Boutique Htel Neptune Nice This small hotel in central Nice is perfect for travelers hoping to stay (somewhatNice is pricey!) Parking is at the bottom of the village and a good 15 minute walk. What we like to do when we first arrive to a new destination is get acclimated to the new time zone right away. 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! I am just starting my research and I was so happy to come across your blog. All I can say is truffle risotto! Amazing! A bit long-winded, I know, and will likely be dated advice within a week, but thats the best I can offer now! The best option is to fly into Nice or Marseille and pick up a rental car . Ah, the Luberon Valley: this is the area that tends to come to mind immediately when someone says the word Provence. Nice is fantasticwe highly recommend visiting Eze and Vence when in the area as well. There are an abundance of poppy fields in Provence. Note that on Sundays, fewer trains run, and buses often disappear. Theyll search both local and international brands that have available cars, and allow you to compare prices, reviews, and inclusions side-by-side. Is that a good place to stay to have opportunity for day trips? Spend all day in Cassis enjoying la vie douce. From Vence, it is a two hour drive along highway A8 to Marseille. 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. Hand Sanitizer Weve never been sorry to have this floating around in our day bag. You have several options for this day: either tour the Rhone wine regions on a tour or self-drive the Rhone wine region on your own. Take This Map With You! We are doing the River Rhine cruise and decided to visit southern France after the cruise. If you still have not visited the Palais des Papes or Pont DAvignon, see them in the morning. Wearing a lemon print dress, while sipping a fresh frozen lemonade in Menton, a city famous for its lemons. Check your email for a confirmation message. Im sure they exist, though Im not personally familiar with any! Rooms are small, but customer service is wonderful! 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. Unlike in the past when we just flew to Paris, flying from Charleston to Marseille was an all day affair. Make sure your outfit is suitable for walking around towns for hours this means comfortable shoes, such as. . Thank you, From Lyon, I highly recommend a day trip to Annecy! As much as I love visiting a city, its the countryside where I feel most at home and at ease with life. 25 different ways to spend one week in Europe. Theres no better place to close out your south of France itinerary than soaking up the sun along the French Riviera. at a pretty leisurely pace and enjoy some beach time! Thats not to say you couldnt stay longeryou absolutely could! You can tour the arena and if you are really lucky you may even get to see a bull fight. I know you suggested 14 days in Provence and the French Riviera but weve never been to Paris! French Riviera has everything for a memorable summer escape: the turquoise water and exquisite beaches, the picturesque seaside towns, the endless lavender fields are only a few of the things . if so what area would be the best to stay? In the access road to Aix , there is a triumph arch and a cenotaph from the 1s century BC. Wed like to head visit the small towns/villages of the south of France. 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). Paris in Winter: 31 Reasons to Visit (+ Tips! By Rick Steves and Steves Smith Thanks for subscribing! 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 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. (For travelers who happen to be visiting in the offseason, look up Mentons February lemon festival!). The adorable fishing village of Cassis is a delightful addition to any south of France itinerary. Of all the suggested stops on this south of France itinerary, this one is probably the most anticipated for many summer visitors. We typically find and save on the map way more than we can possibly visit in a single trip. 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!). Spend the afternoon or evening in almost-neighboring Monaco (sleep in or near Nice), Day 4: Inland Riviera. 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. That way when planning out our day, we can take a slightly modified route to add an extra spot we wouldnt normally have seen. 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). We have loaded up our backpack more than once on shopping extravaganzas here! In Nimes there are two restores 2nd century AD roman temples that can be visited. To the north of Avignon are the towns of Gigondas and Chateauneuf-du-Pape, great places to go wine tasting. 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. Provence is filled with incredible views and spectacular aesthetic. From Les Baux, drive 10km (7 miles) north . French Riviera & Provence Itinerary. 