More about: 3 Best Day Trips to Provence from Nice
If you've already read about or experienced everything Nice has to offer, then don't miss out on exploring the surrounding area known as the Alpes-Maritimes.
French Provence has it all: from wine tasting and Mediterranean cuisine to discovering the cultural and historical riches of one of the most beautiful regions in France. Read on to find out about the best excursions to this incredible place.
1. One-day wine tour in Provence from Nice
If you are a wine lover and want to make the most of your trip to Nice to discover this beautiful land, the best option is to take a full-day tour to enjoy the views and visit the famous wineries in a fully organised and guided way.
From an agreed meeting point in Nice, this excursion begins with pick-up at around 9:00 a.m. and lasts for about 8 hours, including visits to three wineries where you can taste a variety of local rosé wines.
You can also have lunch at one of these wineries located in the small village of Les Arcs Sur Argens or at a bistro-style restaurant.
On this excursion, a wine expert will tell you about the history of the most important places you will visit in French Provence, with commentary throughout the tour.
Details of interest
- Price: around £250 per person
- Duration: around 8 hours
- What will I see on this excursion: three wineries located in Les Arcs Sur Argens
2. Visit the Verdon Gorge and the beautiful villages in the area
The Verdon Gorge is an ideal option for discovering the incredible geography of the region. With elevations of up to 700 metres, this river canyon, almost 25 kilometres long, is a perfect place for an excursion and to discover some of the most beautiful villages in France.
On this 10-hour guided tour with round -trip transfers from your hotel, you will be able to contemplate the incredible turquoise blue of Lake Verdon, discover the rich craftsmanship of villages such as Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, delight in the beauty of the lavender fields, and swim in Lake St.
Throughout the tour, which you will take in a comfortable vehicle, you will have plenty of time to enjoy the views of these landscapes, with one or two hours at each stop to explore each spot at your own pace. At the same time, the driver-guide will provide detailed explanations about the most important places you visit.
If you want to know more about this stunning place, check out this post for more details on how to visit the Verdon Gorge.
Useful information
- Price: around £80 per person
- Duration: around 10 hours
- Places you will visit: Verdons Lakes and St. Croix, the villages of Castellane and Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, and the lavender fields of Plateau de Valensole
3. Day trip by ferry to St Tropez
Saint Tropez is a town on the French Riviera characterised by glamour and luxury, popular with celebrities for its beautiful beaches and exclusive atmosphere. But it is also a place where you can stroll leisurely through its small old town, sample the delicacies of French cuisine in its market or admire works of art by the most avant-garde artists.
On a ferry trip to St Tropez, you will sail along the French Riviera on a journey of about two and a half hours until you reach the town's port, where you can see first-hand the luxury of the numerous yachts moored there.
Once there, you can choose between enjoying one of its beaches, windsurfing or strolling through the narrow streets of La Ponche, the small fishing district next to the port, or enjoying beautiful views from the Citadel of St Tropez.
In this article on excursions to St Tropez from Nice, you can find out about other types of guided tours of this glamorous city.
Useful information
- Price: from £77
- Duration: around 10 hours
- Places you will visit: During the ferry trip, you will see the island of Sainte Marguerite and/or Cannes and enjoy the town of Saint Tropez at your leisure.
Places not to be missed in French Provence
The great thing about this type of excursion is that they are organised so that you will see almost everything there is to see.
Along the way, you will discover some of Provence's most iconic sites, such as the lavender fields, one of the best things to do in Nice in summer. You can also explore the streets and fountains of iconic places such as Aix-en-Provence.
Taking a guided tour of this region from Nice will allow you to make the most of your trip if, for example, you are only going to be in the French city for three days. And if you are lucky enough to spend seven days in Nice, who knows, you might like it so much that you decide to go on several of these excursions.
In any case, to make sure you don't miss a thing, here are the essential places to visit on your trip to the beautiful region of French Provence.
Visit the original Arc de Triomphe in Orange
You may have heard of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, but did you know that the real Arc de Triomphe is located in the city of Orange, in Provence? It was built by Roman soldiers in 10 AD to commemorate the military victories that allowed the Roman Empire to conquer this region.
The Arch is a little smaller than the one in Paris, as it is almost 20 metres high and 8 metres wide, but it is more than 1,800 years older.
This is not the only Roman monument in Orange. You can also visit the Théâtre Antique d'Orange,an amphitheatre and museum built during the reign of Augustus in the 1st century AD, with a capacity for more than 10,000 people.
Although there is no charge to see the Triumphal Arch, there is an admission fee for the museum and amphitheatre. For adults , the price is approximately £10. For people aged 7 to 17 and students, the entrance fee is around £8. Children under 7 and people with reduced mobility do not pay admission.
If you decide to go to this city on your own, you will find two options for doing so:
You can take a train from Nice to Orange, which takes about 5 hours, so I recommend staying in Orange if you want to make the most of your day.
If you have a car or book a tour, the journey is much more direct and you can cover the 272 km between Nice and Orange in less than 3 hours (one way).
Explore the lavender fields
If you were to rank the best scents of French Provence, lavender would definitely be at the top of the list. Lavender fields abound in this region, and its scent is used in many locally produced items. This flower is used to make soaps, foods and personal care products.
In fact, lavender is the region's number one export. So, if you visit Nice, you can take a trip to Provence to see everything this flower has to offer.
