The South of France attracts millions of travelers each year, and with good reason. Lined with gorgeous beaches, sizzling summer weather, endless culture and neatly laced with a whole lot of sex appeal, it’s one magical combination of a destination. And we haven’t even started harping on the world class food, wine, pastries and coffee found in this magical part of the world yet either! Here’s where to go and what to do for a perfect trip in the South of France.
Known for its famous international film festival, this idyllic resort town on the French Riviera is a beautiful, vibrant place to visit, long after the stars have left town- which they never fully do, by the way. annes is the perfect place to discover the art of “tan and relax” thanks to it’s sandy beaches, quality restaurants and extra sensory dose of glamour. If the city looks vaguely familiar, it’s because it was the backdrop to Elton John’s classic music video- ‘I’m still standing’. It’s also the best place in the world for spotting mega yachts, in case you’re into that kinda thing.
Things to do:
- Le Suquet (old town)
- Promenade de la Croisette
- Iles de Lérins
- Public and private beaches
Places to stay:
Places to eat:
- Le Salon des Independants
- Restaurant Le Park 45
- Le Roof
- Boulangerie Jean-Luc Pelé
A lively coastal town, especially in the never ending summer, Saint Tropez is a buzzing jet set location, famous for attracting a mix of artists and artisans of night life. It’s the perfect place to escape the major cities for a bit of culture, sunshine, quality food and slightly mischievous fun.
Things to do:
- The Citadel
- La Glaye/Pampelonne (beaches)
- La Ponche (the old town)
- Sentier du Littoral (beautiful scenic path)
Places to stay:
Places to eat:
It may be a common destination, but Nice is extraordinary. With most international flights arriving into Côte d’Azur Airport, the city is the first jaunt for any great South of France trip. The famous Promenade des Anglais is chock full of truly world class cafes and hotels and there’s a never ending supply of infinity pools overlooking the coast. Basically, whether at the start or the end of your holiday, it’s a must do. Before you go, be sure to make the 25 minute trip to Saint Paul de Vence which is an absolutely gorgeous part of the area.
Things to do:
- Vieille Ville (old town)
- Cours Saleya Market
- Promenade des Anglais
- Musée Marc Chagall
Places to stay:
Places to eat:
Ok, technically it’s not France- it’s the second smallest independent state in the world, but Monaco’s beautiful setting and luxurious lifestyle draws in travelers from all over the world. Full of high-end casinos, luxury hotels, nightclubs, restaurants and extravagant yachts it’s a fun place to visit; especially for the Grand Prix or Monte Carlo Masters tennis tournament once a year. Just be sure to bring a full wallet if possible.
Things to do:
Places to stay:
Places to eat:
One of the most gorgeous regions in France- not to mention the very best smelling, Provence is absolutely lovely. Combining the snow capped mountains of the Southern Alps, endless rolling vineyards, pine forests and famous lavender fields, Provence is a true must visit area, and a place where one or two days might not cut it. The villages are picture perfect, the rustic French country cuisine will inspire cravings for decades and the fields are like nothing you’ve ever seen.
Things to do:
- Gorges du Verdon
- Palais des Papes
- Abbaye de Senanque (best between June and August for the lavender)
- Camargue (whole region with lots to do)
Places to stay:
Places to eat:
Toulon is a classic port city with a large military harbour, about half way between Saint Tropez and Marseille, on France’s southern tip. Like many of the utterly desirable neighboring cities, it’s lined with sandy beaches, perfect for those looking to soak up some summer sun. But with Mont Faron in the background, it offers unique natural beauty and plenty of active lifestyle activities to keep you busy- before a glass of rosé of course…
Things to do:
- Mont Faron (can take cable car)
- Cours Lafayette
- Plages du Mourillon (beaches full with bars and restaurants)
- Toulon Port
Places to stay:
Places to eat:
- L’Aromate Provençal
- Les Pins Penchés
- Tables et Comptoir
- La Reine des Tartes
Really, there’s an endless amount of amazing places to see and fantastic food to be eaten- but you’ve gotta start somewhere, and on a first trip, these destinations are hard to beat. If you are into a bit more low key or lesser traveled feel, be sure to also visit Antibes, Juan-Les-Pins, Cap-d’Ail, Beaulieu-sur-Mer, Fréjus and Saint-Raphaël. They’re all close enough together and each have their own unique, wonderful character, in addition to being great day stops along the journey! Bon voyage!
Feature image used under Wiki Creative Commons License V 2.0
dude the Elton John song I’m Still Standing was in front of Carlton (now InterCon) hotel in Cannes, not Nice. This article just seems like copy and paste from the internet. Perhaps provide actual insights next time?!
Uh oh Gordon. You’re not wrong, but you’re NOT right. It was filmed in both. As per the director of the video: The video, directed by Russell Mulcahy, was shot in Cannes (InterContinental Carlton Cannes) and Nice on the Côte d’Azur in France and features the colors of the French flag. So thanks for being a jerk for literally no reason.
Great post. You gave me the starting point for an amazing vacation. This would be my dream trip, making a few days stop in each of the places you mentioned. Thanks so much.
Lol. Of all the extremely useful info in this post, which obviously took a long time (I mean, multiple recommendations for things to do, where to stay, and where to eat [something you rarely see bloggers do and is awesome!!] for every single place WITH LINKS), and Gordon has to point out that a song was shot in a location IN ADDITION to the one listed… and the accusation of copy & paste when these are at minimum not well known and more probably tested by the writer/staff… that’s just dumb and unfounded
I adore Nice. It has my favorite little cheese/meat shop in the world. Check it out if you’re ever in the area: Les Chalets d’Alpage.
Thanks for all the actionable, useful info. Always look forward to coming to this blog at the end of the day. I just always find myself wishing there were more content!
Ps. There should be a reply button in these comments so I can directly address dickhead above.