24 days in South of France Itinerary
24 days in South of France Itinerary
Created using Inspirock South of France trip planner
Start: Seattle
Fly
1
Marseille
— 3 nights
Drive
2
Avignon
— 4 nights
Drive
3
Carcassonne
— 5 nights
Drive
4
Castelnaud-la-Chapelle
— 2 nights
Fly
5
Porto, Corsica
— 2 nights
Fly
6
Nice
— 6 nights
Fly
End: Seattle
Wed, Sep 15 - Fri, Oct 8
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See full calendar
Marseille
— 3 nights

Gateway to Provence
The 2013 European "Capital of Culture," Marseille is the largest port city on the breezy Mediterranean coast and the second largest city in France.Get out of town with these interesting Marseille side-trips: La Ciotat (Route des Cretes & Chapelle Notre-Dame de la Garde), Aix-en-Provence (Fondation Vasarely & Paroisse Cathédrale Saint Sauveur Aix-en-Provence) and Decouverte du Vivant (in Sanary-sur-Mer). Next up on the itinerary: take in the spiritual surroundings of Basilique Notre-Dame de la Garde, take a leisurely stroll along Le Vieux Port, take in the dramatic natural features at Calanques, and visit The Panier.
For ratings, where to stay, and more tourist information, use the Marseille vacation planning website.
Seattle, USA to Marseille is an approximately 16-hour flight. Traveling from Seattle to Marseille, you'll lose 9 hours due to the time zone difference. Traveling from Seattle in September, expect nights in Marseille to be about the same, around 60°F, while days are a bit warmer, around 79°F. Cap off your sightseeing on the 19th (Sun) early enough to go by car to Avignon.
Things to do in Marseille
Side Trips
Find places to stay Sep 15 — 19:
Highlights from your trip
Avignon
— 4 nights
©
City of Popes
An ancient town center surrounded by medieval ramparts, Avignon is a major city of Provence and a Mediterranean city in the Vaucluse department on the left bank of the Rhône River.Explore Avignon's surroundings by going to Les Baux de Provence (Chateau des Baux de Provence & Carrieres des Lumieres), Le Sentier des Ocres (in Roussillon) and Arles (Amphitheatre (les Arenes) & Eglise St-Trophime). There's still lots to do: make a trip to Palais des Papes, awaken your taste buds at some of the top wineries in the area, learn about winemaking at Distillerie A. Blachere, and identify plant and animal life at Le Parc Ornithologique de Pont de Gau.
For traveler tips, maps, photos, and tourist information, refer to the Avignon day trip planning website.
Traveling by car from Marseille to Avignon takes 1.5 hours. Alternatively, you can take a train; or take a bus. In September, daily temperatures in Avignon can reach 79°F, while at night they dip to 57°F. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 23rd (Thu) to allow time to drive to Carcassonne.
Things to do in Avignon
Side Trips
Les Baux de Provence, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Arles, Le Parc Ornithologique de Pont de Gau, Le Sentier des Ocres
Find places to stay Sep 19 — 23:
Highlights from your trip
Carcassonne
— 5 nights

Medieval Heart of France
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.You'll find plenty of places to visit near Carcassonne: Lunes Atelier Boutique (in Luc-sur-Orbieu), Toulouse (Le Capitole & Basilique Saint-Sernin) and Cathedrale Sainte-Cecile (in Albi). And it doesn't end there: take a stroll through Cité de Carcassonne, pause for some serene contemplation at Carcassonne Cathedral, do a tasting at O'Vineyards, and step into the grandiose world of Chateau Comtal.
To find other places to visit, reviews, more things to do, and other tourist information, go to the Carcassonne visit planning tool.
Drive from Avignon to Carcassonne in 2.5 hours. Alternatively, you can take a train; or take a bus. In September, daily temperatures in Carcassonne can reach 77°F, while at night they dip to 57°F. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 28th (Tue) so you can go by car to Castelnaud-la-Chapelle.
Things to do in Carcassonne
Side Trips
Find places to stay Sep 23 — 28:
Highlights from your trip
Castelnaud-la-Chapelle
— 2 nights

