Ah the South of France. Our favorite place in the world to travel to. We recently went on a 10 day South of France road trip and it was hands down our favorite trip ever. We are actually going back for our anniversary this year to do another South of France road trip. If you’d like to experience it for yourself, we’ve created a 10 day south of France itinerary to share with you. We’ve also included all things you need to know for your south of France vacation, so get ready, this is a very comprehensive guide!
First things first, this south of France road trip itinerary is for 10 days, but in a perfect world, you’d be able to spend much longer in the south of France. From the sparkling seas, magical fairy tale villages, and idyllic countryside of Provence to the colorful and glam streets of the French Riviera, there is A LOT to do and see on a south of France vacation {as well as a lot to eat!}
We would love to spend a full month exploring the south of France, but we are limited by things like vacation days, budgets, and a never ending travel bucket list. If you are able to spend more than 10 days in the south of France, we highly recommend 2-3 weeks in order to create your perfect south of France itinerary.
If you’re limited on time like we usually are, we’ve got you covered with this 10 day south of France road trip itinerary {as well an alternate itinerary}, exploring the highlights of Provence and the French Riviera. We had a very difficult time planning our south of France travel plans because the region is just so large! We couldn’t fit in everything we wanted to see and we spent many long nights trying to figure it out.
Eventually we just accepted that we would need to narrow down what we could see and we could always come back. Here is the itinerary we followed {and loved!}, as well as an alternate south of France itinerary suggestion. Both south of France itineraries cover the highlights of Provence and the French Riviera. This way you will be able to visit the most popular towns and get a reference point for where you’d like to explore more of if you choose to come back. If you’d prefer to focus your time in just one area, check out our guide to the Luberon. We hope our south of France travel itinerary will help streamline your planning and you have an amazing south of France road trip!
24 Stunning Stops for Your South of France Road Trip Itinerary:
Covering the Highlights of Provence and the French Riviera
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The perfect 10 day south of France itinerary:
A few notes before we get started:
This south of France road trip itinerary starts off in Provence and ends in the French Riviera. We’ve laid it out this way assuming that you are flying in and out of Nice. We find it most time efficient to fly into Nice, rent a car at the airport, have a home base in the Luberon to explore Provence, and finally enjoy the French Riviera before departing out of the Nice airport. You can of course do this the opposite way; this is just our opinion.
For the purposes of this south of France itinerary, we’ve used L’Isle Sur La Sorgue {read why we feel this is the best home base in Provence} as the home base in Provence and Nice as the home base in the French Riviera. Even if it meant more driving, we preferred having a home base because it really helped us get to know the area we were staying in, we were able to pretend to be locals by having a routine in the area, and we preferred the convenience of not moving around too many times.
We’ve arranged the days to space out the longer driving days with shorter drives days. Feel free to rearrange the days to fit your needs, as well as accommodate for the market days whenever possible
This south of France itinerary is a slightly hectic schedule to fit in the most possible. The beauty of the south of France, especially Provence, is the slow pace lifestyle and the relaxation. Feel free to skip cities {even if they are major ones!} so you can truly relax and enjoy the magic of the south of France. We’ve included all the best places to visit in the south of France, but pick and choose what works for you and your itinerary.
This south of France itinerary focuses more on Provence than the French Riviera. This is just the part of the south of France that we preferred. With only 10 days, you will most likely be heavier in one portion of the south of France than the other. It is difficult to see both Provence and the French Riviera thoroughly in 10 days.
If you have longer than 10 days to spend in the south of France {lucky you!}, you can definitely spend more time in each of the towns we’ve included. There are plenty more towns you can add as well! This book lists all the towns that are designated the prettiest towns in France and will give you some good ideas!
It goes without saying that wandering is the top things to do at any of the recommended towns, but we’ve also included a few points of interest as well. Please take your time to slow down and wander as much as possible! That’s really how you’ll experience the magic of the south of France. It’s really not about hitting a specific list of sites, it’s more about discovering each town and village
We hope our sample south of France road trip itinerary helps you create the perfect itinerary for your own south of France vacation! Here are the best places to visit in the south of France!
South of France Road Trip Day 1: Nice to L’Isle Sur La Sorgue {possible stop in Cassis}
Estimated Drive Time (I’sle Sur La Sorgue only}: 2 hours, 30 minutes
Estimated Drive Time (with stop in Cassis}: 3 hours, 30 minutes
Arrival day! The south of France itinerary starts in Nice!
Most likely you will arrive in Nice and drive to L’Isle Sur La Sorgue, where you’ll be staying as your home base for the Provence portion of the trip. If you’re coming from another part of France like we did, you can also just drive straight to L’Isle Sur La Sorgue. (Here’s why we recommend staying in L’Isle Sur La Sorgue) If you prefer staying somewhere else, Saint Remy is another great choice.
| search accommodations in L’Isle Sur La Sorgue | search accomodations in Saint Remy |
If you land in the morning and have a full day ahead, you can stop in Cassis for a few hours before heading to L’Isle Sur La Sorgue. Cassis is a gorgeous sea front town that you can easily spend 1-2 days at. With a rushed south of France itinerary like this, a half day should be okay. That was all we had and without partaking in any water activities, it was enough time to explore the town. Every little corner of this seafront town is absolutely gorgeous! We couldn’t stop taking photos!
