What is a good itinerary so we get the best out of this trip? 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. From there, you can reach the southern coast (we highly recommend Cassis in the surrounding area) on a day trip, as well as the Valensole Plateau, Avignon, Aix en Provence, etc. Most of the major beach towns/cities will have what youre looking for, including Nice. Thank you again. If you like the idea of taking a walking tour of Nice, here are several ideas. You will be visiting a variety of wineries, each with their individual wine-making style. South of France Itinerary Note: Pay Attention to Market Days! 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. Maybe, but Id bank on a contingency plan or two. 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. Weve been thinking of perhaps hiring a van and driver. If you want to stay in only a handful of locations and have a more leisurely trip, though, you probably dont need a car. . Our first time visiting Provence we made t, his mistake, staying only one or two nights at four different hotels. All I can say is truffle risotto! Amazing! (Family of 4 with two college-age boys) Thank you. From Eze, take highway A8 west. We had previously made reservations at their gourmet restaurant. Sjours & Affaires Aix-en-Provence Mirabeau This is where we stayed when visiting Aix-en-Provence, and we loved it! 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. Thank you so much, Kevin! Winter definitely isnt an ideal time to be experiencing this south of France itinerary, but if cold weather and closed businesses are a worthy trade for rock-bottom prices and a lack of crowds, winter might be an option for your trip! This is where the rich and famous come to relax and party. Unlike in the past when we just flew to Paris, flying from Charleston to Marseille was an all day affair. We spent the morning at the beach, explored the colorful town and then had a wonderful lunch on the shores of the water. Just past Nice, it is time to take a detour to the highly underrated and very pretty town of Vence. 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. Top 10 things to do in the French Riviera. PARIS: For the top experiences in the city, read our article Best Things to Do in Paris. ), Planning a Trip to Paris in 11 Easy Steps (+ First Time in Paris Tips! My husband and I are looking at going to southern France for a week or two in July 2023. While in Provence, try a Pastis. For a more classic Provence feel with small farming villages, lavender fields (July is a great time to catch the blooms! Many thanks in advance. to places like Eze, St-Paul-de-Vence, Monaco, etc, might suit you perfectly. The day starts with a half an hour drive west from Avignon to the Pont du Gard. The first two towns on your list in the Alpilles? Once your table is ready, they bring you inside, where the all-glass dining room looks out at the vineyard with the sun setting right behind. While the cities and towns visited throughout this south of France itinerary are generally walkable (even Nice! So much to see, so little time. A bit long-winded, I know, and will likely be dated advice within a week, but thats the best I can offer now! , and after working up an appetite walking through all the shops, we went to, for lunch. I am thinking, is it possible to arrange a multi-day round trip in Province, to avoid renting a car? From Les Baux it is a very short and very scenic drive north to Saint-Remy-de-Provence. But for details on what to do in each place, either get Rick Steves guide (thats what we used and it was awesome) or do more online searching. Its much faster! 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. Wearing a lemon print dress, while sipping a fresh frozen lemonade in Menton, a city famous for its lemons. I knew it was going to be pretty, but what we arrived to was a complete dream! The Valensole Plateau is the worlds premier location for growing lavender. If so, can you recommend a particular town or inn? Parking is at the bottom of the village and a good 15 minute walk. Unlike many other places, though, traveling during the high (read: summer) season here comes with enough advantages that unless youre entirely allergic to crowds and high prices, Id recommend planning your trip then. 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. A good thing to do on your first day is to stroll along the Promenade des Anglais, a paved walkway along the coastline of Nice. Sadly I dont have a printable version of our itineraries yet, but I hope to create them in the future! Would really only care to see Eiffel Tower at night, if that, on this trip. If your group is comfortable with it, Id look into potentially taking a train from Paris to Aix-en-Provence or Avignon and then hiring a driver for the Provence portion. Take This Map With You! The absolute best lavender fields are over at the Valensole Plateau, which is a bit of a drive but worth it if you want to see the biggest fields. This south of France itinerary is for you! Cheers, Julie. Renting a car would be ideal because that would make it easier to get around. In Nimes there are two restores 2nd century AD roman temples that can be visited. Next, they escorted us inside, where we began with an amuse-bouche and a salad course. There are several great restaurants that sit along the waters edge, a great place for lunch. It just arrived and its even more beautiful than we remember, a special collection that we can cherish and reflect back on. 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 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 have two weeks, would love to get some route& sightseeing suggestions from you. Check rates & book your stay at Les Quatre Dauphins! In Chateauneuf-de-Pape, we recommend La Cave du Verger des Papes, a great, old wine cellar that offers tastings everyday.Honestly, just driving the area around Malaucene, Vaison-la-Romaine, and Orange is spectacular. 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. 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. Weve stayed in Saint-Rmy-de-Provence and Lourmarin and absolutely loved our experiences in both. I loved reading this! We had heard many people rave about it, and the restaurant lived up to all the incredible reviews. 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. Cheers, Julie. 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. Is Spring (June) a good time or Summer is a better season? 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. See something you love? : Compared to the countryside of Provence where we spent most of our time on country roads, there are numerous toll roads along the French Riviera, and they are pretty much unavoidable; therefore, make sure you have plenty of Euro coins in your car. Shop train tickets from Paris to the south of France today! From late June to late July, when the lavender blooms, the drive to Vaison-la-Romaine via Sault is a must (sleep in or near Vaison-la-Romaine; Monday arrival is ideal because market day is Tuesday), Day 7: Ctes du Rhne Villages. Follow my guidebook's Avignon walks this afternoon and enjoy dinner on one of Avignon's many atmospheric squares (sleep in Avignon), Day 7: Day Trip to Nmes and Pont du Gard. , a small bed and breakfast in the Alpes-Maritimes. Ohand definitely grab a cup of coffee at the cafe just outside the town walls. By continuing to browse this website you are agreeing to our use of cookies. 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. , and we enjoyed an incredible lunch there. Your email address will not be published. Explore, shop and save your most loved outfits, daily looks and inspiration from the blog. Spend the first part of the day exploring the quiet, colorful streets. 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 . Your email address will not be published. Along the way, you have the option to make a detour to St. Tropez, if you so desire. Is that a good place to stay to have opportunity for day trips? Thanks. If you'll be in Provence when the lavender is blooming, then I would add an extra day to the itinerary just to see this. Mont Ventoux is legendary for cyclists, making it into the Tour de France every few years. If you are hungry, have lunch here before resuming your drive.
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