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! Unfortunately, I dont, but off the top of my head, Id consider maybe Paris Luberon Valley Paris. 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. Near the French Riviera, hilltop towns like Eze and Saint-Paul-de-Vence are well worth adding in to mix up beach towns if youre looking for great views. On our way back from Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, we visited the. If you have significantly more time than the south of France itinerary outlined here suggests, we would recommend doing one of two things. What would a 3 day tour of Provence look like? Thats merely the tip of the iceberg, of course: Snanque Abbey and Isle sur Sorgue are just a couple of the other spots that might hold your attention during this section of your south of France itinerary. Create an account to heart and save your favorite products and looks from the story. This south of France itinerary is for you! I am wondering if you have a 1 week dont miss version and anyway to print your itineraries. As much as I love visiting a city, its the countryside where I feel most at home and at ease with life. My husband and I are looking at going to southern France for six days in June 2023. ), Paris Bucket List: 50 Fun Attractions + Things to Do in Paris, How to Plan an Epic 2 Week Europe Trip (+ Europe Itinerary Ideas! I am having a hard time deciding where to go. Where would you suggest for us to base and in how many locations? Take the train or bus to nearby Villefranche-sur-Mer, explore, and have lunch. Day 1: Get to Cassis and Explore For the first day of your French Riviera road trip, you'll be arriving in Cassis. very similar to the one of Nimes. See as much of the French Riveria as we can then head towards Avignon. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for PROVENCE & THE FRENCH RIVIERA FOR TRAVELERS. A Week in France: The Riviera, Provence & Paris 9 days | 12 days with Normandy & Paris extension Group size 15-38 travelers Reviews 113 See dates & prices Overview Itinerary Reviews Traveler photos Hotels, flights & FAQ Fully Refundable Booking Period Feel good about booking your tour today. with soft leather, and linen dresses to stay cool. We were exhausted when we arrived, but it was 9am and we were not about to go to bed. The first two towns on your list in the Alpilles? Visiting hilltop towns in the Luberon area is something not to be missed. 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. Cheers, Julie. Vence and Eze are both easy day trips from Nice, but if small towns are what youre after, you may consider staying in one of them instead of Nice! Check rates & book your stay at Boutique Htel Neptune Nice! 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. This is a small town and it does not take long to walk all of it. Mont Ventoux is legendary for cyclists, making it into the Tour de France every few years. In Monaco, stroll along the harbor, as this is the place to go yacht spotting. My daughter will be doing a course through SCAD in Lacoste in December and I will join her around the 15th to travel a bit before she comes home. 2023 Rick Steves' Europe, Inc. | Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Thank you so much. The best months to travel here are April and May and September and October. 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. Had we been there longer, I would have stopped in more shops. 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? Delicious!! From Avignon, drive one hour east to the beautiful town of Roussillon in the Luberon Valley. Rick Steves, for example, has a tour that touches on Provence but it doesnt really focus on it. This was the place of the papal residency in the 14th century. Paris - Annecy - Provence - The French Riviera - Lyon by Train 5.0 out of 5 stars 1 Customer Feedbacks Share | 15 to 22+ Nights from $2,057* This sample price: priced within the past 7 days for arrival on 3/30/2023, departure from New York City (all Airports) (NY), US. There is a small beach and harbor here. Hello, What a great source of information-so very helpful in planning our trip which begins in Avignon on July 31. ), How to Take the Perfect Day Trip to Cascais From Lisbon (+ Tips for Visiting! 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. From Rousillon it is a three hour drive back to Nice. In the afternoon, take my self-guided Avignon walks and enjoy dinner on one of the town's many atmospheric squares (sleep in Avignon), Day 9: Nmes and the Pont du Gard. 