If you love Italy and you think France is just one of the most beautiful places on earth, Provence is the place to travel to. This beautiful destination lies in the Southeast of France, bordering Italy and the ever popular Mediterranean Sea.

For the love of traveling to Provence

Picture this. . .

Rolling vineyards, lush green olive groves, scented pine forests, and endless lavender fields. That is what Provence are made of.

What language do they speak?

Obviously the first language is French, but within the tourist areas, hotels and restaurants, they do speak English.

However try and make the effort to learn a few basic words in French like:

Bonjour (Hallo)

What is Provence famous for?

Provence is famous for its beautiful landscape photos – seen all over the internet. Picture-perfect farms, offering delicious wines, and rolling fields of lavender. After all France is known to be the home and the capital of perfume.

Geographical

Provence is home to the famous French Riviera, and it is a part of the official administrative region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur. It includes the départements of Var, Bouches-du-Rhônes, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence and parts of Alpes-Maritimes and Vaucluse.

The most popular city in Provence

Marseille (the 2nd biggest city in France) is the biggest city in Provence, and it borders the stunning French Riviera. It is also the most popular city in Provence for travelers from all over the world.

If you love lavender, you might be interested in our recipes: Bake with Lavender

Provence = Lavendar

So the first thing you must see and experience while you’re in Provence, is the lavender fields. With the right timing, you can get the most beautiful photos of the lavender fields early morning or late afternoon at sunset. (This might be the perfect Instagram photo spot.)

While visiting Valensole or Sault make sure to support the local farmers by buying a bunch of lavender, some soap or essential oil. After all the smell is simply devine and the soap and essential oil is the perfect travel souvenir or gift to take home.

A few Travel Tips - Lavender

Valensole is the ultimate place to see lavender fields.
You can also enjoy the lavender fields in Luberon and the Sault Plateau.
The best time to go see the lavender fields of Provence is during July (climate depending).
Like a Facebook page of someone, or some place in the area. That way you will be updated on when the best time is to visit (in real time) for the spectacular lavender flowering season. From time to time, Travel and Home also gives information on where to see the flowers: Facebook page

When is the best time to go?

What if I get lost?

You might find the streets of Aix en Provence a bit difficult to navigate if you’re a first time visitor. However, the whole point is to get lost! 🙂

Take your time and wander the winding streets. Enjoy the shopping and little markets with fabulous fresh fruit, etc.. and stop to enjoy a cup of coffee at each square you come upon. It is all about the experience, the calmness, enjoying the moment. Don’t stress. See it as an opportunity to discover what locals do.

Getting around

We would definitely recommend renting a car in Provence because visiting this beautiful part of France is all about the stunning country roads and hilltop towns.

It is definitely also one of the most picture-perfect road trip destinations in the world.

Discovering the country villages and stopping along the way for the perfect photo of Provence.

Must visit Site

One of the incredible local sites, just outside of Provence in Occitanie, is the Pont du Gard. This is an ancient Roman aqueduct and there is a very nice museum you can visit as well, which is all about the construction of the aqueduct.

Rose garden

Jardin de l’abbaye de Valsaintes⁠

This is a stunning organic rose garden close to Simiane-la-Rotunde. The best time to visit is during June – as it is usually the best time to see the roses in bloom.

Provence has a certain smell.. something telling you to visit other villages like Grasse..

Is it really worth a visit?

Provence is one of the most beautiful regions in France. It has beauty in overload and it is definitely worth a visit. You’ll have the opportunity to explore beautiful places like:

Just a few of the beautiful Cities, Towns, and Villages you should visit while in the area

Marseille

The Capital city. Explore in a different way by taking a boat ride to the Château d’If – a castle / fortress on a small island.

Avignon

Visit and explore the beautiful Rocher des Doms Gardens (Jardin des Doms) while you’re in Avignon. If you’re visiting during November, December – do an evening walk and enjoy the Christmas lights.

Grasse

This town is definitely worth a stop, as it is know as the capital of perfume.

Menton

While you’re there, attend one of the big music festivals Menton is known for. It is a beautiful place to visit.

Valensole

The place to see and enjoy the lavender fields of France. Visit Lavandes Angelvin for a lavender explosion.

Saint Paul de Vence

Take the time to explore this pretty village and enjoy the many art studios/galleries and shops. Enjoy local cuisine at one of the many small cafés with outdoor tables like Obatik.

Saint Tropez

Known as a travel destination for the rich and famous, with a buzzing nightlife. Live the best life and dine at the famous Café de Paris while sipping on tailor-made cocktails with views over the harbor.

Cannes

Situated in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur and known for its annual film festivals.

How much time do you need to explore Provence?

Keeping in mind that Provence is a region in France not a city or tiny country village, you need at least 9 days to explore a few of the best and prettiest places. But a two week road trip is the ideal time to spend in this lovely region.

Nearest International Airport

The best option is to fly in to Nice Airport (Code: NCE). There are easy access into the city of Nice which is just eight kilometers away. Regular bus departures, connecting with a regional train service and bus shuttles every 20 minutes throughout the day. You can easily pick up your car rental, which you can book before you go.

What is the weather like?

The region Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur has a Mediterranean climate. The summers are hot and dry, and the temperature is mild in the winter.

May through October are the hot summer months. With July and August reaching the highest temperatures.

A suggested itinerary

Day 1 and 2: Fly in to Nice. Spend a day by doing a self-guided walk and getting to know the local cuisine.

Day 3 and 4: Do day trips to: Monaco, Villefranche-sur-Mer, Vence, St-Paul-de-Vence and/or Grasse.

Day 5 and 6: Travel to Antibe (during the weekends you can spend the day exploring the markets and enjoying the cafes.) Overnight here and spend a day doing a walk about.

Day 7 and 8: Next stop Cannes. And from Cannes you can travel to Marseille. Maybe if you have your own car stop at Saint Tropez and Toulon along the way.

Day 9: Day trip via Isle-sur-la-Sorgue to Avignon

Day 10: Day trip to see Pont du Gard and spend some extra time in Avignon.

Day 11: From Avignon make your way back via Arles to Marseille – spending the night and exploring Cassis from here or on your way back to Nice.

Travel Tips: Give yourself extra time to explore, maybe just spend a lazy day at your hotel, or to do some walkabouts on your own. If you spend the money to book a lovely place (with a view), why not take the time to enjoy your stay… Book day trips or short tours with the links below – saving you the worries and there is no need to stand in long lines for tickets:

Book exciting things to do

Book ahead, skip the lines and save:

Best Provençal food to try

Ratatouille (a dish of stewed vegetables which originated in Nice)
French Olive Tapenade
Bouillabaisse (a traditional Provençal fish stew originating in the port city of Marseille)
Daube de Boeuf (a traditional beef stew)
The real French Nougat
Anything made with lavender
And the wine of the region to accompany your food…