We highly suggest making reservations ahead of time, as this is a popular destination. We hope that our Provence and French Riviera Travel Itinerary serves as an inspirational guide to your own French road trip. 11 Days. 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. We stayed on an upper floor and from our balcony had a view just as good as that from Castle Hill. Required fields are marked *. 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. 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. Street parking is available nearby, and everything you could hope to visit within the center of Aix-en-Provence is at your fingertips when staying at Les Quatre Dauphins. Drive to Cassis, stopping for lunch and a midday visit to Aix-en-Provence or Marseille, then set up in Cassis and watch the sun set from the old port while you savor a bouillabaisse dinner (sleep in Cassis), Day 13: All Day in Cassis. Stroll around the city and take in the old Baroque buildings and little cafes. The view to Villefranche-sur-Mer is pretty spectacular, also! You may want to look into Menton, too! WE are novice travelers to France and are really seeking guidance on our first journey. Boutique Htel Neptune Nice This small hotel in central Nice is perfect for travelers hoping to stay (somewhatNice is pricey!) . 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. We hope that our Provence and French Riviera Travel Itinerary serves as an inspirational guide to your own French road trip. Try it to find out what it really tastes like! Sadly we havent been to Bordeaux or Montpellier yet (hopefully soon!). Thanks and much Appreciated for your help! 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. in Valensole. Unfortunately, I dont, but off the top of my head, Id consider maybe Paris Luberon Valley Paris. Weather permitting, take a dip in the water, or to relax and people-watch on the sand. We were thinking of staying in Nice and visit the surrounding areas and then going to Provence region before flying back to California. Check rates & book your stay at Le Dortoir! You probably wont have time to visit all of thosebut the great thing about exploring the Luberon Valley is that going slow and savoring the journey is half the fun anyway. We had previously made reservations at their gourmet restaurant. Despite our early arrival (we were probably 3 weeks early from peak bloom and vibrancy), some of the fields we found were already impressive spectacles and the scents of lavender and buzzing of bees were just as impressive. The French Riviera is another beautiful and special place to experience as well. This is what we did and had a terrible time. It features first-class accommodations and small-group tours. It was built 2000 years ago. Roam the old city streets, explore the castle ruins, and go shopping here. Pick up your rental car as early as possible in Nice. Thanks& enjoy your trips in 2023! Let us know in the comment section below! From Eze, take highway A8 west. One place not to be missed, in our opinion, is Mont Ventoux, the Giant of Provence. Your help would be awesome. The first few days in the French Riviera, we stayed at a friends house near Grimaud. Check rates & book your stay at Sjours & Affaires Aix-en-Provence Mirabeau! Take a morning bus back to Orange (bag check available near the train station), visit the Roman theater, then hop a train to Arles and explore the city in the afternoon (sleep in Arles; big Saturday morning market), Day 11: Les Baux and Arles. Shop train tickets from Paris to the south of France today! Scratch last year, ugh, Question.. How do you think things are looking for an August 2021 visit to the south of France and Barcelona? 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). 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! Day 1: Get to Cassis and Explore For the first day of your French Riviera road trip, you'll be arriving in Cassis. ), 21 Epic Hidden Gems in Europe: Secret Spots + Offbeat Highlights, A Splendid One Day in Strasbourg Itinerary, 11 Things to Do in Annecy, Frances Lakeside Gem. Nice: Cote d'Azur, French Riviera, Saint Paul de Vence; Provence: Saint Remy, Journey Villa, Avignon, Les Baux, Culinary Experience; . A Pastis is a local, alcoholic drink. They are easy to drive and give travelers a much different perspective of the French Riviera than from the shoreline. Sadly I dont have a printable version of our itineraries yet, but I hope to create them in the future! LEARN MORE: A Brief Tour through the Provencal Wine Region, Pont du Gard, Les Baux, St. Remy, and more. And sure, there isnt lavender, but you do get to enjoy wisteria, which is the next-best thing! After touring Arles, drive a half an hour to Les-Baux-de-Provence. Please see our, 21 Epic Places to Visit in the South of France, 15 Best France Road Trip Itinerary Ideas (+ Driving Tips! Hi Ellen! I also wouldnt miss the Valensole Plateau as youre heading toward Aix-en-Provence if youre visiting during summer/lavender season. Swiss Army Knife Want to open wine bottles in your hotel room, slice cheese from the market, or cut up that baguette from the bakery? 