Paris to the Riviera through Provence

Who it is for

For anyone who wants France beyond Paris, with Roman and papal heritage in the middle and the Mediterranean at the end, without changing base every night.

Not for anyone who wants to drive all over Provence, since the Avignon base leaves Marseille, Aix, the Camargue and the Verdon for another trip.

The strategy

Paris comes first; book the time slots for Notre-Dame and the Sainte-Chapelle in advance. The direct TGV reaches Avignon in a little under three hours, and Avignon TGV station is about 6 km from the centre, so check the connection to the walled town. Sleep inside the walls: Arles is about 37 minutes away by train, on SNCF’s average, the Pont du Gard has bus line 115, and Gordes and Roussillon need a car or a tour. Avignon to Nice is the longest leg: roughly three to four hours by train, depending on whether it is direct or changes in Marseille; check the journey time with SNCF. In Nice, stay central and use the train for the coast to the east. The flight home leaves from Nice airport, under 30 minutes from the centre on tram 2. May, June and September suit all three stops; if you are going for the lavender, check the flowering calendar before fixing dates.

What you will see

• Eiffel Tower, Paris. Raised in 26 months for the 1889 World's Fair, it stands 330 m with the antennas, made of 7,300 metric tons of puddled iron, 18,038 parts, and 2.5 million rivets, and is hand-repainted every seven years.
• Gordes, Provence. Stone buildings and sloping streets connect the village with its height and the surrounding plain.
• Promenade des Anglais, Nice. The walkway of about 7 km follows the Baie des Anges from the airport to the Quai des États-Unis.

Day by day

Paris

1. 1
   Day 1: The island, the river, and the Left Bank

   1. 4Sainte-ChapelleUp to half an hourEssential
2. 2
   Day 2: Museum in the morning, the Marais in the afternoon

   
3. 3
   Day 3: Montmartre, a cemetery, and the Eiffel Tower

   1. 1Eiffel TowerEssential
4. 4
   Day 4: Giverny (day trip)

   
5. 5
   Day 5: Versailles (day trip) · if you have more time

   

Provence

1. 6
   Day 6: Papal Avignon and the Rhône

   1. 1Palais des PapesHalf a day or moreEssential
   2. 2Pont Saint-BénezetOne to two hoursEssential
   3. 7Rocher des DomsUp to half an hourWorth a visit
2. 7
   Day 7: Market, Villeneuve and contemporary art

   1. 9Collection LambertOne to two hoursWorth a visit
3. 8
   Day 8: Arles, from amphitheatre to cloister

   1. 3Amphithéâtre d’ArlesOne to two hoursEssential
   2. Cloître Saint-TrophimeOne to two hoursWorth a visit
4. 9
   Day 9: Pont du Gard and, with viable transport, Uzès

   1. 4Pont du GardHalf a day or moreEssential
5. 10
   Day 10: Gordes and Roussillon in the Luberon

   1. 5GordesOne to two hoursEssential
6. 11
   Day 11: Orange (day trip) · if you have more time

Nice

1. 12
   Day 12: Vieux-Nice, the Colline du Château and the port

   1. 5Cours SaleyaUp to half an hourWorth a visit
   2. Palais LascarisUp to half an hourIf there is time
   3. 3Colline du ChâteauOne to two hoursEssential
2. 13
   Day 13: Cimiez in the morning and the Promenade des Anglais in the afternoon

   1. 4Musée MatisseOne to two hoursEssential
   2. 8Monastère de CimiezUp to half an hourWorth a visit
   3. Promenade du PaillonUp to half an hourWorth a visit
   4. 1Promenade des AnglaisOne to two hoursEssential
3. 14
   Day 14: The east coast: Èze, Monaco and Villefranche
4. 15
   Day 15: Antibes (day trip) · if you have more time
5. 16
   Day 16: Saint-Paul-de-Vence (day trip) · if you have more time