South of France
A Destination Guide to Provence & the Côte d’Azur
Getting to the South of France
THE ALPILLES
LOURMARIN
ROUSSILLON
The South of France is served by two main airports: Marseille Provence Airport (MRS) for Provence, and Nice Côte d’Azur Airport (NCE) for the Riviera. If you are planning a trip that covers both regions — as I would always recommend — the classic routing is to fly into Marseille and out of Nice (or vice versa), which eliminates backtracking entirely.
From the United States, most connections go through Paris (CDG), where Air France offers excellent connecting service to both Marseille and Nice. Alternatively, I often route clients through London Heathrow, Barcelona or Amsterdam depending on their origin city, as the connections can be more convenient.The TGV high-speed train from Paris to Marseille or Nice is also a wonderful option if clients are combining the South of France with Paris. It takes under three hours and drops you in the heart of the city.
July and August represent the absolute pinnacle of the Mediterranean summer season. While the energy is undeniably glamorous and the beach clubs are in full swing, these months bring heavy crowds, peak pricing, and intense heat. If you have your heart set on seeing the legendary Provence lavender fields in full purple bloom, plan your visit between late June and mid-July. Secure your reservations at least nine months in advance.
For a completely different perspective, the winter months from November through February offer a quiet, deeply authentic look at local life. In Provence, this is the coveted black truffle and cozy wood-fire season, perfect for slow days of culinary indulgence. Meanwhile, the Riviera enjoys a mild, sunny, though socially quiet winter, with several iconic coastal palaces remaining open to welcome guests seeking peaceful sanctuary.
PROVENCE — WHERE THE TRIP SLOWS YOU DOWN
1. THE ALPILLES REGION
2. LOURMARIN
Of all the villages I visited across two weeks in the South of France, Lourmarin stole my heart completely. It sits on the southern edge of the Luberon hills. Unlike the most-visited Provençal villages, it hasn’t lost its authenticity. Real residents, real life — a rhythm that visitors are invited into, not kept at arm’s length from.
The shopping here is exceptional — the best I found anywhere on the trip. You’ll find local artisans selling olive wood bowls and hand-stitched linen, beautifully edited French fashion boutiques, and market stalls piled with local honey, lavender, and seasonal produce. So, allow a full morning or afternoon to properly explore. In particular, the Friday market draws locals from across the Luberon and is worth building your schedule around.
3. ROUSSILLON
Famous for its striking ochre cliffs, Roussillon looks like a village painted from a warm, saturated palette of reds, oranges, and deep yellows. Wander through the vibrant streets, then take an easy, scenic walk along the Sentier des Ocres trail. Marvel at the dramatic, naturally sculpted clay canyons just steps from the town center.
4. GORDES
Perched dramatically on the foothills of the Vaucluse Mountains, Gordes is a breathtaking sight of stacked stone houses rising up to a majestic Renaissance château. We consider the legendary Airelles Gordes, La Bastide to be the crown jewel of accommodations here. Even if you’re not staying overnight, stop by for a leisurely lunch or sunset cocktails on their panoramic terrace.
5. MAUSSANE-LES-ALPILLES & BAUMANIÈRE
6. L’ISLE-SUR-LA-SORGUE
7. AIX-EN-PROVENCE
As you leave the peaceful olive groves of Provence behind and descend toward the coast, the rhythm of the journey shifts instantly. The quiet stone villages give way to sparkling turquoise waters, grand coastal palaces, superyachts bobbing in historic harbors, and a legendary, sun-drenched glamour that has defined Mediterranean luxury for over a century.
1. Ramatuelle
2. SAINT-TROPEZ
Saint-Tropez seamlessly blends old-world fishing village charm with unparalleled modern luxury. Spend your mornings wandering the historic pastel-hued old town, exploring the lively Place des Lices market (Tuesday or Saturday mornings), and enjoying a glass of chilled rosé as the yachts glide into the golden-hour harbor.
Beyond the major international designer flagships, Saint-Tropez offers exceptional boutique discoveries. My single most important shopping recommendation: do not leave Saint-Tropez without visiting Maison St Tropez, the exceptional perfumerie in the village. I found a scent there that I now wear every day, and every time I do, I am immediately back in Saint-Tropez.
