Things to do & places to visit in Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur, France

Provence in southeastern France is divided into six departments and stretches from Orange to Nice. Many consider the Luberon in Vaucluse to be the "real Provence." Gently sloping vineyards and lavender fields are the backdrops that enthralled Cezanne, Van Gogh and Chagall. An excellent train network makes travel between cities easy. To explore villages, drive or catch a bus. Particular highlights include Palace of the Popes at Avignon, the Roman amphitheatre at Arles and the craft center of Les Baux.

Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur #3 destination in France 2023. The average rating score is 4.43 based on 265.6k traveler reviews, of 238 attractions. Timezone: Europe/Paris, current date and time: Wednesday, May 08, 2024, 4:52.

Top things to do (29)

Top places to visit (30 attractions) view more »

5.0 Parc National des Calanques (4.005 reviews)
- If there is one trip you do from Marseilles, this should be it!
Wednesday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM Spent 2-3 hours Points of Interest & Landmarks • National Parks

You have three choices from Vieux Port. Two trips are 2½ hours long, but one allows you to swim from the boat (subject to Ts and Cs), the other is a 3½ hour trip that takes you along the coast as far as Cassis. We did the 2½ trip on one day (to see how my family coped with boats) and then followed it up by doing the full trip later. The scenery is quite literally breathtaking with clear, turquoise water and the majestic cliffs rising from the sea. The various bays and inlets hiding small beaches, give way to the rising cliffs with trees and bushes capping them in some places. Of all the excursions available from Marseilles, this is the one that we all agreed was the best. See more..
5.0 Gorges du Verdon (1.864 reviews)
- An unforgettable, bucket-list experience. ARRIVE EARLY IN SUMMER.
Bodies of Water • Canyons • Geologic Formations

Europe's only grand canyon. See more..
5.0 Massif de l'Esterel (1.758 reviews)
- Red Mountain: Massif de l'Esterel
Points of Interest & Landmarks

Esterel lointain offers several hikes between the sea and the cliffs: "le chemin des douaniers" at Saint aygulf and "le sentier du litoral" which begins at the port of Santa Lucia in Saint Raphaël and ends at le "débarquement beach", some 4 km intermediate level. You can discover, along the way, beautiful coves where to swim in peace. sun block is required, good anti slip shoes, water and a towel and your camera of course, the shots are exceptional thanks to the red rocks color of the region. To go back, you can take the bus, it runs every hour, if too tired. See more..
4.5 Promenade des Anglais (15.5k reviews)
- An absolute MUST DO while in Nice!
Wednesday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Points of Interest & Landmarks

This famous street travels along Nice's Mediterranean waterfront. See more..
4.5 Basilique Notre Dame de la Garde (13.5k reviews)
- Day out in Marseille
Wednesday: 7:00 AM - 6:15 PM Religious Sites

Staying in Aix en Provence I wanted to see Marseille, having not been there before.The local tourist information office were very helpful and advised the easiest way to travel was on the intercity bus, 10€ return approx 30/45 minutes depending on traffic. Very clean double decker coach took me to the bus station which was next door to train station and metro. Took metro to the Orange Velodrome a very impressive stadium. Metro easy to negotiate as there are only 2 lines. Took metro back to Old Port and then took the Tourist “Train” to Norte Dame de la Garde, , it was busy but didn’t take long to get on, good multi lingual commentary. It’s a steep climb to the top so well worth the ride up . Great views of the city and surrounding area from the top, not much shade but cooler in the church ( free to enter) . Church was very ornate. Ride back down to the Old Port for a drink and watch the world go by before slow walk back to the bus station. See more..
4.5 Old Town (12.6k reviews)
- So much character!
Neighborhoods • Historic Walking Areas

This historic part of Nice feels like a medieval village with narrow streets curving between old buildings with red-tile roofs, small restaurants and open-markets. See more..
4.5 Palais des Papes (11.2k reviews)
- First Papal Palace
Wednesday: 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM Spent 2-3 hours Historic Sites • Points of Interest & Landmarks • Castles

