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Happily Ever Adventures

24 Stunning Stops for Your South of France Road Trip Itinerary

Europe · France · Travel

Ah the South of France. Our favorite place in the world to travel to. We recently went on a 10 day South of France road trip and it was hands down our favorite trip ever. We are actually going back for our anniversary this year to do another South of France road trip. If you’d like to experience it for yourself, we’ve created a 10 day south of France itinerary to share with you. We’ve also included all things you need to know for your south of France vacation, so get ready, this is a very comprehensive guide! 

First things first, this south of France road trip itinerary is for 10 days, but in a perfect world, you’d be able to spend much longer in the south of France. From the sparkling seas, magical fairy tale villages, and idyllic countryside of Provence to the colorful and glam streets of the French Riviera, there is A LOT to do and see on a south of France vacation {as well as a lot to eat!}

We would love to spend a full month exploring the south of France, but we are limited by things like vacation days, budgets, and a never ending travel bucket list. If you are able to spend more than 10 days in the south of France, we highly recommend 2-3 weeks in order to create your perfect south of France itinerary.

If you’re limited on time like we usually are, we’ve got you covered with this 10 day south of France road trip itinerary {as well an alternate itinerary}, exploring the highlights of Provence and the French Riviera. We had a very difficult time planning our south of France travel plans because the region is just so large! We couldn’t fit in everything we wanted to see and we spent many long nights trying to figure it out.

Eventually we just accepted that we would need to narrow down what we could see and we could always come back. Here is the itinerary we followed {and loved!}, as well as an alternate south of France itinerary suggestion. Both south of France itineraries cover the highlights of Provence and the French Riviera. This way you will be able to visit the most popular towns and get a reference point for where you’d like to explore more of if you choose to come back. If you’d prefer to focus your time in just one area, check out our guide to the Luberon . We hope our south of France travel itinerary will help streamline your planning and you have an amazing south of France road trip!

24 Stunning Stops for Your South of France Road Trip Itinerary:

Covering the highlights of provence and the french riviera, this post contains affiliate links.

The perfect 10 day south of France itinerary:

A few notes before we get started:.

This south of France road trip itinerary starts off in Provence and ends in the French Riviera. We’ve laid it out this way assuming that you are flying in and out of Nice. We find it most time efficient to fly into Nice, rent a car at the airport, have a home base in the Luberon to explore Provence, and finally enjoy the French Riviera before departing out of the Nice airport. You can of course do this the opposite way; this is just our opinion.

For the purposes of this south of France itinerary, we’ve used L’Isle Sur La Sorgue { read why we feel this is the best home base in Provence } as the home base in Provence and Nice as the home base in the French Riviera. Even if it meant more driving, we preferred having a home base because it really helped us get to know the area we were staying in, we were able to pretend to be locals by having a routine in the area, and we preferred the convenience of not moving around too many times.

We’ve arranged the days to space out the longer driving days with shorter drives days. Feel free to rearrange the days to fit your needs, as well as accommodate for the market days whenever possible

This south of France itinerary is a slightly hectic schedule to fit in the most possible. The beauty of the south of France, especially Provence, is the slow pace lifestyle and the relaxation. Feel free to skip cities {even if they are major ones!} so you can truly relax and enjoy the magic of the south of France. We’ve included all the best places to visit in the south of France, but pick and choose what works for you and your itinerary. 

This south of France itinerary focuses more on Provence than the French Riviera. This is just the part of the south of France that we preferred. With only 10 days, you will most likely be heavier in one portion of the south of France than the other. It is difficult to see both Provence and the French Riviera thoroughly in 10 days.

If you have longer than 10 days to spend in the south of France {lucky you!}, you can definitely spend more time in each of the towns we’ve included. There are plenty more towns you can add as well! This book lists all the towns that are designated the prettiest towns in France and will give you some good ideas!

It goes without saying that wandering is the top things to do at any of the recommended towns, but we’ve also included a few points of interest as well. Please take your time to slow down and wander as much as possible! That’s really how you’ll experience the magic of the south of France. It’s really not about hitting a specific list of sites, it’s more about discovering each town and village

We hope our sample south of France road trip itinerary helps you create the perfect itinerary for your own south of France vacation! Here are the best places to visit in the south of France!

South of France Road Trip Day 1: Nice to L’Isle Sur La Sorgue {possible stop in Cassis}

Estimated Drive Time (I’sle Sur La Sorgue only}: 2 hours, 30 minutes

Estimated Drive Time (with stop in Cassis}: 3 hours, 30 minutes

Arrival day! The south of France itinerary starts in Nice!

Most likely you will arrive in Nice and drive to L’Isle Sur La Sorgue, where you’ll be staying as your home base for the Provence portion of the trip. If you’re coming from another part of France like we did, you can also just drive straight to L’Isle Sur La Sorgue. ( Here’s why we recommend staying in L’Isle Sur La Sorgue ) If you prefer staying somewhere else, Saint Remy is another great choice. 

| search accommodations in L’Isle Sur La Sorgue | search accomodations in Saint Remy | 

If you land in the morning and have a full day ahead, you can stop in Cassis for a few hours before heading to L’Isle Sur La Sorgue. Cassis is a gorgeous sea front town that you can easily spend 1-2 days at. With a rushed south of France itinerary like this, a half day should be okay. That was all we had and without partaking in any water activities, it was enough time to explore the town. Every little corner of this seafront town is absolutely gorgeous! We couldn’t stop taking photos!

Things to do in Cassis:

• Hike Calanques de Cassis (bring comfortable shoes if you want to hike)
• Try Creme de Cassis (a liquor made from blackcurrant. I especially adore it in a Kir Royale , champagne with creme de cassis)
• Check out the view from Cap Canaille

South of France Road Trip Day 2: L’Isle Sur La Sorgue + Fontaine de Vaucluse

Estimated Round Trip Drive Time:  30 minutes

We highly recommend spending a full day exploring your home base of L’Isle Sur La Sorgue. You can also fit in a few hours at the nearby village of Fontaine de Vaucluse. If at all possible with your south of France itinerary, have your L’Isle Sur La Sorgue day be on a Sunday, as the whole town turns into a giant food and antique market. It’s quite an experience and what the town is famous for! If there’s no way you can be there on a Sunday, there are antique markets all week, you just don’t see the whole town turn into one.

Things to do in L’Isle Sur La Sorgue:

• Antique market –  there are small stores all week, but on Sundays the entire town turns into one big antique market
• Dinner at Le Vivier – Located in a nondescript shopping center, it was one of our favorite meals during our south of France vacation and very affordable for such a nice dinner. We had the best bottle of wine of our whole France trip here
• Check out our L’Isle Sur la Sorgue guide for more

For more on L’Isle Sur La Sorgue, check out this guide 

South of France Road Trip Day 3: Oppede, Menerbes, and Bonniuex

Day 3 of our south of France itinerary has you exploring the villages of Oppede, Menerbes, and Bonniuex in the Luberon region of Provence. The villages are small enough that you can experience all of them in a single day.

Our day was a bit rushed for a few reasons: we took way too much time taking photos in Oppede, we had a 3 hour lunch in Bonniuex, and we went in the fall when the days are shorter.

If you have room in your itinerary and like to take a slower pace, you could do Oppede and Menerbes in a day and spend an entire day in Bonnieux. This will allow you a leisurely pace. If you don’t have time, you can do all 3 in a day.

An old village dating back to the 12th century with picturesque cobbled streets and plenty of french blue shutter windows. It’s so incredibly charming! It’s a very quiet town and perfect to explore for just an hour or two. You really don’t need much time here because it’s so small, but we spent several hours wandering around because every single corner is just so pretty and charming. 

Park your car at the entrance, which is considered the “new village” and walk to the “old village”. 

Things to do in Oppede:

• The Old Village –  Ruins of the castle and several chapels. It’s a beautiful walk with with lots of Roman ruins and historic charm
• Grab a small bite at Le Petite Cafe –  If it’s open while you’re there, this is a very cute, colorful, and whimsical spot to sit for a bite to eat

Another impossibly charming town full of french blue shutter windows. We felt we were walking on a movie set. Menerbes is named one of the most beautiful villages in France and you’ll easily be able to see why. Most of Peter Mayle’s stories take place in Menerbes and he lived just outside of the village for most of his time in Provence.

Things to do in Menerbes:

• Truffles and wine at Maison de la Truffle et du Vin –  An amazing spot to try local truffles and sample some delicious wine of the region
• Castellet –  A beautiful 15th century fortress

Built on a plateau above the valley, Bonniuex has some of the best views in the region. We think this is one of the villages you can’t miss. From the picturesque cobblestone streets and the amazing views to the fabulous dining and the fantastic market, Bonnieux offers so much Provencal charm for day 3 of your south of France itinerary.

Things to do in Bonnieux:

• Vieille-Eglise-de-Bonnieux –  A 12th century church and the landmark of the town. Climb up to the top for a stunning view of the valley
• Friday Market –  The Bonnieux market may be one of the best in the Luberon
• Wine tasting at Chateau la Canorgue –  The gorgeous winery where “The Good Year” was filmed

If you run out of time and want to do Bonnieux another day, you can also add Lacoste or Maubec to that day!

For more detailed information on these villages, check out our post on the Luberon

South of France Road Trip Day 4: Uzes

Estimated Round Trip Drive Time: 2 hours, 30 minutes

Day 4 of the south of France itinerary takes you to the white stone town of Uzes. Wandering around Uzes feels like you’ve discovered a hidden little town. We weren’t expecting much and were planning to only spend a few hours there, but we ended up spending the entire day because we found the 12th century architecture and cobblestone streets so charming. If you think you’ll move at a quicker pace, you can add a quick stop in Uzes to a longer day in Avignon. 

Things to do in Uzes:

• Market –  On Saturdays and Wednesdays. The largest market is on Saturdays and is full of musicians!
• Ice cream at La Fabrique Givree – They offer seasonal and exotic flavors with ingredients imported from all over the world. We enjoyed a 6 scoop tasting platter for $7
• Historic area – Wander around and check out the Medieval Garden, the Fenestrelle tower, and the Cathedral of Saint Théodorit
• Place aux Herbes – the main square of the town. You’ll find plenty of shops and restaurants. This is a good spot for lunch or pre dinner drinks. You’ll want to go elsewhere for dinner. I purchased handmade little porcupines that have spots for toothpicks on their backs to use for serving. So cute and unique! 
• Musée du Bonbon – A candy museum! 
• St Quentin la Poterie – A nearby ceramic producing village with plenty of stores at wholesale prices. You can get much better deals here than at the shops in Place aux Herbes

South of France Road Trip Day 5: Avignon

Estimated Round Trip Drive Time: 1 hour, 15 minutes

Day 5 of the south of France itinerary is in one of the largest towns in the south of France: Avignon. The main attraction is the Papal Palace which towers over the town and there’s also plenty of arts, shopping, and culture. It’s a bustling student town, with lots of activity going on at all times.

I will be very honest, Avignon was not our favorite stop on our South of France road trip; we much preferred the smaller towns. That being said, visit and judge it for yourself, as it’s an extremely popular town in the South of France. We’ll be visiting again later this year to give it a second try. 

Things to do in Avignon:

• Palais des Papes – A UNESCO World Heritage Site that was built to house the popes who fled Rome in the 14th century. You can admire it from the outside or explore the rooms that are open to visitors
• Walk along Pont Saint-Bénézet – Legend has it the bridge was built by a 12 year old shepherd who was instructed by angels to build the bridge in 1177 and was given super human strength to raise a large rock to use for the construction
• Les Halles Market – A large food hall filled with a large range of vendors. This is the perfect spot to grab supplies for a picnic! It’s open every day except Monday from 6am – 2pm. 
• Explore the old city – Avignon’s old town is surrounded by 2.5 miles of 14th-century stone walls. It’s the perfect place to wander!

South of France Road Trip Day 6: Rousillon and Gordes

Estimated Round Trip Drive Time: 1 hour, 6 minutes

Day 6 of our South of France itinerary has you exploring two of our favorite towns: Roussillon and Gordes. Both of them are on “ Les Plus Beaux Villages “,  a list of the prettiest villages in France. Because Roussillon is such a small town, you can explore it the same day as Gordes. If we had more time, we would’ve spent a full day in each one because we loved both so much!

As Marie Mauron famously said, “Who wouldn’t love Roussillon, if they love light, color, ardor, vast horizons and that pristine peace of the starry southern nights?” The entire village appears to be sun soaked in a myriad of orange, red, and dusty pink hues. It’s so incredibly gorgeous and has long attracted artists. This is a must visit on your south of France vacation.

Things to do in Roussillon:

• Les Sentier des Ocres –  This looped walk offering beautiful panoramic views. There is a 30 minute loop and a 50 minute loop, depending what you have time for. You’ll also get to see the ochre the village is famous for and what gives it the beautiful orange and red hues. The ochre deposits in Roussillon are the largest in the world!
• Art Galleries –  Roussillon is full of art galleries and has long been home to many artists. You may see the artists at work in their galleries; many of them creating their masterpieces with pigments from the village
• Read our full guide to Roussillon

Gordes just may be the South of France’s crown jewel. The drive to Gordes is stunning, as is the whole village and the views from its hilltops. The entire village is made from stone, even the gates! Just outside of Gordes is the picturesque Senanque Abbey, which was made famous by its stunning lavender fields.

Things to do in Gordes:

• Senanque Abbey –  12th century monastery with beautiful lavender fields in the summer. Stop by to view the gorgeous property even if the lavender isn’t in bloom
• Dining at Les Bories –  This was one of our favorite dinners on our south of France Road trip
• Read more about Gordes here

South of France Road Trip Day 7 (Option 1): Baux de Provence and Saint Remy de Provence

Estimated Round Trip Drive Time: 1 hour, 44 minutes

If you choose this itinerary for day 7 of your south of France trip, you’ll visit one of Bassam’s favorite villages: Baux de Provence. It’s small enough that you’ll only need a few hours, so you can visit Saint Remy de Provence after. If you move at a quick pace, you can also stop by Arles. 

Baux de Provence:

Baux de Provence is a picturesque medieval village at a fortified rocky site between Arles and Saint Remy. It receives 1.5 million visitors a year, while only containing 22 residents. It’s busy pretty much year around, but off season is a lot lighter. We don’t recommend going in the summer if you prefer to avoid crowds. 

Things to do in Baux de Provence:

• Wander Les Baux Village  – The medieval village is absolutely beautiful to explore and you’ll come across candy shops, souvenir shops, and some food vendors. Plan to spend 1-3 hours exploring
• Visit Chateau des Baux – A clifftop castle that was largely destroyed on 1633. There are maze like ruins and crumbling towers that you can explore and a wonderful view. During the summer, there are all kinds of medieval themed events
• Dinner at Oustau de Baumaniere – A 2 Michelin star restaurant with wonderful reviews 

Check out our quick guide to Baux de Provence

Saint Remy de Provence:

Saint Remy de Provence is a charming village where Van Gogh committed himself for psychiatric treatment and produced some of his best work while institutionalized. It’s best known for the Roman ruins that lay close by and it’s bustling art and food scene.

Things to do in Saint Remy de Provence:

• Dine – There is tons of great dining in Saint Remy, including two Michelin star restaurants:  La Maison Jaune and La Maison a Bournissac. We ate at a more causal and lower priced, but delicious, restaurant: L’Aile ou la Cuisse
• Art – You can visit the instutition Van Gogh was treated it,  St. Paul de Mausole   and visit his room (which still has paint on the floor). You can also walk the grounds which inspired some of his work. There are also plenty of art galleries and two museums: Le Musee des Alpilles and Musee Estrine
• Festivals – Saint Remy de Provence is home to festivals year around, including art, jazz, and wine festivals. Check out what’s going on the time of year you visit

South of France Road Trip Day 7 (Option 2): Cassis and La Ciotat

Another option for Day 7 for your south of France itinerary is to visit the seaside towns of Cassis and La Ciotat, if you didn’t already visit Cassis on your arrival day. If you did already visit Cassis and you want to visit another seaside town along with La Ciotat, you can do Marseilles. 

South of France Road Trip Day 7 (Option 3): Apt & Lacoste 

A third option for Day 7 of your south of France itinerary is to visit Apt. This was a town that we had heard wonderful things about, but we weren’t able to fit into our own south of France trip. It’s on our list to visit next month and we’ll be sure to update our post after.

Apt is best known for it’s giant market, so be sure to plan your visit on market day. 

South of France Road Trip Day 7 (Option 4): French Riviera

If you’d like to spend more time in the French Riviera, head there a day earlier so you can explore an extra town.

South of France Road Trip Day 8: Drive to Nice and spend the day in Nice

The rest of the south of France itinerary has you based in Nice to explore the French Riviera! If this isn’t enough French Riviera for you on your south of France vacation, we’ve included an alternate itinerary that is more heavily based in the French Riviera than this one.

Nice is the perfect home base for you to stay while in the French Rivera. Being the largest city, it has plenty of options for accommodations and is centrally located to all the towns you may want to explore. 

Things to do in Nice:

• Try socca – Chickpea crepes that Nice is famous for. You can purchase them from any street vendor, but we tried an upscale version at L’Atelier (a small husband and wife owned Michelin recommended restaurant) and loved it!
• Dine on Salade Nicoise – You may have had a Nicoise salad before, but since it originated in Nice, we suggest having it for lunch with a glass of rose. A classic Nice lunch! You can also get it as a sandwich if you prefer
• Wander in Vieux Nice (Old Nice) – Truly the most charming part of Nice! We spent the majority of our time wandering here. It’s full of beautiful architecture and pastel colored buildings. At the center is Place Rossetti, which is the town square and offers plenty of dining options
• Plage Beau Rivage Beach Club – The iconic Nice beach club that’s full of blue and white stripe umbrellas. Even if you don’t want to spend time at the beach, pass by here as the umbrellas make for a very pretty sight. The boardwalk near the beach club is a wonderful spot to watch the sunset!

South of France Road Trip Day 9: Nice

For Day 9 of our south of France road trip itinerary, we’ve suggested a second day in Nice. We don’t feel one day is enough to see Nice. If you felt you got enough the day prior, you can easy add a visit to another French Riviera town on this day

South of France Road Trip Day 10: French Riviera Town of choice

There are so many amazing towns in the French Riviera to choose for the last day of your south of France itinerary. We’ve made a few suggestions, but choose whatever sounds best to you. We chose the medieval town of Eze for our final day and we absolutely loved it.

On our upcoming trip we will be visiting Grimaud, St. Tropez, Villefrance-sur-mer, Menton, and Antibes. We’ll be sure to update this post after our trip with photos and tips. 

We absolutely loved the medieval town of, Eze. It’s perched over the coast and offers a spectacular view. Walking around the cobblestone streets of Eze, we felt we had taken a step back in time and we also completely lost track of time. While it’s a small village, there’s so much beauty. It’s well worth adding to your south of France itinerary! 

Highlights include:

• The Botanical Garden (Jardin Exotique d’Eze)
• The restaurant terrace of Chateau Eza – The panoramic views are incredible. We relaxed for hours here over a glass of rose and some snacks
• Check out our full guide to Eze here

Monaco is not technically part of France, but it’s a tiny independent city state on France’s coastline. It’s honestly not my favorite town in the French Riviera, but worthwhile to add to your south of France itinerary if the glitz and glamour reputation of the city intrigues you. The entire town is only 2 square kilometers (.78 square miles).

• Princess Grace’s rose garden
• Prince’s Palace
• Museum of Antique Automobiles. 

Antibes is known for its maze like Old Town that’s enclosed by 16th century ramparts. There are so many winding cobblestone streets to get lost in and a great nightlife and dining scene. 

Cannes is a smaller town in the French Riviera, but very lively and full of great nightlife and dining. You may have heard of the Cannes Film Festival, but the town is wonderful to explore any time of year.

One of the liveliest and most popular towns in the French Riviera. This is a great town for shopping, nightlife, and dining, with charming cobblestone streets that characterize all of the the south of France. It has a reputation for glitz and glamour, but we’ve heard it also has a surprising laid back vibe as well.

Grimaud is a small village near St. Tropez that’s full of color and charm. If you visit in the spring or early summer, the entire village will be full of winding colorful flowers. It looks so incredibly pretty!

Villefranche-sur-Mer

The brightly colored coastal town of Villefranche-sur-Mer looks so incredibly charming! It seems like the perfect blend of beach and city. The beach looks beautiful and the town is full of candy colored buildings and charming cobbled streets. We are so incredibly excited to visit on our next trip!

Menton isn’t one of the most popular towns in the French Riviera, but it’s one that has really piqued my interest and been high on my list to visit. It’s known for it’s oranges and lemons which grow year around, so I have visions of wearing a lemon print dress and drinking frozen lemonade, haha! Their annual lemon festival is always a huge deal and people come from all over to attend.

The medieval streets which were founded by pirates (!!) look so cute and charming. Because it’s not one of the hyped French Riviera towns, it usually doesn’t get too crowded in Menton. If you’re traveling during busy season, that might be reason enough to add Menton to your south of France itinerary!

Alternate South of France Itinerary:

If you prefer to spend more time in the French Riviera:

Since the other south of France itinerary was more heavily based in Provence, this south of France itinerary is more heavily based in the French Rivera. 

South of France Trip Day 1:  Head to L’Isle Sur La Sorgue or wherever your home base in Provence will be. If you have time to visit a town on your arrival day, stop in Cassis and La Ciotat on your way from Nice to L’Isle Sur La Sorgue, it’s a quick detour on the route

Sleep anywhere in the Luberon, we recommend L’Isle Sur La Sorgue

South of France Trip Day 2: L’Isle Sur La Sorgue (preferably on a Sunday)

Sleep anywhere in the Luberon

South of France Trip Day 3: Oppede, Menerbes, Bonniuex

South of France Trip Day 4: Rousillon and Gordes

South of France Trip Day 5: Avignon, Apt, or Aix-en-Provence

Head to Nice, that’s where your home base in the French Riviera will be. On your way, spend the day in either Avignon, Apt, or Aix-en-Provence.

Sleep in Nice

South of France Trip Day 6: Nice 

Full day in Nice

South of France Trip Day 7: Nice + Eze 

If you prefer not to spend a second day in Nice, you can substitute this day with another French Riviera town. We feel one day is not enough to explore Nice, which is why we’ve allowed for a second day on this south of France itinerary.

Since you also explored Nice the day before, you can also spend a half day in Eze.

South of France Trip Day 8:  Grimaud and St. Tropez

While it is doable to explore both Grimaud and St. Tropez in the same day, it will be a fast paced schedule. If you have the time, you can easily spend a full day at each. We suggested starting the day in Grimaud as St. Tropez will have better dining options.

South of France Trip Day 9: Antibes

South of France Trip Day 10: Villefranche-sur-Mer and Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild

You can totally spend the whole day just relaxing and exploring Villefranche-sur-Mer; there’s plenty there to keep your interest. If you prefer to maximize the day and see more, you can also add a morning visit to Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, a pink villa from the 1900s. It’s only about 10 minutes away and you won’t need more than about two hours there. 

Sleep in Nice or head home

Things to know for south of France travel:

Best time of year for a south of france itinerary:.

We are such south of France lovers that we would say, ANYTIME! Each season offers its own unique magic. If we had to choose, our first choice for a South of France road trip would be spring and our second choice would be fall. Here are some factors to consider when deciding which season is best for your south of France road trip:

If you’ve been to the south of France before, visiting again in the winter would be a delightful new experience, but I wouldn’t recommend it as your first or only experience

PROS: The lowest prices of the year for south of France holiday hotels and apartment rentals. Christmas Markets!

CONS: Some of the villages may be closed or partially closed, especially around the holidays. Some snow, but that could be also be magical and not necessarily a con. Limited outdoor dining and limited produce in the market. This is not necessarily a con, it’s just a different way to experience the south of France. It seems like a really beautiful experience, I would just say, don’t have it be your ONLY south of France travel experience.

