A Dreamy 7-Day Itinerary for Provence and Côte d’Azur 

Heading to Provence and Côte d’Azur? Colour me jealous. The South of France is one of my favourite places on Earth, and the scenery in this little section is particularly special. 

After several visits to the region, I’ve put together what I truly believe is the perfect Provence and Côte d’Azur itinerary, particularly if you love strolling markets, sipping rosé, and spending a little bit of time topping up your tan too.

It’s the sort of itinerary that still feels like a holiday, even though it packs plenty in. 

This travel guide includes visits to some of the region’s most drop-dead-gorgeous villages, iconic cities, and a few hidden gems thrown in too. 

Transport and travel tips, and accommodation recommendations are all included, but if you have any other questions, just let me know in the comments below! 

7-Day Provence and Côte d’Azur Itinerary at a Glance

Provence and Côte d’Azur Itinerary 7 Days: in Brief

The below gives you a little flavour of what to expect from this itinerary. Alternatively, keep scrolling for the full low-down, transport tips, and pictures of each dreamy activity. 

Day 1: Head to Aix-en-Provence from Marseille and stroll the Old Town 

Day 2: Visit the Vancluse plateau for lavender fields and cute villages 

Day 3: Spend the morning at the markets, then take a wine tasting tour 

Day 4: Visit Avignon in the morning, then drive to your second base, Saint Maxime 

Day 5: Spend the day exploring St Tropez and yacht watching in the Gulf 

Day 6: Take a boat trip to the breathtaking Calanques National Park 

Day 7: Explore Cassis and Marseille before your journey home

7-Day Côte d’Azur and Provence Itinerary: in Detail 

Day 1: Aix-en-Provence

On your first day, you’ll most likely be landing at Marseille Airport. 

This is the best place to start for a 7-Day Côte d’Azur and Provence Itinerary. If you’re landing at Nice, you can catch a two-hour train to Marseille after you land. 

From Marseille, Aix-en-Provence is a short 30-minute drive away. If your hotel or Airbnb doesn’t include parking, you can park at the Bellegarde parking lot for around €20 a day. It’s right by the Old Town. 

Once you’ve parked and dropped off your luggage, spend your first afternoon wandering Aix-en-Provence Old Town and getting your bearings. This beautiful city is crammed with cobblestone streets, impressive churches, and squares crowned with beautiful fountains, so there’s plenty to see. 

Grab an ice cream and keep your camera handy. 

In the evening, I recommend booking dinner at Le Ramus, a gorgeous French bistro in the heart of the Old Town. Don’t forget to request a table outdoors in the summer! 

Transport

It’s easy to pick up a hire car at Marseille airport. We booked with Alamo via Discover Cars, and I can really recommend this company. 

The pickup was easy, right outside the terminal, and drop-off was also a breeze. You can compare all the major car hire providers and options here. 

Hiring a car is the best option for this itinerary, but if that’s not possible for any reason, the A2 bus runs between Marseille Airport and Aix-en-Provence central station. Depending on where your accommodation is in Aix, you may need a taxi (the station is about 30 minutes walk from the Old Town). 

Where to Stay 

For this 7-day itinerary, Aix-en-Provence will be your home base for the first three nights. 

I recommend staying as close to the Old Town as possible in Aix-en-Provence. 

This is where you’ll find all the morning markets, the best boutique shops, and traditional squares packed with local restaurants and bars. 

The hotels I recommend are:

Hôtel Bellegarde by Viktor: Good value in an ideal location right by the car park and Old Town, with comfy, airy rooms. 
Hôtel Particulier Le 28: Elegant upscale hotel with a spa and indoor swimming pool, plus charming courtyard gardens. 
Château de la Gaude: a 10-minute drive from Aix, but a bucket-list château stay with art-filled gardens, a world-class wine cellar, and multiple swimming pools. 

Day 2: lavender fields and cute villages

If you’re travelling between June and August, day two is all about hitting the Lavender fields. If not, you can spend more time strolling the beautiful villages this region is known for. 

Get up early to head to the Vancluse Plateau, where you can find some beautiful, lesser-visited lavender fields just outside the town of Bonnieux. Stop by the lavender fields first while the light is still soft, and snap your photos.

Then, head up into the village afterwards for a coffee. There are some restaurants overlooking the countryside, as well as a bakery museum to explore. 

For the next stop, head to the gorgeous town of Lourmarin. This place is fully fairytale-coded with honey-coloured stone and walls dripping with ivy. 

Book lunch at Brasserie l’Insolite (request a table on the beautiful courtyard terrace!), and then spend some time exploring the gorgeous cobbled streets and stopping by the boutiques.

You can also visit the impressive Château de Lourmarin, a beautifully restored Renaissance masterpiece.

Once you get back to Aix in the evening, Girafe Restaurant is a fab place to enjoy a sunset dinner in a beautiful square. 