Things to do in Cassis:
- Hike Calanques de Cassis (bring comfortable shoes if you want to hike)
- Try Creme de Cassis (a liquor made from blackcurrant. I especially adore it in a Kir Royale, champagne with creme de cassis)
- Check out the view from Cap Canaille
South of France Road Trip Day 2: L’Isle Sur La Sorgue + Fontaine de Vaucluse
Estimated Round Trip Drive Time: 30 minutes
We highly recommend spending a full day exploring your home base of L’Isle Sur La Sorgue. You can also fit in a few hours at the nearby village of Fontaine de Vaucluse. If at all possible with your south of France itinerary, have your L’Isle Sur La Sorgue day be on a Sunday, as the whole town turns into a giant food and antique market. It’s quite an experience and what the town is famous for! If there’s no way you can be there on a Sunday, there are antique markets all week, you just don’t see the whole town turn into one.
Things to do in L’Isle Sur La Sorgue:
- Antique market – there are small stores all week, but on Sundays the entire town turns into one big antique market
- Dinner at Le Vivier – Located in a nondescript shopping center, it was one of our favorite meals during our south of France vacation and very affordable for such a nice dinner. We had the best bottle of wine of our whole France trip here
- Check out our L’Isle Sur la Sorgue guide for more
For more on L’Isle Sur La Sorgue, check out this guide
South of France Road Trip Day 3: Oppede, Menerbes, and Bonniuex
Day 3 of our south of France itinerary has you exploring the villages of Oppede, Menerbes, and Bonniuex in the Luberon region of Provence. The villages are small enough that you can experience all of them in a single day.
Our day was a bit rushed for a few reasons: we took way too much time taking photos in Oppede, we had a 3 hour lunch in Bonniuex, and we went in the fall when the days are shorter.
If you have room in your itinerary and like to take a slower pace, you could do Oppede and Menerbes in a day and spend an entire day in Bonnieux. This will allow you a leisurely pace. If you don’t have time, you can do all 3 in a day.
Oppede:
An old village dating back to the 12th century with picturesque cobbled streets and plenty of french blue shutter windows. It’s so incredibly charming! It’s a very quiet town and perfect to explore for just an hour or two. You really don’t need much time here because it’s so small, but we spent several hours wandering around because every single corner is just so pretty and charming.
Park your car at the entrance, which is considered the “new village” and walk to the “old village”.
Things to do in Oppede:
- The Old Village – Ruins of the castle and several chapels. It’s a beautiful walk with with lots of Roman ruins and historic charm
- Grab a small bite at Le Petite Cafe – If it’s open while you’re there, this is a very cute, colorful, and whimsical spot to sit for a bite to eat
Menerbes:
Another impossibly charming town full of french blue shutter windows. We felt we were walking on a movie set. Menerbes is named one of the most beautiful villages in France and you’ll easily be able to see why. Most of Peter Mayle’s stories take place in Menerbes and he lived just outside of the village for most of his time in Provence.
Things to do in Menerbes:
- Truffles and wine at Maison de la Truffle et du Vin – An amazing spot to try local truffles and sample some delicious wine of the region
- Castellet – A beautiful 15th century fortress
Bonnieux:
Built on a plateau above the valley, Bonniuex has some of the best views in the region. We think this is one of the villages you can’t miss. From the picturesque cobblestone streets and the amazing views to the fabulous dining and the fantastic market, Bonnieux offers so much Provencal charm for day 3 of your south of France itinerary.
Things to do in Bonnieux:
- Vieille-Eglise-de-Bonnieux – A 12th century church and the landmark of the town. Climb up to the top for a stunning view of the valley
- Friday Market – The Bonnieux market may be one of the best in the Luberon
- Wine tasting at Chateau la Canorgue – The gorgeous winery where “The Good Year” was filmed
If you run out of time and want to do Bonnieux another day, you can also add Lacoste or Maubec to that day!
For more detailed information on these villages, check out our post on the Luberon
South of France Road Trip Day 4: Uzes
Estimated Round Trip Drive Time: 2 hours, 30 minutes
Day 4 of the south of France itinerary takes you to the white stone town of Uzes. Wandering around Uzes feels like you’ve discovered a hidden little town. We weren’t expecting much and were planning to only spend a few hours there, but we ended up spending the entire day because we found the 12th century architecture and cobblestone streets so charming. If you think you’ll move at a quicker pace, you can add a quick stop in Uzes to a longer day in Avignon.
Things to do in Uzes:
- Market – On Saturdays and Wednesdays. The largest market is on Saturdays and is full of musicians!
- Ice cream at La Fabrique Givree – They offer seasonal and exotic flavors with ingredients imported from all over the world. We enjoyed a 6 scoop tasting platter for $7
- Historic area – Wander around and check out the Medieval Garden, the Fenestrelle tower, and the Cathedral of Saint Théodorit
- Place aux Herbes – the main square of the town. You’ll find plenty of shops and restaurants. This is a good spot for lunch or pre dinner drinks. You’ll want to go elsewhere for dinner. I purchased handmade little porcupines that have spots for toothpicks on their backs to use for serving. So cute and unique!
- Musée du Bonbon – A candy museum!
- St Quentin la Poterie – A nearby ceramic producing village with plenty of stores at wholesale prices. You can get much better deals here than at the shops in Place aux Herbes
South of France Road Trip Day 5: Avignon
Estimated Round Trip Drive Time: 1 hour, 15 minutes
Day 5 of the south of France itinerary is in one of the largest towns in the south of France: Avignon. The main attraction is the Papal Palace which towers over the town and there’s also plenty of arts, shopping, and culture. It’s a bustling student town, with lots of activity going on at all times.
