By Rick Steves and Steve Smith So much to see, so little time. We learned this on our way to Villa Ephrussi during our time in. December may not be a traditional time to be in Provence, but it is lovely! Where would you suggest for us to base and in how many locations? 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 the place of the papal residency in the 14th century. Create an account to heart and save your favorite products and looks from the story. Haha! Take a gourmet tour, a historical walking tour, or see Nice through the eyes of a local. Get to a wine village near Vaison-la-Romaine. ), How to Take the Perfect Day Trip to Cascais From Lisbon (+ Tips for Visiting! Hello Kate, Ive really enjoyed reading your blog posts about all your wonderful travels. 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. Scratch last year, ugh, Question.. How do you think things are looking for an August 2021 visit to the south of France and Barcelona? We also considered staying in Provence for a few days too. The lavender fields will be blooming (July is the best time to aim for, though you might be lucky and still find some fields in early August), the beaches will be warm and lovely, and the sun will (most likely) be shining. Your help would be awesome. Day 2: Nice, Eze and Monaco. 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. Its definitely one of my favorite and probably one of the most scenic spots in all of Provence. 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. Mint in the town of Arles there is another amphitheater. French Riviera & Provence Itinerary. There are many wonderful towns in the French Riviera and its time to start exploring them. Drive the Middle Corniche (Moyen Corniche) towards Monaco, stopping along the way at the very pretty town of Eze. Are freely accessible. Luckily, many of the vendors have shippers ready on-hand to give a quote based on size and weight. . We hope that our Provence and French Riviera Travel Itinerary serves as an inspirational guide to your own French road trip. The Valensole Plateau is the worlds premier location for growing lavender. Today, along with my husband Jeremy and dog Ranger, Im working toward my eventual goal of splitting my life between Europe and the USA. 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. Day 2: Bellagio and Varenna A short drive or ferry ride from Como will take you to Bellagio. With 18 days you have some flexibility. 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! The hill towns about the Riviera are excellent for wandering around, restaurants, etc, but of course, youre missing the beach. If you also want to see Nice and the immediate surrounding area, youd want to move into different lodging for that. Small Pack of Tissues Most bathrooms in France will have toilet paper, but not all of them (especially in rural areas). The old town and marina of Saint-Tropez 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. 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. Absolutely love it! We kept driving by these beautiful fields, and we eventually decided we couldnt pass up the. . Fresh fruits and vegetables, bread, honey, clothing, mattresses, and tires are just a few of the things that you can purchase here. Having the kitchen was a huge benefit for us (especially after visiting the markets in Aix-en-Provence), and wed be happy to stay again. The house is gorgeous but what most people come here to see are the gardens. As much as I love visiting a city, its the countryside where I feel most at home and at ease with life. I am having a hard time deciding where to go. Check into your hotel and have dinner at one of Avignons many fantastic restaurants. From the Pont du Gard drive 40 minutes south to Arles. Spring brings increased sunshine and temperatures, and businesses start to wake back up after the long winter. Thank you so much. ALSACE WINE REGION: Learn how to plan your visit in our 3 Day Alsace Wine Region itinerary. If you are here on a Wednesday or Saturday, you can go shopping at the market, which is amazing. Books About the South of France Whats better to add to your packing list than a book about the region youre visiting? Youll then be able to find it under the Maps tab of your Google Maps account! Shop train tickets from Paris to the south of France today! There are an abundance of poppy fields in Provence. Just past Nice, it is time to take a detour to the highly underrated and very pretty town of Vence. During this memorable tour, you will explore the culture and heritage of France in addition to discovering the centuries-old influences that . What is, in your opinion best alternative to renting a car? 