It’s majorly on our bucket list to go in the spring, as everything we’ve heard about the south of France in the spring sounds like an absolute dream. We are planning to go in the spring this year for our anniversary and CAN’T WAIT!

PROS:  Wildflowers and poppy fields. The famed French asparagus and strawberries in the market {the locals wait all year for this!} Time to start dining outdoors again. The spring is said to be the time the region reawakens and locals are re-energized after a long winter. The villages are positively buzzing with energy and beauty. The days are starting to get longer and you get those glorious 9pm sunsets toward the end of the spring season.

CONS: None, other than a few lingering mistral winds. More on those later.

Personally, we would love to visit Provence in the summer mainly to see the lavender and sunflower fields, but we worry the relaxed pace of life we loved so much when we visited wouldn’t be the same due to the crowds and tourism

PROS:  Lavender fields, sunflower fields, long sunny days, gorgeous 9pm sunsets, lots of amazing produce available at the markets, tons of art and music festivals. The region is said to come alive in the summer. June is a great time to go because it’s not unbearably hot yet. Early June is also the least crowded portion of the summer.

CONS:  Crowded and full of tourists from around the world on their own south of France holiday, more expensive, difficult to book great accommodations and restaurants. Traffic and higher tolls on toll roads.

We went in the fall and although it was our second choice, we still felt it was a great time for south of France travel! We’d recommend it to others and we’d do it again!

PROS: Shoulder season, which means less crowds and it’s much easier to get good dining reservations and great hotels at decent prices. The days start to shorten, but they are still relatively warm and sunny. This is the time for the grape harvest!

CONS: Other than the days being slightly shorter and the blowing mistral winds, nothing! We loved fall in the south of France!

How to get to the south of France:

We drove from Paris to the south of France as we were enjoying a beautiful three week France road trip. If you aren’t planning on driving from Paris to the south of France {which takes about 7 hours}, there are a few easier ways to get there. The region is best navigated by car, so whichever option you choose, we do highly recommend renting a car for your south of France itinerary. Public transportation is limited in the south of France. It is doable, but you’ll need to stick to the larger towns.

Getting to the South of France From Paris:

By Train –  Take the train to Nice, Avignon or Marseille

By Plane –  Fly into Nice, Avignon, or Aix en Provence

Getting to the South of France From Some European Countries:

By Plane –  There is a small airport you can fly into in Avignon, a small airport in Aix en Provence, and a larger airport in Nice

By Train – You can take the Eurostar to Marseille, Nice, or Avignon

Getting to the South of France from outside of Europe:

By Plane –  There is an international airport in Nice you can fly into. If flights are expensive, it may be more cost effective to fly into Paris then book a separate flight to Nice, Avignon, or Aix en Provence. You can also take a train

Things to know when driving on your South of France road trip:

1. Expect lots of toll roads

We were surprised by how many toll roads we encountered during our south of France road trip! You can avoid them by taking country roads, but we chose the toll roads because they were faster and better maintained. During our fall trip, toll roads were anywhere from $3 to $25. In the summer, toll prices are much higher. 

You’ll see two different toll booth entrances: one with a speed listed and one without. The one with a speed listed is for those with a toll pass; they can drive right through. You most likely do not have this and will want to take the entrance without a speed listed and prepare to stop at the booth.

If you prefer to take the country roads and have the time to do so, you’ll have the advantage of passing by beautiful vineyards and smaller villages that you wouldn’t have seen on the toll roads.

2. Don’t base travel time on mileage

Travel time can often be unpredictable in the south of France. Google Maps was pretty spot on with their estimations, so we checked the travel time on there before each drive. Mileage isn’t a good indicator of travel time because there can often be traffic, especially if you go during high season. In some towns, the roads are very small and windy, which can lead to traffic delays.

We highly encourage going into your south of France trip with a mindset of relaxation and patience. Whether it’s with driving or dining, you’re bound to experience some unexpected delays or slowness, so just go with it and see it all as part of the adventure! 

3. Save Google Maps offline

You may not always have access to wifi and most of the rental cars do not include navigation. We saved all of the stops we wanted to go to on Google Maps offline so we would always have access to it.

We recommend saving every single town you are interested in, even if you don’t have time to visit them all. You never know what you may be able to fit into your south of France itinerary or where you’ll be passing by.

We highly recommend this book to choose a list of towns to add to your south of France itinerary. 

4. Beware of speeding tickets on your south of France road trip

Take the speed limit signs very seriously! Most rental cars will also tell you the speed limit inside your car. There are radars all over the highways and if you are speeding, you can expect to be mailed a ticket to your house. We received 4 (!!!) speeding tickets, even though I warned Bassam about this!

Because of the stringent speeding laws and the relaxed nature of the French, you’ll notice that the drivers in the south of France (with the exception of Nice!) are relatively relaxed. This was especially noticeable to us because drivers in Los Angeles (where we live) tend to have road rage. As soon as we crossed over to Italy, we noticed how much faster Italians drive. We also noticed the drivers in Nice to be a little more aggressive; they don’t seem to follow many driving rules there.

5. Be specific about the kind of car you rent for your south of France road trip

Most of the cars in France are stick shift. If you are comfortable driving stick, you’ll have more choices in terms of rental cars. If not, you can rent an automatic car, they are just a bit more expensive and you’ll have fewer options of cars to rent. If you need an automatic car and your south of France trip is during high season, make sure to book your car well in advance. 

Most of the cars in France are smaller than American cars. You’ll want to take this into account with how much luggage you bring along with you. Some rental companies will have larger cars available, but we don’t recommend going too large because you’ll have a difficult time finding parking. In addition, the smaller cars are easier to navigate on windy cliff roads in the French Riviera. 

6. Fill up with Diesal

Almost all of the cars in France take Diesal gas. You’ll see this at the gas station listed as either “Diesal” or “gazole”, they mean the same thing.

7. Driving requirements

In order to drive during your south of France vacation you’ll need:

• A drivers license-  If you are staying in France for less than 90 days, you can drive with a valid US or EU drivers license. We aren’t sure about other countries. It’s recommended for Americans to obtain an International Driving Permit, from the American Automobile Association. It provides a translation of your license. We didn’t get one for our south of France road trip and our rental car company said it was fine
• A Passport-  Be sure to have it on you
• Proof of insurance and vehicle registration-  Proof of insurance is necessary. Most credit card companies offer car insurance, so check with them. If not, you can get it from your car rental company. You’ll also need vehicle registration ( carte grise ) with you when you drive.
• Be over the age of 18-  The legal driving age in France

Things to know for your south of France vacation:

1. Understand French etiquette

Understanding and following French etiquette is very important for your South of France vacation. Etiquette is very important to the French, especially in this region. Following some basic etiquette will help you get the best treatment, make friends, and overall enjoy your time as much as possible. The French can often get a bad rap for not being friendly, but we’ve found it’s all in the way you approach them. Following some etiquette and engaging in pleasantries helped us to have a really amazing experience.

Speak in French as much as you can.  We recommend learning a few basic phrases and/or saving them on Google Translate. We noticed the French really appreciated us trying, even if we didn’t get it quite right. If you need to speak in English, first ask IN FRENCH if the person speaks English, before jumping straight into speaking in English

ALWAYS greet shopkeepers when you walk in.  Pleasantries are so important in France and especially in the south. Greeting shopkeepers is a very important rule in France. Not doing so is the equivalent of going into someone’s home and sitting on their couch without greeting them first. Say “bonjour madame or monsieur” (hello ms or sir) when entering and “au revior, merci” (goodbye, thank you) when leaving. Greetings are a very important part of French culture. It signfiies respect and that you are well mannered and going to have a pleasant encounter with the person.

Be cognizant of your speaking volume.  The French tend to speak quieter than Americans do. If you’re an American visiting, you may want to be aware of your speaking volume and be sure it’s not much louder than those around you

It’s socially acceptable to stare at others. People watching is huge in France! You don’t have anything in your teeth if you see people staring at you, so don’t worry! Feel free to stare right back!

Know some basic dining etiquette:

•  Bread goes directly on the table, not on your dinner plate. Some restaurants will offer bread plates if they experience a high volume of tourists, but it’s not customary
• Salad leaves are folded with a fork and knife, never cut
• Always place your napkin on your lap as soon as you’re seated
• Avoid resting your elbows on the table
• Avoid requesting substitution or changes to the way a dish is prepared. It’s considered rude to the chef and they generally will not accommodate you 
• You will get a strange look if you attempt to share your meal with your dining partner and if you don’t finish your meal. At a very nice restaurant, this is considered rude to the chef. This doesn’t mean you need to over eat to be polite! We just want you to be aware so you know why you’re getting a strange look

Being left alone is GOOD service. The waiter typically will not bother you during your meal so that you can enjoy it. They won’t often check on you, will not bring you the check, and will give you time between courses to “rest”. If you need something from the waiter or want the check, flag them down. Try your best not to rush the waiter or chef and never ask for them to bring your food quickly. They will not accommodate your timing. Slow dining is one of the most magical things about the south of France. Make time for dining in your south of France itinerary. Slow down. Savor it. Some of our best memories from our south of France road trip were our meals

Eat during mealtimes. Eating on the street is generally frowned upon, so do your best to sit down to a meal, snack, or beverage. The French don’t really snack between meals, they just have their 3 meals a day and perhaps a midday break for coffee or pre dinner apero (drink and small bite like nuts or olives). In the smaller villages, restaurants will be closed in between mealtimes. You’ll find more flexibility in larger towns, but it’ll mainly be cafes that are open in between mealtimes

The French feel very strongly about their opinions and recommendations.  If they are an expert in the matter, try to take them seriously. They will tell you their opinions in a very straight forward manner and expect to be trusted. If they tell you something isn’t good or doesn’t match, listen! For example, when we visited a fromagerie {cheese shop}, the shopkeeper insisted we couldn’t buy a particular jam because it didn’t match the cheese we were buying. Seeing how agitated he was, we asked for his recommendation, and he instantly became the nicest, most helpful person. This might be outside of your comfort zone, but give it a try. You’ll be surprised at what you might learn and how right they might be!

2. Most shops are closed on Sundays

Most small shops, businesses, and pharmacies are closed on Sunday, ESPECIALLY in the smaller towns. There are also less restaurants open on Sundays. You’ll want to plan ahead by doing your shopping ahead of time and making plans for mealtimes.

3. Getting around within each town

You will most likely not need your car within each town. Most of the towns and villages on your south of France itinerary are very walking friendly. You’ll be able to park your car when you arrive and then just walk, bike, or even Uber in some of the towns. You will need a car to get from town to town. Some towns are accessible by bus, but you’ll be limited to the larger towns.

4. Don’t take no for an answer

One of the most frustrating things we learned about French culture during our south of France road trip is not to take no for an answer. The immediate response you may get to inquiries is often, “no” or “not possible” and it’s almost always possible. Just be polite but firm, don’t back down, and you may get a different response. You’ll also get the best service if you find something to bond over with the person, so make some small talk first. Pleasantries are a very big part of French culture.

5. Expect to slow down

Life in the south of France, especially in Provence, is slow. It’s just the beauty of region. Don’t expect to go and be on a tight schedule. Take the time to slow down. Savor the sights, the tastes, the sounds. Wander. Explore whatever catches your interest. This is where the magic of the south of France lies. In these small little moments, when you take the time to explore and immerse yourself in the experience. The south of France truly is a delight for all senses. Take the time to enjoy it all.

We got a lesson in this on our very first night. We went into a cheese shop right at closing time and were prepared to rush as to “be polite” and not keep the shopkeeper past closing. She refused to let us rush and has us try all the cheeses and tell her what we thought of them before she would let us choose. A line built up behind us and she still took her time with us.

We noticed this across the board in the shops we visited. Shopkeepers will give you their undivided attention, regardless of what the line behind you is like. The people waiting in line are very patient, because they know that when it’s their turn, the shopkeeper will also be spending a lot of time with them.

The only people we saw get frustrated by this were non French tourists. We had several experiences where non French tourists were frustrated by having to wait and loudly huffed and puffed before stomping off. Each time it happened we apologized to the shop keeper and each time they told us not to worry about it, if those people didn’t want to wait then it’s too bad for them.

Another lesson to learn here: the customer is not always right in France. People will give you whatever they feel is the best service to them and they don’t really care what you think about it. They are more committed to being themselves and doing what they feel is right than customer satisfaction. I know that doesn’t really sound good, but we actually found it to be very refreshing.

6. The Mistral winds are a real thing

We heard so much about the Mistral winds before we went but we were still surprised by how truly strong they were. It was windy for the entire duration of our south of France road trip, but one day they were especially forceful and we had a difficult time being outside. We felt like we could actually be lifted away! The Mistral winds are especially strong in the winter and spring, although we felt them in the fall.

You’ll want to pay attention to wind speed when planning your outfit for the day. Even if the temperature is mild, high wind speeds can make it feel much closer. You’ll want to bring a few extra layers for when the winds pick up. 

7. Try to base your south of France itinerary around market days

Each town in the south of France has a specific market day or two each week. We highly recommend planning your south of France itinerary in a way where you see at least two markets. They are all very different and wonderful in their own special way. We’ve made a note in the itinerary of which markets you should prioritize seeing. 

One of our absolute favorite memories from our south of France road trip was visiting the local markets, buying all kinds of fresh produce, and coming back to our rental apartment to cook our own French meal. The produce in France is seasonal and so incredibly delicious. You’ve never tried a tomato until you try an in season tomato in Provence. Trust me on this. After coming back home, we missed this routine so much that we started going to our local farmers market weekly. (Further Reading: Life Lessons Learned After Traveling in France )

Books to read before your south of France trip

My Twenty-Five Years in Provence // Peter Mayle

Peter Mayle is the king of Provence memoirs. If you haven’t read any of his books, they are a must!

Markets of Provence: Food, Antiques, Crafts, and More // Marjorie Williams

A gorgeous pocket size guide to all the best markets in Provence. Filled with beautiful illustrations, maps, and tips to shopping the markets during your south of France road trip

The Most Beautiful Villages of France: The Official Guide // Les Plus Beaux Villages De France Assoc.

The offical guide book to all the most beautiful villages in France. While the photography is sometimes not the greatest, it’s an extremely helpful book and will help you add so many amazing villages to your list

Picnic in Provence // Elizabeth Bard

This book describes my dreams. The author writes about her life as she falls in love in Paris and her little family moves to Provence and opens an ice cream shop. Ever since visiting Provence and reading the book, I don’t stop talking about one day moving to Provence. Although she’s realistic about the ups and downs, it all sounds just magical!

————

Okay, whew! We know that was a lot of information. Feel free to ask us if you have any further questions. We hope this south of France itinerary helps you plan an epic south of France vacation! It’s one of our favorite places in the world and we hope you will enjoy it as much as we did!

Did you like this south of France itinerary? Pin it to save for later!

April 5, 2019 at 10:00 pm

This guide is absolutely superb. Such detailed and comprehensive guide, it feels I am almost travelling along. Stunning pictures.

April 5, 2019 at 10:01 pm

I’m so glad you liked it! It was one of our favorite trips!

April 6, 2019 at 12:28 am

What beautiful photos! Whilst I’ve spent a lot of time in the south-west of France, I’ve never explored Provence and your guide reminds how much I really ought to. Travelling by road and exploring small towns is just the most wonderful thing to do in France and I wholeheartedly agree that visiting on market day makes a place all the more special. Thank you for some great ideas – Gordes and Rousillion have been calling to me for a while, and now even more so!

April 6, 2019 at 12:54 pm

I’m so glad you enjoyed the post! I’m sure you will absolutely love Gordes and Roussillon! I really can’t imagine anyone not, they are such magical villages! I’d love to know what your favorites are in the south-west! We are always looking for new towns to visit.

April 6, 2019 at 4:38 am

Oh my gosh your photos are killing me!!!! We’re starting to look at a semester in Europe so we can take our time and explore a lot of new places- but this makes me want to go right this very second!!! We’ll surely be scheduling enough time for this part of France!!

April 6, 2019 at 12:52 pm

Writing this post actually killed me, haha. I want to be back there so badly! That’s amazing that you’re going to spend a semester in Europe! I hope you have an amazing time and get to spend a lot of time in the south of France!

April 6, 2019 at 6:51 am

As someone who’s done a South of France roadtrip during the winter, I’d absolutely discourage anyone from doing it at the time of the year. Everything was closed and empty and dead. Sure, it was cheaper, but we’d rather be able to eat French food at a restaurant and look at fields that aren’t full of dead lavender bushes and meet people instead of cats 😛 It was so disappointing, but we’re dying to go again in another season because it would be SO beautiful at any other time of the year!

Ah that’s such a bummer! I never recommend people go to Paris or the south of France in the winter ONLY. Paris especially has a lot of awesome pros to visiting in the winter, but not for your first time and only time. From what I’ve heard of the south of France it seems relatively similar? Did you go around the time that you could at least visit Christmas markets? Definitely go back another time! We went very late in the fall season and while things were starting to slow down and close, it was still lovely! Going in the spring this year!

April 6, 2019 at 7:26 am

Thank you for this great guide! All your pictures are STUNNING! I loved your tips about the French language too! Very helpful! I think around 10 days is perfect, and I love all the villages you were able to plan out to see. What was your favorite restaurant?

April 6, 2019 at 12:49 pm

So glad you liked the post! We had the BEST time! That’s so hard to choose. I think it’s a tie between Les Bories in Gordes and Le Vivier in L’Isle Sur la Sorgue!

April 11, 2019 at 2:25 am

Love a good pros and cons list 😍 This guide is so comprehensive. My friends and I did a weekend trip to Marseilles last summer and I wish we had had more time to do more! This makes me want to go back!

April 13, 2019 at 10:37 am

I’m so glad you liked it! I want to go back so badly too! There’s so much to do and see!

April 13, 2019 at 10:45 am

Such a lovely and detailed post!

Xoxo, Laura // afinnontheloose.com

April 13, 2019 at 10:53 am

I’m so glad you liked it! I hope it helps you plan your trip!

April 14, 2019 at 12:46 pm

What dreamy photos! I love the South of France and would include a visit to Renoir’s home in Cagnes-sur-mer as a must do!

April 16, 2019 at 6:10 pm

Oohh will add that to our list!

May 13, 2019 at 5:09 am

May 19, 2019 at 9:35 pm

So glad you liked the post! Definitely Le Vivier and Les Bories. Going back to both when we visit Provence again next week! Also, we are in Italy right now, but Bella Vita is still the best pasta we’ve ever had!

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15 Best France Road Trip Itinerary Ideas (+ Driving Tips!)

Chock full of storybook-worthy villages, beautiful castles, and incredibly epic and diverse nature–from the Alps to the beaches of the Riviera to the lavender fields of Provence and the cliffs of Etretat and beyond–it’s not hard to understand why taking a France road trip tops so many bucket lists around the world.

Throw in excellent roads, a great travel infrastructure, and enough exciting places to see that you could spend a lifetime traversing it without turning over every stone, there’s no doubt that a road trip through France is an amazing way to see the country.

We’ve rounded up the best France road trip itinerary ideas here, covering all corners of the country–plus included important France driving tips you’ll need to know before setting off!

Table of Contents

Logistical Tips for Driving in France

Other france road trip tips, 15 of the best road trips in france.

Some links in this post may be affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Please see our disclosure policy for more detail.

Rent the smallest car you can.

Especially if you’re coming from the USA like us, you’ll likely find French roads–especially in small villages and in the countryside–are smaller than what you’re used to.

Save on gas, rental costs, and stress while driving in France by renting the smallest car you can manage to fit yourselves and your belongings into.

We recommend searching for your (tiny) rental car through Discover Cars , which will allow you to sift through all your options and choose the right car for you based on price, the reputation of the company that is renting it, and the terms of the rental contract.

Book your rental car for your France road trip today!

Plan on renting a manual, or prepare to pay.

Like the rest of Europe, manual cars are the norm in France.

If you only drive automatic, you’ll absolutely be able to find a car to rent for your France road trip… but be prepared to plan ahead (especially if you’re traveling during the busy season when the cars get reserved quickly), and to pay extra fees for the privilege.

Always carry cash… just in case. 

While you can generally pay tolls (and they are pricey–budget accordingly!) with a Visa or Mastercard in France, you never know when you’re going to need cash for gas or small restaurants.

When taking a driving in France, it’s best to always have some Euros with you–and don’t forget to carry small coins for bathroom fees!

Plan your parking in advance.

This especially applies overnight–ie, look for hotels that include parking or have a plan for parking listed–but also during day trips. 

For example, our trip to Cassis would have been much easier if we had researched the parking situation beforehand and paid to reserve a spot in one of the parking garages in town.

For hotels, we use Booking.com and ideally look for places using the “free parking onsite” filter.

Depending on where you are going during your road trip in France, though, free parking may not be possible–in that case, carefully check and see what hotels have reasonably-priced parking nearby.

A hotel that is an extra 20 Euros/night may end up being an excellent deal if there’s inexpensive parking nearby!

Strongly consider purchasing extra insurance.

Driving on unfamiliar roads in a foreign country is always going to be an exercise in risk-taking.

While driving in France is typically perfectly safe, if you’re not used to driving in congested urban environments or driving abroad, we’d recommend that you strongly consider purchasing additional CDW (collision damage) insurance for your vehicle–though going through the rental agency is often the most expensive place you can buy this coverage.

Check first to see if your credit card covers it (and in France specifically–not just in your home country), and if they don’t, some insurance policies do.

Get a quote to insure your France road trip today!

Not all gas stations are self-service.

We’ve come across both self-service and attendant-provided gas stations in France–when you pull up to get gas, take a quick look around to see what the other drivers are doing before jumping out of your car!

An International Driver’s Permit isn’t required. 

Unlike in Italy, an International Driver’s Permit isn’t required to rent a car or drive in France (though you do, of course, need to be licensed to drive–for example, driver’s licenses from our home country of the USA are valid for driving in France as a tourist).

However, if your license is written in something other than English or French, or you just want to make any potential communication easier, you may want to consider getting one anyway.

Your life will be easier if you buy a French SIM card.  

This assumes your phone is unlocked, of course, but seriously: getting a local SIM card before taking off on your road trip in France will make your life so much easier!

Having access to everything from a GPS to restaurant reviews is a huge benefit of traveling in the modern age, and bringing those tools along with you as you explore France by car is a fantastic idea.

You can absolutely purchase a local SIM card once you arrive, but if you want to get everything set up before you go, you can also purchase a France SIM card at home in advance.

Pack toilet paper.

Rest stops along highways in France will generally have toilets, but toilet paper is far from guaranteed–best to bring your own just in case.

I usually carry a pack of these with me in my purse when I travel, and they’ve come in handy more than once when driving in France.

Brush up on your French.

Ubiquitous advice for traveling in France, I know, and not exclusive to a road trip in France, but I promise that at least being able to ask for (and follow) simple driving directions in French–not to mention reading basic road signs–will make your France road trip much better!

The first rule of road trips in France: leave room for spontaneity!

One of the best things about taking a road trip in France is that no matter how carefully you plan, no matter how much research you do, you’re still bound to show up in the country and be blown away by something you had never heard of before.

So, just roll with it… and leave room for new discoveries.

I’m a big planner myself, so I get the urge to organize every. last. detail. 

… But during our own trips exploring France by car, I’m also so glad that we randomly decided to spend extra time in Saint-Paul-de-Vence, that we gave Port Miou a chance when we saw photos of how lovely it was, that we delayed our departure from Annecy because its market was coming to town, and that we ended up cutting Roussillon from our Luberon Valley trip because we simply weren’t ready to say goodbye to Goult.

In other words: sketch an outline of your days and nights, yes, but be open to changes. Those stops may just end up being some of your favorite stops during your France road trip!

Pay attention to market days (and show up early).

Visiting local markets in all of France’s adorable villages is one of my favorite parts of taking a road trip in France: with a car, there’s no need to worry about managing train times or having to skip the tiniest villages.