I will be very honest, Avignon was not our favorite stop on our South of France road trip; we much preferred the smaller towns. That being said, visit and judge it for yourself, as it’s an extremely popular town in the South of France. We’ll be visiting again later this year to give it a second try.
Things to do in Avignon:
- Palais des Papes – A UNESCO World Heritage Site that was built to house the popes who fled Rome in the 14th century. You can admire it from the outside or explore the rooms that are open to visitors
- Walk along Pont Saint-Bénézet – Legend has it the bridge was built by a 12 year old shepherd who was instructed by angels to build the bridge in 1177 and was given super human strength to raise a large rock to use for the construction
- Les Halles Market – A large food hall filled with a large range of vendors. This is the perfect spot to grab supplies for a picnic! It’s open every day except Monday from 6am – 2pm.
- Explore the old city – Avignon’s old town is surrounded by 2.5 miles of 14th-century stone walls. It’s the perfect place to wander!
South of France Road Trip Day 6: Rousillon and Gordes
Estimated Round Trip Drive Time: 1 hour, 6 minutes
Day 6 of our South of France itinerary has you exploring two of our favorite towns: Roussillon and Gordes. Both of them are on “Les Plus Beaux Villages“, a list of the prettiest villages in France. Because Roussillon is such a small town, you can explore it the same day as Gordes. If we had more time, we would’ve spent a full day in each one because we loved both so much!
Rousillon:
As Marie Mauron famously said, “Who wouldn’t love Roussillon, if they love light, color, ardor, vast horizons and that pristine peace of the starry southern nights?” The entire village appears to be sun soaked in a myriad of orange, red, and dusty pink hues. It’s so incredibly gorgeous and has long attracted artists. This is a must visit on your south of France vacation.
Things to do in Roussillon:
- Les Sentier des Ocres – This looped walk offering beautiful panoramic views. There is a 30 minute loop and a 50 minute loop, depending what you have time for. You’ll also get to see the ochre the village is famous for and what gives it the beautiful orange and red hues. The ochre deposits in Roussillon are the largest in the world!
- Art Galleries – Roussillon is full of art galleries and has long been home to many artists. You may see the artists at work in their galleries; many of them creating their masterpieces with pigments from the village
- Read our full guide to Roussillon
Gordes:
Gordes just may be the South of France’s crown jewel. The drive to Gordes is stunning, as is the whole village and the views from its hilltops. The entire village is made from stone, even the gates! Just outside of Gordes is the picturesque Senanque Abbey, which was made famous by its stunning lavender fields.
Things to do in Gordes:
- Senanque Abbey – 12th century monastery with beautiful lavender fields in the summer. Stop by to view the gorgeous property even if the lavender isn’t in bloom
- Dining at Les Bories – This was one of our favorite dinners on our south of France Road trip
- Read more about Gordes here
South of France Road Trip Day 7 (Option 1): Baux de Provence and Saint Remy de Provence
Estimated Round Trip Drive Time: 1 hour, 44 minutes
If you choose this itinerary for day 7 of your south of France trip, you’ll visit one of Bassam’s favorite villages: Baux de Provence. It’s small enough that you’ll only need a few hours, so you can visit Saint Remy de Provence after. If you move at a quick pace, you can also stop by Arles.
Baux de Provence:
Baux de Provence is a picturesque medieval village at a fortified rocky site between Arles and Saint Remy. It receives 1.5 million visitors a year, while only containing 22 residents. It’s busy pretty much year around, but off season is a lot lighter. We don’t recommend going in the summer if you prefer to avoid crowds.
Things to do in Baux de Provence:
- Wander Les Baux Village – The medieval village is absolutely beautiful to explore and you’ll come across candy shops, souvenir shops, and some food vendors. Plan to spend 1-3 hours exploring
- Visit Chateau des Baux – A clifftop castle that was largely destroyed on 1633. There are maze like ruins and crumbling towers that you can explore and a wonderful view. During the summer, there are all kinds of medieval themed events
- Dinner at Oustau de Baumaniere – A 2 Michelin star restaurant with wonderful reviews
Check out our quick guide to Baux de Provence
Saint Remy de Provence:
Saint Remy de Provence is a charming village where Van Gogh committed himself for psychiatric treatment and produced some of his best work while institutionalized. It’s best known for the Roman ruins that lay close by and it’s bustling art and food scene.
Things to do in Saint Remy de Provence:
- Dine – There is tons of great dining in Saint Remy, including two Michelin star restaurants: La Maison Jaune and La Maison a Bournissac. We ate at a more causal and lower priced, but delicious, restaurant: L’Aile ou la Cuisse
- Art – You can visit the instutition Van Gogh was treated it, St. Paul de Mausole and visit his room (which still has paint on the floor). You can also walk the grounds which inspired some of his work. There are also plenty of art galleries and two museums: Le Musee des Alpilles and Musee Estrine
- Festivals – Saint Remy de Provence is home to festivals year around, including art, jazz, and wine festivals. Check out what’s going on the time of year you visit
South of France Road Trip Day 7 (Option 2): Cassis and La Ciotat
Another option for Day 7 for your south of France itinerary is to visit the seaside towns of Cassis and La Ciotat, if you didn’t already visit Cassis on your arrival day. If you did already visit Cassis and you want to visit another seaside town along with La Ciotat, you can do Marseilles.
