit the Richest Country in the World 3 PM: The Medieval Village of Eze 5 PM: Beach Bums + Sunset Views at Saint Jean Cap Ferrat Day 3 | Charming Villages & Beautiful Beaches 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 love and admire your site and insights. 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 The advantage to taking a tour is having a designated driver who knows where to go, allowing you to sampleas much wine as you like. ALSACE WINE REGION: Learn how to plan your visit in our 3 Day Alsace Wine Region itinerary. Provence-Alpes-Cte dAzur is an immense region that is absolutely packed with things to do, from strolling past lavender fields to perusing markets to going on adventurous hikes to relaxing on the beach, and so much more. The hill towns about the Riviera are excellent for wandering around, restaurants, etc, but of course, youre missing the beach. We will be coming from the U.S. in Sept. & only have 18 days, including travel, for France & Sicily. After wrapping up this itinerary, pick your favorite placemaybe a tiny village like Lourmarin, maybe a city with plenty of day trip options like Aix-en-Provence, your choiceand settle into Provencal life for a while, savoring your experiences and slowly soaking up everything that makes southern France special. Travel Adaptors for France If youre coming from outside of Europe, youll definitely need adaptors for your electronics. What are some activities or locations we should go to? It is best to arrive at the markets early when they first open to beat the crowds. 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. 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! 11 Days. Get to a wine village near Vaison-la-Romaine. And sure, there isnt lavender, but you do get to enjoy wisteria, which is the next-best thing! 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. So much to see, so little time. Im wearing a dress I bought at one of the lovely boutiques there. See something you love? Provence is filled with incredible views and spectacular aesthetic. Take a bus north to Vence and St-Paul-de-Vence; stop for a stroll and visit the Fondation Maeght and/or Matisse's Chapel of the Rosary or link Vence with Grasse by bus, skipping St-Paul-de-Vence to save time (sleep in Vence, or back in Nice), Day 5: Isle-sur-la-Sorgue. Ohand definitely grab a cup of coffee at the cafe just outside the town walls. A Pastis is a local, alcoholic drink. The Luberon Valley is a stunning place, and I personally think its absolutely worth visiting with or without lavender! The first two towns on your list in the Alpilles? From Les Baux it is a very short and very scenic drive north to Saint-Remy-de-Provence. My husband and I are looking at going to southern France for six days in June 2023. A bit long-winded, I know, and will likely be dated advice within a week, but thats the best I can offer now! If you like the idea of taking a walking tour of Nice, here are several ideas. Unlike in the past when we just flew to Paris, flying from Charleston to Marseille was an all day affair. Prime location, great customer service, and cafes just outside of the hotel. Id like a few beach dates where I can swim in the ocean, sit under an umbrella (basically being catered too lol) and then go out to fun dinners, walk around, shop (love antique markets etc.) . Take a boat trip or hike to the calanques, then watch the ptanque balls fly (sleep in Cassis), Day 14: Fly Away. Much smaller and prettier than nearby Marseilles, Cassis is also the perfect jumping-off point for visiting Calanques National Park. You will be visiting a variety of wineries, each with their individual wine-making style. Thanks , That sounds lovely, and congratulations on your marriage! Hi We are thinking of spending 1 week in Lyon and 1 week in Porto to relax and at the same time visit the sights in and around in Sept/Oct 22. Sit down for a fantastic French meal on a stunning terrace, and youll immediately feel all the glitz and glamour of the Cote dAzur. After lunch, catch the train from Nice to Monaco, a journey that takes about 20 minutes (for more information on the trains to Monaco, visit the Trainline Europe website). It is a land of luxury, with yachts dotting the shorelines, fancy hotels in every city, and epic parties you read about in magazines. The French Riviera gets insanely crowded in July and August so it is better to avoid traveling here during these months. 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. Enjoy market day this morning, then take a train to Avignon. With more time in southern France, you cant go wrong with spending a lot more time along the French Riviera, especially if youre visiting during the high season. If you are hungry, have lunch here before resuming your drive. Id recommend maybe one base in the Luberon and then one between Valensole/Verdon Gorge. We learned this on our way to Villa Ephrussi during our time in. One place not to be missed, in our opinion, is Mont Ventoux, the Giant of Provence. Villefranche-sur-Mer and Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat. 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? Hop the train to Marseille, check your bags at the station, and take my guidebook's walking tour of the ancient center. You will be served a glass that is half full with Pastis and you top it off with the desired amount of water. Wander the streets and have lunch here. If the weather's good, bring your swimsuit and float on your back for views of the 2,000-year-old aqueduct. We had heard many people rave about it, and the restaurant lived up to all the incredible reviews. How to choose? 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. Spring brings increased sunshine and temperatures, and businesses start to wake back up after the long winter. Drive the Middle Corniche (Moyen Corniche) towards Monaco, stopping along the way at the very pretty town of Eze. Paris - Annecy - Provence - The French Riviera - Lyon by Train 5.0 out of 5 stars 1 Customer Feedbacks Share | 15 to 22+ Nights from $2,057* This sample price: priced within the past 7 days for arrival on 3/30/2023, departure from New York City (all Airports) (NY), US. If youre coming from the U.S. in Sept. & only have 18 days including! Traveling here during these months is my recommendation for a better future home, we in! In Gordes for drinks at restaurant lived up to all the incredible reviews on day 1 short very..., for France if youre coming from the U.S. in Sept. & only have 18 days, including travel for... 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