If at all possible, aim to visit towns on their market days. Depending on the town, this is generally one, two, or three times a week. Many villages have a small daily market, with larger markets on certain days–those are the ones to aim for.

Also: show up early! Early in the morning is the absolute best time to visit markets on your France road trip. You’ll get to experience both the smallest crowds and also have your pick of the best products before they potentially sell out for the day.

Pack a picnic on travel days.

All those markets full of delicious bread, cheese, meat, and produce that you pass each day? Those are your future lunch!

Double up on practical purchases and fun experiences in France by using market days to stock up on picnic materials to use during your days spent driving in France.

Rest stops in France are plentiful along the highways (look for the signs for “aires”), and are generally very clean and well-stocked, with some even including restaurants.

Don’t change locations every day.

Packing your bags, checking in and out of a hotel, loading the car, unloading the car… all of these things may not seem like much, but by the fifth or sixth day in a row, you’ll be incredibly tired of doing it.

These kinds of transitions eat up way more of each day of your France road trip than the estimated driving time between whatever two towns you’re visiting–so do yourself a favor and limit the number of times you swap lodging.

Instead, set up a series of bases for at least a few days each, and use your rental car to take day trips from there.

For example, we used Avignon as a base to visit the Luberon Valley and Alpilles, and Aix-en-Provence as a base to visit Cassis!

Focus primarily on smaller towns & natural attractions.

Don’t get me wrong–we adore France’s cities, but places like Paris, Lyon, and Nice don’t require a car to visit–quite the opposite. A car is a hindrance there!

One of our France driving tips is to focus on the smaller towns, beautiful countryside, dramatic castles, and endless natural highlights (beaches, lakes, mountains–you choose!) that make up this incredibly diverse and beautiful country.

If you hope to include any of France’s major cities as part of your itinerary, we recommend visiting them at the beginning or end of your trip and only renting your car when you’re ready to leave and head to smaller towns.

The slow pace is part of the fun.

Often, the best memories from a trip are the ones where you let go of the long wish list of towns and villages you hope to see, the markets you want to visit, and the tourist sights you can’t miss and just. breathe.

I learn this again virtually every time I go to France: some of my best memories in the country are of the day we did literally nothing but walk around Colmar and admire how beautiful it was, the day we lounged in Paris’ Luxembourg Gardens all afternoon, the days we’ve sat at outdoor cafes for hours because the sunshine and people-watching felt too good to leave behind, and the long, leisurely lunch we ate in Goult .

Each and every one of those memories is something we exchanged for missing out on a piece of sightseeing or photo-taking or research we had planned to do–something that seemed important at the time.

I wouldn’t trade those memories for anything.

Write down where you go.

Sure, no one is going to forget visiting Nice or Aix-en-Provence… but that tiny town with the cute fruit stand you passed through that one afternoon? Yeah, that name will fade almost immediately.

You’ll want to remember the names of all the small villages you visited, pretty beaches you swam at, cozy restaurants you ate at, and hiking trails you conquered long after your France road trip is finished, so write them down as you go!

Jeremy loves to star the places we visit on Google maps, and I keep my own record in my One Line a Day journal that I’ve been keeping daily for years (and highly recommend!).

Alsace Wine Route

From Arzo of Arzo Travels

A  fun road trip to take is from Strasbourg to Colmar (or the other way around) which is also known as the Alsace Wine Route .

Especially in the summer months (or early fall), it is a beautiful drive with scenic window views and many beautiful towns, villages, and cities along the way.

The Alsace Wine Route is one of the most famous road trips in France and besides being a beautiful place, it has a lot about…well, you guessed it, wine. 

Start your trip in Strasbourg (which is not officially part of the Alsace wine route), the beautiful main city in the region, and explore what it has to offer, including lots of half-timbered houses and many medieval buildings, and then plan in time for stops like Obernai, Ribeauville, Riquewihr, Kaysersberg, and Eguisheim.

These are all beautiful little villages, though Riquewihr is probably the prettiest of all. 

Then it is time to end your tour in Colmar where you can end your road trip and explore one of the cutest towns in the country.

If you are a wine drinker, you can visit the vineyards along the way and try out some of the local wines in the wineries or restaurants. They are supposed to be some of the best wines in the country!

Driving Distance

170km or 105 miles.

Recommended Road Trip Length

3 days is the absolute minimum for this road trip. 4 or 5 days are the better options if you do not want to rush and like to do some wine tasting.

Marseilles to Nice

From Chrysoula of Travel Passionate

After exploring Marseilles , why not head eastwards along the gorgeous coastal road to Nice? The drive is best done at a leisurely pace over a few days so you can savor the delights of Provence and the Cȏte d’Azur. 

The coastal road has many spectacular views and the first is as you leave Marseilles. Les Calanques are dramatic, sheer-sided coastal inlets that have been carved through the limestone and they can be found between Marseilles, Cassis , and La Ciotat. 

A little further on you will be tempted by the seven beautiful sandy beaches of La Croix Valmer.

The first main stop is St Tropez, a favorite with the international jet-set in the sixties. It is still popular for its beaches and nightlife. Those ‘in the know’ explore Port Grimaud- the Crêpes au Chocolat (chocolate pancakes) and cider are worth sampling. 

Cannes is another famous city, loved by the super-rich and known for its international film festival. Antibes lies close to Nice and is a delightful old town with ramparts and once Picasso’s home. 

There will be many other detours inland to make to Domaines (wineries) to sample the area’s superb rosé and villages like Maximin-Le-Sainte- Baume with its famous basilica and Grasse (north of Cannes) is world-famous for its perfume industry. 

St Paul de Vence is loved by painters and writers. When you arrive in Nice, you will be able to park the car and leave it, as there is a large traffic-free zone in the center.

235 km or 146 miles.

Suggested Road Trip Length

It takes around 3 hours to drive between Marseille and Nice but if you really want to enjoy the area explore Marseille, Nice and a few towns between I suggest you spend around 4 to 5 days on this South of France road trip.

The Champagne Route

From Jane and Duncan from To Travel Too

Without a doubt, France’s Champagne Route is one of the most popular driving tours in the country.

When driving the  Champagne Route of France there are several routes to consider, including Massif Saint Thiery Route the northern route starting from Reims, Marne Valley Route from Epernay, and the Cote des Blancs Route from the south of Epernay. There are also others, or you can mix and match to create your own France road trip route!

If you only want to visit some of the major towns you can start from Troyes and head to Epernay, then onto Reims.

There are many small towns and villages around the Champagne region to visit.  The routes will take you past beautiful chateaux, quaint villages, churches, and many champagne houses.

The major champagne houses such as Mercier and Moet Chandon can be found in Epernay and in Reims you can visit Veuve Clicquot, Mumm, Taittinger and many smaller boutique champagnes houses as well.

The best months to visit are between May and October.

The Champagne region is easy to travel to from Paris.  The journey from Paris to Reims is only 45 minutes and from Paris to Epernay 1 hour 10 minutes.

The distance from Troyes to Epernay is 112 km or 70 miles, and Epernay to Reims is 29 km or 16 miles.

You can visit either town on a day trip and visit some of the Champagne Houses within walking distance of the train station.  The ideal time to enjoy all that the Champagne region has to offer is between 5 – 7 days.

The Opal Coast

From Nichola of Globalmouse Travels

Paris to Normandy Road Trip

The following Paris to Normandy road trip is ideal for those looking to escape the city for a few days to a natural and verdant environment.

From Paris, go north to Mont Saint Michel (4-hour drive), where you should stay for at least 1 night. Consider taking the toll-free road which adds 30 minutes to your driving time, but gives you the chance to drive through Normandy’s charming villages and countryside. 

Once you’ve checked into your hotel, walk, bike, or take public transportation to the island that is Mont Saint Michel. When visiting Mont Saint Michel during low tide, go onto the island, grab a spot along the high stone wall and witness the rising of the tide as the sea surrounds the island, isolating it from the mainland.

The next day, drive east to Étretat. Consider spending half a day to a full day here.

While Giverny may have been home to impressionist painters, Étretat was their inspiration. Étretat sits on the Normandy coast and is home to where grayish-white limestone cliffs meet the untamed blue sea. The cliff tops are paved with dirt paths and staircases making them accessible for walking, hiking, and sight-seeing.

On your way back to Paris from Étretat, stop in Honfleur to aimlessly walk through the port and old town. The various architectures are beautiful in their own right: the medieval old town and the port with its tightly packed, vertical, colorful buildings. When you’ve finished exploring Honfleur, it’s an estimated 2.5-hours drive to Paris.

This road trip from Paris through Normandy and back can be comfortably done in 3 days. 

The French Alps from Chamonix

From Whitney of Designs for Travel

One of the most incredible road trips in France is through the Frech Alps.  With the beautiful green mountains (or white in the snowy season), aqua blue lakes, and quaint chalets, the Frech Alps is one of the most picturesque areas in Europe. 

This Frech Alps road trip is a loop that starts and ends in the popular adventure town of Chamonix.  The closest major airport is Geneva, Switzerland.

Start in Chamonix, a beautiful resort town at the base of Mont Blanc.  It’s one of the best places to ski in the winter, but I recommend taking this trip in the summer, where you can take a gondola to the top, and enjoy the panoramic views and do some hiking. 

The next stop on this road trip is 1 hour and 20 minutes west, to the gorgeous alpine town of Annecy .  The pristine lake, river, cobbled old town, pastel cottages, and medieval chateau make Annecy a must-see town in the Alps. 

From here, head east to Le Grand Bornand, another beautiful alpine resort town.  Drive back to Chamonix for a raclette dinner, which is sure to be a favorite meal.

After visiting France, if you have more time, you can drive south to Italy to continue your road trip.

130 miles, 210 kilometers.

This road trip itinerary can easily be done in 3 days and if you have more time, a week is even better!

Gorges du Verdon + Valensole Plateau Road Trip

From Elisa of France Bucket List

This 2-day road trip in Southern France covers the Verdon National Park and some of the best  lavender fields in Provence . This French road trip starts in the city of Aix-en-Provence, and it takes two days. Aix-en-Provence is the quintessential Provencal city with many interesting things to see and do. Ideally, take one day or two to visit Aix-en-Provence before hitting the road.

From Aix-en-Provence, drive to Valensole, a pretty small town world-known for its lavender fields. Enjoy these never-ending seas of ‘blue gold’- it is not only beautiful to see, but it also smells very good!

Back to the road, drive to the Verdon National Park and stop at Esparron de Verdon and Lac Quinson de Verdon, two small lakes with absolutely no crowds. At Lac de Quinson, you can rent a kayak or an electric road and explore the Gorges du Verdon from the water.

Spend the night at Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, a picturesque hilltop village with the label ‘most beautiful villages in France’.

Day two visits Lac Sainte-Croix-du-Verdon. This is the main lake in the area, and the perfect place to relax on the beach and have a picnic with a view. In the afternoon, visit the hilltop village of Aiguines, which is less touristy than Moustiers and with a more local atmosphere.  Have an alfresco dinner in one of the two restaurants on the main square before driving back to Moustiers-Sainte-Marie for the last night of this road trip.

270 km, 168 miles.  

This road trip lasts two days. Add one or two more days if you want to visit Aix-en-Provence.

Bordeaux + France’s West Coast

From Kat of Wandering Bird

If you’re looking for a mixture of beautiful sandy beaches, cities, and dramatic scenery, head for the west coast of France. 

You can begin your trip almost anywhere along the coast, but let’s start in the major hub of Bordeaux. Here you can hire a car or camper van and set off on your adventure, but take a day or two first to explore this beautiful city.

If you only have one day, focus your time on the Cathedral and the mirror pool (you’ll need to wake up very early to nab photos here without the crowds).

Once you leave the city, you have some choices to make. Do you want wine, sea, or one of the most incredible natural wonders you’ve ever seen?

Bordeaux is surrounded by vineyards and they are all worth visiting. If you’re  touring France in a motorhome , you can even stay overnight at many of the vineyards (no worrying about drinking and driving!)

If you want to be wowed, head to Arcachon and the jaw-dropping Dune du Pilat. This natural wonder is the largest sand dune in Europe, standing at around 106m high and runs for nearly 3km. Walking up it is not for the faint-hearted!

Lastly, if you want to see more of the beautiful Atlantic coastline, head up to Île de Ré. This stunning island has some beautiful beaches and is a great place to witness the incredible sunsets you find on the French coast. 

From Dune du Pilat to Île de Ré (past Bordeaux), this driving trip in France is 276 km or 172 miles.

You can drive from Dune du Pilat to Île de Ré in under 3 hours if traffic is clear.

However, we recommend at least a day in Bordeaux, a day near the dune and Arcachon, and a day on Ile de Re, so allow at least 3/ 4 days for your trip. 

Calais to the Pyrenees Loop

From Jenny of TraveLynn Family

For those located in the UK, Calais is an obvious starting point for a France road trip as it’s a short crossing from Kent, either on the ferry or Eurotunnel. This Calais to the Pyrenees road trip  itinerary does a big loop down to the Pyrenees via the Auvergne and Perpignan, then back up again via Bayonne, Île d’Oléron, and the Loire Valley, returning to Calais.

Between each stop is about 4 to 5 hours of driving, although do note that this is along tolled roads (which can add up, but they are very efficient).

Staying at campsites, this summer itinerary steers away from main tourist sites and explores the French countryside, rather than the cities. It is advisable to take a bike to explore each stop further using the many cycle lanes and marked tracks. And don’t forget to pack your swimsuit , as there are lots of opportunities for a dip to cool off after a day of exploring.

From the peaceful wooded valleys of the Auvergne to the Catalan charm of the Western Mediterranean; the majestic peaks of the Pyrenees to the fashionable beaches of the Basque country; and the idyllic fishing villages of Ile d’Oléron to the chateaux of the Loire Valley steeped in history; each stop is notably distinct from the other, providing a true cross-section of cultures and landscapes across the French countryside.

2005 miles 0r 3225 kilometers (using toll roads).

The French Alps From Grenoble

From Sasha of The Alternative Travel Guide

149  km / 92 miles.

Recommended Trip Length

Gorges du Tarn

Gorges du Tarn  offers one of the most scenic landscapes in Southern France, which makes it the perfect destination for a road trip. This loop road trip will take you along the rivers Tarn and La Jonte in the Causses and Cévennes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The trip starts and ends in Millau, a sleepy Medieval town, famous for the tallest bridge in the world – the Millau Viaduct. After visiting the bridge, head to the hamlet of Peyre, which is literally glued to the rocks – a fine example of the so-called ‘ troglodyte ’ villages. The area abounds in this type of dwellings, where the backside is carved into the rocks and only the façade is at street level.

After Peyre, head upstream the Tarn all the way to Florac. The dramatic gorge, cut by the Tarn, is dotted with a string of cute little villages and hamlets: Les Vignes, La Malène, Hauterives, Saint-Chély-du-Tarn, Sainte-Enimie, Prades, Castelbouc, Ispagnac.

At Les Vignes make a detour (11 km/ 7 miles) to Point Sublime for the most breathtaking views of the gorge. At La Malène, you can take a boat tour on the Tarn with the famous flat-bottom boats of Les Bateliers.

Another village that deserves more attention is Sainte-Enimie. Together with Peyre, it’s included on the official list of the Most Beautiful Villages in France.

From Florac, take D16 across Causse Méjean and visit the incredible cave, Aven Armand. Afterward, take D986 to Meyrueis and continue downstream La Jonte, following D996 and Gorges de la Jonte. The last stop on this road trip, before you return to Millau, are the twin towns of Le Rozier and Peyreleau.

215 km or 135 miles.

Although you can cover the whole distance in one day, I highly recommend that you do this in at least 3 or 4 days. The best time to do the trip is in the summer – between June and September, as in the low season as most places will be closed.

Cannes to Saint-Tropez

From Elena of Passion for Hospitality

The Côte d’Azur, or the French Riviera , is one of the most breathtaking coastlines, lined with picturesque cosmopolitan coastal towns and villages, golden beaches, rich nature scenes, the southeast corner of France has been blessed by natural beauty.

Driving from Cannes to St. Tropez is definitely a good way for those seeking to discover the gems of the French Riviera while enjoying a relaxed hustle-free little trip. 

To get the most out of the road-trip make sure to start early in the morning from Cannes. The first stop is Theoule-sur-Mer, a small medieval town located on the Golfe de La Napoule. Enjoy breathtaking views of the bay La Pointe de l’Aiguille or grab a delicious coffee and croissant before departing for the next destination, the resort town of St. Raphael.

We recommend enjoying lunch by the harbor’s restaurants and later, losing yourself around the narrow streets of the colorful old town. The last stop before reaching St. Tropez, where an overnight stop is recommended, is Saint Maxime, a quiet small village which landscape has inspired and continues to do so for many artists and writers.

Depending on your budget there are many different accommodations options, from simple cozy apartments by the beach, to luxurious resorts. 

Alongside the coastal road, there are many little spots scattered, where drivers could take a quick stop to admire the dazzling views, take a few photographs or stretch their legs. 

85 kilometers / 53 Miles 

It is an hour and a half car trip from one city to the other. With the short and one overnight stop, we recommend 2 days enough for this trip.

Toulouse to Andorra Loop

From Ucman of BrownBoyTravels

The tiny sovereign state of Andorra is a mere 190km from Toulouse and makes a perfect road trip back and forth which can be easily done over a weekend. 

Leaving Toulouse in the early morning, you will head in the southwestern direction to the highway. If you want a more scenic route head to Lacroix-Falgarde. The small rural roads will eventually lead you towards the Pyrenees. The Pyrenees appear shortly and the midi- Pyrenees towns and villages take over.

They are perfect for a coffee break or if you are going slowly, for a lunch break. These quaint little villages and towns offer a great insight into the southern french style of life. The streets are neatly trimmed and the everblooming shadow of Pyrenees mountain range dominates everything ever so lovingly.

The drive here is quite easy and simple but that changes significantly when you reach the mountain range. The roads become narrow and the sharp turns take over. The elevation also increases quite dramatically, make sure to take a break to pop your ears. 

The drive is really beautiful here especially in winter with the snow but also quite dangerous, black snow is a real threat here so drive with caution. 

If you drive fast you can cover this entire distance from Toulouse to Andorra La Vella in 3-4 hours but I’d recommend taking a day and going slow to enjoy the scenery. (Make sure to bring your passport although most of the time there are no border checks).

It is quite easy to drive around in Andorra from the ski slopes of Encamp to the quaint little town of Ordino or if you just want a relaxed weekend the beautiful spas of Andorra la Vella. If you like shopping, Andorra offers duty-free shopping , there something for everyone here.

The road trip to Andorra from Toulouse is a memorable and easy France driving trip.

120 miles or 190 kilometers.

2-3 days is enough to enjoy this France road trip itinerary.

Brittany Road Trip in France

From Victoria of Guide Your Travel

This driving route will be between 800 and 100 kilometres, 500 – 620 miles.

Montpellier to Toulouse Loop

Finally, you should head 100 km to Toulouse. Toulouse is nicknamed “la Ville Rose” – the pink city – because so many of the buildings are made from pinkish bricks. Important sites to visit are Basilique Saint-Sernin, the largest romanesque church in Europe. It also has more relics in the crypt than any other church in France, many of which are from Charlemagne (9th century).

You should also spend time at Place du Capitole and the square in front of it. Some parts of the building date back to the 12th century. It has beautiful frescos and offers tours.

Montpellier – Carcassonne – Toulouse is 245 km or 150 miles.

It would take about 3 hours to drive this France road trip route straight through without stopping. However, to truly enjoy each location, I would give yourself a minimum of 5 days.

About Kate Storm

In May 2016, I left my suburban life in the USA and became a full-time traveler. Since then, I have visited 50+ countries on 5 continents and lived in Portugal, developing a special love of traveling in Europe (especially Italy) along the way. Today, along with my husband Jeremy and dog Ranger, I’m working toward my eventual goal of splitting my life between Europe and the USA.

10 thoughts on “15 Best France Road Trip Itinerary Ideas (+ Driving Tips!)”

hello 🙂 just finished reading your ” escape clause” and i found some great tips so just like to thank you for that first of all. I’m planning on travelling to France by car from west Yorkshire in the UK for a 10 day holiday in total, we would start of by a 5 hour drive to dover then get the ferry crossing to Calais and carry on from there. we will have a 3 year old and a 1 year old too with us so we want to see plenty of beaches and coastal scenery. i wondered if you could maybe point us in the right direction on places to visit/stay ( ideally 2 different locations on family friendly campsites with lodges or tents) and go off on day trips from there if that makes sense 🙂 look forward to hearing back from you guys iain

Hi Iain! Unfortunately, we haven’t had a chance to spend much time in northwestern France (we were supposed to this year, but alas, 2020 had other plans). I can tell you our personal wish list in that general corner of France, though, includes all the major hits: Etretat, Le Havre, Honfleur, Lille, Rouen, and if you get that far south, of course, Mont Saint-Michel. Etretat is ideal for the coastal scenery you mentioned!

Wish we had more detail to offer, but there are some stunning places up that way!

Staggering beauty here Kate. Wow. France surprises me with its range. Definitely a worthy spot for a serious road trip. Fabulous images guys!

thank you for this! we are planning visit in aug/sept 2022 x 21d staring our in paris and heading toward bordeaux, the sw coast, basque, french pyrenees, and andorra. Wasn’t sure how to finish up the loop back to paris but I would love to incorporate provence. I also love your focus on gorges! I just started following you on IG and will look out for more inspiration!

Thanks so much, Leigh! Sounds like an incredible trip.

We’re toying with a trip to Basque Country and/or Bordeaux ourselves this spring–it never stops being difficult to narrow down our options!

Hope you guys have a wonderful time!

Very good coverage of driving tours in France. One suggestion for drivers I don’t recall was mentioned. After you pick up your car rental stop somewhere and invest in materials to clean your windshield. We have driven thousands of miles on many car trips and estimate that most of the time gas stations don’t have squeegees, sponges, paper towels, or even water available. Well worth the small cost. France is a large agricultural country and bugs abound.

Thanks so much. Very useful

Happy to help!

Hello Kate. I am planning my trip to France. It is our first trip to France. We will fly from New York to Paris and we want to explore France as much as we can within 9 days. We want to rent car and use train if we need. My plan is to start from Paris and go to other nice places including small towns/villages and end up in south and fly back to US from other south city. We need your advice please. Thank you in advance.

With 9 days, the first thing I’d do is narrow down what general region of France you want to visit, as you can access a wide variety of beautiful small towns in that time!

Normandy and Provence are both popular regions for first-time visitors to France, though it sounds like you’re most likely wanting Provence. For Normandy, you might drive right from Paris, and for Provence, you’d likely want to take a train to Aix-en-Provence and then pick up a car. This itinerary covers Provence: https://www.ourescapeclause.com/south-of-france-itinerary/

If you want to stick very close to Paris, consider the Loire Valley.

Other options could include the Bordeaux area (we love St. Emilion: https://www.ourescapeclause.com/saint-emilion-france/ ) or Burgundy ( https://www.ourescapeclause.com/things-to-do-in-dijon-france/ ).

You obviously can’t cover all of that, but narrowing down where you want to go will be the first step. France has lifetimes worth of villages to explore. 🙂

If you’re wanting to fly home from the south of France, you’ll want to look at flights from Bordeaux (in the west) or Nice, Marseille, Lyon, or Toulouse (in the east).

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7 top road trips to see the best of France

Dec 17, 2023 • 6 min read

Experience the best bits of France with these classic French driving routes © Justin Paget / Getty Images

France’s winding cobbled lanes and tree-lined rural roadways offer a straight shot into the heart of the country. Incredible countryside vistas merge into unique and highly wanderable villages, castles and coastlines that will etch your journey into your memories.

Grab a set of wheels and hit the road to embrace the best of this magnificent country. Here is a starter kit of fantastic road trips in France – drive on the right and embark on your own perfect French adventure.

