8 Incredible Places To Visit In The South Of France

Côte d’Azur has maintained a glam reputation for over 100 years. Its treasures include idyllic landscapes, medieval towns and outstanding resorts. Whether you are looking for going crazy at a celebrity-filled club or prefer secluded seaside walks, here are eight must-see places to visit when travelling to the South of France.

Saint-Tropez

What attracts celebrities to this former fishing village? To understand this, stroll along the narrow cobbled streets of the Old City. Start your morning at La Tarte Tropézienne with an espresso and a cream-filled brioche (a Brigitte Bardot’s favorite when she was starring in the “And God Created Woman”) and then walk along cheese and flower stands at the market that takes place every Tuesday and Saturday. Don’t be afraid of extra calories, you will work them off during a hike along Saint-Tropez’s best beaches or partying at Le Club 55 or Nikki Beach. Back in town, stop for lunch at a cozy Asian Banh-Hoï restaurant in the Old Town. Sleepless in Saint-Tropez can follow their night up at the legendary nightclub Les Caves du Roy in Byblos Hotel

Provence

Provence is the name of the southeastern part of France that stretches along the Mediterranean coastline and goes up into the vineyard-covered hills. The best way to explore the region is to rent a car starting in the Aix-en-Provence. Stop in the center of Aix and have a glass of cool rosé on the terrace of Les Deux Garçons — the legendary beer restaurant visited by such celebrities as Pablo Picasso and Édith Piaf. Go down to Avignon for foie gras, beef tartar, and black tiger prawns at the L’Agape restaurant. When you’re ready for a cruise through Provence’s lavender fields, set your GPS to the Les Gorges de Pennafort, a Michelin-starred restaurant. Not only is the restaurant a destination in itself, it’s also close to the Gorges du Verdon that’s been called the Grand Canyon of Europe.

Ile de Porquerolles

Less than an hour trip from Saint-Tropez, there lies an archipelago of three islands with the coastlines as white as the Caribbean. The largest island is full of local restaurants like Pélagos. Order rosé from Domaine Perzinsky, one of island’s three wineries. Active rest lovers will be glad to hear that the 6-kilometers-long island is lined with over 60 kilometers of walking paths that are best explored by bike. After buying some local food and wine at one of the village’s stalls, go to one of the most beautiful island beaches, Plage Notre Dame, Where you can enjoy views of the sea on the terrace at L’Orangerie restaurant.

Cannes

Put on your poshest shoes and feel like a Cannes Festival star walking along the famous Boulevard de la Croisette. If you are fond of fun and dancing, Bâoli Beach Cannes is your place, which transforms from a restaurant into a nightclub at midnight. If you want to get an idea of what the city looked like over 400 years ago, take a stroll to the hill of Le Suquet. Hop a ferry down the Old Port to the Lérins Islands, where you’ll find virgin beaches and wine crafted by Cistercian monks. Sainte-Marguerite is the largest and closest island to Cannes and the home to the cell of the Man in the Iron Mask. Back in town, dine in a villa at L’Antidote. Don’t forget to order their foie gras or Chef Christophe Ferré’s specialty — seafood stew.

Antibes

Antibes got its start as a Greek colony in the 5th century BC. In the mid-XX century it transformed into the popular holiday destination it remains today. Admire the scenery while walking to the castle housing one of the Old Town’s main attractions: the Picasso Museum . After getting your experiences, buy a baguette at one of Antibes’ most famous boulangeries, Le Pain JPV, and head to La Garoupe beach, a favorite of writer F. Scott Fitzgerald. You can even stay for a night in the same room the writer lived at Hôtel Belles Rives in neighboring Juan-les-Pins that’s the home to La Passagère, one of the best restaurants in town.

Saint-Paul-de-Vence

Medieval towns dotting the hills along the Riviera are so charming that artists like Calder and Chagall decided to stay here to live. Dive in the village atmosphere at the legendary Place (square) of Vence, where you can spend hours while sipping coffee on the terrace at Café de la Place. Here you’ll also find the famous Colombe d’Or. What started as a bar and a three-room inn grew into a restaurant and a 25-room hotel that became one of the most popular meeting places for such artists as Picasso and Matisse. At that time, artists exchanged their paintings for a night’s stay or a dinner and now their paintings are just priceless. You can also see one of the largest collections of 20th-century art in Europe at modern art museum Fondation Maeght and then admire the magnificent stained-glass Chapelle du Rosaire, a Matisse masterpiece, in the neighboring town. Have a rest after a busy day at Les Bacchanales, a gastronomic restaurant with a garden and a terrace overlooking the sea.

Nice

Nice is Riviera’s most visited place. One glance at the Cours Saleya flower market and you’ll quickly fall in love with the city. You should look for a bistro Le Comptoir 2 Nicole or La Réserve restaurant(www.lareservedenice.fr/) located on top the rock. If you want to feel or see something that will really take your breath away, drive to neighboring Villefranche-sur-Mer for Le Palm Anjuna, the restaurant where musicians serenade guests among tropical plants, Balinese statues, and antique wooden tables. If you are so tired that are ready to drop, come back to Nice to stay for a night at Le Negresco, whose regal, antique-filled rooms have enticed everyone from Princess Grace to The Beatles.

Monaco

Although technically it’s not a part of France, Monaco is still one of the major must-visits while visiting the South of France. The tiny Principality of Monaco is roughly three times the size of a metropolis mall but offers much more pursuits. Spend time at Lounge Eden Plage Mala by the sea or relax in hot tubes of Thermes Marins Monte-Carlo overlooking the port and the Prince’s Palace. Before exploring the town, get your hair styled at Rossano Ferretti salon (a stylist favored by the Duchess of Cambridge) in the Hôtel de Paris, then pause for a cocktail at the iconic Bar Américain. If you want to dance, head to lively Jimmy’z. When you’re ready for sleep, have rest at the sumptuous Hôtel Métropole Monte-Carlo, where you can soothe away any signs of a hangover at the Givenchy spa.