You will be visiting a variety of wineries, each with their individual wine-making style. The French Riviera gets insanely crowded in July and August so it is better to avoid traveling here during these months. Your email address will not be published. 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. Your journey through France begins in Paris, the City of Light and arguably the most popular city on the planet. The Valensole Plateau is the iconic home to those never-ending lavender fields pictured on tourism brochures around the world! is a wonderful stop for a few hours. Rick Steves, for example, has a tour that touches on Provence but it doesnt really focus on it. Top 10 things to do in the French Riviera. While in Provence, try a Pastis. Happy Birthday and Anniversary! It is a land of luxury, with yachts dotting the shorelines, fancy hotels in every city, and epic parties you read about in magazines. We are in mid 30's, love to go to the beach, hike, learn about history and art. We use and recommend Safety Wing for trips to the south of France. Thanks and much Appreciated for your help! Try it to find out what it really tastes like! Do you have any questions about this French Riviera itinerary? Merci! As much as I love visiting a city, its the countryside where I feel most at home and at ease with life. 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. You can tour the arena and if you are really lucky you may even get to see a bull fight. Explore Vaison-la-Romaine's upper medieval village and lower Roman city, then set sail along the Ctes du Rhne wine road and visit a winery or wine cooperative. Hi Kate! Check rates & book your stay at Sjours & Affaires Aix-en-Provence Mirabeau! Though Aix-en-Provence does have daily markets, to see the markets at their biggest and best, plan to spend a day here on either a Thursday! It is time to rent a car and drive some of the most scenic roads in France. Visiting hilltop towns in the Luberon area is something not to be missed. If you have the energy, climb Castle Hill for a birds eye view over Nice. To the north of Avignon are the towns of Gigondas and Chateauneuf-du-Pape, great places to go wine tasting. Hello, this is simply superb, thank you very much for sharing this. Both towns are absolutely lovely, but in our biased opinion, we do think that Saint-Rmy-de-Provence is slightly prettier than Les Baux-de-Provence. You cant day trip everywhere from one base, but you can sure see a lot! 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. Enjoy market day this morning, then take a train to Avignon. Lots of missed celebrationsso our first planned trip is to France in September, I grew up there and cant wait to share it with him. 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. Do you have a one week recommendation that begins and ends in Paris, in October? 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. Hi Dominique! 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. Itd be a busy itinerary, but the Luberon Valley has a high concentration of darling Provencal villages so you can see several in quick succession. Check into your hotel and have dinner at one of Avignons many fantastic restaurants. Cannes is famous for its luxury hotels and of course, the Cannes Film Festival. France sounds like a fantastic way to celebrate both. We also considered staying in Provence for a few days too. Lavender fields 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. Learn how to visit Pere LeChaise Cemetery, plan your time with our 3 Day Paris Itinerary, learn where to get the best views of Paris, and read our Paris Food Guide for information on what to eat in Paris. Its the most picturesque spot! Weve stayed in Saint-Rmy-de-Provence and Lourmarin and absolutely loved our experiences in both. 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 We loved exploring markets on market days. Travel Insurance We dont ever suggest traveling without insuranceanything can happen anywhere, and this is definitely a case of better safe than sorry. Tote Bag Trust me: youll want a very sturdy reusable bag with you when you visit Provencal markets! LEARN MORE: A Brief Tour through the Provencal Wine Region, Pont du Gard, Les Baux, St. Remy, and more. Thats a beautiful time to be in southern Franceitll definitely be busy, but not quite the peak summer crowds of July and August yet! From Antibes, it is just a 7 minute train ride to Cannes (get train times here). 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 We have about 2 weeks. Depending on how fast you tend to go and how much each village captures your heart (okay, and how much French wine you indulge in at lunch), you can comfortably visit 2-3 villages a day. In Monaco, stroll along the harbor, as this is the place to go yacht spotting. Hello Kate, Thank you for such a helpful article! That being said, we highly recommend basing yourselves at least once in a smaller village, too! If you want, you have enough time to relax on the beach in Nice during the morning before traveling to Monaco. and the itinerary was excellent. September is such a beautiful time to visit. 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. Based in Nice for 4 nights and Luberon for 5night. I am a single woman and always travels solo to major cities like Paris, Rome etc. French Riviera A hundred years ago, celebrities from London to Moscow flocked to the French Riviera to socialize, gamble, and escape the dreary weather at home. If it is not market day, it is worth visiting the Roman Arena in Arles. Ohand definitely grab a cup of coffee at the cafe just outside the town walls. Thank you so much, Mercedes! End your day with gelato from Fenocchio Glacier in Old Nice. The buildings here are a reddish pink color. Tuesday and Saturday are great backup options. Sample some of France's best-known wine appellations at Chteauneuf-du-Pape. Your email address will not be published. See as much of the French Riveria as we can then head towards Avignon. With more time in southern France, you cant go wrong with spending a lot more time along the French Riviera, especially if youre visiting during the high season. As an Amazon Associate, Our Escape Clause earns from qualifying purchases. Best French Riviera Itinerary in 5 Days To get the best of the French Riviera let's dive into the perfect itinerary! Day 2: Les Baux-de-Provence & St-Rmy-de-Provence. Thank you so much Kate for getting back to me. Depending on the length of your trip, and taking geographic proximity into account, here are our recommended priorities: Day 1: Fly into Nice. Home to everything from sprawling lavender fields to hilltop towns to fishing villages to the sparkling Mediterranean Sea, its no wonder that traveling through Provence and the French Riviera is a dream trip for manyand this south of France itinerary makes it easy to enjoy the perfect trip. Where would we stay as a base for the trip? Take a quick walk through town. You can stroll through the entire complex in less than an hour if you are quick, longer if you are a history buff. you could ever want. 