60 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.

Get in touch with nature at Plage d'Argent and Parc National des Calanques. You'll get in some beach time at Plage des Oursinieres and Plage de la Courtade. Explore the numerous day-trip ideas around Marseille: Cassis (Trolib & Calanque d'En-Vau), Plage du Capelan (in Bandol) and Aix-en-Provence (Paul Cezanne’s Studio, Paroisse Cathédrale Saint Sauveur Aix-en-Provence, &more). There's much more to do: take in the spiritual surroundings of Basilique Notre-Dame de la Garde, wander the streets of The Panier, and get engrossed in the history at Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilisations.

To see ratings, photos, and tourist information, use the Marseille road trip planner.

Brisbane, Australia to Marseille is an approximately 28-hour flight. Traveling from Brisbane to Marseille, you'll gain 9 hours due to the time zone difference. In July, Marseille is a bit warmer than Brisbane - with highs of 36°C and lows of 23°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 7th (Fri) early enough to fly to Porto.

Your cultural itinerary includes sights like Torra d'Omigna and Les Calanche Cliffs. Take a break from the city and head to Boat Tours & Water Sports and Calanques de Piana. You'll find plenty of places to visit near Porto: Piana (Plage de Ficajola & D81).

To find maps, more things to do, photos, and tourist information, you can read our Porto trip maker site.

Getting from Marseille to Porto by flight takes about 2.5 hours. Other options: do a combination of ferry and taxi; or do a combination of train, ferry, and bus. In July, daytime highs in Porto are 34°C, while nighttime lows are 20°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 10th (Mon) to allow enough time to drive to Porto-Vecchio.

Porto-Vecchio is a commune in the Corse-du-Sud department of France on the island of Corsica. Bonifacio Citadel and Cimetiere Marin de Bonifacio are good opportunities to explore the local culture. Your itinerary includes some good beach time at Plage de Palombaggia and Plage de Tamaricciu. Venture out of the city with trips to Porto Pollo Plongee (in Serra-di-Ferro), Pianottoli-Caldarello (Sentier Littoral des Bruzzi & Plage de San Giovanni) and Bonifacio (Plage du Grand Sperone, Iles Lavezzi, &more). There's more to do: tour the pleasant surroundings at Plage de Santa Giulia and enjoy the sand and surf at Plage De Roccapina.

To find other places to visit, ratings, reviews, and more tourist information, read Porto-Vecchio tour itinerary planner.

Traveling by car from Porto to Porto-Vecchio takes 4 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a bus. In July in Porto-Vecchio, expect temperatures between 36°C during the day and 22°C at night. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 16th (Sun) early enough to fly to Castelnaud-la-Chapelle.

Chateau de Castelnaud and St-Pierre-Toirac Church are good opportunities to explore the local culture. Chateau des Milandes and Eglise Saint Barthelemy will appeal to history buffs. Explore the numerous day-trip ideas around Castelnaud-la-Chapelle: Plan d'eau le Lac Vert (in Catus), Chateau de Bonaguil (in Saint-Front-sur-Lemance) and Musee du Patrimoine Agricole et Automobile de Salviac (in Salviac).

To find other places to visit, maps, traveler tips, and more tourist information, refer to the Castelnaud-la-Chapelle trip maker website.

Getting from Porto-Vecchio to Castelnaud-la-Chapelle by flight takes about 3 hours. Other options: do a combination of ferry and car; or do a combination of ferry, train, and taxi. Plan for little chillier temperatures traveling from Porto-Vecchio in July, with highs in Castelnaud-la-Chapelle at 32°C and lows at 17°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 21st (Fri) early enough 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.

Take a break from the city and head to La Voile Verte and Grotte de Niaux. Get some cultural insight at Cité de Carcassonne and Cathedrale Sainte-Cecile. Explore the numerous day-trip ideas around Carcassonne: Toulouse (Church of Les Jacobins & Basilique Saint-Sernin) and Cathedrale St-Jean (in Perpignan). And it doesn't end there: do a tasting at O'Vineyards, steep yourself in history at Cathar Castles, see some colorful creatures with Belouga Plongee, and step into the grandiose world of Chateau Comtal.

To find where to stay, maps, ratings, and tourist information, refer to the Carcassonne road trip planning website.

