Your seven-day itinerary for the South of France

Picture this: You just arrived in the region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur in the south of France – but the area is so jam-packed with beauty that it’s hard to know what to do next.

Do you want to spend time by the beach in Cannes or explore historic towns like Avignon? Or do you want to gallop through fields of lavender or win big at a luxury casino?

Think no further, mon ami, because this seven-day itinerary will guide you through some of the best that Provence and the Côte d'Azur have to offer, step-by-step.

Day 1: Marseille

Start your day by wandering down to the Old Port (Vieux-Port), which dates back to the time of Greek settlement in 600BC and was the heart of the city until the nineteenth century. While you’re there, enjoy a delicious breakfast at Deïa or grab a coffee and croissant to-go and walk along the water.

Mid-morning, hop on a cruise that will take you around Calanques National Park so you can see the stunning sights of the park’s beaches, mountains and miniature fjords. Hot tip: aim for a cruise that includes lunch onboard.

Upon your return to the port, walk over to the Museum of Civilizations of Europe and the Mediterranean to learn more about the people that call the Mediterranean home.

Finish your day with dinner on the terrace at Café de l'Abbaye, looking out over the port while you enjoy classic Provençal fare, including plenty of fresh seafood and decadent desserts.

Days 2 and 3: Day trips from Marseille

If you’re in Marseille any time from mid-June to mid-July, a visit to the stunning lavender fields is a must. For this, you can join a group tour or hire a car (consider Freely’s extra coverage for car hire) and drive there yourself.  

Valensole and Gourdes are two of the most popular areas to visit, but if you’re driving, you can simply cruise arounduntil you find a field you like and stop to take photos amongst the endless sea of purple plants.

Consider stopping at a local producer where you can try lavender ice cream and shop a range of products made with lavender.The village of Moustiers-Sainte-Marie would make an ideal spot for a late lunch; nestled in the mountains, it’s home to a waterfall that runs right through the centre of town.

If lavender isn’t in season, consider catching the train to Avignon and visiting the Palais des Papes, home to several Popes during the fourteenth century. Explore the town and grab lunch before heading back to the train station and moving on to Arles, the town best known for its connection to Vincent Van Gogh.

Here, you can visit the Fondation Vincent van Gogh (be sure to take in the view from the roof) and grab a drink at Le Café Van Gogh, said to be the inspiration for Van Gogh’s ‘Café Terrace at Night’.

Day 4: Nice

Today, you’ll take the train east to Nice. I’m recommending Nice because it’s perfectly situated for day trips to other towns in the region and has a wide variety of attractions to keep visitors entertained – but for the record, almost anywhere would be an excellent choice (Cannes is ideal for a slower-paced, beachy getaway, for instance).

Drop your bags at your hotel, grab some wine and snacks at the supermarket, and join everyone else down at the beach until sunset before heading to La Merenda for dinner.

Days 5 and 6: Day trips from Nice

There are several options for day trips from Nice, so you’ll have to decide which appeals to you the most.

You could go to Cannes and treat yourself to a luxurious day relaxing at a bougie beach club, or catch the ferry to Saint Tropez where you can pretend to be rich and famous, enjoying lunch at a criminally expensive restaurant on the water and shopping to your heart’s content.

After visiting either of those, you could head to Monte Carlo for an evening of excess – or save your money and simply watch other people lose theirs. In addition, if you didn’t manage to explore much of Provence while in Marseille, it’s also possible to do so from Nice, including on an all-day wine tour that will let you enjoy local wines and explore picturesque medieval villages at the same time. 

Other options for day trips in the area include smaller towns like Villefranche-sur-Mer (crystal clear water), Menton (fascinating history) and Eze (art) or larger ones like Antibes (food and shopping), depending on what you’re chasing.

The entire region is well-connected by train, except for Saint Tropez, a town which seemingly only exists as a place for celebrities and the idle rich to dock their boats. There are also plenty of group tours that aim to show you the French Riviera in one day (considering the extensive train network, however, it is definitely possible to manage it yourself with a little planning).

If you’d like to squeeze a visit to another country in, it is also possible to visit the Italian Riviera from Nice, taking in the charming towns of San Remo, Dolceacqua and Bordighera and spending time wandering through the markets and exploring the quaint villages. Getting there by train requires at least one change at the border, however, so hiring a car or joining a group tour would be more convenient.

Day 7: A full day in Nice

We didn’t come all this way to not see Nice properly, right? This is where to spend your last full day in the south of France.

Here, you can enjoy activities like speedboat trips, perfume making workshops and sunset cruises – but my favourite option is often just to explore on foot and see where the day takes me. Nice is home to a number of sights, including the Old Town, the Cathedral Saint-Nicolas, Place Massena and the Marc Chagall National Museum, so there’s no shortage of potential stops on your self-guided tour.

Another way to get to know Nice is a food tour, where locals share their expertise with delicious samples of their city’s finest. This is also a good way to meet other travellers.

To cap off your final day in the south of France, enjoy dinner on the waterfront – ideally at sunset for best results – before joining a bar crawl or enjoying a drink on your own at somewhere like Cave de la Tour, one of the oldest wine bars in Nice.

Hero image of Marseille 📸 Olivia Chaber