1. Wine villages in Burgundy

Best road trip for wine and architecture Chablis–Beaune; 200km (124 miles), allow 2-3 days

Begin this wine journey in Chablis in the département of Yonne , leaving ample time to taste the seven grands crus (premium vineyards) of this well-known winemaking region. Then connect up with the exquisite Route des Grands Crus , which links many of central Burgundy’s most acclaimed vineyards.

You’ll meander through the vine-carpeted countryside from Gevrey-Chambertin to Puligny-Montrachet , exploring some of the most storied vineyards in the world. Enjoy detours into venerable wine-growing villages whose melodious names – engraved on labels or whispered during a romantic dinner – make oenophiles swoon. 

Pair your wine tasting with some of the country’s most memorable Romanesque architecture – for example, the grand Cathédrale Saint-Lazare d'Autun – and you’ll uplift both body and soul.

Planning tip:  When in Beaune , the town around which the vineyards circle, don’t miss the magnificent Hôtel-Dieu des Hospices de Beaune in the old city, with its exquisite 15th-century altar painting by Rogier van der Weyden.

2. Castles of the Loire Valley

Best road trip for grand châteaux Chinon–Chambord; 189km (118 miles), allow 2-3 days

The extravagant castles along France’s longest river have been the backdrop for royal intrigue for centuries. From warring medieval potentates to the kings and queens of Renaissance France, a parade of powerful men and women has left its mark on the lush Loire Valley.

This drive links up France’s most magnificent collection of castles, ranging from austere medieval fortresses such as Château de Langeais to ostentatious royal pleasure palaces such as Chambord .

Detour:  You can stop along the way and rent a bike to cycle when the weather is fair – don’t miss the graceful arches of Château de Chenonceau reflected in the Cher River near Tours.

3. Across the French Alps

Best road trip for dramatic scenery and family adventures Annecy–St Véran; 363km (225 miles), one week

France’s section of the Alps provides an incomparable setting for a summer road trip (from mid-June to mid-September, when mountain passes are snow-free). This Alpine drive combines awesome splendor with the charms of time-worn mountain culture.

Curve through the heart of the French Alps from Annecy , perhaps France’s prettiest lakeside city, to the slopes of 4808m (15,774ft) Mont Blanc, Western Europe’s highest peak. Then head over the high mountain pass of Col de l’Iseran to reach Bonneval-sur-Arc, a charming Alpine village, and St Véran – France's highest village.

Planning tip:  Amongst all these high points, take regular breaks to hike, mountain bike, white-water raft and ride vertigo-inducing cable cars.

4. Dordogne villages and markets

Best road trip for food and fortifications Monpazier–Domme; 96km (60 miles), 1-2 days

The Dordogne holds two special distinctions – it's the home of many of France's top culinary delights, as well as being a land of fortified villages. Serenity may reign now, but during the Middle Ages, the area was often a battleground because the Dordogne River marked an important strategic frontier between English and French forces during the Hundred Years War.

The region’s châteaux and defensive walls remain – most distinctive of all are bastide towns such as Monpazier, encircled by fortified walls and protected by sturdy ramparts. Each village has a central market square, so if you time your drive right, you can hit a weekly market and sample the local specialties.

Sarlat-la-Canéda is famous for its market, but small villages such as Issigeac are sleeper hits. Over in the village of St Cyprien, you can indulge in another of the Dordogne’s great gastronomic gems – the perle noire of the Périgord, aka the black truffle. Wrap up with a turn along the windy road leading up to amazing panoramic views at Domme.

5. The D-Day Beaches

Best road trip for WWII history Caen–Utah Beach; 142km (88 miles), 1-2 days

On this drive through Normandy , you’ll explore the events of D-Day, when Allied troops stormed ashore to liberate Europe from Nazi occupation in 1944. From war museums to landing beaches, it’s a fascinating and sobering experience. Before you hop in the car, spend some time at the Caen-Normandie Mémorial to get a full D-Day overview.

Several driving routes through the region connect the main battle sites. Look for signs for "D-Day-Le Choc" in the American sectors and "Overlord-l’Assaut" in the British and Canadian sectors.

Planning tip:  Maps of the D-Day beaches are widely available, and local tourist offices have created a helpful e-booklet outlining it all.

6. South of France and the Côte d'Azur

Best road trip for stunning coastline Cannes–Monaco; 62km (39 miles), one day minimum

Cruising the  Côte d'Azur is as dazzling and chic as road trips get. From glamorous Cannes to lively  Nice via the corkscrew turns of the Corniches, then on to the millionaire's playground of Monaco , this is a drive you'll remember forever. Filmmakers, writers, celebrities and artists have all had their hearts stolen by this glittering stretch of coastline – by the end of this trip, you'll understand why.

Aim to avoid the July and August high season when the roads are jammed. If you want more of the south, Provence offers an embarrassment of road trips – from the charming hilltop-perched villages of the Luberon to Arles and the Camargue with its salt flats and flamingos.

7. Breton coast loop

Best for rugged Celtic coastlines and fine seafood St Malo–Vannes; 642km (399 miles), one week

Devote a week to this sea-salty drive to fully experience the region's serene coastal towns, dramatic storm-lashed headlands and the world’s greatest concentration of megalithic sites.

Start at fortified St Malo and loop the entire coast of Brittany , standing on the precipice of the cliffs of the Pointe du Raz , walking through the profusion of prehistoric megalithic sites at Carnac, and wrapping up with a trip to the foodie paradise that is medieval Vannes.

Top tip for driving in France

France's toll road autoroutes are seductive shortcuts, but be aware that the scenery is much more magnificent on the smaller roads and the highways are packed with large trucks and virtually invisible speed-trap cameras. You'll have a gentler, more rewarding drive off the toll routes. 

The Via Michelin website  gives you the cost of routes with or without using toll roads. 

This article was first published September 2020 and updated December 2023

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How To Have An Epic South Of France Road Trip [Video]

By Jessie Festa. This post contains affiliate links and is part of a series based on my boyfriend’s and my two-week road trip through the South of France.  Follow our journey here . 

“The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for a newer and richer experience.” ― Eleanor Roosevelt

Our two-week road trip through the South of France — specifically from Nice to Marseille by car — certainly was rich.

And I don’t just mean with fatty cheeses and generously poured glasses of red wine.

Typically when I travel I find myself holed up in my AirBnB typing away for work more often that I’d like to admit; however, this trip was different.

Even if I wanted to increase my screen time it would have been hard.

Hey, it’s no easy feat prying your eyes away from Provence’s endless rows of cabernet and olive trees or the beautiful beaches and beach clubs of the French Riviera .

There’s no doubt we had an amazing time, though it wasn’t until after I’d returned home that I really thought about what exactly  made Provence a place I’d recommend.

Yes, there are certain challenges when it comes to driving (no offense, the French are crazy) and cultural differences; however, once you understand these you’ll have a much easier time enjoying the plethora of things to do.

One quick tip before we dive into the experience:

Grab my free  Ultimate Travel Planning Kit — which also includes a Google Map of this South of France itinerary.

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Table of Contents

Road Trip South Of France [Video]

Psst – want to see this France trip come to life through video? Check out this short film we made of our journey!

This trip was just as fun as it looks, and is great for those traveling in a group or those doing some solo travel in France . Feel free to steal the itinerary for yourself when planning a road trip .

South Of France Road Trip Experiences

Sure, there are plenty of great destinations with diverse activities; however, the South of France takes it to another level.

We loved being able to hop in a car and within an hour be at a completely new place.

Along every winding coastal or mountainside drive there were numerous medieval villages, scenic adventures, beautiful beaches, buzzworthy wineries, delicious restaurants and more to discover.

Use Discover Cars to quickly compare your car rental options.

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Where To Eat In Nice

We had a bit of a rocky start in Nice, and I’m not referring to the beaches (which are gorgeous, but rocky).

It mainly had to do with the driving.

French drivers, especially in Nice, literally zoom around with no rules, driving into oncoming traffic, swerving onto sidewalks and cutting you off.

It’s a lot to handle at first, though we were happy we had the car for the many day trips we did  and for continuing our journey.

Things immediately took a turn for the better when we parked the car to explore on foot, especially in Old Town where we had our first local meal at A Buteghinna .

The restaurant holds a “Cuisine Nissarde” certification , meaning they uphold the traditions of Niçoise cuisine, regionally specific from “French cuisine.”

From the panisse (chic pea fries) to the soupe au pistou (a basil soup) every dish took us on an educational culinary journey, telling the story of Nice’s relationship with Italy and the city’s Mediterranean location.

From a typical Nice dinner in a local home through BonAppetour to local street foods like socca (fried chic pea bread) and pan-bagnat  (Nicoise salad on bread) we immersed ourselves in local Nice foods, though one of our favorite meals was at the globally-inspired  Le Vingt4 .

The venue sources the best regional ingredients in the world with wines from the same place to pair.

In classic Mediterranean fashion the chef let the flavors speak for themselves, keeping ingredients as raw as possible.

Simple yet decadent is the best description.

I mean Brie de Meaux laced with mascarpone and winter truffle paired with Herbelet Champagne Grand Cru?

The French really do pay attention to detail and make eating an experience whether it’s local or global cuisine.

Day Trips From Cannes

And the wine is important, too.

Cannes is great, but we opted for constant day tripping over spending much time in the city.

This is when we were introduced to the wine and adventure of the Côte d’Azur.

The destination in mind for our Cannes day trip was La Croix Valmer to hike Les 3 Caps (the Three Capes) from the Plage de Gigaro (Gigaro Beach).

First of all, WOW.

Do this hike, even if just a section.

You’ll walk along the coast, into pine woodland and on top of a hill for aerial Mediterranean vistas.

While I recommend lots of water and sunscreen, the bathing suit is optional when you make use of those beaches for a cool down.

No photos of our skinny dipping session (sorry!), but here are Andy and I having fun on the beach beforehand.

After the hike we had plans to visit St. Tropez, driving through the shopping area and then ending at the famous Pampelonne Beach, which is actually in nearby Ramatuelle.

We’d heard this beach was somewhat posh, but what we found was a super chill three-mile stretch of white sand.

Even better, we discovered Domaine Bertaud Belieu in nearby Gassin — next to St Tropez — along the way.

Located in the Var Department, we found ourselves immersed in vineyards from many wineries ( domaines ), though this one stuck out in terms of beauty.

The old world architecture gave it a whimsical feel, and when we were given a complimentary 10-tasting degustation we knew we’d made the right choice.

We bought two bottles (15 Euros / ~$17 USD total!) to show our appreciation and savor the local flavors.

What Is Considered Provence? PACA? The South Of France?

So before Andy and I booked our trip to France we wanted to go to “Provence”; however, we couldn’t quite understand what Provence actually was.

We pictured a countryside full of fragrant lavender, mourvèdre grapes and cheese farms, but where was Provence?

We knew it was a region, but was there a specific place one stayed to experience “Provence?”

For a while we thought Aix-en-Provence was Provence, but in actuality, Aix is a small city within Provence.

We were also unclear if cities like Nice and Cannes were considered Provence. During our road trip from Nice to Marseille we realized the route actually fell into the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur Region (PACA) , with destinations like Nice , Cannes and St. Tropez being part of the Côte d’Azur and destinations like Verdon , Aix-en-Provence and Marseille being part of Provence.

They all fall into the larger PACA region, though, and there is some discrepancy.

For instance, when asking a group of locals in Aix-en-Provence whether St. Tropez was in Provence or not, they argued with each other about the answer.

There is clearly some overlap with the sub-regions within PACA.

PACA is one of France’s 22 administrative regions, and encompasses six departments .

Stay in any of these places and simply get lost, discover and enjoy.

There are so many wonderful villages in Provence and beyond to explore and fall in love with.

A Moissac-Bellevue Hotel In The Countryside

Bustling hotspots like Nice, Cannes and St. Tropez were great; though in terms of satiating our craving for countryside  a horse farm in Moissac-Bellevue  — less than two hours from St. Tropez — did the trick.

The epic South of France stay allowed us a night of drinking our Bertaud Belieu wine (Laure, the woman owning the farm, also gave us homemade lemon wine) and stargazing from our cabin. There was no electricity, though Laure provided lanterns.

Andy and I sat for four hours photographing the night sky, telling ghost stories and getting tipsy before falling into a deep slumber, the sound of whinnying horses our night lullaby.

In the morning, we woke up early — the only night of the trip we got up before 10:30am — to an al fresco breakfast of homemade preserves to spread on toast.

Strawberry, fig, prune, mandarin, raspberry and apricot were just a few of the many impressive flavors giving us a sugar rush for the day ahead at nearby Gorges du Verdon (Verdon Gorge).

The geography here is interesting; not only is this place naturally beautiful with its bright green river and dramatic rock formations, but the River Verdon splits the departments of Var (as in the Mediterranean wine region mentioned above) and Alpes de Haute Provence (an Alpine ecosystem and also a wine region).

Verdon Gorge Kayaking

There are many places around Verdon Gorge you can choose to go.

Laure informed us the two sides of the Gorge are both breathtaking and very different.

We decided to make our way toward Moustiers Sainte Marie, which seemed to pop up quite a bit on the Internet; however, plans changed during the ride.

Are you seeing a pattern here? There’s no need to plan in Provence. Adventures pop up at every turn.

Picture this: we’re driving along the winding mountain route D952, switching back and forth between shady forest and open skies.

Suddenly, a flash of bright neon green-blue appears out of the corner of my eye. Lake Verdon.

It peeks through open patches of tree, until the road and my view are completely unobstructed. Wow.

We reach a bridge connecting the two departments that stretches over the river, and we get out to capture the iconic photos we’d seen online.

It’s then we notice the plethora of visitors canoeing, kayaking and paddle boating on the waters; a serene scene that quickly changes our choice from hiking to kayaking.

From this bridge we see numerous rental centers from above, and drive down to rent a kayak for 26 Euros ($29 USD) for two hours.

The paddling trip is scenic, allowing us to take in the gorge from below as cliffside swallows us up, as well as friendly.

We get offered shots of whiskey by a passing boat of Swiss tourists, jump out to swim in the chilly waters and post up on the numerous beaches along the way.

Provence Travel Adventures

What was interesting to me was how many outdoor adventures and national parks there were along the journey,  particularly in Provence .

I expected medieval towns, vineyards and lavender farms; I didn’t expect to be kayaking deep gorges or hiking coastal capes.

It really allowed for an all-encompassing trip.

And these national parks aren’t just in the countryside, but in the cities.

For instance, Marseille not only allowed us to stay in a homey family-run castle  complete with a pool, onsite hiking trails, and expansive terrace views, but to visit an urban national park.

Calanques National Park encompasses 201 square miles, including the rugged terrain of the Massif des Calanques, which Andy and I hiked and scrambled.

Our guide took us along dolomite cliffside and up Marseilleveyre Peak for 360-degree views from 433 meters (1,421 feet).

The breathtaking view showcased the sparkling Mediterranean and Bay of Marseilles as well as the urban landscape.

Cycling In Aix-en-Provence

Possibly our favorite views, ones that truly showcased the beauty and natural prosperity of Provence, came during our time in Aix-en-Provence.

We met our guide Arthur of  Secrets d’ici  in front of Bee’s Cycloplanet for a private electric bike tour.

While electric bikes aren’t yet popular in the United States, in Europe you can rent them to make lovely hilly rides doable (I wouldn’t have been able to complete this route without it!).

The ride took us outside of the city for vistas of mountains, lavender fields, olive groves, historic farm houses and endless rows of grenache and cabernet.

We even got two tastes of Provence; one at Domaine de Saint Ser where we savored a tasting of organic rosés, and one during lunch in the small village of Puyloubier.

We dined in a beautiful courtyard lined with fountains and bundles of wine grapes at the sumptuous  Le Relais de Saint Ser Puyloubier .

Here local wine was paired with homemade dishes crafted from local Provençal ingredients. Imagine roast chicken done in a prawn bisque and topped with mini crepes and peas, followed by a decadent apricot tart smothered in wild fruit coulis and homemade whipped cream.

And I didn’t even feel bad. By the end we’d biked 31 beautiful miles, enough to let me have my cake and eat it, too.

Back at our guesthouse, L’Epicerie, we cozied up in the in-room Jacuzzi and toasted with glasses of bubbly to an epic road trip.

Ending Tip:  When planning a trip to the South of France the hardest thing will be deciding where to stop and where to skip, especially if you’ve never been and have no mental image of the land. Know this: anywhere you stay you’ll be close to myriad different places.

For instance, Nice is only 20 minutes from Eze, 40 minutes from Monaco and 40 minutes from Cannes. Aix en Provence is 25 minutes from Marseille and an hour from Avignon.

Don’t stress about where to go.

If you don’t like where you booked use it as a base for incredible day trips or just drive around and see what you find.

You can also follow Andy and I’s itinerary below, which we highly recommend!

Best Places To Stay In The South Of France

Looking for South of France accommodation?

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Road Trip Travel In Southern France: FAQ

1) where should i vacation in the south of france.

For a mix of experiences and atmospheres, it’s smart to spend some time on the French Riviera as well as some time in Provence. Begin in Nice and end in Marseille, making stops along the way in places like Cannes and the Verdon Gorge.

2) How many days do I need in Provence?

There is a lot to see and do in Provence, from wine tasting to beach hiking to scenic cycling trips and beyond. A minimum of five days is advised, though if you can do 10-14 days you’ll get to experience a lot more.

3) Can you drive from Paris to Nice?

You can, though it would be a very long drive at about nine hours, or 579 miles. It is recommended to break up the drive with stops along the way, such as in Dijon and Lyon . You can also take a train, with the fastest train getting you to Nice in about five-and-a-half hours.

4) How far is Nice from Marseille by car?

It takes about two hours to drive from Nice to Marseille. The distance is 124 miles. While you can easily do the drive in one day, it is recommended to make stops along the way as there is a lot to do and see.

5) What is the best South of France road trip itinerary?

One great itinerary if you have 10-14 days is Nice, Cannes, Moissac-Bellevue, Hyeres, Aix-en-Provence, and Marseille. Nice and Marseille are about 124 miles apart.

Here is the route in detail:

• Nice (with day trips to Eze for a medieval village, Monaco for a VIP afternoon and Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat for the Villa & Jardins Ephrussi de Rothschild)
• Cannes (with day trips to St. Tropez/Ramatuelle for beaches, Gassin for wine tasting and La Croix Valmer for beaches and hiking)
• Moissac Bellevue (we stayed at a woodland set horse farm then were about 20-minutes from Verdon Gorge )
• Hyeres  (the cobbled commune itself is fun to explore, and is near beautiful beaches and is accessible to the untouched Port Cros Island)
• Aix-en-Provence  (my personal favorite spot of the trip due to the small quiet city full of amenities and accessibility to beautiful Provence farmland; a cheesy rooftop lunch at La Fromagerie Du Passage and a day trip cycling outside the city with Arthur of  Secrets d’ici are musts!)
• Marseille  (don’t miss hiking in the urban Calanques National Park, which doesn’t feel urban at all and is accessible to beautiful port towns and beaches)

Travel Insurance

While you hope everything runs smoothly, sometimes travel just doesn’t go according to plan.

This is why I recommend always purchasing travel insurance. The scary truth is it only takes one bad accident to lose everything — or be thankful you were covered.

Personally, I use SafetyWing, as they’ve got a large network, offer both short-term and long-term coverage (including limited coverage in your home country), are budget-friendly, and offer $250,000 worth of coverage with just one low overall deductible of $250.

Click here to price out travel insurance for your trip in just a few clicks .

Bonus South Of France Travel Resources

How To Hike Calanques National Park In Marseille, France

How To Enjoy Wine, Hiking & Skinny Dipping Near Cannes, France

Is The Verdon Gorge France’s Most Stunning Natural Attraction?

3 Epic Adventures You Didn’t Know You Could Have In Provence

3 Stunning Day Trips From Nice, France

5 Unique Accommodations That Will Make You Crave A South Of France Getaway

Exploring Nice Beyond The Promenade

15 Best Beach Clubs On The French Riviera

Have you ever done a South of France road trip?

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Planning A Trip To South Of France Logistics:

What is the best way to get around the South of France?  We rented a car from  Europcar for a little less than $600 total for two weeks, including taxes and fees paid upon arrival and adding a second driver. My credit card, the Bank of America Travel Rewards Card, included car rental insurance. Check your credit card before buying the insurance offered by the rental company.

Additionally, I’d recommend using Discover Car Hire to compare your options.

Do you have any driving tips for the South of France? I recommend exploring the South of France via car as there are just so many little villages, wineries, beautiful parks, and beaches to stop off at along the way from Point A to Point B. The South of France is a land of discovery; you’ll constantly be finding attractions you didn’t know existed. Just drive with caution; the French drive without any care for rules. Don’t be surprised if you see drivers going 80mph around hairpin mountain turns.

What are some great books on France?  Au Contraire: Figuring Out the French  and  How the French Think: An Affectionate Portrait of an Intellectual People .

What should I eat in France? It’s helpful to understand French dining etiquette before eating out.

How do I get a SIM card in France?  One option is a KnowRoaming Global Sim Sticker , which works in 200+ countries to give you local rates and inexpensive data packages. Another option is buying local SIM cards in France. Andy and I paid about 20 Euros (~22 USD) each in Cannes for local SIM cards with 1 gigabyte of data (no calls). Especially if you’re driving I think it’s important to have data in case of an emergency. It was also helpful for communicating with locals (via Google translate), contacting our AirBnB hosts and finding our AirBnBs when we were lost.

What are some safety essentials I should pack for France?  While I found France to be relatively safe, I always travel with Clever Travel Companion Pickpocket-Proof Garments and a  Vigilant Personal Alarm .

What should I pack for my France trip? Start with this list . From there I would also recommend bringing an extra flashlight  (for any countryside AirBNBs or camping), water shoes (for Verdon Gorge and rocky beaches) and travel towels  (for the beach). 

What language do they speak in France? French, though we found many people spoke some English. Just make sure to understand pleasantries when interacting with locals!

What currency do they use in France? Euro. As of December 2019, the exchange rate was about 1 Euro = $1.11 USD.

What tours should I book in the South of France?

• 3-Hour Small-Group French Cooking Class at a Local Home (Nice)
• French Riviera Sightseeing Cruise (Nice)
• Half-Day Valensole Lavender Tour (Aix-en-Provence)
• Electric Bike Tour to the Calanques (Marseille)
• Street Art Walking Tour (Marseille)
• Vespa Guided Tour (Cannes)

Driving Holiday In France [Trip Video]

If you didn’t watch it already, here is another chance to watch my South of France road trip video.

What would you add to this South of France road trip itinerary?

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18 Comments

That view looking down on Verdon Gorge is beautiful! So glad you survived the crazy driving and had a great time. I enjoyed my time in Nice and Cannes, so maybe next time I’ll make it to St Tropez!

@Char: Even just all the little villages and wineries around St Tropez are so wonderful!

How was the parking?

@Amy: We didn’t encounter many issues with parking! 🙂

This is a great article, thanks for writing it! I am thinking about a 2-3 week trip in the south of France starting at the end of this month. I’m torn between renting a car and train travel; your article has me leaning towards car rental. 😉 Would you say it was a wash (in expenses) between gas/ tolls/ parking/ car rental vs cost of train tickets to go to the major cities you visited? Thanks!

@Vanessa: I’m not 100% sure because I didn’t fully do the math, but I didn’t feel like it was expensive to rent a car AND we had total control of timing and destinations 🙂

What an amazing road trip! You certainly covered a lot of ground in 2 weeks. One thing that still amazes me about Provence, is the diversity. You never get bored, and often get surprised!

Wow nice roadtripe and nice video! At the beginning of the video you’re walking on a road with a white bridge on the background, do you still remember where that was? Thanks!