Drive from Castelnaud-la-Chapelle to Carcassonne in 3.5 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of taxi and train; or do a combination of taxi and bus. Traveling from Castelnaud-la-Chapelle in July, expect a bit warmer with lows of 20°C in Carcassonne. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 29th (Sat) to allow time to drive to Avignon.

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.

Palais des Papes and Abbaye Notre-Dame de Senanque are good opportunities to explore the local culture. Get some historical perspective at Amphitheatre (les Arenes) and La Maison Carree. Venture out of the city with trips to Bertrand Bosc (in Montpellier), Roussillon (Art Gallery Contemporary Tapiezo & Le Sentier des Ocres) and Les Baux de Provence (Chateau des Baux de Provence & Carrieres des Lumieres). There's much more to do: snap pictures at Pont d'Avignon, contemplate the long history of Eglise St-Trophime, sample the fine beverages at Distillerie A. Blachere, and look for all kinds of wild species at Le Parc Ornithologique de Pont de Gau.

For photos, reviews, traveler tips, and more tourist information, go to the Avignon trip itinerary planner.

Traveling by car from Carcassonne to Avignon takes 2.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a train; or take a bus. Expect a daytime high around 36°C in July, and nighttime lows around 20°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 5th (Sat) so you can drive to La Croix-Valmer.

La Croix-Valmer is a commune in the Var department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France.Geographythumb La Croix-Valmer is at the foot of the Massif des Maures hills in the Bay of Cavalaire-sur-Mer, halfway between Le Lavandou and Saint-Tropez.HistoryThe Emperor Constantine the Great, on the way to wage war against his brother-in-law Maxentius in 312 AD, is said to have had a vision of a cross in the sky stating "in hoc signo vinces" (by this sign you will conquer) at the location where La Croix-Valmer is now situated. Escape the urban bustle at Plage de Gigaro and Heraclee Beach. You'll get in some beach time at Plage Des Brouis and Plage de Sylvabelle. Explore La Croix-Valmer's surroundings by going to Plage de l'Estagnol (in Bormes-Les-Mimosas), Le Lavandou (Grande Plage du Lavandou, Plage de La Fossette, &more) and Plage du Pellegrin (in La Londe Les Maures). There's more to do: enjoy the sand and surf at Plage de Vergeron and stroll through Plage du Debarquement.

For more things to do, ratings, maps, and other tourist information, use the La Croix-Valmer day trip app.

Getting from Avignon to La Croix-Valmer by car takes about 2.5 hours. In August, plan for daily highs up to 37°C, and evening lows to 20°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 10th (Thu) early enough to drive to Saint-Raphael.

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

Popular historic sites such as Chateau de la Napoule / Musee Henry-Clews and Sac A Main En Liege are in your itinerary. Your itinerary includes some good beach time at Calanque de Maubois and Plage Du Pourrousset. Explore Saint-Raphael's surroundings by going to Plage de Guerrevieille (in Grimaud), Forcerie Vial (in Tanneron) and Saint-Tropez (La Ponche Beach, Plage des Canebiers, &more). There's much more to do: kick back and relax at Abel Baliff Beach, tour the pleasant surroundings at Plage de la Baumette, see majestic marine mammals with TakSea, and explore the stunning scenery at Les Gorges du Verdon.

To find other places to visit, more things to do, and more tourist information, read Saint-Raphael trip itinerary builder website.

Getting from La Croix-Valmer to Saint-Raphael by car takes about 1.5 hours. In August in Saint-Raphael, expect temperatures between 38°C during the day and 19°C at night. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 18th (Fri) to allow time to drive 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.

Deepen your sense of the past at sights like Old Town and Palais Lascaris. You'll get in some beach time at Castel Plage and Coco Beach. Change things up with these side-trips from Nice: Azur Wine Tours (in Vence) and Cannes (Marche Forville, La Croisette, &more). There's lots more to do: get great views at Colline du Chateau overlook, enjoy the sand and surf at Plage de la Lanterne, browse the eclectic array of goods at Marche aux Fleurs Cours Saleya, and pause for some serene contemplation at Cathedrale Saint-Nicolas a Nice.

Plan a Nice trip in moments using our itinerary builder.

Traveling by car from Saint-Raphael to Nice takes 1.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a train; or do a combination of train and bus. Traveling from Saint-Raphael in August, expect nights in Nice to be a bit warmer, around 25°C, while days are slightly colder, around 32°C. Wrap up your sightseeing by early afternoon on the 28th (Mon) to allow enough time to fly back home.