4 Days in the South of France: How Did We Do It?

It's now been over a year since our wonderful trip in the South of France. Life took over, hence I am only writing about this experience now. And here I am, sitting at my laptop, trying to  relive those unforgettable moments I shared with J and our friend, Pearl.

It was a birthday trip for me, and my main reason for this trip was to see the famous lavender fields in Provence. However, whilst planning our itinerary, I realised that we could not go to the South of France and not visit nearby cities. So, we decided to spend four days instead, and it turned out to be the best decision ever. 

We flew from London to Nice at midday with Easyjet from Gatwick North terminal. We landed in Nice just before 1600. From there, we rented a car from Sixt and drove to our Airbnb accommodation in Éze for about 26 minutes. Apart from dinner in Beaulieu-sur-Mer, we didn't do much in the evening. Our full itinerary for this trip started the following day and this is how we did it:

Day 1: Valensole, Provence

My love for flower fields have taken me to Tuscany to see the sunflowers. Last year, I decided to go to France for the lavender fields.There is no doubt Valensole is the best place to see them. 

We drove from Éze to Valensole which took us over four hours, only because we avoided the motorways. As we approached the Valensole plateau on D8, the landscape opened up into the breathtaking, iconic lavender fields. I was in total awe and I couldn't wait to get out of the car. It was indeed a special trip to Valensole and I would love to go back again one day and perhaps watch the sunrise or the sunset for extra touch of magic.

Day 2:  Èze Village

Where do I even begin to tell my story about Èze? This enchaning medieval village in the French Riviera completely stole my heart for two reasons. First, its breathtaking location perched high above the Mediterranean, offering the most dramatic views in France. Secondly, flower covered facades and narrow cobblestone streets- I mean, two of my favourite things, so what else can I ask for?

I'm glad I chose Èze as our base. It meant Pearl and I could wander through the village early in the morning when it was blissfully quiet and almost empty.

As Èze was not my priority on this trip, I would love to go back and stay in the village. I would love to dive into the food scene and get lost in the little alleys that I wasn't able to explore on this trip.

Day 3: Saint- Tropez

Now, J said that Saint-Tropez is another place where we can retire- if, and only if, we have loads of money. Haha. I mean, Saint- tropez is extravagant with its luxurious super yachts and designer shops, but there are actually some quiet areas, too and I think this is what J meant. Personally, I wouldn't even think of living there, but it is worth visiting if you want a mix of an old-fishing village charm and modern-day glamour.

Saint-Tropez is only an hour and forty minutes drive from Èze, so it is a very convenient day trip.

Day 4: Monaco and Nice

We actually went to Monaco for dinner the night before but didn't explore the area very much, so we went back the following day. Twenty-five minutes drive and we were in the most fascinating place in the French Riviera. Monaco is the second smallest country in the world after the Vatican City, so it was easy to explore in half a day. Of course, I was very specific as to what I wanted to see, so we were able to spare some time to visit Nice in the afternoon before heading to the airport.

In Monaco, I specifically wanted to go to the Oceanographic museum for the breathtaking cliff view. From there, we walked up to Monaco-Ville, Monaco's Old Town perched on the Rock. It was an easy beautiful walk overlooking the glamourous and wealthy Monaco City. Add to that the colourful villas along Rue des Ramparts. Then we headed to Jardin des Pêcheurs for the "Peace Frame". 

We drove to Nice just after lunch. In less than thirty minutes, I was back in this familiar city. Yes, it was my second time here and I remembered the place quite well- pastel-coloured buildings, lively coastal vibes and vibrant streets. Instead of lingering in the busy Old Town, we decided to walk along the palm-lined Promenade des Anglais for coastal views. Afterwards, we  returned to the Old Town for lunch before heading to the airport.

And just like that, our trip to the South of France came to an end. I didn't include Antibes and Beaulieu-sur-Mer in this blog because we only stopped there for meals but they are definitely worth revisiting.

If you were to ask me, four days is simply not enough to spend in this beautiful region. There are so many charming little villages waiting to be explored. I would definitely go back and will happily skip the big cities this time.

Tintin x