The South of France is a delightful region, conjuring images of cerulean blue water, relaxing strolls through colorful villages, and lazy days on the beach in the sun. Welcome to the Côte d’Azur, also known as the French Riviera.
Renowned for its glamorous beaches, luxury resorts, and vibrant cultural scene, the Côte d’Azur has long been a favorite destination for travelers seeking both relaxation and sophistication. This area of France definitely screams “summer vacation,” and I’ve put together a guide just for that—the ultimate 3-day South of France itinerary!
I’ll show you all the best places to visit in South of France and introduce you to the postcard-worthy villages of the French Riviera. Want to go summering in Saint-Tropez or say that you’ve explored the richest country in the world, Monaco? This South of France trip itinerary explores all of your glamorous options.
Where to Stay in the South of France
This South of France trip itinerary covers the stunning Côte d’Azur region, which is the southeastern portion of the French Mediterranean coast. Therefore, I highly recommend making Nice your home base!
Nice is the largest city in the region and is well-connected, with all major train lines passing through the central station. It’s easy to make day trips out to the various villages in South of France while also enjoying the benefits that a larger city like Nice offers, such as more diverse restaurants, grocery stores, pharmacies, and shops.
Nice is moderately priced but offers great value for accommodation, with most hotels offering balconies, ocean views, and locations just steps from the beach. Here are some of my recommendations for hotels in Nice for each price point:
Budget Hotels in Nice
- Hotel Trocadéro: Situated near the train station, Hotel Trocadéro provides budget accommodation with simple yet comfortable rooms. It’s a good choice for travelers looking for affordability and accessibility.
- Hostel Meyerbeer Beach: A hostel near the Promenade des Anglais, suitable for budget travelers.
Mid-Range Hotels in Nice
- Hotel La Perouse: A well-rated mid-range hotel with a convenient location near Old Town.
- Hotel Nice Riviera: A comfortable choice in the city center, close to shops and attractions.
Luxury Hotels in Nice
- Hyatt Regency Nice Palais de la Méditerranée: A luxurious hotel with a prime location on the Promenade des Anglais.
- Hotel Negresco: An iconic luxury hotel on the Promenade des Anglais, known for its opulent decor and amenities.
How Long to Stay in South of France
The South of France has many charming villages and towns—it would take a long time to explore them all! I recommend spending at least 3 days in the Côte d’Azur near Nice. You could easily spend 5 days and see even more villages—I’ve listed some additional great spots to hit at the bottom of this article!
If you also want to explore the Alpes and Provence regions of South of France, I recommend setting aside 7-10 days. However, this guide won’t be covering those regions.
🥐 Have some time in France? How about making a combination trip with Paris with my Ultimate Paris Itinerary for 3-5 days?
How to Get Around South of France
If you are planning to follow this itinerary, congratulations! Almost all of these villages in the South of France are accessible by train (with the exception of Eze, which is accessible by bus).
Many people believe that you need a car to get around the South of France because the villages are slightly spaced apart. And yes, if you want to get to any of the further towns or explore the Alpes and Provence regions, you will need to rent a car. However, this itinerary is completely public transit-friendly because the entire Côte d’Azur region around Nice is well-connected by frequent and affordable train lines. (We paid on average just 3 euros per train!)
Of course, if you prefer to not deal with the hassle of managing the transit by yourself, there are ample tour options in South of France that will explore several beautiful towns!
Weather in South of France
The South of France is blessed with extremely mild weather. Due to its proximity to the Mediterranean, it doesn’t get too cold even in the winter. Over the course of the year, the temperature typically stays between 41°-82°F, although it occasionally rises to 95°F. The beautiful Côte d’Azur enjoys over 300 days of sunshine every year!
Summer is high season in the South of France, with many French locals flocking here during the holidays. I personally recommend coming in early spring or fall during shoulder season to escape the worst of the crowds.
South of France Trip Itinerary
The Côte d’Azur is home to a mix of glamorous cities and charming old-fashioned villages. Many of these towns are so small that you can cover them on foot in just a couple of hours!
I personally felt satisfied with seeing two towns a day. That sounds like a lot, but these villages are often less than 10 minutes apart by train—which means you can do one in the morning and one in the afternoon!