The residence of the soveriegn pontiffs in the 14th century is the largest Gothic Palace in the world. 25 areas to visit : ceremonila halls, chapels, cloister, the Pope's provate apartments with their priceless frescos, as well as a scenographic area, the Musée de l'Oeuvre, wich presents the development and history of the building since it was build. Ranked as UNESCO world heritage. See more..
4.5 Castle Hill of Nice (9.785 reviews)
- What a view !
Lookouts

Soak up the breathtaking views from the top of the hill where the Castle of Nice once stood. Castle Hill, which towers over Nice’s historic core, is the most popular park in town. Hike (or bike) uphill through a set of winding trails or ride the elevator to the top for free. The park is worth visiting any time of the day—you can see the sunrise over the harbor (perfect time for beating the crowds) or watch the sunset over the Promenade des Anglais. A cannon shot goes off at noon every day. – Tripadvisor See more..
4.5 Le Vieux Port (9.180 reviews)
- Visit to Vieux port at Marseille
Spent 1-2 hours Piers & Boardwalks

La Vieux port is the central place at Mersailles. Tourist should visit here all day of their travel....one would find all season food , mix varieties....& also lot of desserts. Boating is a must go from Port to either Chateau d'if or frioul It's approx 11-12 euro per head. See more..
4.5 Carrieres des Lumieres (6.896 reviews)
- A stunning art and light immersive installation.
Spent 1-2 hours Art Museums

In the heart of Alpilles, the monumental “Carrieres de Lumieres” host extraordinary multimedia shows which are unique in the world. Spectators are totally immersed in the images projected onto all the surfaces of the rock. The ground is completely covered, too, and becomes a vast carpet of images. The site has reopened its doors with the show “Gauguin - Van Gogh, painters of colour,” created by Gianfranco Iannuzzi with Renato Gatto and Massimiliano Siccardi. See more..
4.5 Place Massena (5.875 reviews)
- Beautiful square
Wednesday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Points of Interest & Landmarks

A picturesque city square in Nice's historic quarter. See more..
4.5 La Croisette (5.178 reviews)
- Especially exciting during the film festival
Points of Interest & Landmarks • Historic Walking Areas

This world-famous street, which runs along the shoreline of Cannes, is full of upscale shopping opportunities. See more..
4.5 Parc national des Calanques (4.050 reviews)
- A beautiful spot
Geologic Formations

It's an easy walk to get to the first Calanque from Cassis. The others are more inaccessible and you need proper footwear etc. We swam in petits pins and the teens saw starfish and an octopus whilst snorkelling. Swimming was not possible after a storm because of the water quality so you need to bear that in mind. Also, watch out for jellyfish, one of our children was stung , but that is true of any swimming in the South of France. I would recommend this as a tranquil swimming spot - we always went in the early morning as it does get crowded. Routes are well signposted and there are rangers at the entrance and walking around. See more..
4.5 Le Sentier des Ocres (3.877 reviews)
- MUST DO! Breathtaking views, like artwork!
Hiking Trails

This was the best €6 (€3 pp) spent on our excursion! There’s a short trail and a longer trail. The estimated duration for the longer trail in 60 minutes, but you’d need to be walking very slowly and stopping often to stretch it out that long. It’s an easy walk, but not wheelchair accessible. The rock formations look like art sculptures and the colours are remarkable. We were fortunate to be there in a sunny day which was like a spotlight making it even more remarkable. The walk through the woods is leisurely and offers some reprieve from the sun. If you’re wearing sandals your feet will get sandy, so if you don’t like that feeling, wear socks and walking or hiking shoes. Post-COVID, hand disinfectant is provided and masks are recommended but not enforced. There were not many people around and most were at a safe distance from others, so not wearing masks. Definitely take the longer path and marvel at the scenery! See more..
4.5 Marc Chagall National Museum (3.704 reviews)
- Visiting Chagall.
Wednesday: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM, 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Speciality Museums

The Marc Chagall national Museum, created during the artist's lifetime, houses the masterly cycle of the Biblical Message. It bears witness to the great diversity of the painter's artistic practices. Paintings, drawings, prints, sculptures, ceramics as well as stained glass, tapestry and mosaics, constitute a unique body of work where technical virtuosity, colourful inventions and a universal message of peace are combined. See more..
4.5 The Panier (3.517 reviews)
- Beautiful artistic neighborhood
Neighborhoods