Transport 

A hire car is best for today’s activities, but if you don’t have one, you can book a half-day tour to visit the lavender fields in the Vaucluse region instead. It includes stops at a local farm and several photo spots. 

Or you can do the full day trip, which includes stops in the scenic villages of Moustiers-Sainte-Marie and Sainte Croix du Verdon in the afternoon.

**You might also be interested in reading: Where to stay in Provence: 5 Dreamy Places to Base Yourself.**

Day 3: markets and wine tasting

Day three of this 7-day Côte d’Azur and Provence itinerary gets you up close and personal with the wine this region is famous for. 

Spend a slow morning strolling the markets in Aix Old Town. 

The daily Provencal produce market is at Place Richelme from 8am to 1pm, while there’s also a flower market every morning in Place de l’Hôtel de Ville. 

In the afternoon, I strongly recommend a wine-tasting tour, which takes you to several chateaus and vineyards in the countryside surrounding the city. 

Transport

You can drive to the vineyards yourself, but then you’ll need a designated driver, which kind of spoils the fun of a wine tasting experience in my opinion! 

Therefore, I recommend booking a guided wine-tasting tour. This also allows you to experience several different châteaux in one trip, with added extras like photo stops and the opportunity to learn a little bit about the winemaking process along the way. 

Day 4: Avignon and Saint Maxime

On day four, it’s time to pack up your bags to move to the coastal base of your Côte d’Azur and Provence itinerary. 

I picked Saint-Maxime, which is just across the bay from Saint-Tropez. 

There are ferries multiple times a day, which makes it easy to pop over and visit without paying the astronomically high accomodation prices. 

But first, I recommend heading a little deeper into Provence to visit the famous town of Avignon. 

This Medieval maze is set on the Rhone river and offers an incredible Gothic palace, pretty bridges and film-set-worthy ramparts to explore. The whole centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

It’s also the home of the eponymous Château-Neuf-de-Pap wine region, a tiny domaine iconic for its reds. You could stop by a chateau to try it on your way in or out if that’s your thing!

Once you’ve had your fill of Avignon, make the drive down to the coast and stop in Saint Maxime, which will be your second base for the trip. 

This charming French Riviera town is full of gorgeous boutiques, snap-worthy avenues, and exceptional restaurants. 

Once you’ve got settled in your accomodation, I recommend dinner at Boho in the heart of town. The cod was beautiful there, and so was the lobster roll starter! 

Transport

If you don’t have a hire car, transport for today might be a little trickier. 

Your best bet is to book a guided tour of Avignon that departs from Aix-en-Provence, like this one, that also includes a stop at a Château-Neuf-de-Pap vineyard. 

Then travel from Aix-en-Provence to Saint-Maxime in the evening, via a pre-booked transfer. 

Where to Stay

Here are a few spots I recommend for your stay in Saint-Maxime.

Best Western Hotel Matisse: I don’t usually recommend chain hotels, but this one has snagged the perfect location in the centre of Saint-Maxime, with a pool for cooling off in. Very central and reasonably priced. 
Hotel La Nartelle: If you don’t mind being a short bus ride from the town centre, this spot is right on the Plage Nartelle, where all the best beach clubs are located, with free car parking and a pool. 
La Belle Aurore: An idyllic spot with an infinity pool overlooking the bay of Saint-Tropez, perfect if you’re looking for a little luxury. 

Day 5: St Tropez and Beaches

Day five is all about exploring one of the most famous towns on the Côte d’Azur. 

From Saint-Maxime, it’s a short 20-minute ferry across the bay to Saint-Tropez, and they run regularly, several times an hour in peak season. 

Grab coffee and pastries to go from La Tarte Tropézienne (a local, grab-and-go institution). 

Then hop on the ferry over to St. Tropez, where you can spend your time exploring the Old Town and window shopping the designer boutiques. 

The ferry itself is a fun experience, spotting the billionaire yachts that bob in the bay between the two towns. 

On a hot day, stop for a freshly squeezed juice or (reasonably priced!) Aperol Spritz at Le Goustado Tropezien or hit the designer Dior Cafe for a more Insta-approved aesthetic. 

At lunchtime, you have two choices – head back to Saint-Maxime to hit one of the beach clubs at Plage Nartelle. Or, you can take a taxi over to Plage Pampelonne, where the majority of the St. Tropez beach clubs are located.

It really depends on your preferences and budget. Saint-Maxime beach clubs are chilled and reasonably priced, while the St. Tropez options tend to be much livelier and less wallet-friendly. 

We love Prao Plage in Saint Maxime, which is perfect for a relaxed day on the sand, and a delicious lunch (they do a sensational octopus worth ordering). 

For more of a party, try Bagatelle or Verde Beach in St Tropez. 

If you’re still in Saint Tropez by dinnertime, Casa Rocco is my favourite Italian in town. 

