The best summer roadtrip in Europe - to the South of France!
Fill your lungs with Sea and Lavender fragrances..
Awe the azur vistas of the French riviera..
Experience chick lifestyle of Monaco inhabitants and Cannes Red Carpet walkers..
All the best of this sensual luxury of colorful nature and sunny pleasures - all here: South of France coast of Cote d'Azur.
Let's plan the trip!
Day 1. A journey of 1300km starts with a small step:)
We get up early morning, so that we can leave Amsterdam by 7:30am. The 1st day is the longest drive - 800km. With all the coffee and petrol stops it will take us 10 hours for sure. But this brings us closer to the coast.
End of the day we reach Beaune - the capital of Burgundy wines! We could stop in a bigger city of Dijon (just 30-40km away). But the truth is: We want to be close to wine tastings. All the wine-tastings are here - in Beaune. It even has a Burgundy wine museum. All the wine-tours from Dijon will bring you to Beaune. So we choose Beaune:)
So, the Day 2. In Vino Veritas, Burgundy wines - in Beaune.
The capital of Burgundy wines has too much to offer. Beautiful biking & hiking through the famous vineyards, delicious truffle & mustard experiences and of course - the Wine tasting.
Some of the wine-tasting options:
- become a wine connoisseur at Château de Pommard. e.g. taste 5 wines in 60 minutes for 35euros pp
- take some pics of Clos Vougeot vineyards and enjoy wine tasting at a local domain in Nuits-Saint-Georges
- discover secrets of how the Crémant de Bourgogne is made, from grapes harvesting to delicious wine tasting - come to production site of Veuve Ambal. app.9 euros for 2 hours guided tour + 3 wines to taste.
- Explore the underground cellars of Domaine de Montmain and understand how long-keeping wines are produced. Taste 6 wines from the 90's vintage to the present day.
With all the wine tastings make sure to keep some space for the local delights, whether these are cheeses to accompany the wines or grand dinner with coq au vin and beef stew Burgundy style.
Cheers! 🙂
Day 3. Good bye Wines of Burgundy, Hello delights of Provence. Avignon.
Just about 4 hours (400km) drive from Beaune you'll find the Babylon on the Rhone. It is known to be the Provencal Pope city.
Give a tribute to 12th century Avignon Cathedral and the 14th century Palace of Popes.
Prepare splendid photo shootings of still grand remains of the 12th Century old Bridge of Avignon.
Treat yourself with wines of Lirac and local lidessert -Papalines des Avignon: a small thistle made of two thin chocolate dresses holding local Comtat oregano liquor, sweetness of the liquor is gifted by honey of Provence.
Explore tastes of local foods, wines, olive oils and truffle at the covered food market - Les Halles d'Avignon
Day 4. Lavender fields and Grand Canyon of France. What a gorgeous road to the Azur Coast!
Just 350km from Avignon to Nice. But it's a full day pleasure for eyes and all the sensations!
Enjoy breathtaking vistas of meandering mountain roads through hidden lavender fields and crystal clear shining mountain lakes.
Plan photo sessions in area of Valensole - the most known lavender fields of Provence, just 140km from Avignon. If you time it right, join local Lavender festivals to celebrate harvesting, throughout the 2nd half of July.
60km drive in mountains to Gorges du Vendone will give another 1.5hours of visual pleasure.
Immerse into Provence Grand Canyon nature at Gorges du Vendone national park. Plan some hiking, kayaking and picturesque picnic.
Another 140km (2.5h) - You are in Nice. The Beach Holidays begin!
Day 5. Nice life in Nice.
Get up early morning to put your car into parking garage (night parking is usually free, the trick is to find the spot).
Enjoy morning breeze running along the Promenade d'Anglais, passing Old town and Port..
Get a French breakfast in one of cafes of the Old Town maze and relocate to Beach. Would you like to enjoy some acupuncture from rocks of the cobbled beach? Or soak under sun lazily sipping cocktails and local wines with music of sea waves?.. or put on your most fancy dresses and take a beautiful walk along the coast? Take some "Life is great" photos with millions dollars yachts behind..?
Dine local seafood in the old town and get ready for the night life! Casinos, Night clubs (when they open after Corona).. Feel the Night!
Day 6. Royal time in Monaco.
Monaco is just 20 km away from Nice. But I bet it'll take you more than an hour to reach the center of Monaco. You'll want to stop for capturing Azur colours of the sea. You might have some slow downs when managing 360 turns of the narrow mountain roads through coastal villages. You might want to stop by every villa you pass. Just in awe.. And it will take you quite some time to drive through the Formula 1 tracks - which are the usual roads of the Monaco the rest of the year..
Finally, you are here. The Grand Casino of Monaco. Red Ferrarries, James Bond, Billionaires clubs below the Casino' hill..
Play some Black Jack to feel the place. Plan the max you can spend. And get out to enjoy the vistas:)
Day 7. Walk the Red Carpet in Cannes.
We have chosen Nice for it's central location: It's between Monaco and Cannes. So, today we want to feel like celebrities.
40km drive along the coast and we are in Cannes. Check out all the Film Festival experiences and land at golden sand beach. Ultimately we came to South of France to enjoy its sea!:)
Antibes village is on the way between Nice and Cannes. Get a chance to explore treasures of local flea market. Get another Beach tasting.
Life is good.
Day 8. I wanna be a millionaire and stay at St.-Tropez
St. Tropez - an old small village just 100km away from Nice - is the place to meet millionaires and billionaires. Calm, relaxed, joyful. We'll enjoy its old town mazes and chill out at cafes with seaviews. Feels good.
For the night we'll stay in another place, a bit more budget friendly. Hyeres is a good option, especially if to plan a day-trip to Iconic Porquerolles islan (just 15 minutes by ferry). We choose nirvana of golden sands of the Le Lavandou.
Day 9. Beach. Beach. Beach. Le Lavandou.
The best place to relax - Golden sand beach. We found it. Le Lavandou. Peace!
Day 10. Au Revoir Cote d'Azur.
We are fully recharged and energized by French Riviera sun and sea.. Time to go back home.
It will be a long drive - 900 km. But through beautiful places. And with beautiful memories.
We stop over in Metz - the jewel of the Loire valley.
Evening plan is simple: To enjoy delicious local cuisine and local wines!
Quiche Lorraine and Bouchée à la Reine as main course, Tarte à la Mirabelle and Baba Au Rhum for a sweet tooth, and Madeleines for coffee. Bon Appetite!
Day 11. Good Bye, France. Home Sweet Home!
The last views of France: Castles and Vineyards of Loire Valley around Metz.
Another 500km drive. Goede Avond, Amsterdam! Welcome Back!
Au Revoir, France!