On the 29th (Wed), step into the grandiose world of Chateau de Beynac, walk around Les Jardins de Marqueyssac, and then explore the historical opulence of Chateau de Castelnaud. Get ready for a full day of sightseeing on the next day: explore the historical opulence of Chateau des Milandes and then stroll around Bambousaie de La Roque-Gageac.
For where to stay, ratings, and tourist information, use the Castelnaud-la-Chapelle trip planner.
Getting from Carcassonne to Castelnaud-la-Chapelle by car takes about 3.5 hours. Other options: do a combination of train and taxi; or do a combination of bus and taxi. Expect a bit cooler evenings in Castelnaud-la-Chapelle when traveling from Carcassonne in September, with lows around 51°F. Cap off your sightseeing on the 30th (Thu) early enough to travel to Porto.
For where to stay, ratings, and tourist information, use the Castelnaud-la-Chapelle trip planner.
Getting from Carcassonne to Castelnaud-la-Chapelle by car takes about 3.5 hours. Other options: do a combination of train and taxi; or do a combination of bus and taxi. Expect a bit cooler evenings in Castelnaud-la-Chapelle when traveling from Carcassonne in September, with lows around 51°F. Cap off your sightseeing on the 30th (Thu) early enough to travel to Porto.
Things to do in Castelnaud-la-Chapelle
Side Trips
Find places to stay Sep 28 — 30:
Highlights from your trip
Porto, Corsica
— 2 nights
Start off your visit on the 1st (Fri): pause for some serene contemplation at Roman Catholic Church, cruise along Torra d'Omigna, and then get outside with D81. On the next day, make a trip to Les Calanche Cliffs, then look for all kinds of wild species at Nature Reserve of Scandola, then explore the striking landscape at Calanques de Piana, and finally get interesting insight from Tours.
To see ratings, maps, more things to do, and more tourist information, read our Porto holiday planner.
You can fly from Castelnaud-la-Chapelle to Porto in 8 hours. Other options are to do a combination of car and ferry; or do a combination of taxi, train, ferry, and car. Traveling from Castelnaud-la-Chapelle in September, Porto is somewhat warmer at night with lows of 60°F. Finish your sightseeing early on the 2nd (Sat) to allow enough time to travel to Nice.
To see ratings, maps, more things to do, and more tourist information, read our Porto holiday planner.
You can fly from Castelnaud-la-Chapelle to Porto in 8 hours. Other options are to do a combination of car and ferry; or do a combination of taxi, train, ferry, and car. Traveling from Castelnaud-la-Chapelle in September, Porto is somewhat warmer at night with lows of 60°F. Finish your sightseeing early on the 2nd (Sat) to allow enough time to travel to Nice.
Things to do in Porto
Side Trips
Find places to stay Sep 30 — Oct 2:
Highlights from your trip
Nice
— 6 nights

Nissa la Bella (Nice the Beautiful)
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.Venture out of the city with trips to Musee Picasso (in Antibes) and Cannes (Galerie1414, Lérins Islands, &more). The adventure continues: take a stroll through Vieille Ville, contemplate the long history of Villa & Jardins Ephrussi de Rothschild, get great views at Colline du Chateau overlook, and savor the flavors at Food & Drink.
For more things to do, other places to visit, photos, and more tourist information, read Nice trip tool.
Traveling by flight from Porto to Nice takes 4 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of car and ferry; or do a combination of car, train, and ferry. In October in Nice, expect temperatures between 70°F during the day and 58°F at night. Finish your sightseeing early on the 8th (Fri) so you can travel back home.
Things to do in Nice
Side Trips
Cannes, Azur Wine Tours, Villa & Jardins Ephrussi de Rothschild, Musee Picasso, Eglise St Pierre & Paul
Find places to stay Oct 2 — 8:
Highlights from your trip
Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur travel guide
You'll feel the sun getting bigger and brighter the closer you get to Provence on the Mediterranean. When you glimpse your first red-tiled roof, you'll know you've entered the south, filled with vineyards, cypresses, and the crisp, inviting scent of lavender and rosemary. Since before the Roman Empire, Provence has been a vibrant community, partially due to its intensely bright sunlight--bathing the people in its radiance, as well as soaking sunflowers, olive groves, vineyards, and purple lavender fields with its warm rays. Breezy, star-filled nights set the mood for a romantic vacation highlighted by a moonlit stroll, a dramatic performance at the theater, or dynamic nightlife decked out in the height of fashion at the trendiest nightclubs.
Since Provence is a historical province, some people include the French Riviera as part of the region, because it shares the cultural and linguistic identity unique to Provence, while others view the area north of Cannes as separate from the region.
Joining the Mediterranean Sea, and flanked by the Rhône River and the Alps, this region captivated master artists such as Picasso, Van Gogh, and Cézanne. If included on an itinerary, it will do the same for you, with its tranquil gardens, mysterious caves, rustic vistas, Roman ruins, and enchanting old harbors. You can enjoy the finer things in life here, like searching for that special something at the area boutiques, visiting the workshop of a local artisan for authentic regional arts and crafts, and learning historical tidbits from a resident's perspective by antiquing in the country's best stores. Like its native Provençal inhabitants, you too can enjoy world-class people watching. If you're lucky, you'll catch a glimpse of a major celeb or two followed by the relentless paparazzi, all while sitting at an outdoor café overlooking any one of the magnificent Mediterranean marinas, one of the most quintessential things to do in the region.