Results for "Provence-Côte+d'Azur"

Hi there!

I’m making an exception and creating a separate post this time, since it’s all about France. In May, we spent a week in Provence, specifically in the Luberon, exploring the cycling routes *Autour du Luberon à Vélo*, the *Véloroute du Calavon* (part of EuroVelo 8), and the shorter *Les Ocres à Vélo* route. Together, they gave us an amazing journey through rolling hills, vineyards, lavender fields still green in spring, and some of the most stunning landscapes in southern France.



It was, of course, the perched villages that impressed us the most. We visited Gordes, Roussillon, Bonnieux, Lacoste, Lourmarin, Ménerbes, Oppède-le-Vieux, Cucuron, and Lauris. Many of them are among the most beautiful villages in Provence, and it’s hard not to agree with that reputation.









One interesting point is the route of EuroVelo 8 in this part of the region. The official path mainly follows the old railway line of the *Véloroute du Calavon*, which is very comfortable and safe. But in our opinion, cyclists traveling EuroVelo 8 around the Mediterranean would discover even more treasures if the route passed through villages like Bonnieux, Lacoste, or Oppède-le-Vieux.





We were also pleasantly surprised by how safe cycling felt. Most of the route takes small local roads, but traffic is light, drivers are respectful, and road design really takes cyclists into account. It’s one of those places where you can ride peacefully even without separated bike lanes.







Our full story:

Around Luberon by bicycle - the most beautiful villages of Provence

You can also find all our cycling travel stories on the forum:

Cycling Thread - Europe’s most beautiful bike routes

S.

Hi there,

I’m planning to do the Mercantour crossing following the Randoxygène route in mid-July. I’m used to hiking in the mountains, but I sometimes get vertigo, for example on ridges with drops on both sides. I wanted to check if there are any T4 or T3-T4 sections and find out if there are any very exposed passages—and if so, where—so I can plan an alternative route. Can anyone give me some info on this? Thanks!

Hi there, Could you recommend some nice and affordable neighborhoods to book a hotel in for visiting Nice and exploring its surroundings and nearby villages?

I’d like to know if it’s better to book the entire stay in Nice and take day trips to the villages, or if there are villages worth spending at least one night in to really explore them properly?

Since all the villages are stunning and we have to make a choice, which ones are absolutely must-visit?

My 16-year-old daughter and I will be spending a week there at the end of April. We’ll arrive by TGV from Paris and plan to use public transport during our stay. Do you know if there’s a weekly transport pass available and how much it costs?

Thanks in advance for your help!

Hi, We’d like to visit the Alpes de Haute-Provence for 2 weeks with our 2 (adult) kids. Any ideas for things to see and do? Where should we choose our accommodation (house only) to be centrally located for sightseeing? We’re looking for villages with restaurants and bakeries. Thanks in advance for your tips! Best regards

Hi there,

Do you think traveling by RV along the French Riviera in winter is doable, given all the parking restrictions in the area? Any nice spots where we can park and then hop on our bikes to explore? Thanks for your tips!

I'd love some destination suggestions for a road trip from Nice to Livorno by car, including the routes, tolls to cross, distance, and estimated travel time. We're planning a 5-day trip, with 2 nights near Nice, 1 night along the way, and finally 2 nights in Livorno. There are 4 of us in a rental car, and we'd like to stay in either an apartment, a mobile home near the sea, or a campsite. Our budget isn't too extravagant!!!! We want to visit the Promenade des Anglais, and I've heard Menton is really interesting. Once we reach Livorno, we'll take the ferry to Corsica for 12 days with the same rental car. We're planning to leave the last week of May and the first two weeks of June 2026, so around 17-18 days total. Thanks

Hi everyone,

I’m looking for info on villages around Aix, like Fuveau, Bouc-Bel-Air, or even Éguilles and Venelles? We’re a couple with a child living in the Paris region, and I’ll be relocating to Aix-en-Provence in spring 2026. We’d love to swap our apartment for a house with a pool within 20-30 minutes max of central Aix, with a budget of around 650k €.

In terms of climate and geography, I’ve read that Aix is in a basin where it can get really hot. What about the surrounding villages that are a bit more elevated, like Venelles? Is it just as stifling?

For a family, which area would you recommend?

Thanks in advance for your replies!

Hi, What would be the best villages and beaches to visit between Nice and Marseille in 4 days?

Living in Alsace and loving the sun—or at least escaping the Alsatian winter cold—I’m looking for 1 or 2 people who’d like to share a rental somewhere in the south of France, for about a month around mid-January/February to mid-March 2026. Everything’s up for discussion, of course.

The idea is to enjoy the mild weather down south and go hiking, sightseeing, etc.

I’m a 62-year-old man.

Looking forward to hearing from you! Rémy

Zou! is the public transport service for the Région Sud Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur. We're Canadian and our plan was to hike the Mercantour Great Crossing (GR52). After landing in Nice, we needed to find transport to the trailhead in the village of Entraunes. It took us two months to figure out that the only service available was Zou!'s shuttle, and—after countless calls (not easy from Canada)—to actually speak to someone at the company. Even though they confirmed our reservation, on the day of the trip, they weren’t waiting for us. We ended up stranded in Guillaumes because the driver hadn’t been "informed" that he was supposed to go all the way to the terminus that day. In 40 years of traveling the world, I’ve never encountered a situation where customer service was this nonexistent and access to a region this difficult. I just wanted to share this experience to warn you if you’re planning to rely on public transport to reach the GR52...