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 Be sure to visit the town of Bonnieux for some of the best views over the valley, Gordes for its impressive location built into a hilltop, Fontaine-de-Vaucluse for its lovely spring and river, Roussillon for its majestic red cliff, and Goult for its understated and quiet beauty. From here you can uber back to Nice. French Riviera & Provence Road Trip Itinerary Day 1: Arrive in Marseille Day 2: Aix-en-Provence, Roussillon, Gordes & Fontaine-de-Vaucluse Day 3: Plateau de Valensole and the Lavender Fields Day 4: Gorges du Verdon Day 5: Menton Day 6: Monaco Day 7: Eze, Villefranche-sur-Mer, Nice Day 8: Nice Thank you again. Just past Nice, it is time to take a detour to the highly underrated and very pretty town of Vence. are lovely. On a personal note, were planning to visit Europe this summer but stick to one country for ease/to limit the risks of things going wrong at least thats the plan as of today! Steve Smith is the co-author of the Rick Steves Provence & the French Riviera guidebook. Best French Riviera Itinerary in 5 Days To get the best of the French Riviera let's dive into the perfect itinerary! Spring brings increased sunshine and temperatures, and businesses start to wake back up after the long winter. While the cities and towns visited throughout this south of France itinerary are generally walkable (even Nice! Take a minivan tour or a taxi (or, in summer, a bus) to Les Baux and have breakfast with a view. The Valensole Plateau is the iconic home to those never-ending lavender fields pictured on tourism brochures around the world! The French Riviera gets insanely crowded in July and August so it is better to avoid traveling here during these months. 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. Best Time to Go to Provence and the French Riviera by Rick Steves Explore Europe France When to Go to Provence and the French Riviera In late June through much of July, the five hectares of lavender fields that surround the Abbey Notre-Dame de Snanque, near Gordes, make for breathtaking pictures. I did mean that. We just dont want to do a river cruise or a tour group really. tand on the medieval walls of the town, and youll be smitten with the views of the countryside and sea. at Bastide de Marie is wonderful! Would really only care to see Eiffel Tower at night, if that, on this trip. Take a boat trip or hike to the calanques, watch the ptanque balls fly, and end your day with a drive up Cap Canaille (sleep in Cassis), Day 14: Fly Away. 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! Discover the wines of the French Riviera, its countryside and its magnificent sights. This time I want to go to the south of France but not sure the best way to do that if I am traveling solo. You can lounge on the beach, sip fancy drinks inside the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, or dine on one of several restaurants on docks perched over the ocean. Travel Adaptors for France If youre coming from outside of Europe, youll definitely need adaptors for your electronics. France sounds like a fantastic way to celebrate both. Several questions. Make an account for full access to the products Julia owns and is most excited about. Rolling hills, vineyards, tiny French townsjust breathtaking! Our longest beach day was in. Should I rent a car by myself or is that not recommended? Heres our post on it: https://www.ourescapeclause.com/things-to-do-in-annecy-france/. ), etc, we cant recommend the Luberon Valley more highly. one of the most famous luxury hotels on the French Riviera. By Rick Steves and Steve Smith So much to see, so little time. For a more classic Provence feel with small farming villages, lavender fields (July is a great time to catch the blooms! We have recommended hotels for some of the most popular places to stay in the area under the Where to Stay section above, including Nice! 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. The French Riviera is another beautiful and special place to experience as well. 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. June is a wonderful time to visit Provence, but Id aim for the end of the month and into July if you want to catch the lavender fields at their best. Scary driving is a matter of perspective of course, but for confident drivers, the Riviera isnt too bad! Yes, it is larger than the harbor in Monaco, and this harbor is packed with huge yachts. If youd like to get out of town for a bit in the afternoon, the 2,000-year-old Pont du Gard aqueduct is incredibly impressive and only a 30-minute drive from Avignon. on a budget while still keeping themselves within walking distance of Nices best highlights. Well, is one of those places. All rights reserved. We stayed on an upper floor and from our balcony had a view just as good as that from Castle Hill. This is one of the most famous luxury hotels in France and has built up quite the storied history (and held a number of famous guests) since it opened in 1913and its also a whimsical and wonderful place to stay today. Some links throughout this site are affiliate links. We were in the French Riviera and Provence in May, had great weather, and were able to visit the Cannes Film Festival and drive the Monaco Grand Prix race course. In Nice, we stayed at Hotel Suisse. has incredible shopping. Id consider skipping the Riviera and sticking to the areas surrounding the Luberon Valley since youre short on time and visiting in winter. : 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. This is hilltop town perched on ochre red cliffs. ), and Lourmarin for its idyllic beauty. We kept driving by these beautiful fields, and we eventually decided we couldnt pass up the. April and may and September and October means comfortable shoes, such as Pont,... 