South of France Road Trip Day 7 (Option 3): Apt & Lacoste
A third option for Day 7 of your south of France itinerary is to visit Apt. This was a town that we had heard wonderful things about, but we weren’t able to fit into our own south of France trip. It’s on our list to visit next month and we’ll be sure to update our post after.
Apt is best known for it’s giant market, so be sure to plan your visit on market day.
South of France Road Trip Day 7 (Option 4): French Riviera
If you’d like to spend more time in the French Riviera, head there a day earlier so you can explore an extra town.
South of France Road Trip Day 8: Drive to Nice and spend the day in Nice
The rest of the south of France itinerary has you based in Nice to explore the French Riviera! If this isn’t enough French Riviera for you on your south of France vacation, we’ve included an alternate itinerary that is more heavily based in the French Riviera than this one.
Nice is the perfect home base for you to stay while in the French Rivera. Being the largest city, it has plenty of options for accommodations and is centrally located to all the towns you may want to explore.
Things to do in Nice:
- Try socca – Chickpea crepes that Nice is famous for. You can purchase them from any street vendor, but we tried an upscale version at L’Atelier (a small husband and wife owned Michelin recommended restaurant) and loved it!
- Dine on Salade Nicoise – You may have had a Nicoise salad before, but since it originated in Nice, we suggest having it for lunch with a glass of rose. A classic Nice lunch! You can also get it as a sandwich if you prefer
- Wander in Vieux Nice (Old Nice) – Truly the most charming part of Nice! We spent the majority of our time wandering here. It’s full of beautiful architecture and pastel colored buildings. At the center is Place Rossetti, which is the town square and offers plenty of dining options
- Plage Beau Rivage Beach Club – The iconic Nice beach club that’s full of blue and white stripe umbrellas. Even if you don’t want to spend time at the beach, pass by here as the umbrellas make for a very pretty sight. The boardwalk near the beach club is a wonderful spot to watch the sunset!
South of France Road Trip Day 9: Nice
For Day 9 of our south of France road trip itinerary, we’ve suggested a second day in Nice. We don’t feel one day is enough to see Nice. If you felt you got enough the day prior, you can easy add a visit to another French Riviera town on this day
South of France Road Trip Day 10: French Riviera Town of choice
There are so many amazing towns in the French Riviera to choose for the last day of your south of France itinerary. We’ve made a few suggestions, but choose whatever sounds best to you. We chose the medieval town of Eze for our final day and we absolutely loved it.
On our upcoming trip we will be visiting Grimaud, St. Tropez, Villefrance-sur-mer, Menton, and Antibes. We’ll be sure to update this post after our trip with photos and tips.
Eze
We absolutely loved the medieval town of, Eze. It’s perched over the coast and offers a spectacular view. Walking around the cobblestone streets of Eze, we felt we had taken a step back in time and we also completely lost track of time. While it’s a small village, there’s so much beauty. It’s well worth adding to your south of France itinerary!
Highlights include:
- The Botanical Garden (Jardin Exotique d’Eze)
- The restaurant terrace of Chateau Eza – The panoramic views are incredible. We relaxed for hours here over a glass of rose and some snacks
- Check out our full guide to Eze here
Monaco
Monaco is not technically part of France, but it’s a tiny independent city state on France’s coastline. It’s honestly not my favorite town in the French Riviera, but worthwhile to add to your south of France itinerary if the glitz and glamour reputation of the city intrigues you. The entire town is only 2 square kilometers (.78 square miles).
Highlights include:
- The casino
- Princess Grace’s rose garden
- Prince’s Palace
- Museum of Antique Automobiles.
Antibes
Antibes is known for its maze like Old Town that’s enclosed by 16th century ramparts. There are so many winding cobblestone streets to get lost in and a great nightlife and dining scene.
Cannes
Cannes is a smaller town in the French Riviera, but very lively and full of great nightlife and dining. You may have heard of the Cannes Film Festival, but the town is wonderful to explore any time of year.
St. Tropez
One of the liveliest and most popular towns in the French Riviera. This is a great town for shopping, nightlife, and dining, with charming cobblestone streets that characterize all of the the south of France. It has a reputation for glitz and glamour, but we’ve heard it also has a surprising laid back vibe as well.
Grimaud
Grimaud is a small village near St. Tropez that’s full of color and charm. If you visit in the spring or early summer, the entire village will be full of winding colorful flowers. It looks so incredibly pretty!
Villefranche-sur-Mer
The brightly colored coastal town of Villefranche-sur-Mer looks so incredibly charming! It seems like the perfect blend of beach and city. The beach looks beautiful and the town is full of candy colored buildings and charming cobbled streets. We are so incredibly excited to visit on our next trip!
Menton
Menton isn’t one of the most popular towns in the French Riviera, but it’s one that has really piqued my interest and been high on my list to visit. It’s known for it’s oranges and lemons which grow year around, so I have visions of wearing a lemon print dress and drinking frozen lemonade, haha! Their annual lemon festival is always a huge deal and people come from all over to attend.
The medieval streets which were founded by pirates (!!) look so cute and charming. Because it’s not one of the hyped French Riviera towns, it usually doesn’t get too crowded in Menton. If you’re traveling during busy season, that might be reason enough to add Menton to your south of France itinerary!
