What Is South Of France? What Will Be The Perfect South Of France Itinerary?
BY
Sibashree
Aug 13, 2025
Key Highlights:
What Is The South Of France?
Why Is The South Of France So Popular?
Where To Go In South Of France?
How Does A Perfect South Of France Itinerary For 7 Days Look Like?
Where To Stay In The South Of France?
Where To Visit In The South Of France On A Budget?
What Are The South Of France Cities Near The Beach?
What Are The Most Beautiful Places In Southern France For Young Adults?
What Is The Best Time To Visit The South Of France?
Home to the Cannes Film Festival and the Monaco Grand Prix and blessed with 300 days of Sunshine in a year, the South of France is the ultimate luxury tourism destination.
The region also appeals to global travelers with the best wines, such as Bordeaux, Languedoc, Cahors, and Armagnac brandy. So, it is no wonder that the South of France is a crown jewel in the French luxury tourism landscape, about to reach $53.6 billion by 2030.
Moreover, the South of France is home to many luxurious hotels, chateaux, and villas, such as Le Collectionist luxury villas in Provence. These high-end accommodations cater to ultra-high-net-worth travelers and ensure a premium experience.
However, there is more to visiting the South of France. Natural abundance, cultural heritage, and great food make it a destination for wholesome travel delights.
In this Tour and Travel Blog, we will explore the various aspects of the South of France and why it is a dream destination. We will also share a 7-day itinerary so that you can plan the trip well.
What Is South Of France?
The South of France is a district region, comprising Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur. Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur (PACA), itself, is a combination of six district departments. Those are:
Alpes-Maritimes
Bouches-du-Rhône
Alpes-de-Haute-Provence
Hautes-Alpes
Vaucluse
Var
This region caters to every type of traveler and is almost an epitome of the natural wonders we love to visit.
The French Riviera beaches complement the rugged beauty of the Alps here. On the other hand, Provence promises the most quaint experience with vineyards, small villages, and hills smelling like lavender.
You can add to that the cultural and artistic heritage of Aix-en-Provence and the cosmopolitan vibe of cities such as Avignon and Marseille. Marseille especially indulges you with the charm of the French good life, and it’s for wanderers who just want to travel slow and connect.
Bordeaux with its best wines and vineyards, Verdon Gorge with its serene green landscape, and Camargue with its wetlands and wildlife are other prominent destinations in the South of France.
Why Is South Of France So Popular?
Gorgeous seaside towns
The majestic Alps
Roman ruins
Medieval villages
Long stretches of vineyards
The Best wines
The tranquility that makes you connect to nature!
These are reasons why everyone loves the South of France. Now, nobody will take away the best from the South of France. However, some new developments make the South of France more popular among modern travelers.
1. Better Accessibility And Travel Connectivity: How To Reach The South Of France?
The South of France is well connected to Paris. You can take a flight from Paris, and it takes around 90 minutes to cover the distance.
Furthermore, you can take the SNCF Connect sleeper train, running from Paris to Cannes or Nice. For a more luxurious journey, board Belmond’s Venice Simplon-Orient-Express from Paris to Cannes.
It is an 18-hour journey with breakfast and gourmet meals.
Irrespective of the train you choose, you can buy the unlimited rail pass for the commute between Paris and the South of France.
2. Urban Improvements To Enhance The Experience Of Global Travelers
Nice has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2021. It now has the Promenade des Anglais, which is ideal for strolls and tourists who love to explore the city on foot.
Furthermore, today, the sidewalk looks beautiful with many trees and cafe terraces.
Moreover, the new Convention Center here just hosted the U.N. Ocean Conference 2025 in July. Also, it is likely to have a tram line directly connected to the airport and a pleasure port for excursions on boats.
3. Aix-en-Provence Is To Have New Cultural Sites And Updated Museums
Atelier des Lauves, the studio of the famous French impressionist, Paul Cezanne, reopened in Aix-en-Provence on 28th June, 2025.