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! End the hike with a relaxing walk on the beach or a dip in the water. Note that on Sundays, fewer trains run, and buses often disappear. After touring Arles, drive a half an hour to Les-Baux-de-Provence. 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. Bring a small pack of tissues, toss them in your day bag, and you wont have to worry about it. Spend your first day in Nice and then drive to Monaco to your hotel. Outdoor dining and activities will definitely be your best bets, but luckily, thats generally where youll find the best of southern France anyway! Thank you!! The Essential Road Trip Itinerary for the French Riviera and Aix-en-Provence By Christina Liao May 2, 2018 The French Riviera is renowned for its sensational beauty and alluring. 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. However, we do recognize that the views from Les Baux-de-Provence themselves are top-notch! From the sparkling skyline of Paris to the fabulous landscapes of the French Riviera, your 11-day tour through France will allow you to create unforgettable memories within breathtaking sceneries. We absolutely love exploring southern France and have enjoyed a handful of road trips, train trips, and more throughout the region. Our longest beach day was in. Saint-Remy is the birthplace of Nostradamus and the site of the institution where Van Gogh chopped off his ear. We didnt realize it ahead of time, but its a completely gluten free restaurant. 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. , we took full advantage of it. From Eze, take highway A8 west. Take a joyride through the Camargue (but if it's summer, when flamingos are scarce and mosquitoes aren't, skip it and visit Les Baux instead). 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. Should I rent a car by myself or is that not recommended? If you get a chance and are in the area (even if youre not staying at the hotel), head there for dinner or have lunch and set-up a wine tasting at their winery next door. Using Aix as a home base while in France. The Pont du Gard is a Roman aqueduct that was built to supply water from Uzes to Nimes. Provence-Alpes-Cte dAzur is then divided into six subregions, whose names youll probably notice around you as you work through this south of France itineraryVaucluse is one example. Between Nice and Monaco are the three corniches, winding roads along the mountainous coastline. We had a great time in St. Tropez at Le Club 55. Take This Map With You! Villefranche-sur-Mer and Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat. PARIS: For the top experiences in the city, read our article Best Things to Do in Paris. Be prepared to give yourself a few hours here its a wonderful experience. The easiest way to get here is by uber or taxi. Have dinner back in Avignon (sleep in Avignon), Day 8: Vaison-la-Romaine. Check rates & book your stay at La Maison dAix! We stayed on an upper floor and from our balcony had a view just as good as that from Castle Hill. Lavender fields 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. We are planning a trip to southern France (flying into Nice) in mid-July for our long-awaited honeymoon! Over the course of 10 days, you'll enjoy the beauty of Paris with the help of a local guide before spending three nights in Aix en Provence. I wish we knew! From Saint-Remy, drive a half an hour north back to Avignon. 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. These studio apartments are within walking distance of central Aix-en-Provence and all its best markets, have access to affordable parking across the street, and are very clean and comfortable. Thank you so much, Kevin! Both of us ordered the fish for our main dish and loved every bite. If you want to stay in only a handful of locations and have a more leisurely trip, though, you probably dont need a car. The dates for the Cannes Film Festival in 2023 are May 16 to May 27. 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. Except for perhaps in the very early fall during a hot year, though, you likely wont want to swim during this time of year, and of course, there wont be any lavender around. Take a bus north to Vence and St-Paul-de-Vence; stop for a stroll and visit the Fondation Maeght and/or Matisse's Chapel of the Rosary or link Vence with Grasse by bus, skipping St-Paul-de-Vence to save time (sleep in Vence, or back in Nice), Day 5: Isle-sur-la-Sorgue. In: Europe, Featured Summer, France, Travel. in Bonnieux. Things are definitely more open than they were a couple of months ago, but Id say its still a bit of a gamble to plan on a trip to two countries right now. We learned this on our way to Villa Ephrussi during our time in. Provence is filled with incredible views and spectacular aesthetic. French Riviera & Provence Itinerary. Tour little Crestet and take a walk above Gigondas (sleep in or near Vaison-la-Romaine), Day 8: Orange and Chteauneuf-du-Pape. That being said, we highly recommend basing yourselves at least once in a smaller village, Alternatively, check the prices of flights to Geneva (on one of our trips to France, we flew into Geneva, spent a few days in the delightful city of. Hand Sanitizer Weve never been sorry to have this floating around in our day bag. Inside you'll find: Flexible itineraries including 1-2 days in Nice, 2 days in Monaco, and 2 days in Cannes; Strategic advice for art lovers, outdoor enthusiasts, film fans, sports car aficionados, and more Once in Marseille, check into your hotel and then explore the Old Port. . I am meeting my daughter in Paris and plan to travel via train to Nice and hit some of your highlighted spots in reverse. Thats not to say you couldnt stay longeryou absolutely could! In theory, theres supposed to be more news from the EU on this front June 7, but well see! 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