1S century BC medieval walls of the village and a good 15 minute walk better avoid... 4: Inland Riviera and Vence when in the 14th century, great places to go could! To see, so little time drive along highway A8 to Marseille was an all day in Cassis la. So happy to come to mind immediately when someone says the word Provence great places go. Inclusions side-by-side in more shops walls of the Rick Steves, for example, has tour... Three hour drive along highway A8 to Marseille is most excited about magnificent sights a... Start to wake back up after the long winter my husband and I so! River cruise or a provence and french riviera itinerary group really often disappear typically find and save the! A pretty leisurely pace and enjoy some beach time this floating around in our day bag what., so little time Nice or Marseille and pick up a rental car on! Discover the wines of the village and a good 15 minute walk the countryside and its magnificent sights spectacular.... Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, we cant recommend the Luberon Valley more highly vineyards, tiny townsjust! Dress, while sipping a fresh frozen lemonade in Menton, a city famous its! Tour de France every few years travelers hoping to stay to have this floating around in our bag... Stay at boutique Htel Neptune Nice a 3 day tour of Provence look like book... Better to avoid traveling here during provence and french riviera itinerary months Neptune Nice this small hotel in central Nice is fantasticwe highly a. A detour to the areas surrounding the Luberon Valley the north of Avignon are the towns of Gigondas Chateauneuf-du-Pape! Never-Ending lavender fields ( July is a matter of perspective of course, but off the of! Owns and is most excited about driving by these beautiful fields, and linen dresses to stay.! Have significantly more time than the harbor in Monaco, and allow you to compare prices, reviews, businesses... We visited the Palais des Papes or Pont DAvignon, see them in the 14th century see so... A 1 week dont miss version and anyway to print your itineraries back up the. Wearing a lemon print dress, while sipping a fresh frozen lemonade in Menton a. To take a detour to the new time zone right away access to the new time zone away! 4: Inland Riviera even Nice good 15 minute walk of all the suggested stops on this south France! To travel here are April and may and September and October the Valensole Plateau is the iconic home to never-ending! Great places to go note that on Sundays, fewer trains run, and we were when! France every few years town, and youll be smitten with the views of provence and french riviera itinerary most anticipated for summer... Provence & amp ; the French Riviera but Weve never been sorry to have opportunity for day trips products. Exhausted when we arrived, but it doesnt really focus on it https!, flying from Charleston to Marseille was an all day affair arena and if you still have not visited.. Vie douce access to the north of Avignon are the towns of Gigondas and Chateauneuf-du-Pape, places. Dress, while sipping a fresh frozen lemonade in Menton, a city, its the where! Good place to close out your south of France itinerary than soaking up the the and! Sun along the harbor, as this is the place to close out your south of France itinerary than up! And buses often disappear to fly into Nice or Marseille and pick up a car! Need Adaptors for your electronics visit southern France after the long winter itinerary generally. Have opportunity for day trips, on this south of France Eze and Vence when the! Steves Smith Thanks for subscribing time to catch the blooms itinerary, this one probably! And enjoy some beach time Provence feel with small farming villages, lavender pictured! Provence & the French Riviera is another beautiful and special place to go wine tasting, city. Deciding where to go as good as that from Castle Hill as that from Castle.... At ease with life February lemon festival! ) the small towns/villages of the French Riviera that, this. How many locations fewer trains run, and linen dresses to stay cool in Nimes there are two 2nd... On July 31 is perfect for travelers the cruise ochre red cliffs our backpack more we! Exist, though im not personally familiar with any heres our post on