This is a beautiful neighborhood with lots of street art, cute cafes and restaurants, art galleries everywhere, brightly colored homes, and lots of plants. Highly recommend for a walk or for lunch. Very beautiful for pictures. See more..
4.5 Amphitheatre (les Arenes) (3.394 reviews)
- SOME ADDITIONS SUBTRACT FROM ITS LOOK
Historic Sites • Ancient Ruins

Completed in 90 AD, it is the 20th largest amphitheatre of the Roman world, seating some 20,000 spectators for the gladitorial games and other gore, all part of the Roman bread and circuses to keep the population happy. It is not in the best of shape, having been a medieval quarry. At that time is was also a veritable town within a town with people living in it. Four defensive towers were built at that timing, sadly detracting from the typical look of such a place. You could not access the arena floor. See more..
4.5 Le Parc Ornithologique de Pont de Gau (3.236 reviews)
- Fantastic place to see beautiful birds
Spent 1-2 hours Nature & Wildlife Areas

This is one of my favorite places. The flamingos never disappoint. Fall is breeding season and the mating dance is hilarious and very noisy. The park is well maintained, abundant seating around the ponds so you can sit and observe. Birds may be close to shore or out in the middle of the ponds, but you can see everything. I was here during the school holidays in late October so it was pretty busy, and parking can be a challenge. I've also been outside of the holiday weeks and parking is very easy and the park is very quiet. There is a small snack bar for beverages and a nice picnic area. See more..
4.5 Château des Baux de Provence (3.046 reviews)
- Impressive Ruins + Incredible Panoramas
Wednesday: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Historic Sites • Architectural Buildings • Castles

With a view over Provence to the Mediterranean, the Château des Baux is one of the most beautiful sites in France. It is also a unique place marked by a turbulent past of more than ten centuries: from the Counts of Les Baux (who claimed to be descended from King Balthazar) to the Château’s destruction in 1483 by Richelieu after the wars of religion.This medieval stronghold contains both a castle and a village. See more..
4.5 Cours Mirabeau (2.973 reviews)
- Spent 43 days in Aix, Vibe Was Great!
Neighborhoods • Points of Interest & Landmarks

I was supposed to be in Aix with my wife for 3 days. But, she got sick and spent 10 days in a coma and 40 total days in the hospital. I spent A LOT of time walking through the streets of Aix and Cours Mirabeau. Cours Mirabeau is a clean and quant street in Aix en Provence. They had daily vendors, sometimes they were big booths, sometimes there were small booths, sometimes both. There were some musicians playing occasionally and around the corner toward the cathedral there are amazing farmers markets everyday but Sunday. I really enjoyed Aix. A very nice, quant, "old school" city with lots of charm and very safe and pleasant. See more..
4.5 Hotel de Caumont - Art Centre (2.646 reviews)
- A must in Aix
Spent 2-3 hours Points of Interest & Landmarks • Art Museums

Just a few steps from the Cours Mirabeau, a new Arts Centre is opening its doors in the Hotel de Caumont, a fully restored private mansion from the 18th century. Two major temporary exhibitions per year dedicated to great names in the history of art, as well as a diverse programme of events, makeCaumont a major cultural institution in Aix-en-Provence. The film > shown continuously every day in the auditorium presents the artist's journey and his passion for Aix-en-Provence and its region. The visit of the private mansion immerses you in the refined atmosphere of this exceptional venue, from the cour d'honneur to the gardens, passing through the historic rooms. The carefully furnished and decorated rooms reveal daily life at the time of Pauline, marquise de Caumont, one of the most famous owners of the mansion in the 18th century. The private gardens of the mansion, fully refurbished in the spirit of the site, offer over 1000 m² of peaceful space decorated with fountains,flowerbeds bordered by boxwood, and large vases of flowers. See more..
4.5 Villa & Jardins Ephrussi de Rothschild (2.583 reviews)
- Well worth the visit
Wednesday: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Speciality Museums • Historic Sites

It took Baroness Béatrice Ephrussi de Rothschild, one of the most original women on the French Riviera, seven years to build one of the most beautiful sites on the Côte d’Azur. An enlightened art enthusiast who travelled back and forth across France and Europe, Béatrice de Rothschild built up an incomparable and eclectic collection of masterpieces: priceless Sèvres and Vincennes porcelain, works by Fragonard, paintings by the masters (Boucher, Carpaccio, Tiepolo, etc.), Louis XVI furniture, and so on. See more..
4.5 Cathedrale de la Major (2.544 reviews)
- Beautiful and unique architecture
Wednesday: 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM Religious Sites