Just don’t miss the last ferry back to Sainte-Maxime – it’s usually between 11pm and 2am depending on the month. 

Transport 

You can book ferry tickets in advance here, although you can also just buy them from the kiosk on the day. 

To get from Saint Maxime centre to Plage Nartelle (where the beach clubs are located), you can either drive, take a taxi, or hop on the bus, it’s only a 5-minute journey. You’re looking for Line 876 or Line 874 (operated by Zou!). 

Day 6: Calanques National Park By Boat

This is one of my favourite days of the itinerary – a boat trip to the Calanques National Park. 

In my opinion, this place is exactly why they named it Côte d’Azur, with its butterfly-blue water and dramatic sea coves only accessible by boat and hike. 

Boat trips to the park depart from Marseille or Cassis, so you’ll need to drive there first which takes about 90 minutes. 

Cassis is a dreamy harbour town that looks like a real-life postcard, so it makes sense to base yourself here for the final nights of your itinerary. 

Most boat trips take place in the afternoon, so you have plenty of time to make your way over to Cassis in the morning.

We loved this boat tour, which also included the option to stand-up-paddleboard over the glass-clear water. You’ll just need to hop on the train to Marseille from Cassis, which takes about 15 minutes. 

Book the boat tour here. 

If boats aren’t your thing, you can also join a guided hiking tour to see the Calanques instead. This might also be a good choice if you’re travelling in shoulder season and it’s not quite sea swimming weather yet. 

Transport 

It takes about 90 minutes to drive from Saint-Maxime to Cassis. If you don’t have a car, you’ll have to book a private transfer, as public transport would take several hours. 

Once you’re in Cassis, it’s easy to hop on the train to Marseille, which is just 15 minutes away. 

Where to Stay 

Whether you have just one or two nights left in your itinerary, here are some good options in Cassis:

Hotel Le Golfe: Reasonably priced spot right on the harbour-front, with basic-but-comfy rooms and gorgeous balcony views.
Hôtel Liautaud Cassis: My absolute favourite place to stay in Cassis, with beautiful airy rooms overlooking the harbour, and a chic rooftop terrace. 
Hotel de la Plage – Mahogany: A dreamy boutique right on the only tiny beach in Cassis, with a pool and coast-themed sea-view suites. 

Day 7: Cassis and Marseille 

On your final day, it’s handy being close to Marseille Airport for your transport home. 

Whether you have a full day left still, or just a morning, you’ve got some time left to explore more of Cassis or Marseille. 

A waterside lunch at Olea in Cassis is enough to soak up the scenery and enjoy your final moments on the Côte. Both the service and food were really good. 

Meanwhile, the Old Town is filled with flowery streets and artisanal shops to stock up on Provencal souvenirs. 

If you have a bit more time, Marseille is a gritty, yet pretty city worth seeing. 

Skip the formal sights and do Cours Julien for colourful street art, indie shops and terrace drinks, or wander Le Panier for cute stairways and murals. You can also stroll the impressive harbourfront or eat your way around the city with a street food tour. 

Transport

It’s just a 15-minute train ride between Cassis and Marseille, making it easy to hop between the two. 

When it comes time to travel back to the airport, you can take the train, followed by the airport shuttle bus, which runs every 15 minutes from Marseille Saint-Charles station. 

7-Day Provence and Côte d’Azur Itinerary: FAQs

What is the best way to get around Provence and the Côte d’Azur?

For Provence and the Côte d’Azur, the best way to get around is by hiring a car. 

While trains run along the larger stretch of coast between Nice, Cannes, and Marseille, they don’t reliably run through Provence, into the smallest (and most charming) villages, and to places like St. Tropez.

If you’re looking for a French Riviera itinerary by train, I’ve created one that ticks off more famous cities like Nice and Cannes, without the need for a car. 

Where else should I go if I have more than 7 days in Provence?

If you have more than 7 days in Provence, there’s always more to explore, including other famous towns and villages like Gordes, the Gorges du Verdon lakes, and further-afield towns on the French Riviera like Cannes, Antibes, Menton, Nice, Monaco, and the Medieval village of Eze.

You can do day trips to some of these destinations, or spend a few days based in Nice to do it properly – look for seafront accommodation on the Promenade des Anglais. 

Is 7 days in Provence enough?

7 days in Provence is certainly enough if you’re just hoping to tick off the main sights and scenery of the region, including lavender fields, wineries and famous towns and villages. If you want to explore more of the French Riviera Coast, with destinations like Nice, Cannes and the Monte Carlo casino, you may need longer. 

What is the best way to get to Provence and the Côte d’Azur? 

There are two main airports that serve Provence and the Côte d’Azur. Marseille Airport is closest to Aix-en-Provence and the famous villages and vineyards there. Meanwhile, Nice Airport is closer to the more famous coastal towns.

For this itinerary, Marseille Airport is the closest and most convenient.