@Tomas: It was walking from where we parked over to Eze! 🙂

I see that you have visited almost everything worth seeing on the French Riviera. Nice :). Next time I recommend to see the beautiful medieval village of Saint-Paul de Vence. For me it has more charm than Eze :). Greetings from Nice! Cube.

Hi, love your travel blog, very helpful! I am planning a 5 day road trip from Marseille to Nice, what would you recommend?!

Honestly, you could do the drive quite quickly in a day, so I would just choose which activites on the itinerary sound the best to you. For me, Verdon Gorge was stunning, and I loved the coastal hike near St. Tropez. 🙂

Thanks for sharing all your information and super detailed tips!

amazing road trip!

Very nice road trip thank you for sharing ! We are a family of 3 and we are planning our trip for this summer I cannot wait

Which month did you have a trip?

Where did you park a car during your stay in Nice?

@Nipa: The trip was in August. And Nice has plenty of parking garages! 🙂

This is super helpful! I am planning a mini sabbatical in mid June and wish I had more time to explore south of France. Looking at 8 days 7 nights so trying to figure out where to spend an extra day. If you have any advise let me know!

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Car and Driver's Best Road Trips of 2023

Crossing the country and visiting interesting places in exciting cars is a tough job, but we'll just keep doing it.

One of the challenges to a good road trip in these hectic, modern times, is making time. In the old days, we would have been happy to send a staffer out of the office for a month, hell, we had some staffers who we would have paid to get rid of for 30 days, but these days the gang is busy keeping up with new cars and car news. Yet we wanted to celebrate our beloved Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing , that most American of machines, with an American cross-country road trip. To do so, we split up the route and took turns behind the wheel. Important lessons were learned and deep philosophical questions asked, like, "What percentage of the cows in this country have now seen a CT5-V Blackwing?"

Can't Get You out of My Head

So fabulous was the Caddy and so grand the road trip that Ezra Dyer dove in for more, musing on the freedom of the road and the changing landscape we'll see, both in the dealer showrooms and through the window as America moves away from big gas V-8s. Also, he almost went to Graceland but didn't quite, so another road trip may be in the works.

READ THE STORY

Saints Alive

We hope you've got vacation plans, and we're here to tell you that no matter where the family votes to go, there are car things to do there. Elana Scherr took a Dodge Challenger Hellcat Black Ghost (speaking of V-8s not long for the new-car market) and explored the automotive offerings near San Diego, California. From museums to mountain roads, the beach city is good for both tacos and twisty roads.

A Nice Neighborhood

For John Phillips, even a run down his driveway is a road trip, but our favorite adventurer kept going, taking us on a loop through the Montana wilderness he calls home, driving a Chevrolet Colorado Bison . Paraphrasing Phillips is as impossible as navigating his driveway without four-wheel drive, so you're just going to have to read this one yourself.

Get Your Kicks in Ioniqs

Dan Edmunds visited the Mother Road—now more of a great-great-grandmother road—driving a Hyundai Ioniq 6 . Edmunds headed from Arizona back to California on as much of Route 66 as he could find, and along the way he noted the Hyundai's smooth ride and pleasant interior as well as some quibbles about the cargo space and range. It's always good to visit your mother.

In the early '90s, back when we could spend a month on the road in a Ferrari with no mileage limitations, John Phillips did exactly that in this Ferrari 512TR. It was flat tires, dead batteries, space monkeys, dinosaur tracks, and astonishingly, no speeding tickets. At least none Phillips admitted to in print.

Take the Wheel

This wasn't a road trip, but it was a trip on the road. Elana Scherr became a passenger in the driver's seat for an on-highway test drive (ride) in a Level 3 self-driving Mercedes-Benz EQS580 . Mercedes was showing off its Drive Pilot technology, which will allow a driver to take both hands and eyes off the wheel. Will we someday all be road-tripping as passengers, and if so, who gets to choose the music?

The Beginnings

Caleb Miller and Jack Fitzgerald didn't go far during their first drive of a 1915 Model T. Mileage-wise it wasn't much of a road trip, but traveling in time is a journey all its own, and nothing makes that possible like learning the tech of the automotive past.

Curves Ahead

Now here's a classic road-trip recipe. Take a beautiful car on a beautiful road and enjoy the magic they make together, or as Sam Smith describes the 2024 Lotus Emira on North Carolina's highway 209, "a fast waltz in asphalt."

Austin Irwin uncovered some unfinished business during a Thanksgiving visit to his parents' home in northern Michigan. To give the upcoming 10,000-mile update in our long-term Rivian R1T logbook some fat for folks to chew on, he towed about approximately $11,500 worth of goods back home with him. Yes, $11,000 of that was the 20-foot Featherlite trailer.

Where shall we go in 2024?

Like a sleeper agent activated late in the game, Elana Scherr didn’t know her calling at a young age. Like many girls, she planned to be a vet-astronaut-artist, and came closest to that last one by attending UCLA art school. She painted images of cars, but did not own one. Elana reluctantly got a driver’s license at age 21 and discovered that she not only loved cars and wanted to drive them, but that other people loved cars and wanted to read about them, which meant somebody had to write about them. Since receiving activation codes, Elana has written for numerous car magazines and websites, covering classics, car culture, technology, motorsports, and new-car reviews. In 2020, she received a Best Feature award from the Motor Press Guild for the C/D story "A Drive through Classic Americana in a Polestar 2."  In 2023, her Car and Driver feature story "In Washington, D.C.'s Secret Carpool Cabal, It's a Daily Slug Fest" was awarded 1st place in the 16th Annual National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Awards by the Los Angeles Press Club.  

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Get ready to hit the road for vacations and holidays in a car that's fuel efficient, reliable and comfortable. We found the best road trip cars for any adventure.

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Looking for Adventure? Head Out on the Highway!

People have a lot of pent-up travel lust after years of pandemic restrictions and uncertainty. Air travel in particular has seen a huge rise this summer, with the busiest day in the industry's history occurring in June. Rather than fight those busy flights, hit the road in a new vehicle that can fit all your luggage and maybe even help you keep your cool.

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No single car is the perfect road trip vehicle for everyone, but great road trip cars have some features in common. We looked for vehicles that have good gas mileage for fewer stops at gas stations, enough USB ports to keep everyone's devices charged up and comfortable seats in all rows. Driver assistance features are important too, as they can help reduce fatigue during long days on the road.

When new information becomes available, we update our reviews, so the information in these slides might not match the reviews exactly.

Let's take a look at the best road trip cars so we can – finally – get out of town.

Hyundai Motor America |

2023 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid

$31,350 | usn overall score: 8.7/10.

The 2023 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid is among the best in its class. Its long list of features was refreshed for the new model year, and it was a finalist for our Best Hybrid SUV for the Money and Best Hybrid SUV for Families awards. The regular hybrid is the best for road tripping, with up to 38 mpg on the highway. The available plug-in hybrid shines brightest when you can take full advantage of its 33 miles of electric-only power around town.

Inside, there's tons of room for adults in both rows of seating and a huge cargo area. An 8-inch touch screen, wireless Apple CarPlay , wireless Android Auto , four USB ports and wireless device charging come standard.

More on the 2023 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid

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• Find the best price on the 2023 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid »
• Read the 2023 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid Full Review  »
• See Hybrid SUV Rankings  »

Volkswagen of America, Inc. |

2023 Volkswagen Atlas

$34,460 | usn overall score: 8.0/10.

The 2023 Volkswagen Atlas has enough room to bring along everybody and all their gear. It's available with two or three rows of seating, and even the optional third row has enough room for shorter adults or squirmy kids. It has more cargo space behind the third row than most in its class. A 6.5-inch touch screen and smartphone compatibility come standard.

Despite being a 3-row SUV, the Atlas is easy to maneuver, even when you leave the highway for city streets. It can also tow up to 5,000 pounds when properly configured if you plan to bring a small camper or want to tow some toys for your vacation.

More on the 2023 Volkswagen Atlas

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• Read the 2023 Volkswagen Atlas Full Review  »
• See Midsize SUV Rankings  »

Ford Motor Company |

2023 Lincoln Navigator

$77,635 | usn overall score: 8.8/10.

Wherever your road trip takes you, the 2023 Lincoln Navigator will make sure you arrive in comfort and style. It's one of the best luxury large SUVs, with a well-built and high-quality interior. Standard features include a 13.2-inch touch screen, wireless smartphone connectivity, a Wi-Fi hotspot and five USB ports.

Every seat in all three rows is comfortable, and the available L model adds extra space to an already roomy cargo area. And though it is large, the Navigator turns in decent fuel economy estimates for its class, with up to 23 mpg on the highway. Standard safety features like lane-keep assist can help reduce driver fatigue too.

More on the 2023 Lincoln Navigator

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• Read the 2023 Lincoln Navigator Full Review  »
• See Luxury Large SUV Rankings  »

General Motors |

2023 Chevrolet Suburban

$57,200 | overall score: 8.2/10.

The 2023 Chevrolet Suburban is the classic family road trip SUV. It's huge, with more cargo space than almost any SUV out there. It can be configured to seat up to nine people (though it's a tight fit). With seven or eight seats, even the third row provides enough legroom for adults. The interior is sturdy enough for epic journeys, and it comes with an 8-inch touch screen, wireless smartphone connectivity and six USB ports.

Depending on how you configure it, the Suburban can tow up to 8,300 pounds, enough for the average camper. It also comes with driver-assistance features like lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist and automatic emergency braking.

More on the 2023 Chevrolet Suburban

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• Read the 2023 Chevrolet Suburban Full Review  »
• See Large SUV Rankings  »

2023 Genesis G90

$88,400 | usn overall score: 9.3/10.

The 2023 Genesis G90 was completely redesigned this year, and it added an optional mild-hybrid powertrain that improves acceleration when passing on the highway. The available air suspension makes long drives a dream, and the long list of standard safety features-including adaptive cruise control-eases the tedium of driving.

The Nappa leather interior wraps the road tripper in luxury, and both rows of seating are comfortable for adults. The trunk is large enough for several suitcases, and it opens automatically as you approach. The G90 also has one of the longest warranties in the business.

More on the 2023 Genesis G90

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• Find the best price on the 2023 Genesis G90 »
• Read the 2023 Genesis G90 Full Review  »
• See Luxury Large Car Rankings  »

Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. |

2023 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid

$30,725 | usn overall score: 8.2/10.

The 2023 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid takes everything that has made this compact SUV popular over the years, like a comfortable ride and plenty of standard high-tech features, and added a fuel-efficient and quick-accelerating hybrid powertrain. It can get up to 41 mpg on the highway, which helps cut road trip costs. It was also a finalist for our Best Hybrid SUV for the Money award.

The interior is solidly built, and both rows of seating are comfy. There's also great visibility for everyone, so games of "I Spy" may get competitive. An 8-inch touch screen, wireless smartphone compatibility and a Wi-Fi hotspot come standard. Adaptive cruise control and traffic-sign recognition (both standard) help you when driving in unfamiliar locations.

More on the 2023 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid

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• Read the 2023 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Full Review  »

American Honda Motor Co., Inc. |

2023 Honda CR-V Hybrid

$32,950 | usn overall score: 8.3/10.

The 2023 Honda CR-V Hybrid is a more fuel-efficient version of the popular compact SUV, with up to 43 mpg on the highway. It's been completely redesigned this year, with more standard tech features and an improved infotainment system. A 7-inch touch screen, smartphone connectivity, a Wi-Fi hotspot and four USB ports come standard.

The seats are comfy in both rows, with room for adults to stretch out even on road trips. The rear seats recline, so whoever is off driving duty can take a nap. Standard adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist help reduce the fatigue that can come with hours of driving.

More on the 2023 Honda CR-V Hybrid

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• Find the best price on the 2023 Honda CR-V Hybrid »
• Read the 2023 Honda CR-V Hybrid Full Review  »

2024 Kia Carnival

$33,200 | overall score: 8.5/10.

The 2024 Kia Carnival basically begs you to get the show on the road, and it comes standard with several advanced safety features, including driver-attention monitoring.

The interior is upholstered with easy-to-clean materials, and all three rows have enough room for adults, though the third row is short on headroom. It also has lots of cargo space, even with all three rows in use. An 8-inch touch screen, smartphone compatibility and seven USB ports come standard.

More on the 2024 Kia Carnival

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• Find the best price on the 2024 Kia Carnival »
• Read the 2024 Kia Carnival Full Review  »
• See Minivan Rankings  »

Stellantis |

2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid

$50,795 | usn overall score: 8.6/10.

The 2023 Chrysler Pacific Hybrid is a plug-in hybrid, so when you reach your destination and charge up, you can drive about 32 miles on electric power alone. Under electric power, this Chrysler gets 82 MPG-equivalent, and gasoline-only driving returns up to 30 mpg on the highway. These are great numbers for a minivan.

There's also a ton of tech included, like a 10.1-inch touch screen, wireless smartphone connectivity and Amazon Alexa compatibility. All three rows of seating have lots of head- and legroom, and there's plenty of storage space. Standard safety features include adaptive cruise control and a surround-view parking camera system.

More on the 2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid

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• Read the 2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid Full Review  »

2023 Ram 1500

$31,270 | usn overall score: 9.0/10.

If your road trip plan involves a camper or boat, you'll want to look into the 2023 Ram 1500 . When properly equipped, it can tow up to 12,750 pounds. As with most pickups, you can configure the 1500 in whatever way works for you.

There are a lot of options and body styles to choose from too, but they all have a spacious, high-quality interior. The availability of safety features and infotainment tech depends on the trim you choose and the options you select, so you can custom-build the road-tripping pickup of your dreams – or the one that fits your budget.

More on the 2023 Ram 1500

• See 2023 Ram 1500 Photos  »
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• Read the 2023 Ram 1500 Full Review  »
• See Full Size Pickup Truck Rankings  »

2023 Honda Civic

$23,750 | usn overall score: 8.7/10.

Your road-trip car is probably also your go-to-work-every-day car. The 2023 Honda Civic ably handles both roles. It's one of the best compact cars in its class, and we named it the Best Compact Car for the Money as well as one of the Best Cars for Teens . All of its scores are high, especially when it comes to safety. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave it the Top Safety Pick+ designation.

It's not just safe, it's also thrifty, with up to 42 mpg on the highway. A 7-inch touch screen and smartphone connectivity come standard. It also comes with adaptive cruise control and traffic-sign recognition, which make driving in unfamiliar areas a bit easier.

More on the 2023 Honda Civic

• See 2023 Honda Civic Photos  »
• Find the best price on the 2023 Honda Civic »
• Read the 2023 Honda Civic Full Review  »
• See Compact Car Rankings  »

2023 Ford Mustang

$27,770 | usn overall score: 9.2/10.

Sometimes you want to live the American road trip dream in an impractical sports car. But guess what – the 2023 Ford Mustang is a rather practical sports car with one of the highest overall U.S. News scores. There are several available engines, but sticking with the base turbo-four means an estimated 32 mpg on the highway.

Living the American muscle car fantasy on the open road is best for two people, since the Mustang's rear seats are pretty small. Its standard infotainment system has a 4.2-inch display – not a touch screen – and a Wi-Fi hot spot. Standard safety tech includes automatic emergency braking and lane-keep assist. But maybe most importantly, for purposes of the dream, the Mustang is available as a convertible.

More on the 2023 Ford Mustang

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• Read the 2023 Ford Mustang Full Review  »
• See Sports Car Rankings  »

Road Trip Car Characteristics

Passenger space : People turn cranky when they aren't comfortable after hours on the road. There needs to be space for everyone to stretch out.

Cargo space : At the very minimum, you'll be bringing luggage along and maybe also camping gear or tubes for floating the river. Make sure there's space for your gear.

Fuel economy : Stopping for gas on a road trip can get expensive. Fuel efficiency, particularly from hybrid powertrains, can ease the pain of stopping at the pump.

Infotainment : An AM/FM radio is no longer sufficient for most people. An infotainment system that's easy to use while driving and can connect to smartphones is key.

Safety tech : Driving long distances causes fatigue, and fatigue causes accidents. Modern driver-assistance features can help you stay alert and in your lane.

Reliability : No one wants to be the car in the breakdown lane while on their road trip. A good predicted reliability score shows that a particular model has on average been a solid performer over time.

John M. Vincent | U.S. News & World Report

Road Trip Car FAQs

What is the best car for road trips.

The best car for road trips is the one that fits your budget and your needs, so there's no one vehicle that will work for everybody. That said, the 2023 Honda Civic is a strong pick. It provides comfort, features, safety and reliability, and all for one of the lowest price tags on this list.

What is the best SUV for road trips?

The 2023 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid combines a long list of standard features with great fuel economy, and it has one of the most spacious interiors in its class.

What is the best luxury car for road trips?

The redesigned 2023 Genesis G90 will take you anywhere in comfort and style. Most of its best features are standard, including leather upholstery.

What is the most comfortable car for long trips?

On a list of very comfortable vehicles, the 2023 Honda CR-V Hybrid is probably the most comfortable, especially for back-seat passengers who can take advantage of those reclining seats. If comfort is your priority, take a look at our list of most comfortable cars for more options.

U.S. News and World Report |

More Shopping Tools From U.S. News & World Report

Plenty of families take road trips, so you might want to check out the winners of our 2023 Best Cars for Families awards too. Maybe you've been left stranded on an unfamiliar road by your former car and are looking for the most reliable cars available. If you know you need to bring along a lot of gear, see our roundup of compact SUVs with the most cargo space .

When you're ready to buy a new car, use our Best Price Program to pre-negotiate a great price with a local dealership. You can arrange for online buying and even vehicle delivery through the program.

U.S. News & World Report |

Best Cars for Road Trips

• 2023 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid - $31,350 | Overall Score: 8.7/10
• 2023 Volkswagen Atlas - $34,460 | Overall Score: 8.0/10
• 2023 Lincoln Navigator - $77,635| Overall Score: 8.8/10
• 2023 Chevrolet Suburban - $57,200 | Overall Score: 8.2/10
• 2023 Genesis G90 - $88,400 | Overall Score: 9.3/10
• 2023 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid - $31,225 | Overall Score: 8.2/10
• 2023 Honda CR-V Hybrid - $32,950 | Overall Score: 8.3/10
• 2024 Kia Carnival - $33,200 | Overall Score: 8.5/10
• 2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid - $50,795 | Overall Score: 8.6/10
• 2023 Ram 1500 - $31,270 | Overall Score: 9.0/10
• 2023 Honda Civic - $23,750 | Overall Score: 8.7/10
• 2023 Ford Mustang - $27,770 | Overall Score: 9.2/10

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23 Incredible Road Trips in the U.S.

Whether you’re looking for sweeping views of the pacific ocean or a multiday adventure through national parks, these road trips provide plenty of opportunities to explore the united states..

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Glacier National Park is one of many scenic places you can visit on an American road trip.

Photo by Zack Frank / Shutterstock

In a country as large as the United States, there’s no shortage of destinations and detours to explore by car . Whether your idea of the perfect American road trip entails an epic, cross-country journey or a shorter jaunt through a few of its most iconic national parks , your options are as large and varied as the country itself.

Even if you don’t have the time to drive cross-country, there are plenty of road trip routes (ranging from three days to a week or longer): classic California itineraries , New England routes that shine especially well in the fall, scenic East Coast adventures, and a variety of Midwest journeys for folks farther from the coasts.

No matter your mode of transportation—be it van, RV, motorcycle, or four-door sedan—these are 21 of the best road trips in the nation to consider.

Plan your next Route 66 trip around thirst-quenching stops.

Photo by Peek Creative Collective/Shutterstock

There are many ways to do a cross-country road trip in the USA, but these two itineraries will take you through some truly iconic American places.

1. Chicago to Los Angeles: A Whiskey Road Trip on Route 66

It doesn’t get more American than a 2,000-mile drive along the entirety of Route 66. There are endless ways to take this legendary trip (including an EV version —but to take your cross-country road trip to the next level, we recommend exploring another American pastime: whiskey.

Starting in Chicago and ending in L.A., you’ll stop by some of the leading craft distilleries in the United States, like Few Spirits in Chicago, Still 630 in St. Louis, and Red Fork Distillery in Tulsa. In between tastings, make time for detours to natural attractions, like the Grand Canyon, and quirky roadside curiosities, like Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo, Texas. Just remember to drink responsibly—this is a road trip after all.

Plan your trip

The full itinerary: Put a New Twist on Route 66—Make It an American Whiskey Road Trip

No cars are allowed on Mackinac Island, so you need to park before taking the ferry to this spot.

Photo from Shutterstock

2. Bangor, Maine, to Seattle, Washington: The Great Northern on U.S. Route 2

Covering both the U.S. and Canada, a cross-country trip along U.S. 2 is ideal for anyone who wants to experience the vast diversity and expansiveness of North America. This drive runs the entire top border of the U.S. and showcases otherworldly natural wonders like Acadia National Park in Maine, the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore in Wisconsin, and Mackinac Island in Michigan. The route also passes through Canada, taking road-trippers through Ontario into Quebec—this route may focus on nature, but you won’t want to miss a stop in Montreal or Ottawa.

You’ll also get to explore Montana and Glacier National Park ( reservations may be required ) before passing the Columbia Plateau and ending in the Pacific Northwest’s largest city, Seattle. Don’t miss spending time in the Olympic Peninsula (home to Olympic National Park) for a peek at one of the most scenic places on the West Coast.

3. Dana Point to San Francisco: Driving California’s Pacific Coast Highway

The seemingly endless views of the Pacific Ocean along Highway 1 (also known as the Pacific Coast Highway) are what road trip dreams are made of, and exactly what makes this California road trip so popular. However, with so many stops along the 655-mile stretch, we pulled together a list of the ones well worth pulling over to view. Don’t miss the perfect surfing waves in Santa Cruz, seasonal cuisine in Malibu, an afternoon a the boardwalk in Santa Monica, or a night in Big Sur as you drive between Dana Point (just south of Los Angeles) and San Francisco.

• The full itinerary: The Best Stops for a Road Trip on the Pacific Coast Highway
• The AFAR Guide to San Francisco

The seaside town of Monterey was the setting for John Steinbeck’s Cannery Row .

Photo by Denise Lett/Shutterstock

4. Big Sur to Mono County: A Literary Road Trip Through Northern California

Yes, this itinerary requires you actually put down your book to drive, but seeing some of the pivotal places that shaped American authors will be so worth it. Follow in the footsteps of writers like Jack Kerouac, Maya Angelou, and Amy Tan on this road trip that takes you through literary landmarks in Northern California, such as Caffe Trieste, a meeting place for Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg, Alan Watts, and other bohemian writers and thinkers. This 12-stop itinerary is perfect if you live in the San Francisco Bay Area because you’ll be able to stay make these trips in one or two days.

The full itinerary: The California Road Trip All Book Lovers Should Take

Arizona may take its nickname from the Grand Canyon, but the state has far more natural wonders than just that one.

Courtesy of Shutterstock

5. Phoenix to the Grand Canyon: An Iconic Arizona Road Trip

This 240-mile Arizona road trip takes travelers along some of the state’s most iconic highlights, including its most famous one, the Grand Canyon. A great itinerary for first-time visitors and returning travelers alike, it offers plenty of opportunities for scenic drives, hiking, and biking—as well as tasty food along the way. Hike the 2,704-foot-tall Camelback Mountain in Scottsdale or take in the beautiful red rocks of Sedona on a hike to Cathedral Rock while exploring the Grand Canyon State.

• The full itinerary: The Classic 5-Day Arizona Road Trip
• Grand Canyon guide: The First-Timer’s Guide to the Grand Canyon
• Where to eat in Phoenix: A Chef’s Guide to the Best Restaurants
• Where to stay: The Best Hotels in Arizona ; The Best Airbnbs in Sedona

The Delicate Arch living up to its name in Utah’s Arches National Park

Photo by tusharkoley / Shutterstock

6. Zion to Grand Canyon: A National Parks Road Trip in the Southwest

If you’re looking to visit as many national parks as possible in one road trip, this southwestern itinerary is for you. This journey through Utah and Arizona lets you hike Angel’s Landing in Zion, feel tiny under Delicate Arch in Arches National Park, explore Fairyland Loop Trail in Bryce Canyon, and, of course, raft down the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon. Most visitors to the Grand Canyon remain on the rim, but take at least four days to venture within the canyon and take advantage of the trails and river rafting.

