Perfect 2 Week Southern France Itinerary

I’ve been a Francophile my entire life since the age of 13. I’m not sure how it started but for some reason, I knew with certainty I wanted to study French when I got to high school. After freshman year, I literally begged my parents to take me to France While in university, I studied abroad in Toulouse. Over the course of my 50 some years of life, I have now been to France 8 times and can’t get enough. Each time I go to a different region and this time, the South was calling. Here are some ideas for a perfect 2 weeks in Southern France.

I recommend renting a car for this part of France and choosing a few places as a base but it is not absolutely necessary. You can utilize public transport for day trips and not have to move around so much with your luggage or car. I actually spent more than 2 weeks but for the sake of this post I will give a few optional shorter itineraries for you to consider. My trip started in Toulouse and ended in Nice since both of these cities have airports. I flew IAD-CDG-Toulouse and then Nice-Liverpool and then eventually LHR-IAD. You may or may not know that I’m a huge Liverpool football supporter and I was delighted to find that this flight route existed.

My Southern France Itinerary

Day 1 Arrival in Toulouse

I arrived with enough time to spend the afternoon and evening roaming around and having a nice meal. Toulouse is actually one of my favorite of all the large cities in France. It is the capitol of Languedoc, and is often called the Rose City because of the red sandstone used to build most structures. People are known to be friendlier here than in the north (although I will say that I have not found anywhere in France to be unfriendly).

Day 2 Toulouse

I did this half day food/history/walking tour with a chef which I highly recommend. Chef Alejandro with Toulouse Gourmet Tours will not only feed you well, but give you lots of cool history tidbits and show you interesting sites. Toulouse has a unique gastronomic vibe and history which is both interesting and delicious. They lay claim to the original macaron and the invention of pain au chocolat. Except there it is called a “Chocolatine” and rumor has it you will be charged more if you call it “pain au chocolat”. I love this pettiness.

Day 3 1/2 Day Trip to Albi

Albi is only 1 hour away from Toulouse by car. I am a huge Toulouse Lautrec fan and wanted to visit his museum. Albi is a very cute city with a magnificent French gothic cathedral and a great covered market. It’s easy to visit in a half day and still have the late afternoon and evening back in Toulouse.

Day 4 Carcassone

Carcassone is the largest restored medieval fortified city in Europe.  It looks like something from a movie, with its massive defensive walls encircling the castle, the small village and its Gothic cathedral. Carcassone was designated a UNESCO site in 1997.

I remember the first time I saw it as a teenager, when I felt like I was in a movie. It turned out they had just filmed Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves (the one with Kevin Costner) here and I recognized it. It really doesn’t seem real that places like this exist. Yes, much of it has been rebuilt but it is still fantastic and you can’t go to this region and NOT see it. Afterwards, I continued on to Narbonne for the night but if you prefer, you could simply do this as a day trip from Toulouse.

Itinerary adjustment: If you are short on time, you could combine Albi and Carcassone into one long day trip. In fact, if you don’t have a car you can book this tour of Albi, Carcassone and Cordes (another fortified historic town) for the day from Toulouse.

Day 5 Narbonne

I enjoyed a chill day in this pretty little town. There is a beach but it was cooler weather in October when I went so I just enjoyed a little shopping, eating at the marche, which is considered one of the best in all of France, and being dazzled by the huge gothic cathedral. Narbonne was a nice place to break up the trip between the Languedoc and Provence regions, but I easily could have chosen other nearby towns like Montpelier or Beziers. If you are into gothic cathedrals, I would definitely put Narbonne on the list just for that!

Day 6 Aix-En-Provence with stop in Arles

Literally everybody who visits Aix falls in love with it. I drove to Aix-En-Provence from Narbonne and stopped in Arles along the way and loved it. There are literally so many cute towns in this region, it was hard to focus but I’m glad I saw Arles. It is lovely and I had one of the best meals of my trip there (such a surprise) and saw the Roman ruins. Yes those Romans built stuff everywhere.

