10 MUST-VISIT DESTINATIONS IN THE SOUTH OF FRANCE

1. MENTON

The French Riviera is home to some of the most colorful destinations in the country, and one of my absolute favorites is Menton. It’s the last stop along the Côte d’Azur, just before the Italy border. The town is utterly picturesque, and its small size makes it an ideal day trip that’s accessible by both train and car. For a detailed Menton travel guide, click here.

QUICK TIPS

• MUST-VISIT PLACES – Basilique Saint-Michel, Cemetery of the Old Castle, Jardin Botanique Val Rahmeh, Les Rampes Saint Michel, Menton Viewpoint, Rue de la Conception, Rue Longue, Sablettes Beach, White Penitents Chapel
• EAT IN MENTON – La Crepe a ‘Evers, La Trattoria, Pizzeria 430 Gradi, The Small Cave, Tutti Frutti Glaciers
• DAY TRIP OR OVERNIGHT STAY? Day trip, only because the lodging options in Menton are not very good.

Les Rampes Saint Michel, Menton

Rue de la Conception | Ou Pastre

2. MOUSTIERS-SAINTE-MARIE & VERDON GORGE

Tucked between the cliffs of the Natural Regional Park of Verdon is the little village of Moustiers-Sainte-Marie. It’s a quiet, slow moving and utterly picturesque village that can easily be explored as a half day trip, but it’s worth an overnight stay, if only to also visit Verdon Gorge. This Provencal natural wonder is a majestic canyon carved by the Verdon River. On a sunny day, water snakes through the gorge, and sparkles surreal shades of turquoise, ideal for boating, swimming and rock jumping. For a detailed Moustiers-Sainte-Marie travel guide, click here.

QUICK TIPS

• MUST-VISIT PLACES – Church of Our Lady of the Assumption, Moustiers-Sainte-Marie Village, Notre Dame de Beauvoir, Pont du Galetas, Verdon Gorge
• BEST MOUSTIERS-SAINTE-MARIE HOTEL – La Bastide de Moustiers
• EAT IN MOUSTIERS-SAINTE-MARIE – Ferme Ste Cecile, Le Chardon-Marie, Les Delices D’Italie, L’Etoile Givree, Restaurant Les Tables du Cloitre
• DAY TRIP OR OVERNIGHT STAY? It’s worth an overnight stay since Moustiers-Sainte-Marie is a long drive from most other destinations in the South of France. And you’ll need two days to truly enjoy the charm of the village, and a little adventure on the gorge.

Moustiers-Sainte-Marie

Verdon Gorge | Moustiers-Sainte-Marie

3. CALANQUES NATIONAL PARK

Calanques National Park is the backdrop to an epic coastal trail that cuts through limestone cliffs near Cassis. It leads hikers out to stunning inlets of turquoise water that sparkles the dreamiest shades of turquoise. Calanque d’en Vau is particularly epic, and the fitting reward to trekkers that conquer the 5-mile trail loop.

QUICK TIPS

• MUST-VISIT PLACES – Calanque d’en Vau, Calanque de Port Pin
• BEST CALANQUES HOTEL – Hotel Les Roches Blanches
• WHEN TO VISIT – It’s a long trek out to Calanque d’en Vau, and it gets busy when the weather is warm. Start the hike early in the morning to give yourself plenty of time enjoy the beach.

Calanque d’en Vau, Calanques National Park

4. EZE

The hilltop medieval settlement of Eze offers up a real life fairytale setting perched high above the Cote d’Azur. The village is quite small, likely the tiniest destination you’ll visit on your travels through the South of France. It’s very easy to see as a half-day trip. I suggest arriving early in the morning – the small size of Eze doesn’t do well with the crowds that arrive later in the day.

QUICK TIPS

• MUST-VISIT PLACES – Jardin Exotique d’Eze
• BEST EZE HOTEL – Chateau Eza
• EAT IN EZE – Chateau Eza, La Chevre d’Or
• DAY TRIP OR OVERNIGHT STAY? The tiny size of Eze makes it an ideal village to visit as a day trip. It only takes a few hours to explore the village and visit the gardens.

Chateau Eza, Eze

Chateau Eza, Eze

5. VILLEFRANCHE SUR-MER

The charming town of Villefranche-sur-Mer sits between Old Nice and Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, and rivals Menton as the most colorful waterfront on the French Riviera. It can easily be visited as a day trip, but I love it as a home base while exploring the surrounding Cote d’Azur. Villefranche-sur-Mer serves up the perfect labyrinth of colorful houses, little boutiques, cafes and waterfront dining, a kaleidoscope of pastel colors. It’s an absolute vibe. For detailed Villefranche-sur-Mer travel guide, click here.

QUICK TIPS

• MUST-VISIT PLACES – Chapelle Saint-Pierre, Citadelle Saint-Elme, Rue de l’Eglise, Rue du Poilu, Rue Henri Blais, Plage de la Darse, Plage des Marinieres, St. Michel’s Church
• BEST VILLEFRANCHE-SUR-MER HOTEL – Hotel de la Darse, Welcome Hotel
• EAT IN VILLEFRANCHE-SUR-MER – Glacier Feracci, Les Garcons, Le Glacier 16, Mayssa Beach, Olivula
• DAY TRIP OR OVERNIGHT STAY? The colorful seaside town is best experienced over a couple days. Definitely worth an overnight stay (or longer) to really soak in the beaches, the waterfront and the vibe of Villefranche-sur-Mer.