• The full itinerary: The Ideal Road Trip Through U.S. National Parks
• Utah’s 8 Best National Parks and Monuments
• 10 Best National Parks and Monuments in Arizona
• The First-Timer’s Guide to the Grand Canyon

Stop and admire the winding roads of the San Juan Skyway.

Photo by Anh Luu/Shutterstock

7. San Juan Scenic Skyway Road Trip: An Adventure Through Southwestern Colorado

This Colorado trip takes you along the 232-mile loop of the San Juan Scenic Skyway, where you will see plenty of alpine forests, mining towns, and craggy peaks. And for anyone looking to enjoy refreshments after a long day of driving, this route features many opportunities to stop at some of the best breweries in Colorado , such as Ska Brewing Co. in Durango.

• The full itinerary: The Ultimate Southwestern Colorado Road Trip
• Five Classic Colorado Road Trips To Take This Year

In small-town Buena Vista, the riverfront Surf Hotel offers front-row seats to Colorado-style adventure seekers.

Courtesy of the Surf Hotel

8. Denver to Montrose: A 420-Mile Road Trip Through Colorado

Want to explore even more of the Centennial State? Head out on this weeklong road trip where you can fish for salmon in Colorado’s largest reservoir, visit numerous small towns, like Paonia and Crawford, with thriving art scenes along the Colorado Creative Corridor , and explore Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, one of the least visited national parks in the nation.

• The full itinerary: Art Stars, High-Altitude Wines, and a Remote National Park: The Ultimate Colorado Road Trip
• Where to stay: The Best Hotels in Colorado
• The AFAR Guide to Denver

Portland may be Oregon’s largest city, but with a population of some 652,000 (or 2.5 million in the larger metropolitan area), it isn’t intimidatingly large.

Photo courtesy of Travel Portland

9. Portland to Astoria: An Oregon Coast Road Trip for Outdoor Lovers

If you love the outdoors, then this six-day road trip along the coast of Oregon is for you. After driving to Coos Bay from Portland, travelers will meander along Oregon’s dramatic, rocky coastline, discovering some quintessentially Pacific Northwest vistas along the way: evergreen forests, seaside dunes, and marine ecosystems. Between stops, there are ample opportunities to stretch your legs hiking, kayaking, or strolling around the region’s small towns—like the historic old town in Florence.

Of course, it wouldn’t be an Oregon road trip without a stop (or three) at a craft brewery, such as Fort George Brewery in Astoria, or cozy coffee shop, like Bread & Roses in Yachats.

• The full itinerary: An Outdoor Lover’s Road Trip on the Oregon Coast
• The AFAR Guide to Portland

The State Capitol Building in Nashville marks the end of this road (trip).

Photo by photo.ua / Shutterstock

10. Seneca Falls, New York, to Nashville, Tennessee: Follow the Path of the Women’s Suffrage Movement

Starting in New York’s Finger Lakes region and ending at the State Capitol Building in Nashville, this road trip traces the route of the national women’s suffrage movement. Highlights include stops at the Susan B. Anthony Museum & House ; Union Square in New York City, which was the site of the first suffrage march; and the Belmont-Paul Women’s Equality National Monument in Washington, D.C.

• The full itinerary: Celebrate Women’s Suffrage on an Epic, Self-Guided Road Trip
• Where to stay: The Best Hotels in Nashville
• The AFAR Guide to Nashville
• The AFAR Guide to Washington, D.C.

Asheville is one must-stop on a North Carolina road trip.

Courtesy of ExploreAsheville.com

11. Charlottesville to Asheville: A Scenic Road Trip Through Virginia and North Carolina

The Blue Ridge Parkway is one of the most scenic drives in the country. Beginning in the soft hilly meadows of the Appalachian Mountains from Shenandoah National Park down into the Blue Ridge Mountains, then into the Great Smoky Mountains, this five-day road trip is best done at a slower pace, which is perfect for admiring the dramatic outlooks and green plateaus. This eclectic itinerary features stops at an art museum, a dairy farm, and plenty of hiking trails.

• The full itinerary: The Ultimate Blue Ridge Parkway Road Trip
• Where to stay: 12 Dreamy Blue Ridge Mountain Cabins You Can Rent on Airbnb and Vrbo
• 8 U.S. National Park Road Trips to Take in Your Lifetime

Dowa:kwe dance group from Zuni Pueblo in 2019

Courtesy of Indian Pueblo Cultural Center

12. Albuquerque to Las Cruces: Discover New Mexico on This Three-Day Road Trip

This route steers you away from New Mexican tourist hot spots like Taos and Santa Fe and instead takes you on a three-day adventure with places that teach you about Pueblo history. You’ll stop at Indian Pueblo Kitchen (formerly known as Pueblo Harvest), a restaurant inside the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center that features Indigenous cuisine ; pick up peppers at Three Brothers in Hatch; and slide down the dunes in White Sands National Park.

• The full itinerary: This New Mexico Road Trip Is the Perfect Introduction to the Land of Enchantment

Historic Fort Martin Scott is one of the places travelers can visit to learn about Fredericksburg’s history.

Photo by Mark König/Unsplash

13. A Five-Day Scenic Road Trip Through Texas Hill Country

This Texas road trip starts and ends in San Antonio with stops in small towns like Bandera, Boerne, and consider a stop in Fredericksburg, which is one of AFAR’s best places to go in 2024 ). Over five days, you’ll find opportunities to stroll in a Japanese tea garden in San Antonio, relax along the Sabinal and Frio Rivers by inner tube, and eat as many tacos as you want. Seriously: You could eat tacos for every meal on this road trip and not get tired of them.

• The full itinerary: Tree Houses, Tubing, and Tacos: The Ultimate Texas Hill Country Road Trip

Mount McKinley looms large on a drive through Denali National Park.

Photo by warnsweet / Shutterstock

14. A Weeklong Road Trip Through Alaska’s Most Majestic Sights

This weeklong drive in Alaska starts and ends in Anchorage. You travel along four scenic byways; explore Wrangell–St. Elias wilderness, the largest U.S. national park; catch sight of Denali, the tallest peak in North America; and enjoy the surprisingly stellar food scene of McCarthy, a one-road town with only a couple dozen residents.

• The full itinerary: Glaciers, Mountain Peaks, and Organic Farms: The Ultimate Alaska Road Trip
• Which Alaska National Parks Should You Visit?

More than geothermal pools, Kirkham Hot Springs features a piping-hot waterfall.

Courtesy of Idaho Tourism

15. Boise to Sun Valley: Explore Idaho’s Scenic Byways

Even a short road trip can be packed with adventure, good food, and scenery, which is exactly what this trip from Boise to Sun Valley along Idaho’s Ponderosa Pine Scenic Byway offers. Although the drive only takes six hours, we recommend taking a few days to explore all the stops and detours along the way. One can’t-miss spot is the Kirkham Hot Springs , where you can stand under a waterfall that will splash you with 135-degree mineral water year-round.

• The full itinerary: The Little-Known Idaho Road Trip You Need to Drive
• Things to do: The Best Outdoorsy Things to Do in Idaho

Grand Portage State Park is the only state park jointly managed by a state and a Native American band.

Photo by Shutterstock/QZ

16. Duluth to Grand Portage State Park: A Scenic Minnesota Sampler

Although there are many appealing road trips throughout the Midwest, this 143-mile, three-hour circuit, which starts and ends in Duluth, Minnesota, is worth keeping in mind. Meandering north on MN-61 with this itinerary, you will enjoy prime views of Lake Superior and towns like Grand Marais, as well as Grand Portage State Park, home to waterfalls, hiking trails, and opportunities to learn about the Ojibwe community who occupy the land today. Once back in Duluth, enjoy a beer at Canal Park Brewing Company before checking into the waterfront Canal Park Lodge nearby.

• The AFAR Guide to Minnesota

Wind your way through colorful foliage in New Hampshire.

Photo by Shutterstock

17. Kancamagus Highway: A Quintessential New England Drive

Yes, you can take a road trip in New England at any time of the year , but this region shows off its best colors in the fall, when locals and tourists alike head out into the country to view the changing colors of the trees. Join other admirers of fall foliage on this popular, 34.5-mile road trip along New Hampshire’s Kancamagus Highway, colloquially known as the “Kanc,” for picturesque ponds, hiking trails, and scenic overlooks.

• Plan Your Fall Getaway With This Peak Foliage Prediction Map

Ogunquit is home to the small, postcard-perfect harbor of Perkins Cove.

Photo courtesy of QualityHD / Shutterstock

18. Maine’s “Lobster Trail”: Travel Route 1 Along the Coast

Traveling Route 1, affectionately known as “the lobster trail,” along Maine’s jagged coastline is an exercise in indulgence. Sample lobster dishes in all forms—buttered, steamed, on a roll, or even in a decadent mac-and-cheese.

The trip starts in the quaint small town of Ogunquit , with its rare (for the area) 3.5 miles of white-sand beach. Make your first lobster of the journey count, steamed with a side of drawn butter at Barnacle Billy’s in picturesque Perkins Cove harbor. Stop at Big Daddy’s for a cone on your way to the shipbuilding center—and summer home of George H. W. Bush—Kennebunkport. Stay at the recently redesigned 150-year-old classic White Barn Inn , and consider a sailing trip for an afternoon. With lobsters cooked in ocean water, the legendary lobster roll at the Clam Shack is a must.

• 8 Scenic East Coast Road Trips to Take This Year

Throughout North Carolina’s Piedmont region, innovative restaurants, shops, and restaurants like Leah & Louise in Charlotte, above, are creating a buzz.

Photo by Peter Taylor Photography

19. Raleigh to Charlotte: A 4-Day Trip Through North Carolina’s Reinvented Core

North Carolina’s Piedmont region extends from the coastal plain to the Blue Ridge Mountains, and includes farmland and rolling wooded hills, especially on the 1-40 stretch near Hillsborough. Starting in Raleigh, drive the short distances to Greensboro, Winston-Salem, and Charlotte to see how these cities are innovating through art, food, and a celebration of the past. Take your time—four days should do—to experience downtown arts districts, James Beard Award–winning restaurants, and civil rights museums that speak truths. Plan your trip

• A Road Trip Through North Carolina’s Reinvented Core

Scenic South Walton is part of the Emerald Coast of Florida.

20. Scenic Highway 30A: A Sunday Drive Through South Walton, Florida

Florida is full of places to cruise with the top down, but it’s hard to beat a Sunday (or any day) drive along Scenic Highway 30A through northwest Florida, home to a postcard-perfect stretch of seaside towns known as South Walton.

The roughly 28-mile route through South Walton County kisses the coast for nearly all its length, taking you through gorgeous residential Gulf-front communities like Rosemary Beach, Grayton Beach, and Blue Mountain Beach . Roll down the windows and let the emerald-hued views in.

Pull over to explore, too—maybe to admire the New Urbanism architecture in Alys Beach or to swim in the clear waters at Grayton Beach State Park . (The beach here has been lauded among the best in the world.)

• The full itinerary: The Florida Road Trip You’ve Been Missing

Stand-up paddleboarding is just one way to enjoy a Florida Keys sunset.

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21. The Florida Keys: An Island-Hopping Getaway

For a sunny road trip itinerary in Florida, skip Miami and head farther south. Beginning in Key Largo and ending in Key West, the Florida Keys Scenic Highway is often overlooked for more well-known routes up north, but it is well worth going out of your way to experience.

As the name suggests, this route is very scenic, so plan to spend at least a few days exploring it and numerous stops along the way. Some highlights include driving across the impressive Overseas Highway, stopping to admire art in the town of Islamorada, and enjoying the historic sites, food, and (of course) beaches in the city of Key West.

• The full itinerary: How to Road Trip in the Lesser-Known Florida Keys

Sun Studio in Memphis was the site of the famous Million Dollar recording session that brought together Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Johnny Cash.

Photo by f11photo on Shutterstock

22. Memphis to Bristol, Tennessee: A Music-Driven Adventure

If you have about a week to spare and a deep appreciation for music, take a road trip from one side of Tennessee to the other, starting in Memphis and ending in Bristol. The eastbound trip spans genres, including rock ( Graceland ), blues ( Beale Street) and, of course, country (did you really go to Tennessee if you didn’t go to Dollywood ?). Nashville serves as the halfway point on your journey—so consider penciling in an extra 48 hours to fully explore the state capital’s greatest hits.

• The full itinerary: 5 Great American Road Trips For Music Fans

The stunning coastline near Cueva del Indio has been the backdrop of star-studded films.

Photo by Alexsf.gr/Shutterstock

23. Arecibo to Condado, Puerto Rico: A Lesser-Known Side of a Well-Loved Island

In the minds of many, trips to Puerto Rico bring images of stunning beaches , delicious foods , and maybe a bioluminescent bay or two . But there’s plenty of history to be found here, too, as Puerto Rico was home to an Indigenous population known as the Taino, a heritage many Puerto Ricans embrace. That history can be explored via a road trip. Starting in the northern town of Arecibo, travel south to Ponce, then back north to Condado—along the way you’ll encounter petroglyphs, Indigenous sites, and breathtaking natural spots.

• The full itinerary: A Puerto Rico Road Trip That Puts Indigenous Culture First

Additional road trip planning resources Picking the route for your road trip is only one part of your planning. From what snacks to pack to which podcasts to listen to, these additional resources will help you prepare for your next adventure:

• Best road trip snacks
• Road trip planning apps
• Podcasts and audiobooks to download
• What to pack for a road trip

This article originally appeared online in August 2020. It was most recently updated on April 4, 2024, to include current information. Additional reporting by Jessie Beck, Erika Owen, Ray Rogers, Terry Ward, and Sheryl Nance-Nash.

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10 Best Road Trips Near Nice

Escape nice on a road trip through southern france.

Take a road trip from Nice to discover a wealth of different landscapes and sites of interest. See other seaside resorts and medieval hilltop villages, chic artsy towns and even the Italian Riviera. The Cote d’Azur region is ripe for discovery and rich with varied spots to explore.

' Nice the Beautiful', as its affectionate moniker goes, is probably the most well-known city in the south of France. However, it's far from alone on this stunning stretch of shoreline, with both natural attractions and other delightful cities within short drives. It's not just the shore, either – the mix of natural and manmade charm continues inland.

One of Cote d’Azur’s most beautiful seaside cities

Antibes is an old port town with centuries of history and lots of local culture to discover. You can enjoy beautiful historical monuments, lively summer music festivals, as well as a diverse selection of museums detailing the Greek and Roman origins of the city.

The Antibes area has an impressive coastline with almost 50 beaches as well as the ancient Port Vauban harbor. Once serving as a layover to the Holy Lands, this is now one of the largest pleasure craft ports in Europe, with moorings for more than 2,000 vessels. The archeology museum is a great way to discover more about the local seafaring history. The Picasso Museum, dedicated to one of the city's most famous residents, has an extensive collection of works by the Spanish master.

Visit one of the beach-side stars of the Cote d’Azur

Cannes is an ancient city with origins over 2,000 years old, and lots to offer visitors. This city is known the world over for its movie festival, famous oceanside promenades, and the numerous luxury hotels that dot the coastline.

Le Suquet, as the old town is called, is a pleasant area to explore. Originally inhabited by fishermen and now crowded with tiny restaurants and trinket shops, it captures the energy of the city. You’ll have trouble missing the Promenade de la Croisette – the impressive beachfront avenue that's lined with palm trees, bars and cafés, and hotels. It seems to connect everything in Cannes.

Avenue Jean Médecin in Nice

Parc du Mont Boron

Parc Phoenix

Enjoy the unique vista from a famous fortified village.

Èze is a chic and charming hamlet with a gorgeous sea-view vista and a romantic atmosphere that brings loving couples from near and far. One of the most beautiful and well-known medieval fortified villages on the French Riviera, Èze’s selection of luxury inns and fine-dining restaurants is renowned throughout France.

Take a stroll through the local botanical garden, which has an extraordinary view of the Mediterranean as well as an impressive collection of exotic plants – especially cactuses. The main street is chock-a-block of cute little boutiques selling touristy trinkets as well as artisanal jewelry, clothing and bottles of the local tipple, mandarinette – a delicious liqueur made from clementines.

The French capital of perfume

Just north of Cannes, Grasse has been a world leader in perfume production since the 17 th century, and the home of many major French fragrance manufacturers. The town, which has a crumbling grace, with narrow medieval streets and imposing timeworn mansions, is well worth a visit.

Check out the international museum of perfume and learn the history of perfume throughout the millennia. Definitely visit one of the major producers, too, though only 3 give public tours. The Fragonard factory is the best known. The Place aux Aires is a charming square in the heart of the old town, and great for an alfresco lunch before visiting nearby Grasse Cathedral. The 12 th century Roman Catholic church, one of the town’s original buildings, has 3 paintings by the Flemish master Rubens.

The billionaire’s playground with fantastic dining and nightlife

Monaco is famous for being one of the tiniest yet richest nations on earth. This ritzy principality is known for its casino, luxury hotels and gastronomic restaurants, as well as hosting some of the most prestigious sporting events in the world, such as the Grand Prix de Monaco and the Tour de France.

Start your visit to Monaco at The Rock, the principality’s oldest inhabited neighbourhood, and see the changing of the guard at the royal palace. Then make your way to Hercule Harbor, an ancient port that holds some of the most expensive superyachts in the world. Even though Monaco may be home to immense riches, the public can still enjoy the excellent public beach, Le Larvotto, with its turquoise waters and pleasant promenade.

Pristine hilltop villages above the Cote d’Azur

Settled in 1150, Peillon is one of the Cote d’Azur’s most beautiful and most well-preserved hilltop villages. Great for a road trip from Nice, the tiny pedestrian-only enclave has extraordinary views and a pedestrian-friendly policy to limit visitors. It's intended to ensure that this tranquil spot remains tranquil.

The tall stone houses of the village seem to be carved out of the mountain, and the narrow streets and weathered doorways transportation you back to the Middle Ages. Be sure to check out one of the original buildings here – the Chapelle des Pénintents blancs. The 15 th -century church has magnificent period paintings of the Passion of the Christ.

Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat

One of the pearls of the mediterranean.

Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat is as famous for its billionaire palaces and luxury hotels as for its natural beauty. It was formerly part of the Kingdom of Sardinia and a base for Saracen pirates but is now one the wealthiest communities in the world.

Explore one of a handful of walking trails around the island before stopping for a rest at the pleasurecraft harbor. It's dotted with tiny chic seafood terraces, which are great for a chilled glass of Provincial rosé in the sun. To get a true taste of the local opulence, visit the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, a former private residence with museum-quality furnishing and 9 extraordinary gardens.

Saint Paul de Vence

A beautiful hilltop village, long loved by legendary artists.

A former military stronghold, Saint Paul de Vence has since become a pilgrimage site for the arts. Generations of painters, writers and their wealthy patrons have flocked here for the mountaintop vista and sleepy yet chic village vibe.

Start at the Tour de la Mairie dungeon, the first structure built here in the 1100s, then take a stroll along Saint Paul’s ramparts for gorgeous views of the surrounding countryside and sea. For culture enthusiasts, the Fondation Maeght is one of the most important private collections of contemporary art in France, and the legendary Colombe d’Or hotel is a great place for a swanky lunch or a luxurious night’s stay.

A charming Italian seaside city, just a stone’s throw from France

A sun-drenched destination since Roman times, San Remo is one of the most popular vacation spots on the Italian Riviera. Known as the “City of Flowers”, the town is home to the Mercato dei Fiori, Italy’s most important professional flower market, and is replete with elegant gardens and parks.

Explore La Pigna, the medieval old town with its twisty-turny streets and the crumbling charm of its Piazza dei Dolori square. Elegant former mansions such as the Villa Ormond and the Villa Nobel, where the creator of the Nobel Prize retired. They're well worth visiting to experience their timeworn architectural glory.

• Saint-Tropez

Chill in style in the Riviera’s most glamorous village

Saint Tropez is synonymous with glamor and is well known as one of the chicest places to stay in the south of France. It draws local and international celebrities to its low-key ambiance and vibrant nightlife. Featured in a number of famous French movies, it’s considered one of the most iconic spots on the Riviera.

Follow in the footsteps of Brigitte Bardot and explore the many excellent public and private beaches, of which the Plage de Pampelonne is the best known. The harbor, full of colorful boats, is also the starting point for local sailing regattas and is full of classy cafés and restaurants.

This article includes opinions of the Go Guides editorial team. Hotels.com compensates authors for their writing appearing on this site; such compensation may include travel and other costs.

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Self-Driving City Tours from Nice, France

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NiceCar Tour: Self-Driving Tours in Nice, France

Drive to Mont Alban to enjoy the most beautiful panoramic views of Nice as you ride past millionaires’ villas, gardens, sandy beaches, and more.

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NiceCar Riviera: French Riviera Tours

Discover Nice, Villefranche sur Mer, Saint Jean Cap Ferrat and Eze village on a French Riviera driving tour led by you!

Nicecar E Scooter

Discover hidden gems like Mont Boron and Villefranche-sur-Mer with family or friends, as our expert guides lead the way. Unleash the fun and create memories to cherish with Nicecar E-scooter!

NiceCar is an original way to visit the French Riviera while having fun and avoiding those buses filled with tourists that are unable to accommodate the desires of each passenger.

NiceCar offers a never-before-seen way to visit the many famous attractions of Nice, Cannes or Monaco at your own pace.

NiceCar will be your ideal guide. Book with us to see how going on an adventure can become a breeze!

- Brilliant reviews of NiceCar -

Myself and my partner had an absolutely brilliant 1/2 day renting this car to explore areas around Nice. I only wish we had rented it for the whole day! Everyone we met along the way loved the car, it was a great talking point with strangers. And we found some great places to stop with breathtaking views! Highly recommend and would do again. Go for it, you won’t regret the fun you’ll have.

We booked the 1-hour tour with the French Riviera pass. Martin was very responsive so we could easily book the trip (even outside the season). Since it was low season, Martin offered to be our guide, which was great! We only had to follow him to see beautiful views of Nice and the coastline, we had a great tour.

We hired our car for four hours and it was brilliant. Guided GPS tour which took us up to Mount Alban with fabulous views. Stopped at Eze at the perfume factory & had lunch next door in the sun. Great views coming back along the highway. Many people waved at us as we went by. Owner is very friendly and made sure we felt at ease both on arrival and return. Would absolutely recommend!

My wife and I rented a NiceCar for a full day, and had a great day. We used their simple GPS system, and were able to visit a large number of sites in a limited amount of time. They're easy to drive, easy to park, and tons of fun! The staff at NiceCar were a pleasure to deal with. I highly recommend them!

We did the 2.5hr tour on our first morning in Nice. Absolutely loved it. We got to see some of the hidden gems of Nice that are away from the city centre. Great fun way to see the beautiful Côte D’Azur.

Don't need to say much, just experience it for yourself and you will be pleasantly surprised. You have to book online and can't just arrive. Some of the best scenery I have ever seen. Well worth the price.

30 Unforgettable Day Trips from Nice, France

Posted on Last updated: October 23, 2023

Nice is one of the best places in Europe to take day trips from! Whether you love hiking through mountains and beside lakes, jumping into crystal clear water, or walking the cobblestone streets of Medieval villages, here are 30 day trips from Nice, France you won’t want to miss.

30 Best Day Trips from Nice, France

All of the day trips below are worth a trip (in my opinion), but I’ve ordered them by how long it takes to get there from Nice. Some are much more difficult to get to than others, so make sure to read the “How to Get There” part before making your decision.

The best part about most of the destinations below is that you can take the local Nice buses and trams, which only cost 1.70 Euro per trip.