If you take any boat trip out of the harbor or end up at Fort St Jean, it is impossible to miss this imposing building. Without the advantage of being at the top of a high hill like the Basilica, it may be missed if you are not in the right area of town but once you are close it cannot be missed. Wonderfully designed on the outside with “stripes” of alternating colors of stone it sits between the main harbor for smaller boats and the south end of the commercial port. You can get an especially great view from a boat (say a ferry to one of the islands or from a catamaran on a day trip?). Inside is the same striped theme but with different colors of stone than on the outside. The alcoves and architectural design plus the stone colors and the gold trim and frescos just make this a very unique and bright church inside when compared to so many in other areas of the continent. Beautiful and an absolute must-stop. See more..
4.5 Abbaye Notre-Dame de Senanque (2.473 reviews)
- Great outside - too cleansed inside
Wednesday: 9:30 AM - 5:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Religious Sites

Founded in the 12th century, Notre-Dame-de-Sénanque is a unique example of a Cistercian abbey and still an active monastery. See more..
4.5 Roman Theatre of Orange (2.449 reviews)
- Interesting Roman history
Wednesday: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Historic Sites • Ancient Ruins • Points of Interest & Landmarks

Built under Emperor Augustus in the 1st century AD, the Roman Theatre of Orange experienced a real rebirth in 2003, transporting visitors back to Imperial Rome. The new tour and the free audioguide in seven languages tell visitors about the shows and social life in the Provencal city during Roman times. In the new projection room, the film, with computer-generated images and reconstructions of shows, retraces the history of the Roman Theatre of Orange. See more..
4.5 Church of Notre-Dame-de-la-Mer (2.399 reviews)
- Great views from the roof!
Observation Decks & Towers • Churches & Cathedrals

This was really cool. Admission is super cheap, you walk up a winding staircase to the roof. From there you can either walk around the perimeter, or walk up to the roof top for an amazing view of the city and the sea. The roof tiles are a little slippery, so if your shoes don't have grip, you may want to stay on the perimeter. You don't need much time for this - maybe 30 minutes or so. See more..
4.5 Le Jardin Exotique d'Eze (2.382 reviews)
- Just gorgeous!
Spent 1-2 hours Gardens

Garden of tropical plants on the crest of the hill that dominates Eze. See more..
4.5 Iles de Lerins (2.163 reviews)
- Peaceful, beautiful and historical
Historic Sites • Islands • Forests

Two islands just a boat ride from Cannes, Sainte-Marguerite and Saint-Honorat, are covered by eucalyptus and pine forests and are home to Fort Royal. See more..
4.5 Le Sentier du Littoral, Cap d'Antibes (2.156 reviews)
- Lovely walk
Historic Walking Areas

Lovely walk along the ocean around the Cap. We took a bus from Antibes old town and walked to Billionaires Bay (where most people seem to end their walk). It was lovely and refreshing and a proper insta / tiktok spot for pics and videos. Then an undulating stroll around to plage de La garoupe. Couple of places to stop and swim or snack on the route. We did it in the middle of the day (July) and it was pretty hot and exposed in some parts. I think early morning or evening would probably be more pleasant. Had a lovely dip on the free beach at the end. Quite a few upmarket piers there too, to lounge and drink gin and tonics (around 30eu for a deck chair). Pretty walk, would recommend doing it (we were a family of 5, with kids aged between 10 and 17) See more..
4.5 Le Suquet (2.035 reviews)
- The restaurant Rampoldi is marvelous!
Neighborhoods • Historic Walking Areas

We stayed in the Hotel 2 freres in Roquebrunne, in the mountain, that is a very nice village with the marvelous view of Monaco. The hotel does not have good maintenance and the room in very small, so I recommend that you visit the village but stay elsewhere. The restaurant Rampoldi with 1 Michelin star if the chef Salvatore in Monaco is fantastic! I also recommend the Picasso Museum in Antibes. It was a wonderful trip! See more..