Alternate South of France Itinerary:
If you prefer to spend more time in the French Riviera:
Since the other south of France itinerary was more heavily based in Provence, this south of France itinerary is more heavily based in the French Rivera.
South of France Trip Day 1: Head to L’Isle Sur La Sorgue or wherever your home base in Provence will be. If you have time to visit a town on your arrival day, stop in Cassis and La Ciotat on your way from Nice to L’Isle Sur La Sorgue, it’s a quick detour on the route
Sleep anywhere in the Luberon, we recommend L’Isle Sur La Sorgue
South of France Trip Day 2: L’Isle Sur La Sorgue (preferably on a Sunday)
Sleep anywhere in the Luberon
South of France Trip Day 3: Oppede, Menerbes, Bonniuex
Sleep anywhere in the Luberon
South of France Trip Day 4: Rousillon and Gordes
Sleep anywhere in the Luberon
South of France Trip Day 5: Avignon, Apt, or Aix-en-Provence
Head to Nice, that’s where your home base in the French Riviera will be. On your way, spend the day in either Avignon, Apt, or Aix-en-Provence.
Sleep in Nice
South of France Trip Day 6: Nice
Full day in Nice
Sleep in Nice
South of France Trip Day 7: Nice + Eze
If you prefer not to spend a second day in Nice, you can substitute this day with another French Riviera town. We feel one day is not enough to explore Nice, which is why we’ve allowed for a second day on this south of France itinerary.
Since you also explored Nice the day before, you can also spend a half day in Eze.
Sleep in Nice
South of France Trip Day 8: Grimaud and St. Tropez
While it is doable to explore both Grimaud and St. Tropez in the same day, it will be a fast paced schedule. If you have the time, you can easily spend a full day at each. We suggested starting the day in Grimaud as St. Tropez will have better dining options.
Sleep in Nice
South of France Trip Day 9: Antibes
Sleep in Nice
South of France Trip Day 10: Villefranche-sur-Mer and Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild
You can totally spend the whole day just relaxing and exploring Villefranche-sur-Mer; there’s plenty there to keep your interest. If you prefer to maximize the day and see more, you can also add a morning visit to Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, a pink villa from the 1900s. It’s only about 10 minutes away and you won’t need more than about two hours there.
Sleep in Nice or head home
Things to know for south of France travel:
Best time of year for a south of France itinerary:
We are such south of France lovers that we would say, ANYTIME! Each season offers its own unique magic. If we had to choose, our first choice for a South of France road trip would be spring and our second choice would be fall. Here are some factors to consider when deciding which season is best for your south of France road trip:
Winter:
If you’ve been to the south of France before, visiting again in the winter would be a delightful new experience, but I wouldn’t recommend it as your first or only experience
PROS: The lowest prices of the year for south of France holiday hotels and apartment rentals. Christmas Markets!
CONS: Some of the villages may be closed or partially closed, especially around the holidays. Some snow, but that could be also be magical and not necessarily a con. Limited outdoor dining and limited produce in the market. This is not necessarily a con, it’s just a different way to experience the south of France. It seems like a really beautiful experience, I would just say, don’t have it be your ONLY south of France travel experience.
Spring:
It’s majorly on our bucket list to go in the spring, as everything we’ve heard about the south of France in the spring sounds like an absolute dream. We are planning to go in the spring this year for our anniversary and CAN’T WAIT!
PROS: Wildflowers and poppy fields. The famed French asparagus and strawberries in the market {the locals wait all year for this!} Time to start dining outdoors again. The spring is said to be the time the region reawakens and locals are re-energized after a long winter. The villages are positively buzzing with energy and beauty. The days are starting to get longer and you get those glorious 9pm sunsets toward the end of the spring season.
CONS: None, other than a few lingering mistral winds. More on those later.
Summer:
Personally, we would love to visit Provence in the summer mainly to see the lavender and sunflower fields, but we worry the relaxed pace of life we loved so much when we visited wouldn’t be the same due to the crowds and tourism
PROS: Lavender fields, sunflower fields, long sunny days, gorgeous 9pm sunsets, lots of amazing produce available at the markets, tons of art and music festivals. The region is said to come alive in the summer. June is a great time to go because it’s not unbearably hot yet. Early June is also the least crowded portion of the summer.
CONS: Crowded and full of tourists from around the world on their own south of France holiday, more expensive, difficult to book great accommodations and restaurants. Traffic and higher tolls on toll roads.
Fall:
We went in the fall and although it was our second choice, we still felt it was a great time for south of France travel! We’d recommend it to others and we’d do it again!
PROS: Shoulder season, which means less crowds and it’s much easier to get good dining reservations and great hotels at decent prices. The days start to shorten, but they are still relatively warm and sunny. This is the time for the grape harvest!
CONS: Other than the days being slightly shorter and the blowing mistral winds, nothing! We loved fall in the south of France!
How to get to the south of France:
We drove from Paris to the south of France as we were enjoying a beautiful three week France road trip. If you aren’t planning on driving from Paris to the south of France {which takes about 7 hours}, there are a few easier ways to get there. The region is best navigated by car, so whichever option you choose, we do highly recommend renting a car for your south of France itinerary. Public transportation is limited in the south of France. It is doable, but you’ll need to stick to the larger towns.
