France

Southern cities, esteemed vineyards & the sparkling coastline

A trip to southern France can move between Roman arenas, papal history, village markets and a swim before dinner. The question is how much of that variety you want in one stay. My guides here are concentrated in Provence and on the French Riviera, drawing on time based in Avignon and Antibes. Start with the sort of days you want, then choose a base that makes them easy to enjoy.

People at café tables beneath a plane tree beside the church of Saint-Didier in Avignon
Place Saint-Didier, Avignon
Stone houses of Gordes on a hillside above the Provençal landscape
Gordes, Provence

Choose your region

Provence

Choose Provence for historic cities, village days and wine country, with plenty of scope to shape the trip around your interests. Avignon worked especially well as a base for me: there was a city worth coming back to after each excursion. Arles brings Roman history and art, Saint-Rémy offers a smaller-town counterpoint, and Châteauneuf-du-Pape gives wine a proper place in the plan. You don’t need to move hotels every night to find variety.

Orange-and-white parasols beside the clear blue Mediterranean in Antibes
The Mediterranean at Antibes

Choose your region

The French Riviera

The Riviera’s reputation for yachts and glamour leaves out much of what makes it enjoyable. Antibes gives you an old town, art, markets and accessible stretches of coast in the same stay. Nice offers a larger city and a broader cultural programme. I am particularly attached to Antibes, but the right base depends on whether you most want city days, beach time or both.

A useful rule

Choose a base before a long list of stops

A town that looks central on the map may be awkward for the days you have in mind. In inland Provence, village trips and city visits have different transport needs. On the Riviera, proximity along the coast doesn’t make every excursion a good use of your time. Work out two or three priorities, then choose where you will stay.

Start planning your stay

These guides make the first decisions easier: which base suits you, how to structure a few days, and what you gain by settling somewhere for longer.

Every published guide

All France guides

Browse all 17 France guides