Among other places, you can visit the Lavender Museum in Luberon, where you will learn about its historical origins, its importance in the region and how it is used today.
Less than 30 kilometres west of Luberon, you can visit L'Abbaye de Senanque, an abbey known worldwide for its lavender-lined perimeter. I recommend visiting this place at sunset, when the flowers and sunlight create a festival of colours.
The lavender museum is open Monday to Sunday. Opening hours vary depending on the month of the year. In May, June, September and October, it is open from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. From July to August, it is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. The tour lasts 1 to 2 hours.
Prices: adults £8, students and seniors £7, children under 10 free, and teenagers aged 11 to 16 £4.
The tour has audio guides in 12 languages and there is free parking for those arriving by car.
Explore the streets and fountains of Aix-en-Provence
Located below the Sainte-Victoire mountain and known as the "city of a thousand fountains", Aix-en-Provence is a beautiful place to visit if you are in Nice. It is about 178 kilometres from the coast, making it easily accessible by train for a day trip.
Aix-en-Provence is a beautiful university town where the impressionist painter Paul Cezanne was born and lived. A popular tour starts at his childhood home and continues to his first studio, "L'Atelier Cezanne"
Art lovers will also enjoy the "Caumont Art Centre", the palace of the Marquises of Caumont dating from the 18th century, which today exhibits the best works of local artists.
If you prefer something more natural, in Aix-en-Provence you have the Santa Victoria mountain, an ideal place for hiking and observing the beautiful postcard view of the region from its heights.
- How to get there: The most convenient way is by car or by booking a tour, as the journey can be easily covered in less than 2 hours. If you prefer to use public transport, you can take a bus or train, which take approximately 4 hours to arrive. This train usually costs from £35.
- Museum tickets: Tickets are quite cheap, but as there are many museums in Aix-en-Provence, I recommend getting the City Pass. It costs approximately £25 and allows you to enter all the museums, take multiple guided tours and use the local bus network.
Discover the calanques of Cassis
If this is the first time you've heard the word calanque, don't worry, it's a geographical formation specific to this region. These formations are unique to the Mediterranean and are the hallmark of Cassis, along with the turquoise colour of its waters.
Between Cassis and Marseille, you will find hundreds of cliffs up to 400 metres high, coves, calanques, inlets and secluded beaches that the Mediterranean has carved out over millions of years. This area is protected and belongs to the Calanques National Park.
You can explore this area from different places: the most common way is to follow the trekking trails within the park, or visit the area by sailing or kayaking.
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What to take: if you are going to walk the trails, it is advisable to wear comfortable shoes and clothing, as well as sunscreen, food and drink. Remember that there are no places to have lunch inside the park. Also, remember to take a backpack to carry your rubbish back with you.
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Best time to visit: although the park is open all year round, during the summer some parts or trails may be closed due to the risk of fire. Therefore, the best time to visit is during autumn or spring.
Taste the best wines in Les Arcs Sur Argens
One of the most exclusive and award-winning products of this region is wine, so wine tasting is a must when visiting French Provence. Wine production in this area dates back more than 2,500 years, making them experts in grape cultivation and fermentation.
The characteristic style of this region is rosé wine, so any winery you visit will give you the chance to try it.
The village of Les Arcs Sur Argens has historic wineries that open their doors for tastings. One of the best known is La Maison des Vins des Côtes, which offers tastings of more than 800 varieties of wine.
- Address: Route N7, 83460 LES ARCS/ARGENS
- Opening hours: Open all year round. Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays and public holidays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- How to get there: From Nice, take the train to Les Arcs station. By car, take the A8 motorway, then the Le Muy exit, and then take the RN7 towards Vidauban.
Visit Saint Paul de Vence
Saint Paul de Vence is also known as "the most beautiful village in French Provence" due to its beautiful medieval buildings and the large number of vineyards that stretch to the horizon.
This community was built around its imposing medieval castle, its walls and its beautiful cobbled streets, which will make you feel like you are in the Middle Ages.
- How to get there: It is very close to Nice, about 20 kilometres away, so it only takes about 30 minutes by car. If you choose to go by bus, you can take line 09 or line 400, although it will take a little longer, approximately 1 hour. You can catch them near the airport at Parc Phoenix.
- When to visit: The best time to visit is out of season (spring or autumn), but if you go in summer, it is advisable to go in the morning or afternoon, as the town centre is often very busy with vehicles.
Visit Marseille
The other pearl of the French Riviera is undoubtedly Marseille. Located about 200 kilometres from Nice, it can be visited on a day trip.
Here you can visit the Palais de Longchamp, a 19th-century palace surrounded by a beautiful park. You will also find the Basilica of Notre-Dame de la Garde, located at the top of the hill of Marseille
You can also visit the Château d'If, world-famous as the place where Edmond Dantes was imprisoned in Alexandre Dumas' acclaimed novel The Count of Monte Cristo.
- How to get there: By car, you can cover the 200 kilometres in less than 2 hours. Just take the A8 motorway and then the A51. By train is the most comfortable option, as you can do it in less than 3 hours, although it is not the cheapest way. The bus from the airport is the cheapest option, but bear in mind that the journey takes around 4 hours each way. If you choose this option, I recommend spending the night in Marseille.