Hi Dominique! thank you for the wonderful blog! During this memorable tour, you will explore the culture and heritage of France in addition to discovering the centuries-old influences that . Using Aix as a home base while in France. See something you love? Some links throughout this site are affiliate links. 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. Thanks. 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! I know you suggested 14 days in Provence and the French Riviera but weve never been to Paris! Spend the first part of the day exploring the quiet, colorful streets. Republishing this article and/or any of its contents (text, photography, etc. Spend most of your day in Arles, then drive to Les Baux for late afternoon sightseeing and dinner (sleep in Arles), Day 12: Aix-en-Provence or Marseille. 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). Mont Ventoux is legendary for cyclists, making it into the Tour de France every few years. Once in Marseille, check into your hotel and then explore the Old Port. 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. There is so much to see, and this can be overwhelming, so come with an idea of what you would like to purchase. Tim and I are hoping to revisit this area a year from now to give our content a massive update. Free shipping for many products! . Do you have any 2020 specific tips or anything you think might be closed or different? As much as I love visiting a city, its the countryside where I feel most at home and at ease with life. Thank you so much for your thoughts! 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. Check into your hotel, take a quick nap if necessary, and then spend the late afternoon and early evening exploring Nice. Where would we stay as a base for the trip? is probably the most striking and most famous, but these other towns were some of our favorites as well: At the end of the day after exploring the. We had a great time in St. Tropez at Le Club 55. Both towns are absolutely lovely, but in our biased opinion, we do think that Saint-Rmy-de-Provence is, e do recognize that the views from Les Baux-de-Provence themselves are top-notch, hether 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, he Valensole Plateau is the iconic home to those never-ending lavender fields pictured on tourism brochures around the world, Though Ive noted you can see the major sites of the area in one day here, like in the Alpilles, photographers and/or outdoor enthusiasts will probably want to spend at least a couple of days here if at all possible, I cant resist adding a day here to this suggested, Come here for a delightful combination of all the things that makes the south of France so charming. My husband and I are fully vaxed and cant wait to start travelling overseas again! Along the way, you have the option to make a detour to St. Tropez, if you so desire. On day 2 you could drive and visit the towns in between Nice and Monaco (Villefranche, Saint John Cap Ferrat, and Eze). very similar to the one of Nimes. We also considered staying in Provence for a few days too. We absolutely love exploring southern France and have enjoyed a handful of road trips, train trips, and more throughout the region. ), you will likely need a car to get between them. From Antibes, it is just a 7 minute train ride to Cannes (get train times here). We had a wonderful time calling, , we wondered how we would manage to transport our newly-found treasures to the states. To the north of Avignon are the towns of Gigondas and Chateauneuf-du-Pape, great places to go wine tasting. This French Riviera and Provence Itinerary is good for: 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 Day 10: Fly home (or extend your travels). It is kind of the same with the Ferraris here, too. Today, along with my husband Jeremy and dog Ranger, Im working toward my eventual goal of splitting my life between Europe and the USA. Everyone else also thinks this is the best time to visit the south of France, so prices will be high and crowds will be large. We would like to end in aix-en-Provence and possibly Avignon. In 5 Days: Pick One Region - Provence or the French Riviera Pont d'Avignon Provence A perfect cocktail of history, culture, and wine-tasting, plus sunset by the sea Combine the top towns, from Aix-en-Provence and Avignon to Marseilles Add a Rhne Valley wine tour, including renowned Chteauneuf du Pape There are an abundance of poppy fields in Provence. I took my last trip based on your itineraries here. September is such a beautiful time to visit. I wish I knew exactly what the situation was going to look like in Augustit seems likely that some travel will be open by then (both France and Spain have mentioned a desire to open to vaccinated tourists this summer), but as for what that will look like, no clue. ), Paris Bucket List: 50 Fun Attractions + Things to Do in Paris, How to Plan an Epic 2 Week Europe Trip (+ Europe Itinerary Ideas! We grabbed a basket from the house, filled it with cheeses, bread and wine, and found a scenic spot to watch the sunset. You can tour the arena and if you are really lucky you may even get to see a bull fight. Get to a wine village near Vaison-la-Romaine. We didnt have a whole lot of money at the time and basically just walked around Monaco and drove the Grand Prix course in our rental car (we just lucked out with our timing that we were here when they were setting up the racecourse). There, the beach is long but narrow, so we tried to get there before 10am. . , and we enjoyed an incredible lunch there. Here are some quick pros and cons of completing this south of France itinerary in each season. Scary driving is a matter of perspective of course, but for confident drivers, the Riviera isnt too bad! 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. 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.) It is best to arrive at the markets early when they first open to beat the crowds. Check rates & book your stay at Boutique Htel Neptune Nice! I love that you added books about the South of France as well. Going back and forth to markets, preparing our own french al fresco spreads, and exploring different villages with a home to come back to truly made the trip a special one. Travel Adaptors for France If youre coming from outside of Europe, youll definitely need adaptors for your electronics. I am interested in going to the South of France but would like to stay in a house or villa that we would use as home base, but do day trips to various areas. Any input or advice would be so appreciated. Prime location, great customer service, and cafes just outside of the hotel. You will be visiting a variety of wineries, each with their individual wine-making style. We stayed on an upper floor and from our balcony had a view just as good as that from Castle Hill. Merci! Rooms are small, but customer service is wonderful! 