South of France Day 1: Nice
On your first day in the South of France, explore the home base of Nice. Nice is the largest city in the area (the other towns on this list can’t even qualify as cities) and full of history and culture.
Perched on the beautiful blue Mediterranean, Nice is the perfect place to start your journey and explore. It serves as the gateway to the French Riviera but is also a destination in itself, offering a perfect blend of history, culture, and seaside charm.
Walk through the colorful streets of Le Vieux Nice, or the Old Town. It’s a charming maze of narrow alleys home to numerous restaurants, cafes, and boutiques.
You can also explore historical and cultural sights like the Nice Cathedral (Cathédrale Sainte-Réparate) and the Russian Orthodox Cathedral, which is popular for its colorful design. Don’t miss La Colline du Chateau, which is a prominent hill with amazing panoramic views overlooking Nice and the Mediterranean Sea!
Last but not least, you absolutely must stroll along the Promenade des Anglais, the most famous landmark in Nice. Lined with palm trees, this iconic seaside walkway is popular for leisurely walks and cycling. You can walk straight onto the beach and into the unbelievably blue water if you’re up for some swimming!
South of France Day 2: Villefranche-Sur-Mer & Eze
Day 2 in South of France covers two of my favorite villages in all of the Côte d’Azur: Villefranche-sur-Mer and Èze. These two villages are the closest to Nice and pair well together due to their distinct characters.
Villefranche-Sur-Mer
Start your morning with a visit to one of my personal favorite spots on the Côte d’Azur! Villefranche-sur-Mer is a charming and picturesque seaside town situated on the French Riviera, just a few kilometers east of Nice. From Nice Ville station, you can catch the 3-minute train ride to Villefranche-sur-Mer, which runs every hour. Traveling by train in the South of France is unbelievably convenient and cheap!
Villefranche-sur-Mer is known for its stunning natural beauty, colorful buildings, and a deep, well-protected bay that attracts visitors from around the world. The Old Town is full of narrow winding streets and pastel-colored buildings. Air-dried laundry and potted plants give the homes here a storybook-like charm. I was delighted by how much I felt like I was in a postcard!
The town features a variety of waterfront restaurants and cafes serving delicious Mediterranean cuisine. Seafood is a specialty, and visitors can enjoy fresh catches along with regional dishes. While the seafood here isn’t particularly cheap—South of France is a vacation destination—it’s delicious and still reasonably priced for the quality.
Èze
After lunch, it’s time to change vibes and explore the medieval village of Èze. Perched high above the Mediterranean Sea, Èze is a splendid and historic hilltop village renowned for its stunning panoramic views, medieval architecture, and picturesque cobblestone streets.
The village’s elevated position provides unparalleled views, making it a popular spot for photographers and travelers seeking stunning landscapes. One of Èze’s highlights is the Jardin Exotique, a botanical garden perched on the cliffs overlooking the sea. Make sure you check the opening hours, however, because they close rather early (around 4 PM).
The village of Èze retains much of its medieval character, with narrow alleys, stone houses adorned with colorful flowers, and ancient cobblestone streets. I was instantly charmed by the thick slabs of stone and the greenery climbing over every surface. In this regard, Èze is totally visually different from the other villages on this list. It’s no wonder that it’s one of my favorite spots in South of France!
Èze village is a little bit difficult to get to because the train lines do not reach up to the high cliffs that the village is perched on. It’s still possible to get there through a public bus, but it runs infrequently—sometimes only once a day. Or, you can take the train to Èze-sur-Mer (which is NOT the same) and then call an Uber from there to Èze village, which is what we did! For a full breakdown of Èze and how to get there, read my Èze Village Guide.
South of France Day 3: Monaco & Menton
Day 3 in South of France covers two of the most interesting towns in Côte d’Azur: Monaco and Menton. Technically, Monaco is not part of France, but it is often treated as an extension of France. Both Monaco and Menton are slightly further away from Nice than the villages from yesterday—just around 15-30 minutes on the train.
Monaco
Monaco is a tiny but glamorous principality located on the French Riviera. Despite its small size (it’s the second smallest country in the world, after Vatican City), Monaco is known worldwide for its opulence and luxury. While Monaco is not part of France at all, they have an “open” policy with France, meaning that visitors can freely travel across the border without a passport.
