The Perfect South of France Itinerary

When it comes to choosing the best locations to enjoy France from, the South tends to get heaped with praise - and for good reason. You're close to the majesty of the Mediterranean, meaning you're always likely to get splashed with sunshine - and, there's a plethora of quaint towns, seaside spots, and historic artifacts to explore. Given that France is such a huge country to explore in its entirety, we've put together a guide on building a South of France itinerary based on your specific interests.

The French Riviera absolutely deserves to be enjoyed for more than just a few days - and if you're short on ideas of where to go during a week or more's break, you've come to the right place.

Just remember, however, to make sure you download an eSIM for France so that your mobile data is paid for upfront and that you don't have to hunt around for WiFi hotspots while you're enjoying yourself. 

South of France itinerary overview

From Provence to Nice and Cannes, there are plenty of sights, dishes, and sunny days you'll want to experience when exploring the South of France. That said, no two itineraries ever have to be the same, which is why we've built this guide around a few different templates. 

Below, you'll find a list of the SIMOVO team's favorite spots in the South of France, followed by a few different idea templates that you can adjust to your own tastes and preferences. We've made an effort to arrange them in logical travel order, so you don't spend too much time on the road or doubling back.

Traveling around the South of France, on that note, isn't particularly difficult. If you're not taking a road trip around the various towns and coastal resorts, the various ports of call we recommend are well connected by train routes and buses. And, if you're exploring wider France, such as Paris and Nantes to the north, you can easily get a plane down to Provence without much hassle.

If there's one thing that other people following South of France itinerary guides agree on, it's that your time out here really shouldn't be rushed. The fabulous Mediterranean views, the year-round sunshine, and the delicious French food are all great reasons to really take things easy. That's why, when you check out our template ideas below, you'll see that we suggest you spend a few days in each spot, if you can, to really drink it all in. There's no rush!

A SIMOVO eSIM for Europe will also ensure you have access to mobile data whenever you need it and can share your adventures and experiences with loved ones across the miles. It also means you won't have to spend your whole trip worrying about coming back to a colossal bill full of data roaming fees!

Best places to visit in the South of France

Similar to our other itinerary guides, we asked those of us in the SIMOVO team who have been to the South of France in recent years to name their favorite spots to explore and stay in across the region. The results were pretty unanimous, with Nice, Cannes, Saint Tropez, and Aix-en-Provence all topping the overall best-of list.

That said, you're certainly free to add and remove spots from your own South of France itinerary as you see fit, and we'll show you our suggested templates for this a little further down. For now, let's dive into why these four places to visit really do show off the best of the French South Coast and beyond.

Nice

Nice is a stunning resort that's at the heart of the sparkling Côte d'Azur, home to sandy stretches, a quaint old town scene, and incredible panoramic views. This is especially the case if you're able to scale the heights of the famous Castle Hill.

Nice is also well-known for its unique twists on the already fabulous French cuisine, and is home to bustling marketplaces that the French Riviera is world-famous for. Make sure to kick back and relax on a roof terrace or two when you visit!

Cannes

You may already know of Cannes thanks to the annual film festival, and for that reason, it's often regarded as one of many playgrounds for the rich and famous across this corner of Europe. That said, you don't have to be Hollywood elite to enjoy life out here, and you'll want to check out the waterfront boulevard, the old town (boasting 16th-century architecture), and the traditional fishing port.

If you're keen to see the best in film while exploring Cannes and the wider Riviera, of course, be sure to head across in May. Otherwise, you'll want to come over in the fall for yachting festivals and more besides.

Saint Tropez

Saint Tropez is another name that's synonymous with sand, sunshine, and luxury yachting - this really is the place to be if you have a flexible budget and want to experience the best of the French nightlife (it competes amazingly with what you'll find further North!).

From iconic club scenes to charming markets and cobblestone streets, Saint Tropez tends to be a little chameleonic, meaning it's gentle in the day, but really comes alive at night.

Aix-en-Provence

Aix-en-Provence is a quaint, elegant corner of the Riviera that has important art history links, thanks to it being the hometown of the legendary Paul Cezanne. You'll find charming, narrow streets, daily markets, and bustling art hubs across the area, meaning it's rare you will be stuck for anything to see and do - all with the promise of wonderful weather.

South of France itinerary ideas

As mentioned, we've built four special South of France itinerary templates for you to enjoy at your leisure. Feel free to add more stops on, or to take it even easier and stay for longer in your favorite towns and seaside spots!

South of France itinerary for 7 days

• Days 1-2: Start your journey and establish a base in Nice
• Days 3-4: Head further down the coast towards Cannes
• Day 5: Soak up some more sun in Saint Tropez
• Days 6-7: Travel further inland towards Aix-en-Provence

South of France itinerary for 10 days

• Days 1-3: Start your adventure in Aix-en-Provence
• Days 4-5: Work your way down to enjoy marvelous Marseille, then Toulon
• Days 6-7: Enjoy the town of Hyeres and travel up to Saint Tropez
• Days 8-9: Travel further up toward Cannes
• Day 10: Finish your trip in lovely Nice

South of France itinerary for 14 days

• Days 1-3: Start in Marseille and explore Aix-en-Provence
• Days 4-6: Head East and either go south to Toulon and Hyeres, or north to explore the region's wildlife park
• Days 7-8: Set a new base in Saint Tropez or Cannes
• Days 9-11: Relax in Nice for as long as you can
• Days 12-14: Your choice! Head back to your favorite spots, or even cross the border into Italy for an extended adventure.

Best time to visit the South of France

They do say that the French Riviera gets at least 300 days of sunshine a year, and that's certainly not far off the mark! For the best beach-based adventures, however, we suggest you head here toward the end of spring and the start of summer. It's in the summer months when things tend to get very busy, of course - so, for a milder holiday, consider coming in early fall.

The area is also very popular with travelers keen to book some winter sun, and February in particular is mild and breezy - a nice break from the deep freeze of the UK or US at around the same time!