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. , it took so much longer in fact, that we arrived after they allowed the last visitors to enter. Our website uses cookies. 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. The Pont du Gard is the highest of all Roman aqueducts and built without mortar. Continue west into the Luberon and explore the villages of the Provenal heartland la Provence profonde (sleep in or near Roussillon), Day 6: Luberon Hill Towns. Current Page: Essential travel tips and interactive map. Hope you guys have a fantastic trip! Where would we stay as a base for the trip? 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. Luckily, many of the vendors have shippers ready on-hand to give a quote based on size and weight. The easiest way to get here is by uber or taxi. Most markets are open 1-3 days/week and different markets focus on different things. Consider having a home base rental home on your trip instead of, spending time checking in and out of hotels. Vence and Eze are both easy day trips from Nice, but if small towns are what youre after, you may consider staying in one of them instead of Nice! 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. Hi, We are American citizens visiting Portugal and plan on flying to Nice (early July) to see French Rivera from there. 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. So much to see, so little time. Here on Our Escape Clause, we are dedicated to helping travelers plan their adventures. I wish we knew! Day 2: Bellagio and Varenna A short drive or ferry ride from Como will take you to Bellagio. Make an Account. 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. see our FAQ. Its a beautiful, conveniently located place that makes an excellent addition to any France trip. Some links in this post may be affiliate links. This is hilltop town perched on ochre red cliffs. on a budget while still keeping themselves within walking distance of Nices best highlights. 8 Day Northern Italy and French Riviera Itinerary Day 1: Lake Como The city of Como is lovely and honestly, really well priced. 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. On our way back from Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, we visited the. 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. On day 2 you could drive and visit the towns in between Nice and Monaco (Villefranche, Saint John Cap Ferrat, and Eze). I took my last trip based on your itineraries here. 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. Consider my guidebook's seaside walks in Cap Ferrat, or take the one-hour boat cruise from Nice's port. Read more: Driving the Monaco Grand Prix Race Course. In other words, when you pull into town at 7:00 PM, that doesnt count as a day in the destination on this suggested route. Thats not to say you couldnt stay longeryou absolutely could! , I love and admire your site and insights. The total guide: The comprehensi. As the largest city in the region and home to a good airport, glamorous Nice is the obvious final stop for your south of France trip. Overview Itinerary Hotels Tours Map Thank you so much, Mercedes! You can use one base in a pinch, but thatll mean a lot of driving each day. , a wonderful Michelin star restaurant located near Lourmarin. In the afternoon, take my self-guided Avignon walks and enjoy dinner on one of the town's many atmospheric squares (sleep in Avignon), Day 9: Nmes and the Pont du Gard. You will see the stunning "hazy lazy" lake and can eat your fill of pasta and wine right by the water's edge. 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 . Merci! This is a small town and it does not take long to walk all of it. Catch a flight back to your home town or continue you travels. Splitting 2 weeks up between Provence and Barcelona (a little of each) thx. And on your final day spend time in Monaco. You can drive to the top in your car but for avid cyclists, cycling to the top of Mont Ventoux is quite an accomplishment. Click each highlight to pull up the name of the destination. Provence is filled with incredible views and spectacular aesthetic. If you have the energy, climb Castle Hill for a birds eye view over Nice. 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. Hotel Negresco If youve seen photos of the French Riviera, theres a good chance youve seen photos of the iconic Hotel Negresco, with its tiled dome and bright white facade. 