Also, Jas de Bouffan, his family’s home, was opened for the first time.
Fondation Maeght in Saint-Paul de Vence, the first independent art foundation of France, just had an expansion to celebrate its 60th anniversary last year. After the expansion, the foundation now has an exhibition space of 5,300+ square feet.
This space shows the works of Pablo Picasso, Alberto Giacometti, and Marc Chagall.
Furthermore, Nice’s Musée Matisse reopened in 2024 after a long period of renovation work, and La Malmaison, the contemporary art exhibition space of Cannes, reopened.
4. The Celebration Of Perfume Heritage In South Of France
The South of France is the Mecca for a perfume connoisseur. The Rose et Marius in Aix-en-Provence or the factory of L’Occitane en Provence in Manosque have enhanced the tourism experience for tourists having a keen interest in fashion and perfumes.
Moreover, at Rose et Marius, you can attend a workshop and design your own perfume. On the other hand, you can register online and visit L’Occitane en Provence for a face diagnostic and get a free hand cream.
5. For The Love Of Ceramics And Pottery
Marseille, the port city of the South of France, is now emerging as the new hotspot amidst all the glamor and glitz of the French Riviera.
Since the COVID-19 era, many Parisians have also moved to Marseille for the quality of life, and the high-speed train ride to this port city from Paris is an amazing experience.
Furthermore, Aubagne, just outside this city, is a popular destination in the European ceramic landscape. Ravel Poterie, Santon Di Landro, and Louis Sicard are some important potteries here.
Where To Go In South Of France?
The South of France has many options if you want to experience the ultimate French beauty. However, here are our favorite destinations in the South of France.
1. Nice And Alpes-Maritimes
Nice, the capital, and Cannes are two landmark destinations in Alpes-Maritimes.
Furthermore, Nice is a cultural hub with Matisse and Chagall museums and the Promenade des Anglais.
Cannes, with its glitz and glamor and, of course, the much-celebrated film festival, is a global name in cultural tourism.
Also, this region has the town of Grasse, “The Perfume Capital of the World,” and Antibes, housing the Picasso Museum and wonderful beaches.
2. Bouches-du-Rhône And Marseille
Marseille, the capital of Bouches-du-Rhône, is a crown jewel in the tourism of the South of France. Some important cultural and historical landmarks here are:
Basilique Notre-Dame de la Garde
MUCEM museum
Arles here is a standout place, being home to the Roman amphitheater and its connection with Van Gogh.
Moreover, the Camargue wetlands, with flamingos and wild horses, and the Calanques National Park with limestone cliffs are prominent natural wonders in thai region.
3. Var And Its Capital, Toulon
Mediterranean coastline
A vibrant nightlife
Rich maritime history
A beautiful harbor
Var and its capital, Toulon, are famous for all these things. Furthermore, you will love the quiet beaches of Îles d’Hyères and areas like Bandol with expansive vineyards and massive production of rosé wines.
4. Avignon And Vaucluse
Along with the quintessential Provençal countryside charm, Vaucluse remains an important historical and cultural landmark in the South of France.
Vaucluse, its capital, has a performing arts festival every year in July. On the other hand, Orange has one of the best preserved Roman theaters, and it still hosts many performances.
Pont d’Avignon and Palais des Papes are other important landmarks in Vaucluse.
In addition, Valucluse offers you the most peaceful retreat in the Luberon region, filled with beautiful rolling hills, quaint villages like Roussillon, and vineyards.
5. Alpes-de-Haute-Provence And Digne-les-Bains
With Digne-les-Bains as the capital, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence is famous for thermal baths and lavender fields.
It is also home to Gorges du Verdon, the largest canyon in Europe, and a beautiful hilltop town with a citadel, Sisteron.
Also, don’t forget to visit the Lavender Museum and the Valensole lavender plains in summer.