Getting to the South of France From Paris:
By Train – Take the train to Nice, Avignon or Marseille
By Plane – Fly into Nice, Avignon, or Aix en Provence
Getting to the South of France From Some European Countries:
By Plane – There is a small airport you can fly into in Avignon, a small airport in Aix en Provence, and a larger airport in Nice
By Train – You can take the Eurostar to Marseille, Nice, or Avignon
Getting to the South of France from outside of Europe:
By Plane – There is an international airport in Nice you can fly into. If flights are expensive, it may be more cost effective to fly into Paris then book a separate flight to Nice, Avignon, or Aix en Provence. You can also take a train
Things to know when driving on your South of France road trip:
1. Expect lots of toll roads
We were surprised by how many toll roads we encountered during our south of France road trip! You can avoid them by taking country roads, but we chose the toll roads because they were faster and better maintained. During our fall trip, toll roads were anywhere from $3 to $25. In the summer, toll prices are much higher.
You’ll see two different toll booth entrances: one with a speed listed and one without. The one with a speed listed is for those with a toll pass; they can drive right through. You most likely do not have this and will want to take the entrance without a speed listed and prepare to stop at the booth.
If you prefer to take the country roads and have the time to do so, you’ll have the advantage of passing by beautiful vineyards and smaller villages that you wouldn’t have seen on the toll roads.
2. Don’t base travel time on mileage
Travel time can often be unpredictable in the south of France. Google Maps was pretty spot on with their estimations, so we checked the travel time on there before each drive. Mileage isn’t a good indicator of travel time because there can often be traffic, especially if you go during high season. In some towns, the roads are very small and windy, which can lead to traffic delays.
We highly encourage going into your south of France trip with a mindset of relaxation and patience. Whether it’s with driving or dining, you’re bound to experience some unexpected delays or slowness, so just go with it and see it all as part of the adventure!
3. Save Google Maps offline
You may not always have access to wifi and most of the rental cars do not include navigation. We saved all of the stops we wanted to go to on Google Maps offline so we would always have access to it.
We recommend saving every single town you are interested in, even if you don’t have time to visit them all. You never know what you may be able to fit into your south of France itinerary or where you’ll be passing by.
We highly recommend this book to choose a list of towns to add to your south of France itinerary.
4. Beware of speeding tickets on your south of France road trip
Take the speed limit signs very seriously! Most rental cars will also tell you the speed limit inside your car. There are radars all over the highways and if you are speeding, you can expect to be mailed a ticket to your house. We received 4 (!!!) speeding tickets, even though I warned Bassam about this!
Because of the stringent speeding laws and the relaxed nature of the French, you’ll notice that the drivers in the south of France (with the exception of Nice!) are relatively relaxed. This was especially noticeable to us because drivers in Los Angeles (where we live) tend to have road rage. As soon as we crossed over to Italy, we noticed how much faster Italians drive. We also noticed the drivers in Nice to be a little more aggressive; they don’t seem to follow many driving rules there.
5. Be specific about the kind of car you rent for your south of France road trip
Most of the cars in France are stick shift. If you are comfortable driving stick, you’ll have more choices in terms of rental cars. If not, you can rent an automatic car, they are just a bit more expensive and you’ll have fewer options of cars to rent. If you need an automatic car and your south of France trip is during high season, make sure to book your car well in advance.
Most of the cars in France are smaller than American cars. You’ll want to take this into account with how much luggage you bring along with you. Some rental companies will have larger cars available, but we don’t recommend going too large because you’ll have a difficult time finding parking. In addition, the smaller cars are easier to navigate on windy cliff roads in the French Riviera.
6. Fill up with Diesal
Almost all of the cars in France take Diesal gas. You’ll see this at the gas station listed as either “Diesal” or “gazole”, they mean the same thing.
7. Driving requirements
In order to drive during your south of France vacation you’ll need:
- A drivers license- If you are staying in France for less than 90 days, you can drive with a valid US or EU drivers license. We aren’t sure about other countries. It’s recommended for Americans to obtain an International Driving Permit, from the American Automobile Association. It provides a translation of your license. We didn’t get one for our south of France road trip and our rental car company said it was fine
- A Passport- Be sure to have it on you
- Proof of insurance and vehicle registration- Proof of insurance is necessary. Most credit card companies offer car insurance, so check with them. If not, you can get it from your car rental company. You’ll also need vehicle registration (carte grise) with you when you drive.
- Be over the age of 18- The legal driving age in France
Things to know for your south of France vacation:
1. Understand French etiquette
Understanding and following French etiquette is very important for your South of France vacation. Etiquette is very important to the French, especially in this region. Following some basic etiquette will help you get the best treatment, make friends, and overall enjoy your time as much as possible. The French can often get a bad rap for not being friendly, but we’ve found it’s all in the way you approach them. Following some etiquette and engaging in pleasantries helped us to have a really amazing experience.
Speak in French as much as you can. We recommend learning a few basic phrases and/or saving them on Google Translate. We noticed the French really appreciated us trying, even if we didn’t get it quite right. If you need to speak in English, first ask IN FRENCH if the person speaks English, before jumping straight into speaking in English
ALWAYS greet shopkeepers when you walk in. Pleasantries are so important in France and especially in the south. Greeting shopkeepers is a very important rule in France. Not doing so is the equivalent of going into someone’s home and sitting on their couch without greeting them first. Say “bonjour madame or monsieur” (hello ms or sir) when entering and “au revior, merci” (goodbye, thank you) when leaving. Greetings are a very important part of French culture. It signfiies respect and that you are well mannered and going to have a pleasant encounter with the person.
