What are your thoughts about 5 days in the French Riviera, 5 days in Provence, and then 3 days in Paris. Could to suggest some of the villages to visit? Now, there are a few ways to get here. I know you have mentioned Aix-en-Provence and Nice as two potential bases for the itinerary but I understand that may not be enough (i.e. Today, budget vacationers and heat-seeking Europeans fill belle-poque resorts at France's most sought-after fun-in-the-sun destination. Provence, rather than trying to squeeze both destinations into your limited time. 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! Consider my guidebook's seaside walks in Cap Ferrat, or take the one-hour boat cruise from Nice's port, then spend the afternoon or evening in almost-neighboring Monaco (sleep in or near Nice), Day 4: Inland Villages. 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. We will be coming from the U.S. in Sept. & only have 18 days, including travel, for France & Sicily. It is one of the toughest climbs in the race (and Europe), twelve miles of non-stop climbing to get to the top. The destinations 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. PROVENCE AND FRENCH RIVIERA through Avignon, Aix en Provence, Cannes and Arles TOUR SUMMARY Glamour, picturesque villages and stunning mountain scenery: this tour through the French Riviera and Provence is sure to impress with its diversity and dramatic beauty! We stayed at Hotel dEurope, one of the best hotels in Avignon. 2023 Rick Steves' Europe, Inc. | Planning a trip to France? Spend all day in Cassis enjoying la vie douce. Just past Nice, it is time to take a detour to the highly underrated and very pretty town of Vence. Thanks. Basing yourself in Nice and taking day trips (on non-beach days!) This south of France itinerary is for you! were so happy to have a home base during our time in Provence. We didnt realize it ahead of time, but its a completely gluten free restaurant. 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. Im not sure if youre planning inland at all, but the Verdon Gorge is incredible and is a couple of hours from Cannes. It looks like it would taste citrusy but it is nothing like that. Id give Sicily a week minimumwith that timeline, you can cover the east coast (Taormina, Siracusa, etc.) Hotel Negresco is the most iconic choice for its history and location alone. Thank 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. Stand on the medieval walls of the town, and youll be smitten with the views of the countryside and sea. you could ever want. Visiting hilltop towns in the Luberon area is something not to be missed. Prefer to dive into the slower pace of village life for a few days? Do you have any recommendations for hotels we can check out for the two areas and also if there are any small tour groups (no river cruise ) you think would be good to use since we do not have a lot of time this time around. The Valensole Plateau is the worlds premier location for growing lavender. Leave Arles on day 2, driving 19km (12 miles) northeast to the tiny village of Les Baux-de-Provence in the southern Alpilles. The view to Villefranche-sur-Mer is pretty spectacular, also! 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. Also, enjoyed your Sicily blog! The buildings here are a reddish pink color. in Bonnieux. There are many wonderful towns in the French Riviera and its time to start exploring them. it certainly doesnt need to be your only destination along the French Riviera! Southern France's Provence and French Riviera are favorites of both the French and international visitors. Day 5: Beach day or additional sightseeing. 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. If you have less time, we also have an article that lists 25 different ways to spend one week in Europe. at Bastide de Marie is wonderful! The easiest way to get here is by uber or taxi. We were exhausted when we arrived, but it was 9am and we were not about to go to bed. Best French Riviera Itinerary in 5 Days To get the best of the French Riviera let's dive into the perfect itinerary! I did mean that. Eze is beautiful and we had a lot of fun wandering through this small town. Read about how to see and do it all in our French Riviera and Provence itinerary. So relax and savor Avignon, Aix-en-Provence, St-Tropez, or Cannesamong other alluring destinationssaving the rest for another day. This is such a great guide! to places like Eze, St-Paul-de-Vence, Monaco, etc, might suit you perfectly. The south of Francethe land of beautiful coastal cities, glitzy beaches, vineyards, lavender, and one of the worlds best cuisines. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Thanks , That sounds lovely, and congratulations on your marriage! In the access road to Aix , there is a triumph arch and a cenotaph from the 1s century BC. 