9 days in South of France Itinerary

Aix-en-Provence is a small, classically Provençal town, famous for being home to Cézanne.

Kick off your visit on the 12th (Tue): stop by The Panier, contemplate in the serene atmosphere at Basilique Notre-Dame de la Garde, then take a leisurely stroll along Le Vieux Port, and finally take in the spiritual surroundings of Cathédrale La Major. Here are some ideas for day two: steep yourself in history at Paroisse Cathédrale Saint Sauveur Aix-en-Provence, then contemplate the long history of Paul Cezanne’s Studio, then make a trip to Cours Mirabeau, and finally shop like a local with Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilisations.

To see other places to visit, ratings, photos, and more tourist information, go to the Aix-en-Provence trip builder site.

Calgary, Canada to Aix-en-Provence is an approximately 15.5-hour flight. The time zone changes from Mountain Standard Time to Central European Standard Time, which is usually an 8 hour difference. Traveling from Calgary in April, expect Aix-en-Provence to be somewhat warmer, temps between 22°C and 11°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 13th (Wed) 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.

Kick off your visit on the 14th (Thu): take in the views from Pont d'Avignon, then step into the grandiose world of Palais des Papes, then explore the world behind art at Musee Angladon, and finally trek along Le Sentier des Ocres. Get ready for a full day of sightseeing on the 15th (Fri): steep yourself in history at Chateau des Baux de Provence, then admire the masterpieces at Carrieres des Lumieres, and then delve into the distant past at Amphitheatre (les Arenes).

To see maps, ratings, reviews, and tourist information, refer to the Avignon online attractions planner.

You can drive from Aix-en-Provence to Avignon in 1.5 hours. Other options are to take a bus; or take a train. April in Avignon sees daily highs of 23°C and lows of 9°C at night. Finish your sightseeing early on the 15th (Fri) so you can 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 16th (Sat): pause for some serene contemplation at Eglise Saint-Nazaire, then wander the streets of Cité de Carcassonne, and then take an in-depth tour of Musee De L'ecole.

To see maps, photos, more things to do, and more tourist information, read our Carcassonne online day trip planner.

Traveling by car from Avignon to Carcassonne takes 2.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a train; or take a bus. In April, plan for daily highs up to 21°C, and evening lows to 9°C. Cap off your sightseeing on the 16th (Sat) early enough to catch the flight 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.

Spend the 17th (Sun) exploring the fascinating underwater world at Marineland. There's still lots to do: visit Old Town, take in the architecture and atmosphere at Cathedrale Saint-Nicolas a Nice, take some stellar pictures from Colline du Chateau overlook, and explore the world behind art at Musee d'Art Moderne Et d'Art Contemporain.

To see ratings, traveler tips, maps, and tourist information, read our Nice itinerary planning website.

Traveling by flight from Carcassonne to Nice takes 3 hours. Alternatively, you can fly; or drive; or take a train. Traveling from Carcassonne in April, Nice is somewhat warmer at night with lows of 13°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 19th (Tue) so you can fly back home.