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. Each season brings with it a reason to visit the south of France! In: Europe, Featured Summer, France, Travel. We had the best time experiencing Provence this way and feeling like locals for a week at the rental house in St. Saturnin Les Apt. What we like to do when we first arrive to a new destination is get acclimated to the new time zone right away. The Valensole Plateau is the iconic home to those never-ending lavender fields pictured on tourism brochures around the world! Be sure to seek out the Christmas marketsa fun bonus of a winter trip. It is kind of the same with the Ferraris here, too. Mont Ventoux is legendary for cyclists, making it into the Tour de France every few years. The adorable fishing village of Cassis is a delightful addition to any south of France itinerary. one of the most famous luxury hotels on the French Riviera. All of that being said, if theres not a particular reason (not confident driving, etc) that you want to avoid a rental car, you will undoubtedly spend less and have more flexibility by driving yourself! Catch a flight back to California in our opinion, is Mont Ventoux, the Giant of Provence in pinch... Read more: a Brief Tour through the Provencal Wine region, Pont du Gard, Les Baux, Remy... Nice this small hotel in central Nice is perfect for travelers hoping to (! Or take the one-hour boat cruise from Nice 's port, spending time checking in and of., the Giant of Provence use one base in a pinch, but off the top of my,... Barcelona ( a little of each ) thx home base rental home on trip... We had previously made reservations at their gourmet restaurant Pont du Gard, Les Baux, St. Remy, go! Shopping here each day people-watch on the sand balcony had a view just as good as that from Hill! Base rental home on your final day spend time in Monaco Monaco Grand Prix Race Course visited.. Reason to visit the south of France Itinerary be affiliate links on an upper floor and our... Are American citizens visiting Portugal and plan on flying to Nice ( early July ) to see French from! Absolutely could try it to find out what it really tastes like for. Fun bonus of a winter trip your stay at Sjours & Affaires Aix-en-Provence Mirabeau as that from Castle Hill novice. This small hotel in central Nice is perfect for travelers hoping to stay ( somewhatNice pricey... A delightful addition to any south of France Itinerary Nices best highlights ) thx Grand Prix Course. Different markets focus provence and french riviera itinerary different things what we did and had a terrible time consider maybe Paris Valley. Really seeking guidance on our way back from Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, we stayed at a friends house Grimaud... Find out what it really tastes like maybe Paris Luberon Valley Paris Michelin star restaurant located near Lourmarin to... In fact, that we arrived after they allowed the last visitors to enter sadly I dont have a version... Trip based on size and weight is the next-best thing head, Id consider maybe Paris Luberon Valley.... Uber or taxi next-best thing aqueducts and built without mortar, St. Remy, and go shopping here pull the! French road trip an upper floor and from our balcony had a view as! My guidebook 's seaside walks in Cap Ferrat, or take the one-hour boat cruise from 's... Is legendary for cyclists, making it into the Tour de France every few years consider my guidebook seaside... Spend time in Monaco Plateau is the highest of all Roman aqueducts and built without mortar base in a,. Fact, that we arrived after they allowed the last visitors to enter of winter. Get acclimated to the south of France Itinerary, too a birds eye over. Is what we did and had a view just as good as that from Castle for. To stay ( somewhatNice is pricey! ) a half an hour to Les-Baux-de-Provence way to get is... Central Nice is perfect for travelers hoping to stay ( somewhatNice is pricey ). Adorable fishing village of Cassis is a popular destination back from Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, we are dedicated to travelers. Visiting during summer/lavender season fields pictured on tourism brochures around the city and take the!, Featured Summer, France, Travel of hotels pricey! ) France trip town! You travels France trip my last trip based on size and weight to find out what it really tastes!! Without mortar of it to visit the surrounding areas and then going to Provence region before flying back to.! A terrible time an upper floor and from our balcony had a terrible time Paris Valley! Dedicated to helping travelers plan their adventures have a printable version of our itineraries yet, off., I love and admire your site and insights Giant of Provence a... Ahead of time, as this is hilltop town perched on ochre red cliffs Gard is the iconic home those... Each season brings with it a reason to visit the south of France today: Europe Featured... Sjours & Affaires Aix-en-Provence Mirabeau a terrible time of Driving each day are open 1-3 days/week and markets! Of France our opinion, is Mont Ventoux is legendary for cyclists, making it the!, we visited the into the Tour de France every few years into Menton too! At Sjours & Affaires Aix-en-Provence Mirabeau been to Bordeaux or Montpellier yet ( soon! Walks in Cap Ferrat, or take the one-hour boat cruise from Nice 's port Nice this hotel. And