10 best places to visit in the Provence, France

BEST PLACES TO VISIT IN THE PROVENCE

Related: read about our Montpellier weekend and Camargue flamingo day trip.

The Provence is always a great holiday destination. It has pretty villages, lots of nature and cosy beaches. We did a two-week road trip through the South of France and discovered the most beautiful places. To help you decide what to visit, we listed the 10 best places in the Provence below.

1. Gordes & Abbaye Senanque

Gordes is one of the most beautiful villages of France, so it’s absolutely one of the best places to visit in the Provence. You can stroll around in the village, go to the viewpoint to admire the very popular view on Gordes and if you’re visiting between mid-June and mid-August, you can spot several blooming lavender fields in the area. I don’t know about you, but if I’m thinking Provence, I’m thinking lavender fields. Abbaye Senanque is a very beautiful place to spot lavender and it’s quite close to Gordes by car.

2. Lacoste

Lacoste is another pretty village in the Provence. It’s not related to the brand Lacoste though.

3. Roussillon and the Sentier des Ocres

Roussillon is a very unique village as it looks a bit different from other villages. That’s because of Sentier des Ocres (translated ‘ochre trail’). You can walk the ochre trail which looks like a little piece of Colorado. The trail and the village are both well worth a visit.

4. Ramatuelle

If you make your way to the beach, you can visit the pretty village of Ramatuelle. On Thursday and Sunday morning, there’s a market in this village which is very nice. Make sure to also add Plage l’Escalet to your itinerary, it’s our most favourite beach in the Provence. On a very hot day the beach we tried first was too crowded, so we looked for a quieter spot.

5. Saint-Tropez

Saint-Tropez is a very well-known place, but there’s a good reason why it’s so popular. We absolutely love this city. Since it’s so popular, it does get quite busy in Summer and making reservations for dinner is highly recommended.

6. Villefranche-Sur-Mêr

Not far from the city Nice you can find Villefranche-Sur-Mêr, a very cosy port town. Have a swim here and wander through the village.

7. Èze

We’ve visited Èze twice over the years and it’s gotten much more popular. So popular, that we had to park 3km further and drive a shuttle bus to the town. If you’re wondering: yes, it is worth it. It’s located on a mountain with a spectacular view and numerous narrow alleys to get lost in.

8. Menton

Located at the Italian border, Menton is a French village with an Italian vibe. The colourful houses and historical buildings make this place worth your while.

9. Antibes

Antibes is a beautiful town located between Cannes and Nice. The town has a beautiful old centre, where you can stroll around the old streets and enjoy the lively atmosphere in the evening. Parking near the centre was pricier than in Saint-Tropez, so we parked a bit further out where it was free and enjoyed a beautiful 15-minute walk along the harbour.

10. Calanques de Cassis

Lastly, you cannot miss the Calanques in Cassis when you’re in the South of France. Cassis is a very cozy village and the calanques are gorgeous. Make sure to put on good hiking shoes and take lots of water and food though! In summer, the trails can close on days with high fire risk, and some coves (such as Sugiton) need a free online reservation in peak season, so check the Calanques National Park website the evening before you go.

We hope this guide will help you plan your travels. Make sure to tag us on your socials if you visit a place because of us: @lukasandlore and follow us for more travel content!

Also exploring France? Read our Paris city trip guide.