If you’re not looking to save money, you can rent a car and get to a lot of these places in one day instead of taking public transport. But public transport is super easy to use and cheap in Nice, so I highly recommend it!

1. Villefranche-Sur-Mer

Villefranche-sur-mer is known for its beautiful beaches and its Mediterranean climate.

It’s incredibly colorful, like its neighboring cities Menton and Nice, but for some reason, a lot of tourists have never heard of it and tend to skip it on their South of France itineraries.

The beaches in Nice are rocky, but in just 10-15 minutes you can hop over to Villefranche-sur-mer for one of the most beautiful sandy beaches in the Cote d’Azur.

Distance from Nice: 15 minutes by train & bus

How to Get There: TER train or Number 15 Bus or Hike from Cap de Nice

How to Use the Nice Public Transport Card

You’ll need to download two apps to use the public transport in Nice: Lignes d’Azur Mobile and Lignes d’Azur Tickets.

Once you arrive in Nice, you’ll need to buy a plastic card at one of the ticket machines that are located at most tram stops that will keep your bus and tram tickets on it.

There are ticket machines at both of the Airport terminals right next to the tram itself.

Although you can refill this card using the Lignes d’Azur Tickets app, you have to obtain the plastic card first before you can refill it using the app.

You only need to buy one card if you’re traveling in a group, and you can scan that card multiple times to count for everyone in your group.

For example, my husband and I share a card, and when I get on the tram or bus I will scan my card twice.

You can use the Ligne d’Azur Mobile app or Google Maps to find the best route from where you’re staying in Nice.

2. Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat

Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat is a peninsula situated in the French Riviera, on the Côte d’Azur between Nice and Monaco.

With a surface of only 2.48 km², it’s known for having some incredibly expensive real estate.

It’s a great walk all the way around the peninsula along the Mediterranean Coast if you’re up for it, especially during the warm months when you can stop at beaches and swim along the way!

Distance from Nice: 24 Minutes by bus

How to Get There: Number 15 Bus to Pont Saint-Jean. This also depends on where on Saint-Jean Cap Ferrat you want to visit, this would just be the first bus stop that gets you to the beginning of the peninsula.

3. Èze Village

Èze is a small medieval village perched on a rocky outcrop in the south of France and only one of the many medieval hilltop villages easily accessible from Nice.

The village is famous for its stunning views over the Mediterranean Sea and its well-preserved Old Town. Èze is a popular tourist destination, and there are plenty of restaurants, cafes, and shops in the village.

Distance from Nice: 21 Minutes by Bus

How to Get There: Take Bus 82 to Èze Village or Bus 15 to Bus 83. Don’t take the train since the train will take you to Èze Beach, which is an hour’s walk (very uphill) to Èze Village.

4. Monte Carlo, Monaco

Monaco is a tiny country known for its luxurious casinos, yacht-lined harbor, and the Grand Prix Formula 1 Race.

Monaco is also a tax haven, and many wealthy people have made it their home. The country has a population of about 38,000 and an area of just 2.02 square kilometers.

Distance from Nice: 19 minutes by train or 1 Hour by Bus

How to Get There: By TER Train or ZOU Bus . The ZOU bus is separate from the Ligne d’Azur buses, so you will need to buy a ZOU ticket to take this bus.

For the TER Train, you don’t need to buy tickets in advance, but if you’d like to, you can book through Omio.

5. La Turbie

La Turbie is known for its Roman ruins and for being mentioned in Dante’s Inferno.

It has one of the best viewpoints to be found on the Cote d’Azur, the Tete de Chien , which looks down onto Monaco.

Distance from Nice: 55 minutes to 1 hour 10 minutes (Sundays only)

How to Get There: Sundays ONLY: From Place Garibaldi in Nice, take the L1 metro “Hôpital Pasteur” to Pont Michel and then take Bus 66 to La Turbie.

Menton, France is home to one of the most famous Instagram viewpoints in France ( Here’s how to get to it! ) and the annual Lemon Festival known as the “Fete du Citron.”

This quaint town is an unforgettable day trip from Nice, with a glittering coastline lined with colorful Italian-style buildings and palm trees.

Distance from Nice: 45 minutes to 1 Hour by Train

How to Get There: TER Train

Antibes is a charming town situated on the French Riviera, which has more of a French influence than other cities on this list, as we get further away from the Italian border.

The buildings are less colorful and have a more traditional French-style charm.

Antibes is also home to the Picasso Museum, which houses more than 200 of the artist’s works.

Distance from Nice: 15-30 minutes

How to Get There: Direct TER train

Cannes is most widely known for hosting The Cannes Film Festival, which is one of the most prestigious film festivals in the world.

Besides that, Cannes is also a city of lavish yachts, luxury cruises, and famous stars. It’s the true definition of luxury.

Also, if you’re looking for more sandy beaches, Cannes is the place to go! (After Villefranche-sur-Mer, of course)

Distance from Nice: 25 to 45 minutes

How to Get There: Direct TER Train

9. Roquebrune-Cap-Martin

Another town that was originally Ligurian, Roquebrune-Cap-Martin was founded in 971.

Throughout its history, it has been owned by Italy, Monaco, and France.

It is home to a famous castle, the Chateau Medieval de Roquebrune, which has stunning views of the Cote d’Azur below.

Distance from Nice: 55 Minutes

How to Get There: 30 Minute TER Train to Carnoles, 14-minute walk to Roquebrune-Cap-Martin.

10. Haut de Cagnes

Haut-de-Cagnes is a medieval town with a castle on top of the hill. It’s off-the-beaten path with some of the same charm as the more well-known villages in this area.

Distance from Nice: 1 Hour 10 Minutes

How to Get There: L2 to Parc Phoenix, Bus 9 to Square Bourdet, 12 minute walk to Haut de Cagnes

Grasse is known as the “World’s Perfume Capital” and its 60+ year running Grasse Jasmine Festival, which is usually in the first week of August.

Distance from Nice: 1 hour 15 minutes

12. Aspremont

Aspremont is super easy to get to from Nice, which makes it a great stress-free day trip.

It’s a super adorable town included on the list of 16 “Perched Villages” near Nice.

Distance from Nice: 1 hour 20 minutes

How to Get There: Take Bus 76 or 62. The buses to Aspremont are pretty frequent which makes it very easy to get to.

Peille is one of the best-hidden gems near Nice, and once we found this village, we couldn’t help but go back over and over.

Not only is this village insanely picturesque and quaint, but it’s also near a ton of great hikes like Cime de Baudon , Peillon Village , Saint-Agnes , etc.

Distance from Nice: 1 Hour 30 Minutes

How to Get There: Sundays Only: L1 to Pont Michel, Bus 66 to Peille Village

14. Peillon

Peillon Village in France is a hilltop village near Nice known for its’ medieval stone houses and incredible mountain surroundings.

It’s the perfect off-the-beaten-path day trip on the Cote d’Azur and can be visited by public transport as long as you don’t mind a bit of a hike! Trust me, the views of Peillon make it totally worth it.

Distance from Nice: 1 Hour 45 Minutes (with 40 Minutes of that being hiking)

How to Get There: L1 to Pont Michel, TER Train from Nice Pont Michel to Peille, Hike 40 Minutes to Peillon.

Although there are Ubers in Nice , I wouldn’t rely on getting one all the way out here, so ride-sharing isn’t an option. You can also take the 66 Bus to Peille and then hike from there to Peillon.

The trail is a bit less obvious since not a lot of people do that hike, but you get amazing views like the one below!

15. Saint-Paul de Vence

Saint-Paul-de-Vence is almost always included on the list of most beautiful villages in France.

It’s known as an artist’s village with plenty of art galleries and boutiques to visit. The town has hosted many famous artists over the years, including Pablo Picasso.

Distance from Nice: 1 to 2 Hours

How to Get There: It’s a bit more difficult to get to Saint-Paul de Vence from Nice. You can take the TER train to Cagnes-sur-Mer and then from there, you’ll need to either walk 1 hour and 23 minutes to get there or you can try to get an Uber for around 30-40 Euros.

You can also choose to visit on a tour from Nice (which includes wine tasting!) or rent a car for the day .

16. Sainte-Agnes

Sainte-Agnes is a hilltop village on the Cote d’Azur known as the “highest coastal village in Europe” at 780m above sea level.

Once a Ligurian town, a lot of inhabitants can be heard speaking both Italian and French.

It is perched on top of a mountain with a crumbling castle at the very top which overlooks Menton and the coastline below.

Distance from Nice: 1 Hour

How to Get There: From Nice, there is no public transport to Sainte-Agnes. You will most likely have to travel to Menton by TER Train first (35 Minutes) and then take a  Zest Bus (also known as Zou! bus)  to Sainte-Agnes (25 minutes).

They are like Ligne d’Azur buses but they are run privately and it costs about $1.50 for a single ticket.

If you’re up for a hike, you can go to Peille (Sundays only) and hike to Sainte-Agnes in 2 hours.

Distance from Nice: 1 Hour 35 Minutes

How to Get There: 35 Minute TER Train to Menton, Zou! Bus Number 7 to Gorbio , 30 Minute Walk to Gorbio.

18. Lantosque

Distance from Nice: 1 hour 30 Minutes

How to Get There: L2 to Grand Arenas, Bus 90 to Lantosque

19. Sanremo, Italy

Sanremo is one of the first towns along the coast once you’ve crossed the border from France into Italy. It has been called “Italy’s oldest summer resort” and is internationally known for its annual music festival.

How to Get There: TER train to Ventimiglia, Trenitalia Train to San Remo.

20. Saint-Tropez

You may recognize the name Saint-Tropez from a Taylor Swift song, or maybe from celebrity news since this city is known to be a celebrity hot spot.

Distance from Nice: About 2 Hours

How to Get There: It’s not easy to get to, since there is no direct train or bus from Nice. Train to St. Raphael (1 Hour), then a local bus to Saint-Tropez, or ferry from Nice

You can also book a BlaBla car through Omio for pretty cheap (this is like ride-sharing but for commuters).

This hilltop town is a bit tougher to get to, so only choose this one if you’re up for a bit of a hike! It’s included in the list of 16 hilltop towns in Nice and during the right weather, you can see the snowy alps behind it!

Distance from Nice: 2 Hours

How to Get There: L2 to CADAM, Bus 22 to Le Beiluono, 43 minute walk to Carros. Or 35-40 minutes by car and you can hit up a few other hilltop villages in one day.

22. Saint Dalmas

If you’re looking to get a bit further away from the city, Saint Dalmas is a great day trip.

The 2 hours it takes to get there will take you from the Cote d’Azur up into the mountains. The little town is surrounded by mountains and greenery, and you can hike some of the GR52 here and camp by some incredible lakes nearby!

Distance from Nice: 2 Hours 20 Minutes

How to Get There: L2 to Grand Arenas, Bus 90 to Saint-Dalmas (not Saint-Dalmas de Tende)

23. Finale Ligure, Italy

Finale Ligure is a picturesque town located in the province of Savona, Italy. With its dramatic cliffs and sheltered coves, the Mediterranean Sea provides a stunning backdrop to this charming town.

There is much to see and do in Finale Ligure, from exploring its ancient villages and medieval castles to hiking or biking along its scenic trails.

And with its excellent restaurants and lively nightlife, there’s something for everyone in Finale Ligure.

Distance from Nice: 2 Hours 15 Minutes

How to Get There: TER train to Ventimiglia, Trenitalia to Finale Ligure

24. Isola 2000 & Mercantour National Park

Isola 2000 and Mercantour National Park are just under 3 hours away from Nice, which means that during the winter months you can reach the snow and a ski resort in just a few hours!

There’s no bad time to visit this area, whether you’re hiking or going skiiing. However, the drive up has a lot of twists and turns, so if you get car-sick easily you may want to skip this one.

Distance from Nice: 2 hours 45 minutes

How to Get There: Take the Metro to Grand Arenas Station, then Bus 92 to Isola 2000

25. Genoa, Italy

Genoa, Italy is a port city that is usually overlooked or seen as just a stop on your way to see other cities, but I highly recommend staying a while in Genoa. It has the largest old town of any city in Europe.

If you’re looking for a charming, off-the-beaten-path port town in Italy, Genoa’s Boccadasse is the place to go.

With its pastel houses and stunning ocean views, it’s easy to see why this little fishing village is a favorite spot for locals and visitors alike.

Distance from Nice: About 3 Hours 15 Minutes

How to Get There: TER train Nice to Ventimiglia, Trenitalia IC train Ventimiglia to Genoa

This little village has a population of under 500 people and incredible views all around. There’s a monastery to visit as well as a natural bathing spot known as the “Semite bath” if you visit during the warmer months.

Distance from Nice: 3 Hours 15 Minutes

How to Get There: TER from Nice-Ville to Breil-sur-Roya, TER from Breil-sur-Roya to Fontan-Saorge, 53-minute walk to Saorge.

27. Camogli

Camogli is a beautiful town in the province of Genoa, Italy. It’s known for its colorful houses and stunning views, and you can even hike to Portofino from here if you’re up for a challenge!

Distance from Nice: 4.5 to 5 hours

How to Get There: TER train to Ventimiglia, Trenitalia Train from Ventimiglia to Genova Piazza Principale, Train change to Camogli

28. San Fruttuoso

San Fruttuoso is a small area only accessible by hiking or boat, placed right between Camogli and Portofino. It’s known for its underwater statue of Jesus, which you can snorkel to from the shore.

Distance from Nice: 4.5 to 5 hours by train, walk or take the ferry to San Fruttuoso

How to Get There: TER train to Ventimiglia, Trenitalia Train from Ventimiglia to Genova Piazza Principale, Train change to Camogli-S. Fruttoso Stop

29. Portofino

Portofino, Italy is a small fishing village on the Italian Riviera. It’s also one of Europe’s most expensive places to live and is home to celebrities like Dolce and Gabbana.

Distance from Nice: 4.5 to 5 hours by train each way

How to Get There: TER Train to Ventimiglia, TrenItalia from Ventimiglia to Genova Piazza Principale, train switch to Santa Margherita, bus 82 from Santa Margherita to Portofino

30. Cinque Terre

Cinque Terre is one of the most breathtaking places in Italy. It consists of five villages: Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore, each with unique colorful buildings huddled together right on the coast.

Distance from Nice: 5 Hours

How to Get There: TER Train to Ventimiglia, Trenitalia from Ventimiglia to Genova Piazza Principale, train switch to Sestri Levante, another train change to Monterosso (the first stop of Cinque Terre, you’ll need to buy a Cinque Terre Pass from here to get around the 5 cities)

Related Posts:

• Nice, France Wine Tours

Dayna Brockbank is a travel and language-learning blogger who has lived around the world but has now settled in Nice, France. She speaks 3 languages at varying levels of fluency: Spanish, Italian, and French, and graduated with a Bachelor’s in Spanish Education. She and her husband focus on making travel part of life by living cheaply and traveling on a budget.

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9 Best Day Trips from Nice

The French Riviera city of Nice is a nice place to visit. But there comes a time in any holiday when it’s time for a change of scenery, to escape to the environs for a change of pace. The French Riviera is a good place to do this.

With just a few day trips from Nice you can go celebrity-spotting in Cannes and Monaco, playgrounds for the rich and famous; visit a medieval castle; learn how perfume is made, and take a stroll along the Mediterranean into neighboring Italy.

Map of day trips from Nice

9. Villefranche-sur-Mer

Villefranche-sur-Mer is a small town that lies between the Mediterranean Sea and the mountains. It has one of the deepest natural harbors on the Mediterranean coast, so you might see large ships and yachts anchored in the bay. Villefranche-sur-Mer is a good place to go deep sea diving and sailing.

If you get tired of water activities, you can see St. Peter’s Chapel, a 16th century church that was later used to store fishermen’s supplies, and was restored in the mid-20th century. The historic old harbor is now the home of several research institutes. A 17th century fortress houses the city hall.

Getting to Villefranche-sur-Mer

• At it lies so close to the center of Nice, there really is no need to drive to Villefranche-sur-Mer; you can easily get there in just 15 minutes via public transport. Just hop on a train at Gare de Nice Ville; two stops later, you’ll find the Mediterranean glistening before you. As it is on the same train line as Eze, Monaco, and Menton, you have lots of options for places to visit if you want to continue exploring the French Riviera after seeing Villefranche-sur-Mer.

8. St Tropez

Once upon a time, St Tropez was a military stronghold, the first French Riviera town to be liberated after World War II and fishing village. Today, it’s a ritzy resort that attracts jet-setters of the world. Like its sister cities on the coast, St Tropez is extremely scenic, both on and off the beach.

It became a haven for topless sunbathers with the invention of the monokini in the 1960s. Its Tahiti beach was immortalized in Bridget Bardot’s 1955 film, And God Created Woman. At the old harbor, you’ll find morning farm and fish markets; nearby is Old Town and the citadel.

Getting to St. Tropez

• To get to St Tropez using public transport from Nice, the quickest and easiest way is to take an hour-long train to Saint-Raphael. From here, hop on bus line 7601. While this does take another hour and a half, you will at least pass through some lovely scenery on the way to St Tropez.
• Due to the time and changes involved, it is much quicker to simply drive to St Tropez from Nice. This should take you around an hour and a half and save you valuable time which can be spent sightseeing. From Nice, take the A8 heading southwest and drive all the way to Le Muy, where you take exit 36. Follow the D25 south; at Saint-Maxime, you’ll see signs pointing you to St Tropez.

If you like smelling nice, Grasse is a good place to buy perfumes: It’s considered the perfume capital of the world, and makes more than two-thirds of perfumes made in France. You can tour a perfume factory to see how fragrances are made.

August sees a festival dedicated to jasmine, one of the flowers used in perfume here; the fire department even sprays jasmine-scented water over the crowds. Perfume aside, Grasse’s most famous attraction is an 11th century cathedral, dedicated to Notre Dame de Puy and home to three Rubens’ paintings. Famous French cabaret singer Edith Piaf died here in 1963.

Getting to Grasse

• Lying to the west of Nice, Grasse is surprisingly easy to get to by public transport; direct trains run from the Gare de Nice Ville. The journey takes about an hour and 15 minutes and trains depart very frequently – if you don’t mind taking indirect ones as well. Once you arrive, it is just a short walk to the center of town.
• By car, it takes about 45 minutes to get to Grasse from Nice, although this route does include tolls. Hop on the A8 heading west from Nice and stay on it until just past Le Cannet, where you turn off onto the D6185. Keep on it until you reach Les Quatre Chemins. Here, you should see signs to Grasse. While you’re in the area, you could combine your visit with a trip to Saint-Paul de Vence or Cannes – or you could even take a scenic drive in the mountains just north of Grasse.
• Another option for visiting Grasse is to take a guided tour of the delightful Provence countryside. With an expert guide on hand, you’ll learn a lot about the traditions and culture of this part of France. In addition to visiting Grasse, you’ll also stop by the artsy Saint-Paul de Vence and Gourdon, which has stunning views on offer.

6. Saint-Paul de Vence

St Paul de Vence is one of the oldest medieval towns on the French Riviera. It is a retreat for many famous people, including French actor Yves Montand, French artist Marc Chagall and American author James Baldwin, who died here in 1987.

The walled city is a popular tourist destination any time of the year, which can sometimes make seeing the medieval sights a little difficult. Many people come here to see the fine art galleries and museums the town is famous for. It’s a good place to buy Provencal handcrafts or go walking in the French countryside.

Getting to Saint-Paul de Vence

• To get to Saint-Paul de Vence by public transport takes about an hour, despite the lovely town being only 20 kilometers away from Nice. Bus 400 departs every 30 to 45 minutes from Nice Albert 1er on the outskirts of the Vieille Ville, and everything is within walking distance once you arrive.
• It is not a bad idea to drive to Saint-Paul de Vence if you can; this enables you to not only visit the charming town, but also to continue on to Vence, Grasse or even Antibes if you feel like it. By car, it is very simple to get there from Nice – the A8 will take you most of the way. At Cagnes-sur-Mer, turn off onto the M336 and take the Route des Serres all the way to Saint-Paul.
• Many people who want to visit Saint-Paul de Vence opt to take a guided tour of the region, as this enables you to see a number of picturesque towns in just one day. As well as exploring Saint-Paul, you’ll get to visit Grasse and Gourdon, with your guide on hand to tell you all about their fascinating history and culture. The day trip culminates with a wonderful sightseeing tour around Cannes.

Menton is located along the Mediterranean Sea between Nice and the Italian border. Inhabited since Paleolithic times, Menton is not as hectic as Nice. If you go to the harbor and head east, you can stroll across into Italy in a short while. You’ll walk by gracious old villas that are now hotels.

Menton is famous for its gardens, including an exotic garden, and St. Michael the Archangel, a 17th century baroque basilica. Mention also has some nice beaches, an historic covered market, and a town hall wedding room pained by Jean Cocteau, who also decorated the Bastion Museum. Menton is just 30 km (20 miles) east of Nice, making it a convenient and quick day trip.

Getting to Menton

• By train, it is straightforward to get to Menton from Nice, as direct trains run between the two cities. The trip should take around 40 minutes. As you pass through Eze and Monaco on the way there, it is well worth stopping off at either place on the return journey. Once you arrive, it is around a 15-minute walk to the Old Port through some lovely parts of the city.
• To get to Menton by car takes roughly the same amount of time and you can again stop off at neighboring Monaco or Eze on the way there or back. Just hop on the A8 at Nice and simply follow it until you see signs directing you to Menton.

Founded by the Greeks 2,000 years ago, Antibes has been a playground for the wealthy since the 19th century. Antibes has a charming old town that hosts a daily (except Mondays) covered market where you can buy fixin’s for a picnic on the beach or a walk around the scenic cape.

The old town in enclosed with 16th century ramparts and Fort Carre. If you get tired of the beach, watching yachts at Port Vauban or scuba diving, you can take in the Picasso Museum housed in his former home, visit a botanical garden with an olive grove or browse through shops and art galleries.

Getting to Antibes

• From the Gare du Nice Ville in the city center, it only takes 15 minutes by train to get to Antibes, and direct trains run very frequently from one to the other. Once you arrive, the lovely harbor is just a stone’s throw away from the train station, and all of the rest of the sights on show are within walking distance. As direct trains only take ten minutes from Antibes to Cannes, you can easily visit both cities in one day.
• Driving to Antibes also enables you to visit nearby Cannes after you’ve enjoyed its fabulous sights, although driving from Nice does take a lot longer than public transport. To get to Antibes, head southwest out of Nice and take the A8 from St-Laurent-du-Var. After this, continue until you see signs to Antibes. All in all, it should take around 35 minutes to drive, although this route does involve tolls.
• To get more of a feel for the glitzy Cote d’Azur, it is not a bad idea to take a guided tour; this not only takes you to see the ancient Antibes but also to the mesmerizing medieval villages of Eze and Saint-Paul de Vence. With sightseeing tours around Cannes and Monaco also included, it really is the optimum way to see as much of the beautiful Mediterranean coastline as possible in one day.

If you’re looking to capture stunning views for your memory scrapbook, Eze is the place to make them. Eze is a medieval village perched on a hill high above the Mediterranean. Reached by a winding road about 30 minutes from Nice, this charming medieval village is definitely a treat.

You’ll need comfortable walking shoes for this, as the cobblestone walkways up the hill aren’t always even. Boutiques and art galleries fill the old stone buildings along the way. Expect the unexpected at the top: a botanical garden complete with cactus and succulents. Oh, and, of course, stunning views of the sea and Nice below.