Moreover, if it is Jean Giono who introduced you to the South of France, you must explore Manosque, the writer’s hometown.
6. Hautes-Alpes And Gap
Hautes-Alpes is famous for the beauty of the French Alps. Gap is the capital city, and Haute-Alpes is also home to the Écrins National Park, a popular summer destination for hikers thanks to its dramatic cliffs and glaciers.
Also, Hautes-Alpes has Briançon, one of the highest mountainous cities, and it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of the Vauban fortifications.
How Does A Perfect South Of France Itinerary For 7 Days Look Like?
Here, we have made a sample 7-day itinerary for you in the South of France. As I am yet to make it to the South of France, I have made this itinerary based on my online research and after consultation with a local travel expert.
7-Day Itinerary for the South of France Activities and Places to VisitDay 1• Exploring Marseille and traveling to Aix-en-Provence• Visiting the fountains and the Cours Mirabeau in Aix-en-ProvenceDay 2• Visiting the Luberon Region and exploring beautiful villages such as Roussillon and GordesDay 3• A trip to the Calanques National Park, boating, and kayaking thereDay 4• Visit Nice and enjoy the vibe at the Promenade des AnglaisDay 5• Monaco day tripDay 6• Explore Antibes and its Picasso MuseumDay 7• Day trip to Cannes
Where To Stay In South Of France?
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Le Collectionist (@lecollectionist)
I have already mentioned that the South of France, being a luxury tourist destination, has high-end villas such as Le Collectionist villas in Provence.
Furthermore, you will find many short-term and long-term holiday rentals for improved privacy at a more reasonable rate.
Also, Hotel Port Palace in Monte Carlo or Le Negresco in Nice are some luxurious hotels in this region.
Moreover, the Provence region, Côte d'Azur, and Languedoc-Roussillon have some amazing campsites if you want to spend your days in Southern France in the company of nature.
What Is The Best Time To Visit The South Of France?
April to May and September to October are the best months to visit the South of France.
In April and May, you will see the lavender in full bloom, while the summer is yet to set, keeping the temperature within 20-25 degrees Celsius.
On the other hand, September to October is the ideal time to explore the beaches and other coastal getaways of the South of France.
South Of France: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are the frequently asked questions about the South of France.
1. Where To Visit In The South Of France On A Budget? If you are traveling on a budget, you can explore the following destinations in the South of France. • Antibes• Nice• Avignon• Cannes• Saint Paul de Vence• Monaco• RoussillonFurthermore, while traveling on a budget, you can choose Nice as your base. It has the most affordable holiday rentals. Also, you can easily take train trips from Nice and explore places like Monaco. Also, cook your own meals to avoid spending a fortune at expensive restaurants. 2. What Are The Most Beautiful Places In Southern France For Young Adults? From classic French Riviera destinations to a place with beautiful lemon groves, the South of France has plenty to offer to young adult tourists. Here are our favorites.• Nice with its beaches, vibrant nightlife, and of course, the Promenade des Anglais• Cannes with its boutiques and all the love for films• Saint-Tropez with its happening beach clubs and high-end shopping experience• Menton, with its vibrant buildings, lemon groves, and proximity to the Italian border 3. What Are The South Of France Cities Near Beach? Cannes, Nice, Saint-Tropez, Marseille, and Menton are the most beautiful cities near the beaches in the South of France. 4. What Is The Nicest Part Of The South Of France? Provence is the nicest part of the South of France. Artistic heritage, Roman ruins, beautiful lavender fields, great wines and food, and charming hilltop villages. Furthermore, blessed with the Mediterranean Coast and the Verdon Gorge, it is also a popular destination for watersports. 5. What Is The Safest Part Of the South Of France? Bordeaux, Toulouse, Monaco, and Aix-en-Provence are some of the safest places to stay in the South of France. These places have low crime rates, and the chances of encountering violent crimes are pretty rare. However, the French Riviera has frequent cases of petty theft.