15 days in South of France Itinerary

The 2013 European "Capital of Culture," Marseille is the largest port city on the breezy Mediterranean coast and the second largest city in France.

Change things up with these side-trips from Marseille: Palais des Papes (in Avignon) and Aix-en-Provence (Paroisse Cathédrale Saint Sauveur Aix-en-Provence & Cours Mirabeau). The adventure continues: take in the spiritual surroundings of Basilique Notre-Dame de la Garde, get your game on at Laser game Evolution, explore the striking landscape at Calanques, and take a stroll through The Panier.

Plan my trip to Marseille with suggested itineraries provided by Inspirock.

New York City, USA to Marseille is an approximately 12.5-hour flight. The time zone difference when traveling from New York City to Marseille is 6 hours. In May, daily temperatures in Marseille can reach 73°F, while at night they dip to 54°F. Cap off your sightseeing on the 13th (Thu) early enough to catch the flight to Carcassonne.

Best known as a fortified town, Carcassonne is a walled city that provided the inspiration for the castle in Disney's "Sleeping Beauty" and the location for many scenes in Kevin Costner's movie "Robin Hood." For a daily dose of excitement, medieval jousting tournaments are held twice per day between the two walls--while this may sound like a typical touristy show, it's actually an entertaining display of combative competition and horsemanship.

Kick off your visit on the 14th (Fri): learn about winemaking at Winemaker Workshops, do a tasting at O'Vineyards, then steep yourself in history at Cathar Castles, and finally get to know the fascinating history of Cité de Carcassonne.

To find photos, reviews, where to stay, and more tourist information, you can read our Carcassonne trip planner.

Fly from Marseille to Carcassonne in 2.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a train. Expect a daytime high around 69°F in May, and nighttime lows around 51°F. Finish your sightseeing early on the 14th (Fri) to allow enough time to drive to Grimaud.

Change things up with these side-trips from Grimaud: La Croix-Valmer (Le Cap Lardier & Plage de Gigaro).

To see traveler tips, photos, reviews, and other tourist information, use the Grimaud trip itinerary tool.

You can drive from Carcassonne to Grimaud in 4 hours. Other options are to do a combination of train and taxi; or do a combination of train and bus. Expect a bit warmer weather when traveling from Carcassonne in May: highs in Grimaud hover around 75°F, while lows dip to 52°F. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 17th (Mon) so you can go by car to Saint-Raphael.

Saint-Raphael vacations have so much more to offer than an indulgent splurge on a beach.

You'll find plenty of places to visit near Saint-Raphael: Seillans (Domaine Val d'Iris & La Ferme des Cairns). The adventure continues: don't miss a visit to Massif de l'Esterel, admire the natural beauty at Kuentz le Monde des Cactus, take in breathtaking views at Les Gorges du Verdon, and pause for some photo ops at Notre Dame d‘Afrique.

To find maps, reviews, where to stay, and other tourist information, refer to the Saint-Raphael road trip app.

Traveling by car from Grimaud to Saint-Raphael takes 1.5 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of bus and train. May in Saint-Raphael sees daily highs of 72°F and lows of 53°F at night. Cap off your sightseeing on the 20th (Thu) early enough to go by car to Nice.

Well-known for the beautiful views of its famous Promenade des Anglais waterfront, Nice is an ethnically-diverse coastal port city on the French Riviera and the fifth most populated city in France.

Get out of town with these interesting Nice side-trips: Antibes (Marché provençal & Galerie des Bains-Douches) and Cannes (La Croisette & Kayaking & Canoeing). There's much more to do: appreciate the extensive heritage of Vieille Ville, don't miss a visit to Promenade des Anglais, explore the world behind art at Musee d'Art Moderne Et d'Art Contemporain, and stroll the grounds of Cimetiere du Chateau.

For traveler tips, where to stay, photos, and other tourist information, read our Nice trip planner.

Drive from Saint-Raphael to Nice in 1.5 hours. Alternatively, you can take a train; or do a combination of train and bus. In May in Nice, expect temperatures between 69°F during the day and 57°F at night. You will have some time to spend on the 24th (Mon) before leaving for home.