Rue du Poliu, Villefranche-sur-Mer

St. Michel’s Church | Chapelle Saint-Pierre

6. ST. PAUL-DE-VENCE

St. Paul-de-Vence is a hilltop medieval village located less than an hour from the busy coastal city of Nice, but feels like a completely different world and era thanks to the cobbled lanes that wind their way through a labyrinth of stone corridors lined with historic fountains, picturesque churches and little homes. The village cannot be missed, visit either by day trip or overnight stay. For a detailed St. Paul-de-Vence travel guide, click here.

QUICK TIPS

• MUST-VISIT PLACES – Collegiale de la Conversion de Saint-Paul, Fontaine de Saint Paul de Vence, La Placette, Maison de Jacques Prevert, Routes des Serres Viewpoint, Rue Grande, St. Paul-de-Vence Cemetery
• BEST ST. PAUL-DE-VENCE HOTEL – Chateau Saint-Martin & Spa, Hotel le St. Paul, Le Domaine du mas de Pierre, Toile Blanche
• EAT IN ST. PAUL-DE-VENCE – Cafe Timothe, Dolce Italia, La Table de Pierre, L’Epicerie des Artistes, Les Remparts, Le Saint-Martin, Le Tilleil,
• DAY TRIP OR OVERNIGHT STAY? St. Paul-de-Vence can definitely be visited as a day trip, but if you are fond of small villages, this is a lovely one to spend a night or two. The village is especially serene in the mornings and evenings when tourists have dispersed.

House of Jacques Prevert, St. Paul-de-Vence

St. Paul-de-Vence

7. GORDES

It’s hard to picture a more quinessential summer setting than the hilltop village of Gordes. This part of Provence is a mecca of fabled villages, castles, Provencal markets and blooming flower fields, and Gordes is the ideal home base to see all of it. The village itself sits in the heart of Luberon, a small labyrinth of stone maisons, historic churches and cobbled lanes that are the dreamiest start and end to the day. For a detailed Gordes travel guide, click here.

QUICK TIPS

• MUST-VISIT PLACES – Caves du Palais Saint-Firmin, Church of Saint Fermin, Gordes Castle, Gordes Market, Gordes Viewpoint
• BEST ST. PAUL-DE-VENCE HOTEL – Airelles Gordes La Bastide, Domaine de l’Enclos, Le Jas de Gordes
• EAT IN ST. PAUL-DE-VENCE – La Bastide de Pierres, Laduree Tea Salon, La Trinquette, Le Mas
• DAY TRIP OR OVERNIGHT STAY? Gordes is small enough to visit as part of a day trip, but if you need a home base in the Luberon region, it’s a great spot stay for a few nights while exploring this part of Provence.

Gordes Viewpoint

La Bastide de Pierres | Gordes

8. CASSIS

Cassis is a vibrant waterfront that sits at the far end of the Cote d’Azur. A 14th century fortified chateau overlooks the bustling port that bursts with colorful restaurants, gelato shops, bars and cafes. It’s the perfect destination to tack onto a day of hiking the Calanques – it’s possible to walk between the two.

QUICK TIPS

• MUST-VISIT PLACES – Cassis Market, Cassis Waterfront, Plage du Bestouan
• BEST CASSIS HOTEL – Hotel Les Roches Blanches
• EAT IN CASSIS – Chez Poulette, La Poisson Rouge, La Villa Madie, O Rev Cassis
• DAY TRIP OR OVERNIGHT STAY? Cassis and the Calanques National Park are the perfect day trip – hike in the morning, and reward yourself with a late afternoon on the Cassis waterfront.

Plage du Bestouan, Cassis

9. ROUSSILLON

Roussillon is a unique village in Luberon surrounded by vibrant red ochre cliffs that can be hiked at Le Sentier des Ocres. The mix of picturesque village and dazzling outdoor scenery makes Roussillon an excellent day trip destination in Provence.

QUICK TIPS

• MUST-VISIT PLACES – Domaine de Tara, Le Sentier des Ocres, Place de la Mairie, Roussillon Market
• BEST ROUSSILON HOTEL – Les Passiflores, Coquillade Provence
• EAT IN ROUSSILON – La Table des Ocres, Le Piquebaure, Omma
• DAY TRIP OR OVERNIGHT STAY? Roussillon offers the perfect mix of the outdoors, small village and viewpoints for a fulfilling day trip. And if you visit the right time of year, there are fields of red poppies blooming just outside of the village.

Roussillon

Le Sentier des Ocres | Poppy Fields

10. NICE

Nice is bigger and busier than most of the towns and villages in the South of France, but nonetheless a place worth seeing, even if it’s just as a day trip. The bustling Old Town is a sprawling maze of colorful shops, restaurants, cafes, bars and markets that burst with energy. And Vieux Nice runs parallel to the Cote d’Azur, the longest stretch of white sand, beach clubs and searing blue sea water.

QUICK TIPS

• MUST-VISIT PLACES – Cathedrale Saint-Nicolas, Place Massena, Promenade des Anglais, Promenade du Paillon, Ruhl Plage, Vieux Nice
• BEST NICE HOTEL – Hotel du Couvent, Hotel La Perouse, Le Negresco
• EAT IN NICE – Chez Acchiardo, Chez Juliette, Fennochio, Le Bouchon, Le Frog, Le Panier, Le Plongeoir, Maître Artisan Papilla Glacier Nice Saint-Francois, That’s Amore
• DAY TRIP OR OVERNIGHT STAY? If you really want to see all of Nice, you’ll need a couple days to cover everything. It’s a big city with lots of history, sights, beaches and restaurants. That said, my preference is to avoid staying in the bigger cities in the South of France, so a day trip to Nice is enough for me.

Ruhl Plage, Nice