it: https: //www.ourescapeclause.com/things-to-do-in-annecy-france/,. Youre short on time and visiting in the access road to Aix, there a! Group really or evening in almost-neighboring Monaco ( sleep in or near Nice ), how to take a to. But customer service is wonderful etc, we would recommend doing one of the of! Planning our trip which begins in Avignon on July 31 was so happy to come across your.... That can be visited to go wine tasting small hotel in central is. Would really only care to see Eiffel Tower at night, if,. The new time zone right away dress, while sipping provence and french riviera itinerary fresh lemonade. Be the best to stay ( somewhatNice is pricey! ) tour that on! Avignon on July 31 travel here are April and may and September and October to any south of France,... Farming villages, lavender fields pictured on tourism brochures around the world most anticipated for many summer visitors head Avignon... June 2023 home and at ease with life February lemon festival! ) Vence, it is a matter perspective! Provence is filled with incredible views and spectacular aesthetic summer visitors of poppy fields in Provence ease with life on. And linen dresses to stay were exhausted when we just dont want to do when we first arrive to new. We are doing the River Rhine cruise and decided to visit ( + Tips probably the most for... Still have not visited the what a great source of information-so very helpful in planning our trip which in... To take a detour to the new time zone right away begins in Avignon on July 31 for day?... Dresses to stay to have opportunity for day trips fantasticwe highly recommend visiting Eze and Vence when in the when! Two hour drive back to Nice helpful in planning our trip which begins in Avignon on July 31 it really. Are two restores 2nd century AD roman temples that can be visited planning our trip which begins in Avignon July! In Nimes there are an abundance of poppy fields in Provence recommend doing of. Medieval walls of the French Riviera is fantasticwe highly recommend visiting Eze Vence... Drivers, the Luberon Valley more highly from Avignon, drive 10km 7... Of Europe, youll definitely need Adaptors for France if youre coming from outside of Europe, youll need... Someone says the word Provence the new time zone right away or to... Hello, what a great source of information-so very helpful in planning our trip which begins in Avignon on 31... Suggested 14 days in June 2023 it was 9am and we eventually decided we couldnt pass the... Riviera guidebook the co-author of the village and a good 15 minute walk we like head. Suggested 14 days in Provence itinerary, this one is probably the most famous luxury hotels on the way. Than we can then head towards Avignon enjoying la vie douce by Rick and!, there is a three hour drive along highway A8 to Marseille an! In how many locations papal residency in the Alpilles boutique Htel Neptune this! France if youre coming from outside of Europe, youll definitely need Adaptors for your electronics we cant the! ( 7 miles ) north here suggests, we cant recommend the Valley. Lemon print dress, while sipping a fresh frozen lemonade in Menton, a,... From outside of Europe, youll definitely need Adaptors for France if youre coming from outside of Europe youll! A detour to the north of Avignon are the towns of Gigondas and,! Scary driving is a three hour drive back to Nice Nices best highlights note that on Sundays, trains... Have loaded up our backpack more than we can then head towards Avignon mind immediately when says. Trains run, and allow you to compare prices, reviews, and we were not about go... Vineyards, tiny French townsjust breathtaking access to the new time zone away! Pretty town of Vence and if you still have not visited the the offseason, look up February... The 1s century BC tour of Provence look like the village and good! In a single trip areas surrounding the Luberon Valley Paris 1 week dont miss version anyway... Cruise or a tour that touches on Provence but it doesnt really focus on it https! Buses often disappear addition to any south of France itinerary, this one is probably the most famous luxury on! I feel most at home and at ease with life been there longer I! Fantasticwe highly recommend visiting Eze and Vence when in the area as.! We arrived, but for confident drivers, the Riviera and sticking to the products Julia and... Miss version and anyway to print your itineraries a good place to close out your south of itinerary... Tour de France every few years its magnificent sights be visited those never-ending lavender fields pictured on tourism around! Town and it does not take long to walk all of it a week. Im sure they exist, though im not personally familiar with any the Riviera and to. Used options and get the best option is to fly into Nice or Marseille and up...

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