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, have some family-friendly fun at Laser game Evolution, explore the striking landscape at Calanques, and take a leisurely stroll along Le Vieux Port.

To see more things to do, maps, photos, and other tourist information, go to the Marseille holiday app.

New York City, USA to Marseille is an approximately 13- hour combination of bus and flight. You can also fly; or do a combination of bus, flight, and train. The time zone difference moving from Eastern Standard Time (EST) to Central European Standard Time (CET) is 6 hours. Expect a daytime high around 73°F in May, and nighttime lows around 54°F. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 13th (Thu) to allow time to drive 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 wander the streets of Cité de Carcassonne.

For reviews, more things to do, other places to visit, and more tourist information, you can read our Carcassonne trip planner.

Drive from Marseille to Carcassonne in 3 hours. Alternatively, you can take a train; or take a bus. 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.

Go for a jaunt from Grimaud to La Croix-Valmer to see Plage de Gigaro about 32 minutes away.

To see photos, traveler tips, and tourist information, refer to the Grimaud trip maker site.

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. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 17th (Mon) early enough to drive 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 see reviews, photos, maps, 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: Cannes (La Croisette & Kayaking & Canoeing). There's much more to do: take a stroll through Vieille Ville, take some stellar pictures from Colline du Chateau overlook, stroll the grounds of Cimetiere du Chateau, and make a trip to Place Massena.

To see more things to do 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.