Take a minivan tour or a taxi (or, in summer, a bus) to Les Baux and have breakfast with a view. 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. What would a 3 day tour of Provence look like? Obviously not enough time to see both in detail, but thought we could get a basic overview & know if there was somewhere we want to return with more time. I took my last trip based on your itineraries here. Hello Kate, Ive really enjoyed reading your blog posts about all your wonderful travels. A bit long-winded, I know, and will likely be dated advice within a week, but thats the best I can offer now! It is a wonderful part of Europe to explore! Villefranche-sur-Mer sits on the coast just east of Nice. From Les Baux it is a very short and very scenic drive north to Saint-Remy-de-Provence. Packing and unpacking your belongings, loading and unloading the car, checking in and out of your hotels and/or apartments all of these things take up more time than you might initially think. SLEEP IN: Aix-en-Provence Pick up your rental car and drive to Aix-en-Provence. Hi, We are American citizens visiting Portugal and plan on flying to Nice (early July) to see French Rivera from there. , and we enjoyed an incredible lunch there. . All hilltop villages and rolling countryside filled with lavender fields, the Luberon Valley is absolutely stunning and a must-visit on any Provence itinerary. If you are really curious about what St. Tropez is like, go check it out. Enjoy views of the Mediterranean Sea from the cliffs of the French Riviera. Be sure to at least make time for a quick stroll along the Promenade des Anglais, admiring the view from Castle Hill, and lunch spent diving into a plate of Nicoise salad. Stroll through the tiny cobblestone streets of the village, and youll feel like youre back in the Luberon Valley. For dinner, go to Old Nice (Vieux Nice), a scenic part of town with narrow streets, colorful buildings, and lots of cafes to choose from. Tote Bag Trust me: youll want a very sturdy reusable bag with you when you visit Provencal markets! 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. We also timed the blooming of roses and hydrangeas especially well, and though the lavender wasnt quite at peak bloom, it was definitely worth seeing. The Cannes Film Festival is held for 10 days in mid-May every year. We typically find and save on the map way more than we can possibly visit in a single trip. Second question, it sounds like we may miss the lavender fields in bloom! Early July is considered the absolute optimal time for enjoying the lavender fields on the Valensole Plateau, though late June, the rest of July, and maybe the very beginning of August can work as well. Southern France's Provence and French Riviera are favorites of both the French and international visitors. Hi Kate, I really enjoyed reading your post. While in Provence, try a Pastis. Steve Smith is the co-author of the Rick Steves Provence & the French Riviera guidebook. Its much faster! We love the south of France in the spring, and would happily visit in the spring again. 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. Stroll down picturesque, tree-lined boulevards in Aix before heading to the coast, where the Mediterranean traces your route from Cassis to Cinque Terre. Start the morning with my guidebook's self-guided walk through Vieux Nice (take time to smell the fougasse and sample un caf); spend your afternoon at one or more of Nice's fine museums, then have dinner on the beach (sleep in or near Nice), Day 3: Coastal Route to Monaco. estinations 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. 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 This Map With You! The first few days in the French Riviera, we stayed at a friends house near Grimaud. Shop rental cars for your trip to the south of France today! Outdoor dining and activities will definitely be your best bets, but luckily, thats generally where youll find the best of southern France anyway! 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. In May 2016, I left my suburban life in the USA and became a full-time traveler. 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. We stayed on an upper floor and from our balcony had a view just as good as that from Castle Hill. 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. 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. 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. The bridge received worldwide fame when it was commemorated in the song Sur le Pont DAvignon.. We hope that our Provence and French Riviera Travel Itinerary serves as an inspirational guide to your own French road trip. 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! Weve always driven ourselves, but if we were planning to book a day trip like that, wed look on Get Your Guide, which we use regularly. Here on Our Escape Clause, we are dedicated to helping travelers plan their adventures. 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). 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. Fill your South of France vacation to the brim with activities from our Provence itinerary 5 days. One place not to be missed, in our opinion, is Mont Ventoux, the Giant of Provence. see our FAQ. Wed like to head visit the small towns/villages of the south of France. We were looking at an Airbnb in La Ciotat. On our way back from Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, we visited the. 