I wanted to share an incredible experience I had recently that really left an impression on me: hiking the Mercantour independently. It’s an absolutely stunning mountain range, with varied landscapes that go from lush forests to rocky ridges, passing through high-altitude lakes with unbelievable colors. I chose a one-week route, sleeping under the stars in a bivouac.

It was a pretty demanding adventure, with significant elevation changes and sometimes unpredictable weather. But every effort was rewarded with breathtaking views. I was lucky enough to spot marmots, chamois, and even ibex in the distance. It’s truly a total immersion in nature!

A little tip for those tempted by the adventure: plan your route and gear carefully. Independence requires good preparation. I particularly appreciated having a good water filtration system and lightweight cookware. And for safety, aside from a map and compass (or GPS), I never leave without my two-way radio. In these remote areas where there’s no mobile signal, it’s a real safety net in case of trouble or just to communicate with other hikers if you’re in a group. It can really make a difference!

If any of you have already hiked in the Mercantour or have questions about my experience, don’t hesitate to ask. I’d love to chat with you about this beautiful range or other hiking destinations.

See you on the trails! 🙂

Hi everyone,

I’m planning the Tour du Queyras from August 2nd to 8th, 2025, starting from Ceillac. 6 days if all goes well, 5 days if I’m moving fast, 7 days if the climbs are too much.

If anyone wants to join me, we can form a small group. I won’t handle bookings: I’ve got my tent, and if I can find a refuge, great—if not, no worries.

As you can see, I’m giving myself some flexibility to enjoy my hike without stress. I don’t walk fast: easy pace in the morning, not too quick in the evening. Yo

Hi there,

My husband, our 1-year-old son, and I have decided to head to southern France in mid-September.

We don’t know the region at all—it’ll be our first time.

We only have 9 days, and we’re really torn between Provence for its gorgeous villages, its "slow" vibe, Provençal markets, flavors, and colors, and the famous French Riviera for its beaches, ports, and because it’s intrigued us for so long.

I found a beautiful place to stay in a *mas*, but it’s not in the region at all (it’s in the Gard).

My husband found a place he really likes in Saint-Aygulf, but before booking, I’m hesitating and wanted to get some advice.

Obviously, with only 9 days, we clearly have to choose. I thought about splitting the trip in two, but that seems like a bad idea for two reasons: first, we’re traveling with a little one, and second, if we spread ourselves too thin, we risk not seeing anything properly.

Since we don’t know the area at all, I’m worried the coastline might be too built-up with big buildings, etc., like Lloret de Mar (no offense to anyone who loves it—it’s just not what we’re looking for).

Anyway… what would you recommend for a first 9-day trip to the south?

Thanks so much!

After Nice, Cannes is limiting the number of cruise ships in its bay.

Hi there, We’re heading to Forcalquier as a couple and would love to explore the Valensole area, including the Verdon Gorge, etc. We’ll be there for 5 days, so I’d like to put together a little rundown of things to see, plus the best tips—what to avoid, what to recommend, restaurants, and so on. Thanks so much!

Hi there, I'm looking for some nice hikes to do on foot around Fréjus. Thanks

Hi everyone, We’re heading to Hyères starting on 05/11/2025 and want to explore Porquerolles Island by bike. Is it better to book a bike in advance, or can we just rent one once we’re on the island? We’re not sure if tourist season will have started yet. Also, are there any bike rental shops you’d recommend? Or any spots on the island or in Hyères town that we shouldn’t miss?

We’d also like to visit either Bormes-les-Mimosas or Le Lavandou—any thoughts on which one you’d recommend?

Thanks for your tips! Yves

Good evening everyone,

Since the forum came back, it's been a bit quiet—no one's sharing their adventures yet. I know it's the start of the season, so let's hope it picks up!

Last Saturday, my buddy Jean Paul (who’ll be 84 next month) and I rode through the cedar forest between Cavaillon and Bonnieux—I highly recommend it! I already knew the area. We started from Pont Royal: me on my latest women’s FUN RIDE SOLO mountain bike (kept it as simple as possible), and him on a road bike with gravel tires. The road starting near Cheval Blanc, called the Vidauque route, is paved but completely wrecked—full of potholes, abandoned for ages, and technically off-limits to cars (though 4x4s still use it). The views over the Cavaillon plain are stunning, but we had to push our bikes a few times. After that, we did 10 km through the gorgeous cedar forest, followed by all downhill and flat terrain through the Lourmarin valley, then Cadenet, before heading toward La Roque-d'Anthéron. From there, we tackled the dirt paths of Provence by bike—beautiful trails—and made our way back to Mallemort and Pont Royal. A great loop: 81.51 km with 908 m of elevation gain. And Jean Paul? Fresh as a daisy at the finish—what an impressive guy!

Now, the real reason for this post: At the start, we followed the Carpentras Canal, which runs from Mallemort to Travaillan (69 km total). I’ve seen some photos on Komoot, and it looks amazing—apparently, there’s always a towpath.

**HAS ANYONE DONE THIS BY BIKE BEFORE? COULD YOU SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCE? THANKS IN ADVANCE!** Serge