Be cognizant of your speaking volume. The French tend to speak quieter than Americans do. If you’re an American visiting, you may want to be aware of your speaking volume and be sure it’s not much louder than those around you
It’s socially acceptable to stare at others. People watching is huge in France! You don’t have anything in your teeth if you see people staring at you, so don’t worry! Feel free to stare right back!
Know some basic dining etiquette:
- Bread goes directly on the table, not on your dinner plate. Some restaurants will offer bread plates if they experience a high volume of tourists, but it’s not customary
- Salad leaves are folded with a fork and knife, never cut
- Always place your napkin on your lap as soon as you’re seated
- Avoid resting your elbows on the table
- Avoid requesting substitution or changes to the way a dish is prepared. It’s considered rude to the chef and they generally will not accommodate you
- You will get a strange look if you attempt to share your meal with your dining partner and if you don’t finish your meal. At a very nice restaurant, this is considered rude to the chef. This doesn’t mean you need to over eat to be polite! We just want you to be aware so you know why you’re getting a strange look
Being left alone is GOOD service. The waiter typically will not bother you during your meal so that you can enjoy it. They won’t often check on you, will not bring you the check, and will give you time between courses to “rest”. If you need something from the waiter or want the check, flag them down. Try your best not to rush the waiter or chef and never ask for them to bring your food quickly. They will not accommodate your timing. Slow dining is one of the most magical things about the south of France. Make time for dining in your south of France itinerary. Slow down. Savor it. Some of our best memories from our south of France road trip were our meals
Eat during mealtimes. Eating on the street is generally frowned upon, so do your best to sit down to a meal, snack, or beverage. The French don’t really snack between meals, they just have their 3 meals a day and perhaps a midday break for coffee or pre dinner apero (drink and small bite like nuts or olives). In the smaller villages, restaurants will be closed in between mealtimes. You’ll find more flexibility in larger towns, but it’ll mainly be cafes that are open in between mealtimes
The French feel very strongly about their opinions and recommendations. If they are an expert in the matter, try to take them seriously. They will tell you their opinions in a very straight forward manner and expect to be trusted. If they tell you something isn’t good or doesn’t match, listen! For example, when we visited a fromagerie {cheese shop}, the shopkeeper insisted we couldn’t buy a particular jam because it didn’t match the cheese we were buying. Seeing how agitated he was, we asked for his recommendation, and he instantly became the nicest, most helpful person. This might be outside of your comfort zone, but give it a try. You’ll be surprised at what you might learn and how right they might be!
2. Most shops are closed on Sundays
Most small shops, businesses, and pharmacies are closed on Sunday, ESPECIALLY in the smaller towns. There are also less restaurants open on Sundays. You’ll want to plan ahead by doing your shopping ahead of time and making plans for mealtimes.
3. Getting around within each town
You will most likely not need your car within each town. Most of the towns and villages on your south of France itinerary are very walking friendly. You’ll be able to park your car when you arrive and then just walk, bike, or even Uber in some of the towns. You will need a car to get from town to town. Some towns are accessible by bus, but you’ll be limited to the larger towns.
4. Don’t take no for an answer
One of the most frustrating things we learned about French culture during our south of France road trip is not to take no for an answer. The immediate response you may get to inquiries is often, “no” or “not possible” and it’s almost always possible. Just be polite but firm, don’t back down, and you may get a different response. You’ll also get the best service if you find something to bond over with the person, so make some small talk first. Pleasantries are a very big part of French culture.
5. Expect to slow down
Life in the south of France, especially in Provence, is slow. It’s just the beauty of region. Don’t expect to go and be on a tight schedule. Take the time to slow down. Savor the sights, the tastes, the sounds. Wander. Explore whatever catches your interest. This is where the magic of the south of France lies. In these small little moments, when you take the time to explore and immerse yourself in the experience. The south of France truly is a delight for all senses. Take the time to enjoy it all.
We got a lesson in this on our very first night. We went into a cheese shop right at closing time and were prepared to rush as to “be polite” and not keep the shopkeeper past closing. She refused to let us rush and has us try all the cheeses and tell her what we thought of them before she would let us choose. A line built up behind us and she still took her time with us.
We noticed this across the board in the shops we visited. Shopkeepers will give you their undivided attention, regardless of what the line behind you is like. The people waiting in line are very patient, because they know that when it’s their turn, the shopkeeper will also be spending a lot of time with them.
The only people we saw get frustrated by this were non French tourists. We had several experiences where non French tourists were frustrated by having to wait and loudly huffed and puffed before stomping off. Each time it happened we apologized to the shop keeper and each time they told us not to worry about it, if those people didn’t want to wait then it’s too bad for them.
Another lesson to learn here: the customer is not always right in France. People will give you whatever they feel is the best service to them and they don’t really care what you think about it. They are more committed to being themselves and doing what they feel is right than customer satisfaction. I know that doesn’t really sound good, but we actually found it to be very refreshing.
6. The Mistral winds are a real thing
We heard so much about the Mistral winds before we went but we were still surprised by how truly strong they were. It was windy for the entire duration of our south of France road trip, but one day they were especially forceful and we had a difficult time being outside. We felt like we could actually be lifted away! The Mistral winds are especially strong in the winter and spring, although we felt them in the fall.
You’ll want to pay attention to wind speed when planning your outfit for the day. Even if the temperature is mild, high wind speeds can make it feel much closer. You’ll want to bring a few extra layers for when the winds pick up.