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 Based in Nice for 4 nights and Luberon for 5night. We have about 2 weeks. Les Baux is a medieval town on a hillside overlooking Provence. The Luberon Valley is a stunning place, and I personally think its absolutely worth visiting with or without lavender! Plus, as a bonus, Provencal Christmas traditions (and markets!) Mainly wanted to see cute small towns & pretty scenery, not into the big cities for this trip. The wealth that sits in this harbor is unbelievable. From Villa Ephrussi it is a short walk into Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat. For COVID-19 Travel and RS Tours information, It is best to arrive at the markets early when they first open to beat the crowds. With 18 days you have some flexibility. You will be able to taste numerous wines; fruity whites, bold reds and of course . 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. Along the way, you have the option to make a detour to St. Tropez, if you so desire. at the best online prices at eBay! Hello, What a great source of information-so very helpful in planning our trip which begins in Avignon on July 31. The seemingly endless sea of blue and white umbrellas was quite a sight to see. December may not be a traditional time to be in Provence, but it is lovely! Check rates & book your stay at Le Dortoir! 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! If you are here on a Wednesday or Saturday, you can go shopping at the market, which is amazing. Discover the wines of the French Riviera, its countryside and its magnificent sights. Leave Arles on day 2, driving 19km (12 miles) northeast to the tiny village of Les Baux-de-Provence in the southern Alpilles. 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! Stroll around the city and take in the old Baroque buildings and little cafes. . Settle in at your hotel, then take a walk along the Promenade des Anglais up to Castle Hill (sleep in or near Nice), Day 2: All Day in Nice. It looks like it could easily stand for another 2000 years. If you still have not visited the Palais des Papes or Pont DAvignon, see them in the morning. One of the joys of travelling here is touring the back roads and soaking up the stunning variety of landscapes: fields of lavender, ancient olive groves, clifftop roads, maquis-cloaked hills and even snow-tipped mountains. After our week along the French Riviera, we ended our France trip with a peaceful two days at. 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. So glad we could help a couple of years ago. 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. If youd like to get out of town for a bit in the afternoon, the 2,000-year-old Pont du Gard aqueduct is incredibly impressive and only a 30-minute drive from Avignon. 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! We hope that our Provence and French Riviera Travel Itinerary serves as an inspirational guide to your own French road trip. 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! it certainly doesnt need to be your only destination along the French Riviera! France sounds like a fantastic way to celebrate both. 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. https://www.palais-des-papes.com/en/Drive to Nice through the Luberon Valley. 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. Hello, this is simply superb, thank you very much for sharing this. Tour little Crestet and take a walk above Gigondas (sleep in or near Vaison-la-Romaine), Day 8: Orange and Chteauneuf-du-Pape. You are covering a lot of ground in two weeks, especially with Paris too. Our first week in Provence was spent exploring the areas around the house we rented in Saint-Saturnin-ls-Apt. Any input or advice would be so appreciated. 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. is a wonderful stop for a few hours. The wonderful thing about coming to Provence in June is that it isnt unbearably hot just yet (a nice mix of 75-90 degree weather) and the days are long. There are an abundance of poppy fields in Provence. Day 3: Village-hopping road trip. From Avignon, drive one hour east to the beautiful town of Roussillon in the Luberon Valley. 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. It is a land of luxury, with yachts dotting the shorelines, fancy hotels in every city, and epic parties you read about in magazines. Thank you, From Lyon, I highly recommend a day trip to Annecy! Having these saved me more than once during our last trip to France! Near the French Riviera, hilltop towns like Eze and Saint-Paul-de-Vence are well worth adding in to mix up beach towns if youre looking for great views. ), 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. After touring Arles, drive a half an hour to Les-Baux-de-Provence. And if buying larger items, its much more cost-effective to buy a few pieces to fill a crate, that way youre making it worthwhile. Catch a flight back to your home town or continue you travels. The Middle Corniche is the bestjust high enough for amazing views of the rocky coastline and the towns below. 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. From Rousillon it is a three hour drive back to Nice. 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