Monaco is famous for its glitz and glamor, like the district of Monte Carlo. It’s famous for its upscale hotels, glamorous casinos, high-end boutiques, and luxury yachts. The Casino de Monte-Carlo is perhaps the most iconic landmark, attracting visitors from around the world. Monaco is also extremely well-manicured and clean, almost to the point of feeling like a movie set—I couldn’t believe that people actually live there!
Attractions include the Prince’s Palace and State Apartments, the Old Town of Monaco, also known as Monaco-Ville or Le Rocher, and several beautifully landscaped gardens and parks. If you’re interested in experiencing the high-end lifestyle that Monaco is known for, the prestigious Monaco Grand Prix transforms the streets of Monte Carlo into a thrilling racing circuit every May. Monaco also hosts the Monte Carlo Opera, the Monte Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Monaco Yacht Show, attracting visitors with a passion for music, art, and luxury.
Monaco is endlessly fascinating to me and I could talk forever about this unique municipality! If you’re interested in a more extensive itinerary, take a look at my Monaco Travel Guide.
Menton
In the afternoon, explore the wonderfully vibrant town of Menton. Menton is the furthest town from Nice on this list, located near the Italian border. Often referred to as the “Pearl of France,” Menton is certainly one of the best places to visit in South of France and deserves a spot on every South of France itinerary.
Menton enjoys a microclimate that is even warmer and sunnier than other parts of the French Riviera, earning it the nickname “The Lemon Capital” for its abundant citrus groves. In fact, the city hosts a Lemon Festival every year, featuring elaborate citrus sculptures and parades.
The Old Town, or Vieux Menton, is similarly bright and colorful to the other villages in the South of France. Exploring the Old Town means wandering through a maze of narrow streets, photogenic squares, and brightly colored warm buildings. We walked up and down countless stairs and hills, enjoying discoveries at every turn.
I recommend spending golden hour at the Promenade du Soleil, Menton’s beautiful seafront that overlooks the azure waters of the Mediterranean. Even better, take a walk out on one of the stone jetties and enjoy seeing the colorful town sitting atop the teal-blue surf.
Other Notable Destinations in South of France
As you can guess, it was difficult to pick just a handful of towns for this 3-day South of France guide! I enjoyed each and every one, but I also wanted to share some of the many other villages that I decided to pass on or didn’t have time to visit.
Any article or list that claims to know the “best places to visit in South of France” is lying, because it’s impossible to know every single one of the stunning villages in the region. I had a lot of trouble deciding which ones I wanted to add to my personal South of France itinerary!
While I did not visit the destinations below, they are popular spots in the South of France for a reason and I would still recommend visiting. In the end, you’ll have to pick and choose for yourself which ones pique your interest the most!
Antibes
Located between Nice and Cannes, Antibes is known for its stunning beaches and historic old town. Plus, if you’re a fan of Picasso, Antibes has an entire museum in the Chateau Grimaldi just for this legendary artist.
Cannes
Cannes is famous worldwide for its glamorous film festival, but the town is popular year-round for its beautiful beaches, luxury boutiques, and historic Le Suquet neighborhood. Enjoy exploring charming cobblestone streets and panoramic views from the old castle.
Gorges du Verdon
The Gorges du Verdon is a breathtaking natural wonder in the Côte d’Azur region. This is slightly more inland and will require a car or tour to visit, but the “Grand Canyon of Europe” offers spectacular views of turquoise-blue waters winding through towering limestone cliffs. Explore the gorge by hiking, kayaking, or driving along scenic routes.
Saint-Paul-de-Vence
Saint-Paul-de-Vence is a picturesque hilltop village that is half Vieux Menton, half Èze. The village is dotted with art galleries, boutiques, and cafes. Besides its artistic heritage, Saint-Paul-de-Vence boasts cobblestone streets, photogenic stone houses draped in vines, and panoramic views of the countryside.
Saint-Tropez
Saint-Tropez is synonymous with luxury, glamour, and the jet-set lifestyle. It’s an expensive area, but extremely famous for its beautiful beaches, trendy beach clubs, and upscale boutiques. If you are looking for an ultra-luxury experience in the South of France, Saint-Tropez is the place for you.
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