None of these drives were long so if you leave early enough you can easily visit 2 cities in one day and maximize time.

Day 7 Aix-en-Provence

I spent a full day just enjoying this absolute charmer of a city. It is a small city but feels big enough that you aren’t bored. The shopping area in the center is fabulous with many pedestrian only streets and tons of cafes and restaurants. There are wonderful museums as well You can see where so many French impressionists got their inspiration. This is one of my favorite cities in France. I would live here in heartbeat.

Day 8 Day trip to Marseille

Marseille is the 2nd largest city in France and somewhat polarizing. I hear very mixed reviews about it and wanted to see for myself. I took the hour long train ride from Aix to Marseilles and did this walking tour of the Le Panier neighborhood. This was an afternoon tour so in the morning, prior to the tour, I explored on my own. I used the metro and walked up to the iconic and imposing Basilica Notre Dame de la Gard, then roamed around the Notre Dame de Mont neighborhood which was recently voted the coolest in the world by Time Out magazine.

Marseille definitely deserves another visit where I stay there and see more. Nearby Cassis is supposedly lovely but I was lazy and didn’t fit this in, opting instead to relax in Aix.

Here are some more options of cool things do do. In warmer weather the calanques near Marseille and Cassis look incredible. You could opt to stay in Marseilles and instead visit Aix as a day trip. It depends on the vibe you are going for. Marseille is of course a much bigger city and will be easier to book tours from there.

Tour of Aix, Cassis and the Calanques from Marseilles

Day 9 St Paul de Vence

I left Aix and drove 2 hours to St Paul de Vence. I could have stopped in Cassis but I left too late, however I was able to stop and roam around the teeny but very pretty town of Mougins, where Pablo Picasso spent the last 12 years of his life.

Day 10 St Paul de Vence and Vence

St Paul is a picturesque perched town and is simply delightful. This is yet another place that doesn’t feel real as you walk through the narrow ancient stone streets. I loved the shopping here and walking along the ramparts enjoying stunning vistas of the French countryside. You can even see the Mediterranean from some spots. It has an upscale feel to it with many galleries and artists’ shops. The restaurants along the ledge at the top all have spectacular countryside views. It’s definitely a vibe.

Vence, which is just a 15 minute drive from St Paul, is also beautiful and more low key. It offers more of a “normal town” feel while St Paul feels very “resorty” if that makes sense. Some people prefer staying in Vence since it is less crowded with tourists than St Paul. You can’t go wrong either way. I actually can recommend 2 hotels, one in each place and both excellent. Near St. Paul, I stayed at the Hotel Le Grande Bastide and loved it. It has great views of St. Paul. Near Vence you can consider La Bastide du Pin, a gorgeous property with a pool and incredible views.

If you are into art, there is a very cool place near St. Paul called Fondation Maeght. It was established by Marguerite and Aimé Maeght in 1964 and houses paintings, sculptures, collages, ceramics and all forms of modern art. Some of the biggest sculptors of the 20th century, including Georges Braque, Joan Miró and Alberto Giacometti, came to help to create this fondation, the first independent art foundation in France.

Day 11 Day trip to Grasse

Grasse is a 1 hour drive from St Paul and is the perfume mecca of France. I did the perfume experience at Fragonard. It was very informative and fun. Afterwards I walked around Grasse and had lunch, then visited the Musee de Parfum which was fantastic and I spent more time here than expected. I had no idea the history of perfum was so fascinating! I got caught in a miserable rainstorm this day and had a terrible drive back to my hotel in St Paul and ordered a takeout burger at the recommendation of my hotel staff and I was NOT disappointed. Have you ever had a burger with Mimolette cheese???

Day 12 Nice

Nice is very close to St Paul so this was an easy drive. I spent the day walking along the Promenade d’Anglais, walked up the hill called Colline du Chateau for fabulous views. There is a random waterfall up there. Vieux Nice was lovely to roam around and is like going back in time. I loved the restaurant Chez Juliette. I would also recommend going to the Chagall museum. There is also a Matisse museum a bit further away from the center.

