Best Things to Do in Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, France

Article written by Elisa - Travel Writer & Local in France
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Marseille’s colorful port is one of the best places to see the city in action. Marseille was founded by the Phoenicians 2,600 years ago, and since the 6th century BC, the city is one of Europe’s main trading hubs.

The port that you see today is mostly from the 1,700s, and it is a great place to meet friends or for an evening stroll. In Quai des Belges you will find a traditional fish market, the perfect place to buy the last catch for a delicious bouillabaisse.

If you are looking for ideas for weekend trips to France, Marseille is a good option. After the port, you can visit the traditional neighborhood of Le Panier for some local life. Then, make your way up to Notre-Dame de la Garde, at the highest point in the city, and admire the fabulous views over the Old Port and the Mediterranean Sea.

One of the top things to do in Provence is to explore the lavender fields. Lavender is the soul of Provence, and the lavender fields of Provence are famous worldwide.

The lavender season in Provence depends on the area, but in general, it lasts from the last week of June to the beginning of August when it is harvested.

There are many guided tours to see the lavender fields of Provence, with departures from Nice, Avignon, and Aix-en-Provence. This half-day guided tour to Luberon Valley and Sault from Avignon always gets the best ratings, and it includes a stop at the 11th-century Cistercian Sénanque Abbey and a couple of hilltop villages.

Nestled in the Verdon Regional Park, Gorges du Verdon, is one of Europe’s most fabulous natural settings. This limestone canyon with turquoise waters runs for 25 kilometers through the park, and at points, it reaches depths of more than 700 meters.

Gorges du Verdon is one of the top things to do in France. One of the favorite ways to visit Gorges du Verdon is on a kayak, but you can also approach the gorge on foot via a range of hikes. There’s also rock climbing and whitewater rafting available, or you can just decide to swim in these sparkling waters.

If you don’t want to leave the comfort of your car, avoid the summer months when a long line of vehicles moves at a snail’s pace. If you are there at that time, try to do the drive very early in the morning.

The Calanques of Marseille – Cassis is a natural area located between the communes of Marseille, Cassis, and La Ciotat. This is the 10th National Park in France, and it offers spectacular landscapes, rich flora and fauna, and endless outdoor activities.

Nature passionates will definitely love Les Calanques de Marseille – Cassis. The National Park is at the same time terrestrial, marine, and periurban and includes coastal ranges of creeks, a vast marine area of the Mediterranean Sea, several islands, and one of the richest submarine canyons in the world.

Stroll around the hilltop villages of Provence, built from local stone, full of character, and with stunning views of the surrounding countryside. Some of these villages are classed amongst the ‘Most Beautiful Villages in France.’

Listed UNESCO World Site, Arles will surprise you with its impressive Roman heritage. The earliest monuments – the arena, the Roman theatre, and the cryptoporticus (subterranean galleries) – date back to the 1st century B.C!

The town also has interesting Romanesque architecture from the 11th and 12th centuries. Don’t miss Saint-Trophime church and cloister, a witness of Arles’ glorious medieval past and one of the major Romanesque monuments in Provence.

One of Provence’s most picturesque coastal towns, Martigues became a favorite place for artists in the 19th century. They were seduced by its clear light and canals, and Martigues was quickly nicknamed the Venice of Provence.

You can decide for yourself if this description is correct, but you will certainly fall for the small canals, picturesque houses, and bridges around Brescon Island, in the heart of the city.

In Martigues, you can also enjoy striking landscapes on the coast, delicious Mediterranean cuisine, and a superb museum with works by famous artists living in Martigues. And when the sun shines, you’ll never be far from a pristine sandy beach or an old fishing port.

In 1309 Avignon became the heart of Christendom when Pope Clement V moved the Papacy here at the invitation of the King of France. Today, Avignon is a beautiful city to explore, with an interesting medieval heritage and a great theater festival. It is also a good base to explore the Luberon region and some of the best lavender fields in Provence.

Standing high above the town, the 14th-century magnificent Palace of the Popes was the residence of six popes. Listed as UNESCO World Heritage, the Palace of the Popes is also the world’s largest and most important civil building in Gothic style.

When you visit the palace, you’ll get access to more than twenty rooms, including Clement IV’s papal apartments, where the exquisite gothic frescoes by Matteo Giovanetti survive to this day.

The French Riviera – Côte d’Azur in French – is one of the most beautiful parts of France, always bathed in sunshine. Nice is the French Riviera’s capital and a convenient place to start your French Riviera explorations.

Clustered around Nice, there are some compelling destinations like Monaco, Antibes, Éze Village, Cannes, Menton, and Saint Tropez. These are great day trips from Nice to do on your own or with a guided tour.

Aix-en-Provence has everything you can imagine from a city in the south of France. Aix is also one of the world’s great art cities thanks to artists and writers like Paul Cézanne, Émile Zola, and Albert Camus, who lived and left their footprint in Aix.

Provençal cuisine offers a striking contrast between the hearty mountain dishes (dauphinois, ravioles, gratins) and the light and perfumed dishes of the Mediterranean cuisine, many of them based on fish.

The Provence wine region is spoilt by nature, with the climate and soil conditions ideally suited to produce a huge variety of wines. Try a glass of one of the local wines (Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Côtes-de-Provence, Rasteau, Bandol).

On the sweet side, try the honey, calissons (candies made from almonds and melon), chocolate mendiants, and quince paste.

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