3. CANNES
4. ANTIBES & CAP D’ANTIBES
5. SAINT-PAUL-DE-VENCE
6. CAP-FERRAT
PROVENCE HOTELS — STONE FARMHOUSES & HILLTOP CHÂTEAUX
Airelles Gordes, La Bastide
Baumanière
Château de la Gaude
Domaines de Chabran
CÔTE D’AZUR HOTELS — HILLSIDE SANCTUARIES & LEGENDARY PALACES
Lily of the Valley
Airelles Saint-Tropez, Château de la Messardière
AREV Saint-Tropez
Cheval Blanc Saint-Tropez
Althoff Villa Belrose
Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc
Domaine du Mas de Pierre
Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat
The Shopping
For pure, authentic artisanal treasures, nothing compares to the quiet streets of Lourmarin. There you will find exceptional linen, local lavender products, and beautiful ceramics. Aix-en-Provence offers a sophisticated mix of high-end European fashion boutiques. Saint-Tropez provides the ultimate luxury resort shopping experience, with the bespoke fragrance journey at Maison St Tropez standing out as an absolute must-do.
The Dining
Our three-star Michelin dinner at Baumanière was easily the most memorable and creatively inspiring meal of the entire journey. For breakfasts that deserve to be slowly savored over several hours, the beautiful garden settings at Château de la Gaude and the Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat are absolutely unmatched.
The Markets
The Sunday antiques market at L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue is a world-class treasure hunt that should not be missed. For vibrant local atmosphere, food, and people-watching, the Tuesday and Saturday morning market at Place des Lices in Saint-Tropez is legendary, while the historic covered market in Antibes is perfect for sampling fresh regional delicacies.
Getting Around
While driving yourself is a wonderful and flexible way to explore the quiet, winding countryside of Provence, we highly recommend hiring a private professional driver for the coastal Riviera. Traffic and parking in Saint-Tropez, Cannes, and Monaco can be exceptionally challenging, especially during the peak summer months.
Book Early
Due to the immense global popularity of this region, we strongly advise booking your luxury accommodations, private guides, and exclusive beach clubs 6 to 9 months in advance for peak summer travel (July/August), and 3 to 4 months ahead for the spring and autumn shoulder seasons.
What Not to Miss
Make sure your itinerary includes: Lourmarin on a Friday morning, walking the vibrant ochre trail of Roussillon at golden hour, enjoying a sunset terrace drink at Airelles Gordes, treasure hunting at the Sunday market in L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, taking the spectacular coastal walk at Cap-Ferrat, lingering over a panoramic breakfast, and slowly enjoying a chilled bottle of local Provençal rosé.
The Language
French is the official language, and while English is widely and fluently spoken at all five-star luxury hotels and popular tourist venues, locals deeply appreciate when you make an effort to use basic French greetings like “Bonjour” and “Merci.” It instantly opens doors to warmer service.
Packing
Pack for two distinct microclimates: Provence experiences notable temperature drops in the evenings, requiring light layers and jackets, while the Riviera is consistently warm and breezy. Additionally, please note that several of the region’s top-tier fine dining establishments require jackets for gentlemen in the evening.
Late May through June and September through early October offer the best balance — warm weather, fewer crowds than peak July/August, and lower rates at top properties. July and August bring festival season (Cannes, Nice Jazz Festival) but also the highest prices and heaviest crowds along the Côte d’Azur.
A minimum of 5-7 days lets you experience one region properly — either the Côte d’Azur (Nice, Cannes, Saint-Tropez, Monaco) or Provence (Aix-en-Provence, the Luberon, Avignon). For both regions, plan 10-14 days to avoid a rushed, checklist-style trip.
The Côte d’Azur is the glamorous Mediterranean coastline — beach clubs, yacht culture, Monaco’s casinos, Saint-Tropez nightlife. Provence is inland — lavender fields, hilltop villages, vineyards, and a slower, countryside pace. Many travelers combine both for contrast.
For Provence, yes — the hilltop villages and vineyards are best explored by car. Along the Côte d’Azur, train service between Nice, Cannes, Monaco, and Antibes is excellent and often easier than driving and parking in peak season.
Grand Hotel du Cap Ferrat, Hotel Du Cap Eden Roc and the Airelles Saint Tropes and Gordes are leading hotels in the South of France — Diego Travel holds preferred partner status with Four Seasons, Oetker Collection and Airelles properties across the region, meaning our clients receive complimentary upgrades, resort credit, and VIP amenities not available through direct booking.
For luxury properties, yes — advisors with Virtuoso and preferred partner status can secure room upgrades, resort credits, early check-in, and amenities at no extra cost, often making the advisor-booked rate more valuable than the same room booked direct.
Whether you are dreaming of a private villa week in Provence, a glamorous hotel-hopping tour along the Riviera, or the complete, curated two-week itinerary highlighted in this guide, our luxury travel agency is here to design your perfect escape. We seamlessly handle your flights, private transfers, five-star accommodations, exclusive tours, and insider reservations from start to finish.