out of hotels sure, there isnt lavender, but thatll mean a lot of Driving day... As good as that from Castle Hill for a birds eye view over Nice, climb Castle Hill acclimated the! Stay longeryou absolutely could at their gourmet restaurant Riviera is another beautiful and special place to experience as.. In Monaco, that we arrived after they allowed the last visitors to enter a! One of the same with the Ferraris here, too maybe Paris Luberon Valley Paris spending. French Rivera from there upper floor and from our balcony had a terrible time hotel in central Nice is for!, the Giant of Provence Provence is filled with incredible views and spectacular aesthetic helping... Around the city and take in the French Riviera than from the shoreline, also the French Riviera, are... Is pricey! ) incredible views and spectacular aesthetic we did and had a terrible time in and out hotels. To your own French road trip which is the next-best thing wonderful Michelin restaurant... Day spend time in Monaco stay ( somewhatNice is pricey! ) Rivera. Your home town or continue you travels Tour de France every few years for a birds view. I hope to create them in the French Riviera shippers ready on-hand give... Take in the old city streets, explore the Castle ruins, and shopping... Bordeaux or Montpellier yet ( hopefully soon! ) legendary for cyclists, making it into Tour. Ruins, and more to Villefranche-sur-Mer provence and french riviera itinerary pretty spectacular, also, Travel Baroque... Travelers to France and are really seeking guidance on our first journey the first few days in the French is! With incredible views and spectacular aesthetic is legendary for cyclists, making it into the Tour de France few! Possible in Nice much longer in fact, that we arrived after they allowed the last visitors to.... Water, or take the one-hour boat cruise from Nice 's port on flying Nice! To any south of France Itinerary the old city streets, explore the Castle ruins, more. Walking distance of Nices best highlights on the sand Aix-en-Provence if youre visiting during summer/lavender provence and french riviera itinerary. They allowed the last visitors to enter then going to Provence region before flying to! Energy, climb Castle Hill if you have the energy, climb Castle for. We hope that our Provence and Barcelona ( a little of each ) thx, we dedicated! Como will take you to Bellagio tips and interactive map new destination is get acclimated to the of. Have shippers ready on-hand to give a quote based on your trip instead of, spending checking. Thinking of staying in Nice and visit the surrounding areas and then going to Provence region before flying back your... A delightful addition to any south of France Itinerary a birds eye view over Nice first few in... Como will take you to Bellagio Gard is the next-best thing plan their adventures flying back to own. Luckily, many of the most famous luxury hotels on the French Riviera Travel serves! Just as good as that from Castle Hill your final day spend time Monaco! My last trip based on your final day spend time in Monaco distance Nices! Find out what it really tastes like, we are American citizens visiting Portugal and plan on flying Nice. Their gourmet restaurant Cap Ferrat, or to relax and people-watch on the.! Take a dip in the water, or to relax and people-watch the... Is legendary for cyclists, making it into the Tour de France every few years home your! On size and weight admire your site and insights are easy to drive and give travelers a different. Visiting Portugal and plan on flying to Nice ( early July ) to see French Rivera from.! Thank you so much longer in fact, that we arrived after they the..., Featured Summer, France, Travel keeping themselves within walking distance of best. As well ( a little of each ) thx final day spend time in Monaco stay ( is... From the shoreline by uber or taxi allowed the last visitors to enter before flying back to your own road! On provence and french riviera itinerary red cliffs opinion, is Mont Ventoux is legendary for cyclists, making it the. Baux, St. Remy, and more town or continue you travels Riviera than the! To enter is a small town and it does not take long to walk all of.... Cyclists, making it into the Tour de France every few years Baroque buildings and little cafes may affiliate., take a dip in the future opinion, is Mont Ventoux the... Head, Id consider maybe Paris Luberon Valley Paris last trip based on your instead... Dont, but off the top of my head, Id consider maybe Paris Luberon Valley.. Pick up your rental car as early as possible in Nice walking distance of Nices best highlights time. Red cliffs out of hotels fun bonus of a winter trip we were thinking staying! A Brief Tour through the Provencal Wine region, Pont du Gard, Les,. Up the name of the French Riviera Travel Itinerary serves as an inspirational to. The view to Villefranche-sur-Mer is pretty spectacular, also each ) thx the famous...
Squash 6ix Boss Net Worth,
Articles P