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. We also have guides to the towns on the Alsace Wine Route and how to spend one perfect day in Colmar. 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. Moustiers-Sainte-Marie was another town that Thomas had found on the Les Plus Beaux Villages list and one of the towns we were most excited to visit. In theory, theres supposed to be more news from the EU on this front June 7, but well see! The following content may contain affiliate links. Hello, this is simply superb, thank you very much for sharing this. Villefranche-Sur-Mer panoramic view. You will see the stunning "hazy lazy" lake and can eat your fill of pasta and wine right by the water's edge. Im sure they exist, though Im not personally familiar with any! The Pont du Gard is the highest of all Roman aqueducts and built without mortar. Your itinerary will leave you tired at the end, but its definitely realistic. Pacsafe We cant recommend our Pacsafe enough: this travel safe is affordable, sturdy, easy to pack, and will help keep your valuables safe in your hotel room (not that you should need to worry much about theft in France, but its better to be safe than sorry!). Also, wear closed-toed shoes when exploring hilltops. Do you have any 2020 specific tips or anything you think might be closed or different? 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. Roam the old city streets, explore the castle ruins, and go shopping here. Can you help me narrow it down if I am there for one week? Id recommend basing yourselves in one place in each the French Riviera and Provence to cut down on travel days that will eat into your exploring, aiming to only stay in 3 hotels/rentals during your honeymoon. For those who join me in striving for a thoughtful, beautiful life. 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. I do have a question for you. As a silver lining, if the lavender is gone some of the crowds will disperse also. There are several great restaurants that sit along the waters edge, a great place for lunch. Make sure your outfit is suitable for walking around towns for hours this means comfortable shoes, such as. It really depends on your personal tastessome people prefer to move around, and others prefer to stay in one base. If you fly into Nice, consider completing this south of France itinerary in the opposite order that Ive written it. The wealth that sits in this harbor is unbelievable. Would you just skip Paris & fly into another city, or not that big of a deal to start there & drive, or take a train from Paris to the south & then get car? From Vence, it is a two hour drive along highway A8 to Marseille. There is a small beach and harbor here. 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. We follow your travels and learned much from you when we did the 3-week family trip to the Czech Republic, Austria, Germany and Italy in summer of 2019. Steve Smith is the co-author of the Rick Steves Provence & the French Riviera guidebook. For some spectacular scenery, visit the Parc National des Calanques. Check rates & book your stay at Hotel Negresco! , I love and admire your site and insights. Scratch last year, ugh, Question.. How do you think things are looking for an August 2021 visit to the south of France and Barcelona? One place not to be missed, in our opinion, is Mont Ventoux, the Giant of Provence. are lovely. Is this possible to do? The best option is to fly into Nice or Marseille and pick up a rental car . 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. Le Dortoir Featuring near-perfect reviews and a crisp, bright interior, Le Dortoir is an excellent option for visitors to Nice who want to enjoy a spacious hotel room without Nices top-end luxury prices. Personally, if I were renting a villa Id look somewhere in the Luberon Valley, so near villages like Gordes or Bonnieux. For small towns Id recommend the Luberon Valleytruly gorgeous and very typically Provencal. If you search Provence small group tours, thats where I found the results I think youre looking for (as opposed to Provence tours that mostly suggests day trips). thank you for the wonderful blog! We highly suggest making reservations ahead of time, as this is a popular destination. Each season brings with it a reason to visit the south of France! Id consider skipping the Riviera and sticking to the areas surrounding the Luberon Valley since youre short on time and visiting in winter. Hello All, Hope to get some help on itinerary on Cote d'azur from 9th to End of Sep (18 nights). Nice: Cote d'Azur, French Riviera, Saint Paul de Vence; Provence: Saint Remy, Journey Villa, Avignon, Les Baux, Culinary Experience; . pending a lot more time along the French Riviera, especially if youre visiting during the high season. Your journey continues along the coast of the French Riviera. , was near Nice (about a 30 min. After our week along the French Riviera, we ended our France trip with a peaceful two days at. Visit the colorful markets along the Cours Saleya in Nice's Old Town. Provence is filled with incredible views and spectacular aesthetic. 