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. Take the train or bus to nearby Villefranche-sur-Mer, explore, and have lunch. So can you suggest a list of all the places we should use as our bases (overnight stays) so that we can cover all these places and yet not be packing/unpacking every other day? If you are hungry, have lunch here before resuming your drive. Tour little Crestet and take a walk above Gigondas (sleep in or near Vaison-la-Romaine), Day 8: Orange and Chteauneuf-du-Pape. I will be in touch as I plan! Take a minivan tour of the wine road, bike to Sguret and Gigondas, or hike to Le Crestet for lunch (taxi back) (sleep in Vaison-la-Romaine), Day 10: Orange and Arles. Parking is at the bottom of the village and a good 15 minute walk. https://www.palais-des-papes.com/en/Drive to Nice through the Luberon Valley. We explored the most stunning villages, tasted the recipes of some of the finest restaurants, including ones topping the Michelin star list, perused the local markets for goods to bring back home, and took countless pictures of the brightly colored surroundings that inspired us. We typically find and save on the map way more than we can possibly visit in a single trip. is a wonderful stop for a few hours. Villefranche-Sur-Mer panoramic view. My husband and I are fully vaxed and cant wait to start travelling overseas again! Something to consider when negotiating prices is that summertime is the height of tourist season, therefore it is the most expensive time to buy antiques in places like LIsle-sur-la-Sorgue. 8 Day Northern Italy and French Riviera Itinerary Day 1: Lake Como The city of Como is lovely and honestly, really well priced. After lunch, take another uber or taxi to Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild located on Cap Ferrat. Even as European road trip veterans of sorts, we still got too excited when planning our most recent trip to France and booked ourselves into an itinerary that moved around too muchand we paid for it in exhaustion. As an Amazon Associate, Our Escape Clause earns from qualifying purchases. See as much of the French Riveria as we can then head towards Avignon. In. were so happy to have a home base during our time in Provence. 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. September is such a beautiful time to visit. I wish I could offer some 2020 specific advice, but everything has been developing and changing so quickly that its hard to predict from one day to the next! If youre looking for a small group tour, Id look for day trips to the Luberon Valley area, probably leaving from Aix-en-Provence or perhaps Avignon. Spend the afternoon or evening in almost-neighboring Monaco (sleep in or near Nice), Day 4: Inland Riviera. I cant personally vouch for any of the companies that pop up in those results, though. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Provence & French Riviera Itinerary Just a short drive from famous hot spots of Nice and Cannes, the dramatic Gorges du Verdon offer a scenic escape from coastal crowds. Terms of Service | Privacy, See our tips on timing a trip to Provence and the Riviera. I assume you mean Nice Airport and Monaco. French Riviera & Provence Itinerary 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 Les Quatre Dauphins Located in the heart of Aix-en-Provence, Les Quatre Dauphins boasts light and bright decorthis is the kind of hotel that you dream of when booking a trip to the south of France! Plus, as a bonus, Provencal Christmas traditions (and markets!) We are in mid 30's, love to go to the beach, hike, learn about history and art. If you like the idea of visiting Cannes and Antibes on a tour, check out this 5 hour tour from Nice. On Day 3, explore Villefranche-sur-Mer. ), 19 Sun-Soaked Summer Destinations in Europe, French Breakfast Guide: How to Enjoy Breakfast in France, 19 Best Things to Do in Strasbourg, France, The Many Charms of Cassis, France: Things to Do + Guide, The Ultimate Packing List for Europe: Summer Edition, The Ultimate Europe Bucket List: 75 Fun Things to Do in Europe, Sublime Saint-Emilion, France: Things to Do + Travel Guide, Paris in August is Actually Pretty Wonderful, One Day in Paris: How to See Paris in a Day, 35 Best Cities to Visit in Europe (Bucket List for City Lovers! The first two towns on your list in the Alpilles? Once in Marseille, check into your hotel and then explore the Old Port. Ellen. In Nice, we stayed at Hotel Suisse. 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. Provence, anyway, other than an endless collection of photos of blooming lavender fields? While the cities and towns visited throughout this south of France itinerary are generally walkable (even Nice! Is this possible to do? Day 1: Antibes and Cap d'Antibes. Unlike in the past when we just flew to Paris, flying from Charleston to Marseille was an all day affair. Check rates & book your stay at Sjours & Affaires Aix-en-Provence Mirabeau! Would really only care to see Eiffel Tower at night, if that, on this trip. Visit Nmes (Roman amphitheater) in the morning and the Pont du Gard in the afternoon. If you have time, also consider ducking into one of the other beautiful art museums in the city. So much to see, so little time. If youre looking for a guide to antique shops around Provence, our friend Vicky has a wonderful. Driving in Provence is fairly simpleGPS directions work well, and you park outside the historic centers so you dont have to worry about driving on tiny roads. Be sure to seek out the Christmas marketsa fun bonus of a winter trip. 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. Stroll down picturesque, tree-lined boulevards in Aix before heading to the coast, where the Mediterranean traces your route from Cassis to Cinque Terre. We had a wonderful time calling, , we wondered how we would manage to transport our newly-found treasures to the states. Thank you, From Lyon, I highly recommend a day trip to Annecy! I loved reading this! 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. Not be a traditional time to start travelling overseas again enjoyed reading blog. 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