7. Try to base your south of France itinerary around market days
Each town in the south of France has a specific market day or two each week. We highly recommend planning your south of France itinerary in a way where you see at least two markets. They are all very different and wonderful in their own special way. We’ve made a note in the itinerary of which markets you should prioritize seeing.
One of our absolute favorite memories from our south of France road trip was visiting the local markets, buying all kinds of fresh produce, and coming back to our rental apartment to cook our own French meal. The produce in France is seasonal and so incredibly delicious. You’ve never tried a tomato until you try an in season tomato in Provence. Trust me on this. After coming back home, we missed this routine so much that we started going to our local farmers market weekly. (Further Reading: Life Lessons Learned After Traveling in France)
Books to read before your south of France trip
Hopefully this post gave you the majority of the information you need to know for your south of France road trip, but I always love reading about a destination before I go. Here’s a mix of my favorite south of France travel guides and books set in the south of France. Each one will help you learn more about the south of France and also help you to get excited about your south of France trip!
My Twenty-Five Years in Provence // Peter Mayle
Peter Mayle is the king of Provence memoirs. If you haven’t read any of his books, they are a must!
Markets of Provence: Food, Antiques, Crafts, and More // Marjorie Williams
A gorgeous pocket size guide to all the best markets in Provence. Filled with beautiful illustrations, maps, and tips to shopping the markets during your south of France road trip
The offical guide book to all the most beautiful villages in France. While the photography is sometimes not the greatest, it’s an extremely helpful book and will help you add so many amazing villages to your list
Picnic in Provence // Elizabeth Bard
This book describes my dreams. The author writes about her life as she falls in love in Paris and her little family moves to Provence and opens an ice cream shop. Ever since visiting Provence and reading the book, I don’t stop talking about one day moving to Provence. Although she’s realistic about the ups and downs, it all sounds just magical!
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Okay, whew! We know that was a lot of information. Feel free to ask us if you have any further questions. We hope this south of France itinerary helps you plan an epic south of France vacation! It’s one of our favorite places in the world and we hope you will enjoy it as much as we did!
This guide is absolutely superb. Such detailed and comprehensive guide, it feels I am almost travelling along. Stunning pictures.
I’m so glad you liked it! It was one of our favorite trips!
What beautiful photos! Whilst I’ve spent a lot of time in the south-west of France, I’ve never explored Provence and your guide reminds how much I really ought to. Travelling by road and exploring small towns is just the most wonderful thing to do in France and I wholeheartedly agree that visiting on market day makes a place all the more special. Thank you for some great ideas – Gordes and Rousillion have been calling to me for a while, and now even more so!
I’m so glad you enjoyed the post! I’m sure you will absolutely love Gordes and Roussillon! I really can’t imagine anyone not, they are such magical villages! I’d love to know what your favorites are in the south-west! We are always looking for new towns to visit.
Oh my gosh your photos are killing me!!!! We’re starting to look at a semester in Europe so we can take our time and explore a lot of new places- but this makes me want to go right this very second!!! We’ll surely be scheduling enough time for this part of France!!
Writing this post actually killed me, haha. I want to be back there so badly! That’s amazing that you’re going to spend a semester in Europe! I hope you have an amazing time and get to spend a lot of time in the south of France!
As someone who’s done a South of France roadtrip during the winter, I’d absolutely discourage anyone from doing it at the time of the year. Everything was closed and empty and dead. Sure, it was cheaper, but we’d rather be able to eat French food at a restaurant and look at fields that aren’t full of dead lavender bushes and meet people instead of cats 😛 It was so disappointing, but we’re dying to go again in another season because it would be SO beautiful at any other time of the year!
Ah that’s such a bummer! I never recommend people go to Paris or the south of France in the winter ONLY. Paris especially has a lot of awesome pros to visiting in the winter, but not for your first time and only time. From what I’ve heard of the south of France it seems relatively similar? Did you go around the time that you could at least visit Christmas markets? Definitely go back another time! We went very late in the fall season and while things were starting to slow down and close, it was still lovely! Going in the spring this year!
Thank you for this great guide! All your pictures are STUNNING! I loved your tips about the French language too! Very helpful! I think around 10 days is perfect, and I love all the villages you were able to plan out to see. What was your favorite restaurant?
So glad you liked the post! We had the BEST time! That’s so hard to choose. I think it’s a tie between Les Bories in Gordes and Le Vivier in L’Isle Sur la Sorgue!
Love a good pros and cons list 😍 This guide is so comprehensive. My friends and I did a weekend trip to Marseilles last summer and I wish we had had more time to do more! This makes me want to go back!
I’m so glad you liked it! I want to go back so badly too! There’s so much to do and see!
Such a lovely and detailed post!
Xoxo,
Laura // afinnontheloose.com
I’m so glad you liked it! I hope it helps you plan your trip!
What dreamy photos! I love the South of France and would include a visit to Renoir’s home in Cagnes-sur-mer as a must do!
Oohh will add that to our list!
Thank you for this great guide! All your pictures are STUNNING! I loved your tips about the French language too! Very helpful! I think around 10 days is perfect, and I love all the villages you were able to plan out to see. What was your favorite restaurant?
So glad you liked the post! Definitely Le Vivier and Les Bories. Going back to both when we visit Provence again next week! Also, we are in Italy right now, but Bella Vita is still the best pasta we’ve ever had!