Getting to Eze

• While it is only 12 kilometers away from Nice, Eze takes about 40 minutes to get to by public transport, as the bus stops off at lots of places along the way. The bus ride is very pretty though, offering up fantastic views of the Mediterranean as you wind your way up to Eze which is perched upon the hillside. From the Gare Routiere in Nice, take either bus 82 or 112 to the charming village. As it is quite small, you can easily visit either Monaco or Menton after taking in the stunning views.
• Although it is a very easy and quick to drive to Eze from Nice, you may find it hard to find a parking space once you get there. As the village is very hilly, you will probably find yourself clambering up and down steep steps to get back to where you’ve parked. Driving does mean that you can easily continue on to Monaco or Menton once you’ve explored Eze to your heart’s content. After heading southeast out of the city center, just hop on the M6007, which will take you directly to Eze.
• A great way to see both Monaco and Eze in one day is to take a guided tour to the two places, which couldn’t be more different in terms of their look and feel. While Eze is quaint, laidback and quiet, glitzy Monaco bustles with life and the sounds of Formula One. Over the course of the day, you’ll visit a traditional perfumery, a casino, and Monte Carlo Old Town, while your expert guide tells you all about the sights you visit.

From Nice, a half-hour journey west will take you to Cannes , a playground for the rich and famous who seek luxury in this seaside resort. It’s a good place to go celebrity-spotting any time of the year, but especially during the annual Cannes Film Festival.

While looking for the famous, you can stroll the Promenade de la Croisette, a tree-lined waterfront avenue; check out Le Suguet, its old town, or the landmark Russian Orthodox Church. Cannes has many fine museums and art galleries, such as the Musee de la Castre. You’ll also find grand 19th century villas to ooh and aah over.

Getting to Cannes

• Cannes is just a short distance away from Nice by public transport, so it should only take you 30 to 40 minutes to get there. From the Gare de Nice Ville, trains run very regularly; once you arrive, you’ll find that all the main sights are within walking distance.
• By car, it takes about 40 minutes to drive from one city to the other, although this route does include tolls. Simply head southwest out of the city center on the Voie Pierre Mathis and follow it to St-Laurent-du-Var, where you hop on the A8. At exit 42, turn off and follow the directions to Cannes. When heading back to Nice, it is a good idea to take a different route along the Mediterranean coastline; this then means you can stop off at the beautiful city of Antibes on the way.
• To really get a feel for this wonderful part of France, you may want to consider taking a guided tour; in just one day, you’ll get to see the many different sides of Provence. As well as visiting Cannes’ main sights, you’ll also be taken to a perfumery in Grasse, to the scenic village of Gourdon, and the picturesque Saint-Paul de Vence, with each stop adding to your understanding and appreciation for this delightful part of the country.

Monaco is a tiny principality where fairy tales du come true, such as when American actress Grace Kelly became a princess by marrying Monaco’s ruler, Prince Rainier. Monaco is a glamorous place, with some pretty awesome yachts filling the harbor. It’s known for fast cars, i.e., the Formula One; casinos and expensive shopping.

But the second smallest country in the world does have other sights which are worth the visit during a day trip from Nice. The list includes Japanese and exotic gardens plus one dedicated to Princess Grace, the Oceanographic Museum, St. Nicholas Cathedral with its neoclassical exterior and baroque interior, antique cars owned by Prince Rainier, and the Prince’s Palace.

Getting to Monaco

• To get to the principality from Nice by public transport is very simple, as the two cities only lie 20 kilometers apart. Simply hop on a train at Gare de Nice Ville, and you’ll find yourself in the center of Monaco just 20 minutes later. Trains run all the time, so if you miss one, it won’t be long until another comes along. As the travel times involved are so short, you could take the train on to nearby Menton after you’ve had your fill of Monaco.
• By car, it takes about half-an-hour to get there. Once you’ve headed north out of the center of Nice, all you need to do is follow the A8 east, which will take you all the way to Monaco. On the way to or from the principality, it is well worth driving to either the scenic village of Eze or the Mediterranean town of Menton; both of which are just a stone’s throw away.
• A lovely way to visit Monaco is to take a guided tour to the city; this not only takes you to explore Monte Carlo’s fabulous Old Town but also takes you on a lap of the principality’s famous Formula One Grand Prix circuit. In addition to this, you’ll take a tour around a traditional perfumery at the medieval village of Eze and have free time to shop in the city’s high-end boutiques in the center of Monaco.

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Best Day Trips from Nice, France

Article written by Elisa - Travel Writer & Local in France This article may contain compensated links. Please read disclaimer for more info.

Places to Visit Near Nice

Nice , the capital of the French Riviera , is a feast for the sights and senses, with many things to see and do. But the attractions in the region aren’t bound by the city limits, and you can visit many wonderful places in the French Riviera on a day trip from Nice.

From hilltop villages to lovely beaches or hikes in national parks, here’s our pick of the best day trips from Nice, France, all close enough to get there and back in one glorious day.

Are you planning your Nice trip last minute?

Below are some of the best Nice tours, hotels, and more!

• Book your flight tickets to Nice Airport (NCE) ; Book your train tickets to Nice .
• Book your transfer from Nice Airport to the city with Welcome Pickups .

Looking to travel around Nice independently? Click here for the best rental car rates in Nice .

Top Experiences and Tours in Nice:

• Old Treasures of Nice Walking Tour
• E-bike City Highlights Tour
• Nice Food Tour

Top Places to Stay in Nice:

• Hotel La Pérouse Nice Baie des Anges (it has the best view of Nice)
• Hotel Négresco  (the most iconic, at the Promenade des Anglais) 
• Hotel de France (a cute mid-range close to the beach) 
• Best hotels in Nice with a pool (for the hottest months in Nice!)

Don’t leave for Nice without travel insurance!

Compare plans, prices, and coverage with  Travel Insurance Master , a comparison site that will find the perfect fit for you amongst the world’s leading programs.  Travel Insurance Master is also the best place to look for senior travelers .

Map of Nice Day Trips

Click here to view this Day Trips from Nice Map on Google

Best Day Trips from Nice by Train (or Bus)

1. villefranche-sur-mer.

Villefranche-sur-Mer is one of the easiest day trips from Nice by train. This stunning town located between Nice and Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat is one of the French Riviera’s most coveted places by the world’s millionaires.

Stroll around the Old Port with its colorful boats, known to be one of the most beautiful in the Mediterranean and the base of numerous cruises in the summer.  

Then, visit the 16th-century Citadel overlooking the sea and admire the Old Town with its narrow streets, stairways, and colorful houses. Don’t miss the pretty Chapelle Saint-Pierre , re-decorated by the writer and filmmaker Jean Cocteau.

• Location: 5 km east of Nice
• How to go: take the TER train to Villefranche-sur-Mer (7min ride, every 30 min)
• No need to buy your train tickets in advance

2. Eze Village

Eze Village is one of the most picturesque spots in the region. Eze’s popularity comes with the crowds, but it is one of the ‘must’ side trips from Nice.

This small medieval village is perched on an imposing cliff with spectacular views over the Mediterranean Sea. Stroll around its narrow streets and admire the superb stone houses, little squares with refreshing fountains, and numerous boutiques selling beautiful crafts. Eze also has several sites listed as historical monuments, like the watching towers at the entrance, the doorway, and the gunboat.

From Eze Village, take the delightful Nietzsche Path down to the beach. The German philosopher is said to have composed the last part of his work, “Thus Spoke Zarathustra,” under the pine trees along this Path. The beach here is easy to access, and it is shaded by pine trees, which almost grow down to the water’s edge.

• Location: 12 km east of Nice
• How to go: take the LR112 bus from Boyer Nice (rue Boyer) and stop at Boyer Village (25 min ride, 5 times daily). There’s no need to buy your bus tickets in advance
• There are many day tours from Nice to Eze , and they all have positive reviews!

3. Take the Train des Merveilles

The Train des Merveilles travels between Nice and Tende, an incredible 2-hour journey through the valleys of Le Paillon, La Bévéra, and La Roya in the Alpes Maritimes department.

Enjoy a scenic train ride from Nice, passing by canyons, viaducts, and tunnels. Stop by picturesque villages and explore the jewels of Piedmont baroque art.

You can book this train ride alone (enter “Nice-Ville” for the departure station, “Tende” for the arrival station, and select TER #22987 from 9:15 am) or with this guided tour from Nice that combines adventure by train, exploration of medieval villages, and incredible natural landscapes in the middle of the Alps.

If you like glamorous places, a day trip to Monaco from Nice won’t disappoint. Monaco is an independent state ruled by His Highness Prince Albert. It is also home to many worlds’ fortunes, and you can get an idea of the city’s wealth by strolling around the port, dotted with luxurious yachts.

On this day trip from Nice to Monaco, expect to see luxurious hotels and boutiques, Porsches and limousines, chic restaurants, and the infamous paparazzi if there’s somebody famous around.

Monte Carlo is also home to interesting sights like the Palace (with the guards changing at 11.55 am), the world-famous Casino , the Cathedral , and the Oceanographic Museum and Aquarium . You can also visit Monaco’s racecourse , which is used for the Formula 1 Grand Prix.

• Location: 22 km east of Nice
• How to go: take the TER train to Monaco Monte Carlo (22-minute ride, every 30 minutes). Click here to buy your train tickets to Monaco

Menton claims to be France’s sunniest city, and it’s definitely one of the best destinations in France in winter .

Well known for its citrus, used for cooking or preparing essential oils, Menton is also home to the Lemon Festival , held every year between February and March.

Menton has the best of everything: fantastic food, beautiful beaches against the pure blue Mediterranean Sea, and a warm climate year-round. Explore Menton’s Old Town , with its colorful houses, fabulous staircases, beach stone mosaics, and ceramic murals. You can also visit the seaport, the beach resort, and some pretty gardens.

For a more cultural Nice day trip, visit Jean Cocteau’s Museum or the Beaux-Arts Museum in the Palais Carnoles.

• How to go: take the TER train to Menton (38min ride, every 30min). Click here to buy your train tickets to Menton

If you’re looking for Nice day trips with a touch of luxury, you can’t miss out on  Cannes . This city is the kind of place you visit when you want to relax and enjoy some luxury. With its stunning beaches, warm weather, and convenient location close to Nice, this is where the stars go for a holiday.

The city of Cannes boasts spectacular natural beauty and many high-end casinos and restaurants. Don’t miss the Old Port and La Croisette walkway . Then, you can explore Le Suquet (Cannes’ oldest neighborhood) and La Croix des Gardes for some great views.

• Location: 31 km west of Nice
• How to go: take the TER train to Cannes (22min ride, every 30min). Click here to buy your train tickets to Cannes

Best Day Trips from Nice France by Car (or Guided Tour)

7. villa ephrussi rothschild & saint-jean-cap-ferrat.

Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat , located between Nice and Montecarlo, is one of the loveliest places on the French Riviera . The peninsula is known for its luxurious properties, nestled amongst lush vegetation and often with private beaches.

One of the musts of Cap-Ferrat is the visit to Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild , a beautiful mansion surrounded by a stunning garden. The villa was the property of Baroness Beatrice Ephrussi de Rothschild, and you can see her spectacular collection of more than 5,000 artworks.

The visit continues in the gardens overlooking the sea. The seven gardens were designed around several themes (Spanish, Florentine, Japanese…), and the Baroness’ trips inspired them.

After visiting Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, take the coastal walk in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat to appreciate this fantastic place’s beauty.

• Location: 10 km east of Nice
• How to go: by car (15-minute drive)
• Get the most out of your day: this top-rated guided tour with transportation from Nice combines Eze, Monaco, Cap Ferrat, and Villa Ephrussi

In the Alpes Maritimes department, Grasse is the world capital of perfumes. Every year, thousands of visitors come to Grasse to visit the Perfume Museum and the perfume factories to buy their favorite scents.

Grasse’s perfume tradition dates back to the 17th century, and the city is the headquarters of historic grands parfumeurs like Fragonard, Galimard, or Molinard. They all propose guided visits, and their tours are both interesting and pleasant.

On this day trip from Nice, visiting the Old Town is also interesting. Stroll through its narrow streets and vaulted passages and admire some historical sites like the square Saracen Tower or the vestiges of the 16th-century ramparts. There are also medieval houses, superb mansions, beautiful 18th-century villas, pretty squares with stone fountains, and sunny cafés.

Finally, don’t miss the cathedral Notre Dame du Puy , built in roman-provençal style with Bréa, Rubens, and Fragonard artworks.

• Location: 28 km west of Nice
• How to go: by car (40min drive, route départamentale)
• This countryside day tour from Nice includes a stop at Grasse

Cassis is a pretty coastal town in Provence, not far from Marseille . Cassis is one of the furthest proposals, but we could not help adding a touch of Provence to this list of daytrips from Nice!

Cassis is a beautiful seaside resort nestled at the foot of an impressive cliff, and it seduces for its charming neighborhoods and picturesque port. Cassis’ sunny quays, lined with cafes and restaurants, are great for a stroll or a coffee break.

Cassis’s surroundings are beautiful, too. On the west, you can easily access some of the most beautiful Calanques of Marseille–Cassis . On the east, the Route des Crêtes links Cassis to La Ciotat through impressive cliffs and stunning panoramas.

• Location: 150 km west of Nice
• How to go: by car (1hr 50min drive, route départamentale)

10. Saint Paul de Vence

Built on a rocky outcrop and surrounded by ramparts, Saint Paul de Vence is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful villages in Provence . The beauty of the surrounding area, exceptional light, and quality of life inspired many famous artists, some of whom took up residence in the village.

Saint Paul de Vence is the best day trip from Nice if you are looking for a relaxing day. Walk around the picturesque streets and admire the magnificent stone facades from the 16th and 18th centuries, little squares with pretty stone fountains, and the gardens’ floral exuberance. Visit some artists’ workshops or craft shops for a lovely souvenir.

Finally, don’t miss the wonderful views over the surrounding hills and the sea from the ramparts.

• Location: 12 km west of Nice
• How to go: by car (22min drive, route départamentale)
• This Provence countryside day tour includes a stop at Saint-Paul de Vence

11. Discover the Côtes de Provence Wine Region

One of the lesser-known  French wine regions , Provence produces excellent wines, primarily rosés (90%). Due to the warm climate and proximity to the ocean, the  wine of Provence  has a wide range of excellent grapes that are often full-bodied and absolutely perfect wine options.

The region of Provence is dotted with vineyards and wine shops all over, many of which offer their own wine-tasting experiences. Because wine-tasting and driving are far from perfect partners, we recommend taking a wine day tour from Nice with an expert guide.

This  Côtes de Provence Wine Tour from Nice  visits three wineries with an expert wine guide. See vineyards, bottling rooms, cellars, and more, and sample wines from the region’s celebrated rosés to well-balanced reds and lively whites.

Closer to Nice, the Domaine de la Source (AOP Bellet) produces reds, whites, and rosés with endemic grape varieties dating from Roman times. The plots are nestled in the hills of Nice and are worked organically to preserve the environment and its magnificent terroir. Domaine de la Source offers several tours in English , such as commented wine tastings and a walk through the vineyards with tastings.

12. Gorges du Verdon

Located in the beautiful Verdon Regional Park, Gorges du Verdon  is one of Provence’s best places to visit . This is one of the largest canyons in Europe and reaches a depth of more than 700 meters.

The water in the Gorges is a stunning bright turquoise color, and you can see the canyon from several viewpoints along the road or take a boat /kayak and stop for dips in the water as you go. This natural landscape is also famous for its hiking and climbing routes.

This is one of the best day trips from Nice by car but also the longest. During the lavender season in Provence , you can combine the Gorges with some lavender fields nearby (check out this  Gorges du Verdon road trip itinerary for inspiration).

• Location: 142 km north-west of Nice
• How to go: by car (2.5-hour drive, route départamentale D6085)
• There are also private full-day tours to Gorges du Verdon from Nice and seasonal day tours to Gorges du Verdon + lavender fields

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40 Best Stops Between Marseille and Nice

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How long is the drive from Marseille to Nice?

The direct drive from Marseille to Nice is 124 mi (199 km) , and should have a drive time of 1 hr 58 mins in normal traffic.

If you’re going on a road trip from Marseille to Nice, we did the research for you and compiled some great stops along the way — with Cannes , Aix-en-Provence , Antibes , Toulon , Saint-Tropez , Cassis , Hyeres , Grimaud , Grasse , and La Ciotat , as well as top places to visit like Embiez and Rade de Toulon, or the ever-popular OK Corral.

Top cities between Marseille and Nice

Aix-en-Provence

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French Riviera

Best stops along marseille to nice drive.

Rade de Toulon

Téléphérique du mont faron.

Centre ville valensole

Cascade de sillans, plage de l'estagnol, aoubré l'aventure nature, brégançon fort, lake of sainte-croix, abbaye du thoronet, verdon gorge, plage de l'escalet, le roc au serre et la chapelle notre-dame du roc.

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Pampelonne Beach

Aqualand fréjus, roc d'azur, massif de l'esterel, grotte de saint cézaire, citadelle d'entrevaux, bd de la croisette.

Rue d'Antibes

Île sainte-marguerite.

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Prom. des Anglais

Massena dream, marc chagall national museum.

Colline du Château

Top searches in Nice

Other popular road trips from marseille, explore nearby places.

• Villefranche-sur-Mer
• Saint-Andre-de-la-Roche
• Beaulieu-sur-Mer
• St-Jean-Cap-Ferrat
• St-Laurent du Var
• Tourrette-Levens
• Cap d'Ail
• Castagniers
• Cagnes-sur-Mer
• Fontvieille
• Monaco-Ville
• Saint-Jeannet
• Chateauneuf-Villevieille
• La Condamine
• St-Paul-de-Vence
• Monte-Carlo
• Villeneuve-Loubet

All related maps of Nice

• Map of Nice
• Map of Villefranche-sur-Mer
• Map of Saint-Andre-de-la-Roche
• Map of Beaulieu-sur-Mer
• Map of St-Jean-Cap-Ferrat
• Map of La Trinite
• Map of Falicon
• Map of Drap
• Map of St-Laurent du Var
• Map of Tourrette-Levens
• Map of Aspremont
• Map of Carros
• Map of Cap d'Ail
• Map of La Gaude
• Map of Gattieres
• Map of Castagniers
• Map of Cagnes-sur-Mer
• Map of La Turbie
• Map of Fontvieille
• Map of Monaco-Ville
• Map of Saint-Jeannet
• Map of Peillon
• Map of Chateauneuf-Villevieille
• Map of La Condamine
• Map of Beausoleil
• Map of St-Paul-de-Vence
• Map of Contes
• Map of Monte-Carlo
• Map of Villeneuve-Loubet
• Map of Vence

Nice throughout the year

• Nice in January
• Nice in February
• Nice in March
• Nice in April
• Nice in May
• Nice in June
• Nice in July
• Nice in August
• Nice in September
• Nice in October
• Nice in November
• Nice in December

Looking for day-by-day itineraries in Nice?

Get inspired for your trip to Nice with our curated itineraries that are jam-packed with popular attractions everyday! Check them out here:

• 1-Day Nice Itinerary
• 2-Day Nice Itinerary
• 3-Day Nice Itinerary
• 4-Day Nice Itinerary
• 5-Day Nice Itinerary

Frequently Asked Questions

Can i drive from marseille to nice.

Yes! You can drive from Marseille to Nice.

How far is Nice from Marseille by car?

The drive from Marseille to Nice is 124 miles (199 km).

How long does it take to drive from Marseille to Nice?

Driving from Marseille to Nice should take you 1 hr 58 mins in normal traffic.

How much would gas cost from Marseille to Nice?

Gas from Marseille to Nice would cost around $11 to $25 , depending on your vehicle's fuel efficiency.

Where should I stop on the way from Marseille to Nice?

You could check out Embiez and Rade de Toulon, or the always popular OK Corral!

What are the best cities to visit between Marseille and Nice?

People love visiting Cannes, Aix-en-Provence, and Antibes, among others.

What's the weather like in Marseille?

It depends on when you visit! We've compiled data from NASA for each month of the year: see the links below for more information.

• Weather in Marseille in January
• Weather in Marseille in February
• Weather in Marseille in March
• Weather in Marseille in April
• Weather in Marseille in May
• Weather in Marseille in June
• Weather in Marseille in July
• Weather in Marseille in August
• Weather in Marseille in September
• Weather in Marseille in October
• Weather in Marseille in November
• Weather in Marseille in December

What are some other road trips from Marseille?

There are plenty! Below you'll find links to all the road trips we've assembled for Marseille.

• Marseille to Barcelona drive
• Marseille to Paris drive
• Marseille to Rome drive
• Marseille to London drive
• Marseille to Florence drive
• Marseille to Milan drive
• Marseille to Madrid drive
• Marseille to Nice drive
• Marseille to Amsterdam drive
• Marseille to Venice drive
• Marseille to Prague drive
• Marseille to Berlin drive
• Marseille to Turin drive
• Marseille to Lisbon drive
• Marseille to Lyon drive
• Marseille to Budapest drive
• Marseille to Vienna drive
• Marseille to Valencia drive
• Marseille to Edinburgh drive
• Marseille to Dublin drive
• Marseille to Genoa drive
• Marseille to Brussels drive
• Marseille to Munich drive
• Marseille to Naples drive
• Marseille to Seville drive
• Marseille to Istanbul drive
• Marseille to Verona drive
• Marseille to Montpellier drive
• Marseille to Pisa drive

• Itinerary + map in one view
• Live collaboration
• Auto-import hotels and reservations
• Optimize your route
• Offline access on mobile
• See time and distance between all your places

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A History of Moscow in 13 Dishes

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Taxi or Car from DME - Moscow Forum

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Taxi or Car from DME

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There are many English speaking taxi services listed here as well as the note that there is a walk up official taxi desk at the airport. Looking for recommendations. Would prefer a fixed price, I think. How have others gotten into the city by car /taxi? What to watch out for? Expected costs? Services you recommend or experiences with just booking a cab at the airport kiosk? How is that done to avoid scammers?

Grateful for advice from those who have done this. We are heading to the Marriott Grand Hotel a couple days in advance of a river cruise to Petersburg; our first cruise experience although we did spend 9 nights in an apartment in Petersburg last fall.

Janettravels44

http://www.janettravels.wordpress.com

Number one I don't think DME has business class taxi and number two when they do the price difference is $10-15 or so no big deal.

http://www.domodedovo.ru/passengers/transport/taxi/

Anyway, I remember someone reporting having been made to pay around 7000 rubles. Better to be prepared.

The link for taxi fares on the airport site is broken or at least on my computer/browser it just leads me to zip. Any other site for price guidelines? The hotel website suggests it is more like 5000 Rubles (they don't provide the service). I'd love to pay 1650 and have authoritative information that that is the price. (i.e. a website I can open)

I just gave a working link leading to a page leading to different "official" companies' price lists (in Russian only). Here's a direct link to one of those: http://www.domodedovo.ru/passengers/transport/taxi/formula-eco/

The economy fares are the same for three companies listed (1645-1650), the fourth one (Nexi) charges 1750.

Thanks for that link; I will print it out. When I go to the earlier site and to the English translation it won't take me to specific prices. EVen for that link -- if I opt for ENglish it leaves me at the general level and not the specific detailed fares for various areas.

> When I go to the earlier site and to the English translation it won't take me to specific prices

I know. That's why I posted the link in Russian in the first place.

Its fine and dandy to have a paper printed with prices but you are at mercy of the person at taxi stand giving you a price. I thought 1800 was fair, of course 1650 is better. What is the price to get you safely from airport to your hotel with least amount of pain? I can see this poor women telling guy at taxi stand that the prices on paper are official from airport site. Hah? The price for taxi is what you are quoted, at that time, sure you can hassle...debate...insist..... all the while the 'wolves' are behind lurking. Let's look at this another way, is haggling worth it for let's say 2-3 usd???? When spending a few grand on a trip? JMHO

One 'wolf' at airport was talking to me as I was waiting for my friend to arrive. Seemed a nice guy. Kept asking me if I needed a taxi into city. Asked about my hotel, even knew its former name, when I finally asked him what he charges, flipped up some paper in sealed plastic....6600 rubles!!!! I said , what???? Oh, but he said, I give you good price 3000 rubles!!!! lol

I do agree it is good to have an idea as to pricing .

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