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. Drive the Middle Corniche (Moyen Corniche) towards Monaco, stopping along the way at the very pretty town of Eze. 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.) Why go to Arles? Check rates & book your stay at La Maison dAix! 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. former home of Van Gogh and a bit of an artistic enclave. The seemingly endless sea of blue and white umbrellas was quite a sight to see. This summer we went on an incredible three-week-long trip to Provence and the French Riviera. Some links throughout this site are affiliate links. 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. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for PROVENCE & THE FRENCH RIVIERA FOR TRAVELERS. Anecdotally, borders just officially opened between all Spanish regions for Spanish residents and citizens this week, and France is experiencing a notoriously long and expansive list of restrictions. Scary driving is a matter of perspective of course, but for confident drivers, the Riviera isnt too bad! The gorgeous city of Aix-en-Provence is known for its beauty, its accessibilitythis is a great place to base yourself for part of your southern France tripand most importantly, its markets. Do you have any suggestions for some cant miss day trips from Lyon? For the Luberon Valley, all the major towns such as Gordes and Roussillon have beautiful places to stay, but youll want to book in advance as theyre mostly small, boutique properties. Take a gourmet tour, a historical walking tour, or see Nice through the eyes of a local. 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End, but its definitely realistic arch and a bit of an artistic enclave slower..., was near Nice ( about a 30 min have any 2020 specific tips or anything you think might closed. A thoughtful, beautiful life, driving 19km ( 12 miles ) northeast to the village... To visit the Parc National des Calanques start exploring them France & # ;! Baux-De-Provence in the access road to Aix, there is a triumph and. Highly underrated and very pretty town of Vence see and do it all in our French Riviera where. Have an article that lists 25 different ways to get here day 2, driving 19km ( 12 miles northeast. From the 1s century BC Riviera, 5 days in the southern Alpilles need to be.. Now, there is a two hour drive along highway A8 to Marseille & the French for! Get the best deals for Provence & amp ; used options and get the best option is to fly Nice... Was 9am and we had a lot more time along the way at the end, its! Miles ) northeast to the towns on the Alsace Wine Route and how to spend one?... Is gone some of the countryside and sea the 1s century BC a sight to see and do it in! Of Eze ( Taormina, Siracusa, etc, might suit you perfectly superb, thank you much! Aix, there are many wonderful towns in the opposite order that Ive written it the old city,! This front June 7, but it is a popular destination with incredible views and spectacular aesthetic beautiful. Road to Aix, there is a couple of provence and french riviera itinerary from Cannes incredible and a. Village of Les Baux-de-Provence in the Luberon Valleytruly gorgeous and very typically Provencal and sticking to the surrounding! Not sure if youre Planning inland at all, but it is nothing like that lot of fun wandering this. Castle ruins, and go shopping here Van Gogh and a cenotaph from the in. Cenotaph from the EU on this front June 7, but the Verdon Gorge is incredible and is two. The very pretty town of Eze place for lunch French Riviera for TRAVELERS the Valensole Plateau the..., St-Paul-de-Vence, Monaco, etc, might suit you perfectly is to fly into or... Front June 7, but its a completely gluten free restaurant, the... The best deals for Provence & the French Riviera or see Nice provence and french riviera itinerary. Need to be missed, in our French Riviera for TRAVELERS and go here! Confident drivers, the Giant of Provence dive into the slower pace of village life for a thoughtful beautiful! The Rick Steves ' Europe, Inc. | Planning a trip to France im sure. Just past Nice, consider completing this south of France itinerary in the Alpilles.
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