I did not go to the beach while here but there are plenty to choose from. Many people love Villefrance-sur-Mer and Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat which are both very close.

Day 13 Day Trip in Provence for Rose Wine

If you love wine, you have to do this trip. It was an Airbnb Experience and I had the most fun day ever. It was a small group, around 8-10 people. The guide picked us up in Nice and we drove out the countryside. There were 3 wine estates total with a stop at a fabulous restaurant for lunch. I honestly don’t like Rose as much as other wines but this trip changed my mind. Provence is Rose Mecca and they know what they’re doing.

Day 14 Day Trip to Monte Carlo

If I was low on time I would skip Monte Carlo but it is so close. You could even combine Eze and Monte Carlo (half day in each). I was with a friend who really wanted to spend the whole day there so I did. It is beautiful but a bit boring. And expensive. Things to do there include the Royal Palace, Prince Albert’s car collection (if you’re into that), the Casino Real (make sure you plan ahead to go while they offer a tour or you can’t see very much). There is a beach side walkway called ? full of restaurants. It almost reminded me of Miami for some reason. Maybe because of the glamorous snobby vibes? I had decent Italian food at an overrpriced restaurant on the beach. Meh. It is what it is.

Day 15 Menton/Eze

I stopped in Eze on the way and spent half a day. I’m glad I decided not to stay in Eze because it is challenging to visit. Cars cannot enter the center and there are some rugged steep hills and dragging luggage around would be challenging. I did notice a Relais and Chateau check in area at the bottom of the hill that takes you to the city from the parking and I think they take care of all those pesky logistics and I’m sure other high end hotels have a similar service if you decide you absolutely must stay here.

There is a stunning exotic garden at the top with incredible views. You can have a nice meal at a restaurant with a view and then carry on to Menton, which is just 30 min or so. Eze also has a small satellite Fragonard location so if you didn’t have a change to visit Grasse to do a perfume experience you can do this in Eze. I would book ahead.

Day 16 Menton

I’m glad I decided to spend 2 nights here because I fell in love with Menton, it was my favorite in the Riviera region (Cote D’Azure) and for me it was the perfect blend of the beauty of Nice and Cannes but without the attitude. It is often called the prettiest town in France and it’s definitely deserves to be a contender. Menton is the last town before the border of Italy so it has some Italian vibes. This is the only place in France where lemons grow on trees and gets the most sun in the entire country. It has a beach, it has nice shopping and it’s picture perfect, with it’s pastel yellow and peach buildings. It was a great place to end my trip and it’s a place I’m eager to return to.

Day 17 Fly out from Nice

From Menton, the Nice Airport was only 30 minutes. Easy!

I know 17 days is a very long trip and that most people have 2 weeks or less to travel which is why I can recommend the following shortened itineraries that give you almost the same experience that I had. The first one includes Toulouse and the Languedoc area and the 2nd is more coastal riviera focused.

Two Week Southern France Itinerary Options

Option 1: Toulouse to Nice

• Day 1 Toulouse
• Day 2 Day Trip to Albi/Carcassone or just Carcassone
• Day 3 Drive to Aix en Provence (or Marseille). Stop along way in Narbonne/Arles. (this is a 4 hour drive without stops)
• Day 4 Hang out in Aix en Provence
• Dy 5 Day trip to Marseille vs Day trip to Cassis or both? (or stay in Marseille and do the day trip to Aix and Cassis)
• Day 6 Drive to St Paul de Vence ( optional stop in Mougins)
• Day 7 Day Trip to Grasse
• Day 8 Visit St Paul and Vence
• Day 9 Drive to Nice. Hang out rest of Day in Nice
• Day 10 Day to trip to Monte Carlo and Eze
• Day 11 Rose wine day trip
• Day 12 Drive to Menton
• Day 13 Relax in Menton
• Day 14 Drive to Nice to fly home

So this is 2-3 nights Toulouse/3 nights either Aix or Marseille/3 nights St Paul or Vence/3 nights Nice/2 nights Menton

Option 2: Provence and Riviera Only (no car)

