Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur

The sunny region of southeast France, with the French Riviera, lavender fields, the Verdon Gorge and the bay of Marseille.

Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur lies in southeastern France, bordered by the Mediterranean to the south and Italy to the east, with Alpine highlands in the north; its capital is Marseille. Riviera cities such as Nice and Cannes are known for their seafronts and art; the Palais des Papes in Avignon, the hill villages of the Luberon, the lavender fields of the Valensole plateau and the Verdon Gorge show off the Provençal spirit; and the Calanques of Marseille and the Cézanne trail in Aix are just as captivating. Lavender blooms in Jun–Jul, summer is good for the beach, and spring and autumn are quieter and more comfortable. Nice and Marseille have international airports, and the TGV connects to Paris.

Destinations

• Marseille & Aix-en-Provence
• Nice & Côte d'Azur
• Avignon & Luberon
• Valensole Plateau & Gorges du Verdon
• Briançon
• Toulon & Hyères
• Monaco

Itineraries

• Classic Provence & French Riviera Road Trip – Enter via Avignon and exit via Nice, connecting the Luberon hilltop villages, Valensole, Verdon Gorge, and the coast
• Valensole to Sault Lavender Loop – In and out of Marseille, cover the Valensole Plateau, Sénanque Abbey, and Sault flower fields in four days.
• Barcelona to Nice South France Panorama – Cross the French Mediterranean coast, connecting cities by train and renting a car for the Provence segment.
• French Riviera East Coast from Nice – Stay in Nice without switching hotels, using trains and buses to connect Villefranche-sur-Mer, Èze, Monaco, and Menton.
• Riviera Coastal Railway: Nice to Cinque Terre – Follow the coastal railway from Nice through Monaco, Sanremo, and Genoa all the way to Cinque Terre.
• Car-Free Provence Itinerary – Travel by train and bus from Avignon to Marseille, exploring Roman ruins, Van Gogh's town, and the Calanques.
• Coastal Slow Travel: Marseille to Saint-Tropez – Travel east along the coast without a car, exploring the Calanques, Toulon military port, Porquerolles Island, and Sain…
• Route des Grandes Alpes: Lake Geneva to Nice – Cross high mountain passes like Iseran and Galibier from Lake Geneva, heading all the way south to the Mediterranean.
• Monaco: The Rock & Monte Carlo – Explore Monaco in two distinct areas: one day on the historic Rock, and another visiting gardens, the harbor, the casin…
• Nice-Based French Riviera Train Tour – Stay in Nice without switching hotels, using coastal trains and buses to visit Monaco, Antibes, and Cannes.