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. We loved exploring markets on market days. Weather permitting, take a dip in the water, or to relax and people-watch on the sand. Hand Sanitizer Weve never been sorry to have this floating around in our day bag. Low Unpublished Prices on Tauck - French Escapade: Paris to the Riviera - Northbound by Tauck Tours with 874 Reviews - Tour Id: 185095 Be sure to seek out the Christmas marketsa fun bonus of a winter trip. If you make a purchase through one of these links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Get a head start to the beach so you can claim your spot, as the beaches get crowded quickly. I love your site. Second question, it sounds like we may miss the lavender fields in bloom! It just arrived and its even more beautiful than we remember, a special collection that we can cherish and reflect back on. You can also research ahead of time and get a reservation at one of the many beach clubs throughout the beaches in the South of France. This was something that Tim and I did not think would be exciting to visit, but we were amazed by the Pont de Gard. Rick Steves, for example, has a tour that touches on Provence but it doesnt really focus on it. 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. You can stroll through the entire complex in less than an hour if you are quick, longer if you are a history buff. 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. Some links in this post may be affiliate links. It is out first time in Cote d'azur. 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. Let us know in the comment section below! This summer we went on an incredible three-week-long trip to Provence and the French Riviera. 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? If you are really curious about what St. Tropez is like, go check it out. We bought china from the most adorable shop and had it shipped home. Unfortunately, I dont, but off the top of my head, Id consider maybe Paris Luberon Valley Paris. Yes, it is larger than the harbor in Monaco, and this harbor is packed with huge yachts. Theres truly something for every interest hereand then someso be prepared to start plotting your return visit by the halfway point through your trip! For COVID-19 Travel and RS Tours information, 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. Your help would be awesome. Be prepared to give yourself a few hours here its a wonderful experience. , and after working up an appetite walking through all the shops, we went to, for lunch. South of France Itinerary: 10 Days in the French Riviera & Provence South of France Itinerary: 10 Days in the French Riviera & Provence By: Woodrow Matthews Last updated: February 15, 2023 France As much as I love to travel around France and see the rest of Europe, there is nothing quite like coming back to my home on the French Riviera. Provence and the French Riviera in particular are so treasure-filled that you may barely do more than skim the surface in a week. 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! As a silver lining, if the lavender is gone some of the crowds will disperse also. This was a smaller boutique hotel that sat in the middle of a beautiful town with views of Nice and the Mediterranean Sea in the distance. This is an upscale hotel in the heart of Avignon, within walking distance of the best of Avignon. Hello All, Hope to get some help on itinerary on Cote d'azur from 9th to End of Sep (18 nights). Hello, My friends and I are doing three days in the French Riviera. Return to Arles by taxi or bus (minivan tours will probably include other destinations), and spend your afternoon there; or take a taxi from Les Baux to St-Rmy, explore there, then catch a bus back to Arles (sleep in Arles), Day 12: Marseille, then Cassis. 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. 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! 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). 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. Today, budget vacationers and heat-seeking Europeans fill belle-poque resorts at France's most sought-after fun-in-the-sun destination. Fresh fruits and vegetables, bread, honey, clothing, mattresses, and tires are just a few of the things that you can purchase here. Is there somewhere you would suggest. ), How to Take the Perfect Day Trip to Cascais From Lisbon (+ Tips for Visiting! Antibes is another great option for a base in the area, and of course trips to places like Menton, Eze, and Monaco are all fabulous ways to spend a day. Day 4: Scenic drive from Cannes to St.-Tropez. This is hilltop town perched on ochre red cliffs. Top 10 things to do in the French Riviera. 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. Itinerary #1: Cities & Nature on the French Riviera On this grand tourof the French Riviera, you'll learn to prepare a three-course meal in Nice, taste wines in Provence, and have a sunset picnic on a mountaintop. From Vence, it is a two hour drive along highway A8 to Marseille. I am happy that I stumbled across your site. If you have less than 2 weeks in the South of France, we recommend narrowing your focus to either the Cote dAzur or Provence, rather than trying to squeeze both destinations into your limited time. After you get your fill of snapping photos, head to the Verdon Gorge, home to cascading cliffs, turquoise water, the nearby Lake of Sainte-Croix, some incredible hiking, andagain for summer visitors specificallyexcellent kayaking and rafting. Provence and the Cte d'Azur are made for explorers. were so happy to have a home base during our time in Provence. The dates for the Cannes Film Festival in 2023 are May 16 to May 27. We have loaded up our backpack more than once on shopping extravaganzas here! Youll want one base there, and the one base on the coast. That way when planning out our day, we can take a slightly modified route to add an extra spot we wouldnt normally have seen. Stroll along the coastline of Antibes, visit the Picasso Museum, and, if you are interested, visit the Absinthe Museum. Consider my guidebook's seaside walks in Cap Ferrat, or take the one-hour boat cruise from Nice's port. In May 2016, I left my suburban life in the USA and became a full-time traveler. 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Beat the crowds will disperse also Monaco, and the French Riviera train trips, and cafes just of. Know you suggested 14 days in Provence and the French Riviera itinerary Avignon, within walking distance of the will!
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