• Day 1 Arrive in Nice and immediately either drive or take train to Aix or Marseille (choose a base for region)
• Day 2 Spend time in Aix or Marseille
• Day 3 Day trip to Aix or Marseille (whichever you aren’t staying in)
• Day 4 Calanques/Cassis Day Trip
• Day 5 Take train from Marseille to Antibes (around 2 hours)
• Day 6 Antibes
• Day 7 Train to Nice
• Day 8 Hang out in Nice/beach day
• Day 9 Rose wine trip
• Day 10 Day trip to Eze/Monte Carlo
• Day 11 Menton
• Day 12 Menton

This trip is shorter than the first, a bit more relaxed and give more beach time if that is the goal.

It is 4 nights Aix/Marseille, 2 nights Antibes, 4 nights Nice, 2 nights Menton. Obviously you can change this around and spend more or less days in any of the places to suit your needs.

Everything is so close here, you really could just base yourself in Nice and do day trips to St Paul, to Grasse, to Eze, to Menton etc if you really wanted to keep things simple or don’t want to have a car. That is always an option. I wanted to experience staying in St Paul and Menton, just to mix it up a bit.

If you have more time consider the Avignon region. This will be my next trip since the perched towns of Luberon and Gordes look incredible and the Chateauneuf de Pape region of wine is legendary. There are many wineries in this area that look fantastic. I need a week in Avignon to visit this area properly.

France Basics

I include this basic info in almost all of my posts just in case this is the only post of mine you’ve read.

Language

French

In southern France, particularly the western part, Languedoc, you can find Spanish speakers but typically the 2nd language is English and I’d say it’s about 40% of the time that you’ll find a fluent English speaker. May the odds be ever in your favor!

I speak decent French and despite what so many Americans say, I have almost never had an unpleasant encounter trying to communicate with French people. This is after 8 trips in all parts of the country. The thing to remember is that if your French is terrible, it’s not their job to be your French teacher or practice buddy so if they switch to English, don’t be offended. Most people you encounter in the service industry have a job to do and if speaking English makes it easier and that’s what they prefer, go with it. Yes occasionally you will find patient servers who let you muddle through your French if you want to practice. Read the room!

Currency

Euro

Almost everywhere accepts credit cards but every now and then you will need some cash. I like to get some euro for tips to leave for the hotel maid and other little things here and there. Some street vendors will only take cash. I like to give coins to street musicians, things like that. ATMs are everywhere including the airport when you land so easy to get 50 Euro or so. And if you have some at the end, just keep it for your next trip. Read my Tips for Accessing and Spending Money Overseas here.

Getting Around

I rented a car and found driving in France fairly easy. A few tips I recommend. Figure out your parking ahead of time. Try to find hotels with parking but if they don’t offer it, ask your hotel where the closest parking garage is located and put that in your navigation. Driving around a European city you’re unfamiliar with, looking for parking is not fun. When stopping in cities or villages that you are not planning to spend the night in, again look up where parking lots are located just OUTSIDE the center. This is key because trying to get into the center of small villages is where trouble awaits. Trust me, I have stories. Just walk 5-10 minutes to get to the center and keep it easy by parking on the outskirts. Here are my Tips for International Car Rental.

When to Go?

If you want beach time, June-September will typically be warm enough. The ocean water is warmer at the end of summer. July an August are the most crowded months so I would suggest May/June or Sept/Oct. If you are after lavender blooms, this usually occurs mid-June to mid-August. Winter gets very cold but offers the least amount of crowds and likely lower prices if that’s what you are after. Many businesses may close in the off season as well.

I went in the fall (which I highly recommend) so I didn’t focus on the beaches although Narbonne, Nice and Menton are all beach towns so I guess I did SEE the beach. I tend to avoid ultra popular places like St Tropez and Cannes but it could be a fun day trip if you want to see these rich bougie places.

This is meant to just be a starting point for your planning but as you can see, Southern France is a massive region with so much to do. It’s very hard to choose but I can guarantee that wherever you go, it will be fabulous.